(3) Drills for Fast and Effective Line Handling // Tip of the Week

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You’ll never achieve guru status as an angler without fast, efficient line-handling skills—and there’s no better place to sharpen those than standing mid-river with current swirling at your feet. These three foundational drills are simple, effective, and easy to practice whether you’re on your own or between fish. They’ll help you move your fly around the water with purpose, recast instantly, and eliminate line management errors that cost fish.

Feed the line out, strip it in—feed it out again, strip it in! The river is your training ground. Try combining all three drills into one continuous, fluid sequence. Stand in the water, do 10–15 full reps, and focus on becoming faster and smoother with each cycle. We teach these in nearly every class we offer at Red’s, and there’s a reason: mastering them unlocks the next level of casting, mending, and fly control. Next time you’re on the water, challenge yourself to get sharp with these drills—and watch everything else get easier.

1. Line Exchanges – You’ll do this hundreds of times per day, so get efficient. Practice passing the line between your rod hand and line hand quickly and cleanly. With the rod steady, close your eyes and go for 25 fast, flawless reps. No fumbles, no hesitation.

2. Feeding Line – In moving water, this is critical. Whether you're extending a drift or prepping for a cast, feeding line builds muscle memory and helps you feel how the rod flexes. Feed out 30 feet, then strip it back in while keeping your rod low and steady. Repeat several times with speed and control.

3. Stripping Line – Strip with purpose. Your motion should be fast, clean, and deliberate. The rod tip stays low to preserve energy in the rod and minimize slack. Fumbling here creates slack that ruins presentations, so get sharp and make it snappy.