A lot of saltwater fly fishing takes place with the angler standing on the casting bow of a skiff or flats boat, a 16 to 18-foot boat designed to navigate in shallow water called "the flats" or in the "backcountry" such as mangrove channels and lagoons. The casting bow, or platform, is normally a flat surface in the front of the boat devoid of annoying protrusions that can trap or tangle a fly line. However, feet have sabotaged more casts than perhaps anything else, and always at the most inopportune time.
Many times, as a casting situation arises, the angler begins rocking back and forth either to increase the power of the cast or to maintain his balance as the boat moves in the waves or chop. Even though a shoe may rise off the surface of the casting platform only a fraction of an inch for a fraction of a second, the fly line, which seemingly has an evil mind of its own, will be sure to imbed itself under it. Obviously, this is a situation that seriously limits the distance of a cast, usually in an inverse proportion to the size of the fish you are casting to.
The solution to this problem is to go barefoot. [Some captains encourage going barefoot while some discourage this practice. Sometimes, for safety's sake, when the surface is wet, it is better to have on deck shoes which are less slip-prone than skin.] Your feet are very tactile and touch-sensitive. Going barefoot while you are casting means that if any line slips under a foot you will feel it immediately and be able to get off of it before your presentation cast. This certainly reduces the frustration level of your captain and you. The "toe touch" will definitely increase casting distance and hook-ups, and it feels good too.
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