It is useless, most of the fish are caught within 12 meters. I have lost count of the number of times I have read and heard that kind of statement. Being a 99.9 % dry fly fisher myself I, almost, agree. There is a lot of truth in that reasoning. Anyway, if we don’t catch as many fish further than 12 meters away it could also be because we don’t cast to them, couldn’t it? Admittedly getting a dead drift with a long cast is some sort of mission impossible, although there are nymphing techniques for which distance isn’t a problem: if there is a fish lie out there… out there my nymph goes. There is another type of very special nymphing that asks for being able to cast as long as possible: nymphing for sea trout. Are you kidding? Sea trout on nymphs? Yes, big sea run brown brown trout on small nymphs. Only in Southern Patagonia I must add. For instance on Río Gallegos. Size #10 nymphs, like that in the following pic: 
I will commit to training more specifically for distance with the double handed rod before traveling to Río Gallegos again. Not all the lies are very far away (although some of them ask for 30+ meters casts) the real problem is the relentless wind; if it wasn’t so cold one would say it comes directly from hell. Here is the result of a sideways breeze (an a mild one by the river standards) on a cast with a 500 grains skagit head (correction from César -the caster himself: isn’t a skagit but a Rage Compact, something like an embrutished Windcutter :-):
Sometimes frustration is a word that falls short of explaining some feelings. I will never forget what Loro, our guide, told us the last day on the river: I have guided people who after a couple of hours fishing thrown the rod away and sat angrily on the bank. So I want to thank you for understanding how things are here. Fortunately great prizes await those who persevere:
Yes, definitely distance casting practice isn’t a strange proposition.
onemorelastcast.net 
why didn’t that guy just cast 10-15-20-30m upwind and let the wind blow the line to the somewhat intended target instead ? 😆
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How do you know what the intended target was? 😀
That guy knew perfectly well what he was doing. 😉
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ok, Fair enough. I wanted to leave comment but didn’t know what else to say… 😜
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And I thought that the post was inspiring… somewhat. 🙂
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oh but it is ! its just that i know you don’t like being praised ! 😆
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Some time ago I was all the time casting for distance one and two handed. Nowdays is not my first proposal. I’m totally involved looking for “the flow” :-).
But for me that kind of training, during too many years, gives me lots of control in my loop in casts around 12-14 meters. And a very good skills when you need to shoot a good amount of line (no physics at this moment).
When you are wading is a must to cast in a comfortable way. If not, you can go crying with the guy of the article in a windy day. Distance casting also give me this: self known and trust in what I really can achieve in a casting field. Casting for the best distance one day after another could be a very hard and frustrating exercice. Same as very windy day.
So, if you trust in yourself because you know that you have a cast over 30 meters in almost any scenario, you have some kind of control in hard circunstances like this one in the article.
Of course the wind of south Patagonia is another dimension… but if you trust in your skills, you are not going to win the battle against the wind, but probably, you are going to have this meter of line that you need to put your fly in a hot spot.
Nice thoughts.
Agree!
🙂
One more time sorry for my English.
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Very meaningful, César!
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The reason of many discussions about (not) distance casting is probably due to fly casting not being an olympic sport 😀
For me personally I occasionally enjoy distance casting as a way to relax and enjoy with a rod on a lawn. However I do think the fundamentals needed for distance casting will help you when casting and fishing for the so called ‘fishing distances’. Simply said: fly casting will get more efficient and effective when you are sufficient with distance casting.
Looking forward to read more posts from you.
Greetings from The Netherlands!
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Exactly my view as well, Jay. Thanks for stopping by!
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