Choose a target area. It must be a little to the left of whatever fly line remains on the water. Shift your weight to the forward foot and follow this shift immediately with a forward and downward stroke of the rod.

Within this stroke, apply power with an accelerating snap of the forearm and hand, pushing forward with your thumb as far as your wrist will allow you to go. Follow through on the cast by lowering the rod so that the tip will be pointed where you expect the fly to land.

The line should have rolled out straight on the surface of the water, carrying your leader and fly with it to straighten out ahead of it.

Once you familiarize yourself with the moves, you'll be able to blend everything together, tilting the rod as you draw it back, and shifting your weight at the same time. Then you need only wait for the line to come to rest behind you. Shift your weight forward and make the stroke in one smooth motion.

Here's visual representation of the roll cast in action:

Troubleshooting

1. If the line did not come out of the water where you piled it originally, it may have sunk due to elapsed time. If it has sunk, it may take two or three roll casts to get it up to the surface. Don't despair; getting out of this kind of trouble is one of the valuable uses of the roll cast.

2. If all went well except that the leader and fly didn't straighten, be sure to drive forward with your thumb during the"power snap" and continue to push until the leader and fly have landed.

3. If the line hits the water too heavily and doesn't straighten, you may have lowered your arm too quickly or too far. Concentrate on the forward motion of the stroke, the forearm and hand action of thrusting forward.

4. If the line unrolls above the water, lower your arm more quickly as you begin the forward stroke. It is perfectly all right to unroll line above the water on a roll cast — if that is what you set out to do. As a first discipline, work on unrolling it on the water so that every inch of line and leader straighten out.

Wind blowing from your left may force you to aim a little left of the target area. Wind from behind will help the cast. Headwinds could be countered with extra force forward and a fast lowering of your arm.