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S8, Ep 45: Casting Fundamentals: Mac Brown on the Art of the Reach Mend

Episode Overview

In this Casting Angles episode of The Articulate Fly, Master Casting Instructor Mac Brown of Mac Brown Fly Fish joins host Marvin Cash for a focused deep-dive into the reach mend — one of fly fishing's most foundational presentation tools, and one Mac argues has been quietly undervalued since Doug Swisher introduced it to American fly fishing in 1971. The conversation serves as both a how-to for beginners and a useful recalibration for intermediate anglers who have been fishing without it.

Mac traces the technique to Swisher's landmark book Selective Trout, which he first read at age eight from his grandfather's copy and considers among the most significant contributions to the sport in the last hundred years. He breaks the reach mend down from first principles, distinguishing it clearly from the more complex reach cast: after the casting stroke is complete and the line is still in the air, the angler simply reaches the rod tip to the side, positioning the fly line upstream or downstream of the fly — a movement accessible to complete beginners that can transform a fleeting drift into a long, uninterrupted float with the fly line entirely out of the fish's window.

Mac covers the reach mend across multiple real-world scenarios: cross-current presentations through mixed seams, straight upstream casts where the line would otherwise land across holding fish, and long downstream drifts on technical tailwaters. The episode also covers slipping line during a reach mend to extend presentation distance, and the drag-and-drop technique — casting well upstream and beyond a riser, lifting the rod tip to position the fly laterally, then tracking the rod downstream to drop the fly cleanly into the feeding lane. Marvin adds an important tactical counterpoint: a downstream mend can also be used to intentionally accelerate a streamer across a seam to trigger a reaction strike.

Key Takeaways

How a post-cast reach mend positions your fly line upstream and away from rising trout, turning a brief drift into a long, drag-free float that beginners can execute immediately after learning the concept
Why the reach mend is fundamentally different from the reach cast — and why mastering the mend first removes the biggest barrier to consistent presentation for anglers at any level
When to slip line during a reach mend to extend presentation distance, without sacrificing accuracy or drag control
How to execute the drag-and-drop technique — casting upstream and beyond a riser, lifting into position, then tracking the rod downstream — to drop a fly into a feeding lane without lining the fish or precision accuracy
Why a downstream mend can intentionally induce drag to accelerate a streamer across a current seam when you want to trigger a reaction strike rather than a drag-free drift

Techniques & Gear Covered

The episode is devoted entirely to the reach mend and its related techniques, with Mac Brown providing a conceptual framework grounded in Swisher's Selective Trout and decades of guide school instruction. The core technique is the post-cast reach mend: after stopping the cast, and while the line is still unrolling, the angler reaches the rod tip to the upstream side to buy a drag-free window of time before the current grabs the fly line. This applies across presentation types — cross-stream casts through mixed currents, straight upstream casts where the line would otherwise fall on the fish, and long downstream presentations where only the fly should appear in the fish's window. Mac also covers the drag-and-drop approach, in which the angler lifts the fly line into position from an upstream-and-beyond cast, then tracks the rod downstream to lower the fly softly into the target lane without a direct presentation over the fish. Slipping line during the mend is discussed as a tool to extend reach. Marvin adds that the downstream mend inverts this logic for streamer fishing, using intentional drag to accelerate the fly across seams and trigger reaction strikes.

FAQ / Key Questions Answered What is a reach mend and how does it differ from a reach cast?

A reach mend is a post-cast rod movement: after the casting stroke stops and the line is still unrolling in the air, the angler reaches the rod tip to the side — upstream or downstream — to position the fly line away from the target zone. The result is that only the fly (and not the line) enters the fish's window. In the case of an upstream reach mend, this technique also buys several seconds of drag-free drift before current tension catches up. A reach cast, by contrast, incorporates that lateral rod movement during the casting stroke itself, making it significantly more complex. Mac recommends learning the reach mend first because anyone — including complete beginners — can execute it immediately, and it delivers most of the same drag-control benefits.

How do you execute a reach mend when fishing across mixed currents?

In a cross-stream scenario with fast water between you and a slower holding lie, reach the rod tip upstream immediately after the cast stops — before the faster current grabs the fly line and creates drag. This buys enough time for the fly to drift naturally through the slow water without the line bellying downstream and pulling the fly across current.

What is the drag-and-drop technique and when does it help for rising trout?

The drag-and-drop lets you place a fly in a precise feeding lane without casting directly over the fish or precisely on target. You cast upstream and beyond the target, lift the fly line into lateral position, then track the rod downstream to lower the fly smoothly into the lane — all without the line or fly landing on top of the fish. This is especially useful during Sulphur and BWO hatches on tailwaters like the Watauga and South Holston, where fish are locked into tight feeding lanes and a fly dropped directly on the snout or with line overhead typically produces refusals or spooks. Mac notes that even a beginner can execute this with basic skills, and that you don't need the precision of an elite competition caster to make this technique work consistently.

How does slipping line change the outcome of a reach mend?

When you pinch the line during a reach mend, the fly lands closer than the initial cast would have carried it. When you slip line — releasing extra line during the mend — the fly travels further from you, extending presentation distance. Mac describes slipping line as the right tool when the holding lie or rising fish is farther out, allowing you to cover more water with the same mend without sacrificing drift quality.

When should you mend downstream to induce drag rather than upstream to prevent it?

A downstream mend is the right choice when you want to accelerate the fly, not slow it. Marvin notes that when fishing streamers across a current seam — particularly when you want the fly to zip past a rock, undercut bank, or holding spot — mending downstream puts intentional drag on the line, pulling the fly faster across the seam and triggering a reaction strike. This is the same basic principle as the upstream mend, just applied in reverse: instead of buying drift time, you're borrowing speed from the current.

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doug swisher

marvin cash

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