The Underhand Flip Cast
I did a short stretch of Duke Creek with Harmonica Mike on opening day and managed to get some video of him casting. I took a few short videos, including one of him catching a brown, but wanted to post this one since it has a pretty good angle on his casting technique. It’s all in the wrist. A slight up and down movement timed with the release of the line sends the lure on a straight trajectory into the normally small window of opportunity – a tiny pocket next to the bank or under an overhanging branch that provides shelter for the trout.
Mike, like Feral and I, learned this technique from our grandfather, Jake Lucas, back in the sixties. Jake did trick casting demonstrations at trade shows and was a sponsored “expert” by the Shakespeare Company. There is a tendency for people trying this cast to jerk the rod forward while casting rather than just use the wrist and rod tip action to propel the lure. As kids, just starting out, Jake would cinch our arms to our sides with a belt so we had to use our wrists! He wanted it done right!
Fichigan 
I have been using Shakespeare 1756?,1800(4)@ a 1800II plus 2 metal seat wonderods made for the 1800 and 2 movable seat wonderods. My father used them almost exclusively as do I. I am 73. It bothers me that my sons don’t use them because the retrieve is slow. My daughter-in-law likes to fish alot and I gave her a rod with 1800II. The 1800II is sturdier and doesn’t have such delicate threads. I have fished Michigan near Sleeping Bear Dune Nat. Park. Smallmouth are special. I really enjoyed your stories and felt a connection. Right at this time I am trying to fix the 1800II’s anti reverse mechanism. I can’t figure out how to install the inch and a quarter long straight spring with a loop on one end. It looks like a straight pin with a one eighth inch loop on one end. Maybe you can help or point me. Thanks Terry
Terry, I wish I could help with the 1810II. I tried them and liked some features but seems like they were not dependable, at least for me. I wish Shakespeare would have put more time and money into the engineering and less time worrying about the cost. I would have gladly paid twice the price for a better reel. You may not want to hear this but I like a faster winding reel also so I am in the camp with your sons on that one. I fish fast water and wind the lure back with the current so I need a super fast retrieve in order to impart action to the lures. Mike and Denny, in the Fichigan posts, were/are purists like yourself preferring vintage Shakespeare rods and reels. I have a classic 1776 and sliding ring cork handle rod used by Jake Lucas which I am almost afraid to use.. but will some day. Good luck, thanks for writing.
Luth