Keep it on the straight and narrow- the physics behind fly casting. You can spend a lot of money on a fly-fishing setup these days, like, A LOT of money; but none of that fancy equipment will equate to an effective fly cast if you don’t understand the physics of a fly cast, and apply it properly.  The goal behind a good fly cast is to transfer energy most effectively from the rod to the line, which carries the fly to exactly where (and how gently) you want it to land.  Many fly fisherman have a hard time making a long and/or accurate cast because the physics of their cast is working against them, trust me, I’ve seen it happen hundreds of times.  Physics has taught us that objects travels fastest and most accurately in a straight line.  The same holds true when it comes to the path of your fly and fly line.  Keeping that fly line on a straight plane parallel to the ground/water (Fig. 1) is key to transferring the energy from your fly rod effectively to your fly line.  The moment you allow the fly line to drop below that imaginary horizontal plane, (either on your forward cast or back cast) the energy is not transferred as efficiently to your fly line, and the effort required to keep that cast going becomes exponentially more difficult. Figure 1:  Keep the fly line as close to parallel to the ground/water as possible. If you haven’t heard it before, imagine a large clock facing your casting arm.  The starting and stopping points of your cast should be the 10 and 2 o’clock positions.  Doing so will automatically create that flat horizontal plane that you want your fly line to travel along.  Going outside of the 10 and 2 o’clock positions will allow your fly line to drop below that horizontal plane. Figure 2: The stopping points on your forward cast and backcast (10 and 2 o'clock respectively); and having loops the mirror each other on both sides of the cast. There are two things you can do to keep your fly line on that horizontal plane while casting; the first is to adjust the timing of your cast.  Timing adjustments take practice and a little bit of feel, but the idea is to wait until the fly line has fully unfolded in front of you without letting the fly line drop towards the ground once it unfolds, then begin your back cast (and vise-versa).  You will actually pause your cast for a brief moment at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions to allow your fly line to unfold.  The length of the pause will directly correlate to the amount line you are casting with (anywhere from tenths of second on short cast to over a full second on longer casts).  Second is to simply watch what your fly line is doing (or have someone else watch and provide you feedback).  Many fly fisherman forget that their head is on a swivel.  So while the forward cast may look okay (because they are observing it) the back cast may be a mess because they have no idea what that fly line is doing behind them.  A bad back cast can have no other result than a subpar forward cast, it plain physics.  Remember a good fly cast is symmetrical (Fig 2), so simply turn your head and watch your fly line on both ends of your cast (or have an observer watch your arm position, timing, and fly line travel, and provide you feedback as you make adjustments).  Observing both ends of your cast will help your hand-eye coordination and will allow you to see if your fly line is indeed unfolding nicely while still staying up on that imaginary plane.  As a side note, it’s also a good idea to just practice casting while looking behind you as many situations require an equally well place back cast as is the forward cast (e.g., a stream bank with high vegetation behind you). The third key to a good fly rod/fly line energy transfer (i.e., distance and accuracy) is how quickly, and at what point in your cast, you accelerate and decelerate the fly rod to store and release energy.  Let’s using driving a car as an example.  When at a stop, you slowly and steadily press your foot on the gas pedal to accelerate, the same holds true when you start to bring your cast forward; nice and steady (Fig 3). Figure 3:  Smooth acceleration at the onset of bringing your cast forward. Now here comes the most misunderstood part of a long and accurate fly cast.  In order to effectively transfer the energy stored in your fly rod during your forward cast, your stop, or deceleration, must be crisp and quick.  So, back to the car example again… slam on the brakes and anything unsecured in your back will immediately end up in your front seat due to momentum.  Translated to fly casting, instantly stop your fly rod at the 10 o’clock position so energy transfered to the fly line happens instantly,  and the fly line (and fly) will shoot forward as straight and as efficiently as possible.  Following these procedure is what creates tight loops traveling in a straight line, which equals a consistent, accurate and long cast that is so necessary when fly fishing.  Plus, an efficient transfer of energy from your fly rod means your arm is less tired and you can fish longer each day. Mike Callan is a licensed broker Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, and is a former Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Fly Casting Instructor and fishing guide in Colorado & Alaska; and a manufactures sales representative for some of the finest fly-fishing companies in the world.  Mike can be reached at mike@sjsportingproperties.com or by phone 970.406.8335.

At St. James Sporting Properties, it is obvious that we work hard to promote the wildlife, fish, and various recreational opportunities that exist on every one of our ranch listings. What may not be quite as obvious is how aware and appreciative we are of the Agricultural roots that many of our ranch listings possess.  There is a historical misconception that a ranch is either an agricultural property or recreational property. Understandably, owners of these ranches can be solely focused (or even against) one or the other. This article will help show the benefits of aligning yourself with a brokerage like ours that can realize and maximize both of these vitally important ranch attributes. Realizing a Ranch’s Agriculture Value/Attributes AMERICA FIRST Agricultural production not only benefits the landowner, but it keeps America’s ranching and farming families alive and well. America’s need to be self-reliant has never been greater. Agricultural production is one of the main areas in which we Americans can largely be independent from the who is of the global supply chain. It’s important to remember the effect that maximizing the agricultural component of a property has on our country as a whole. INCOME It goes without saying that the ultimate goal of agricultural production is to make a profit. There are different lease options available that benefit both the landowner and the agricultural tenant. Whether it be a Cash Rent, Crop Share, Net Share, or a hybrid approach, ranch owners who are primarily focused on hunting or recreation may still reap the benefits from leasing the land to an agriculturally focused tenant. TAX BENEFITS Many of our western states/counties assess property taxes at a significantly lower rate if used for agricultural purposes. Even if a landowner gains a relatively small profit from the ranch’s agricultural production/income, the tax benefits of qualifying as an agricultural property are well worth it.  GRAZING/RECREATIONAL PERMITS It’s becoming more and more common to see a ranch represented with its “Total Acres”. This is because the ranch owner, in addition to their deeded land, may often possess grazing/recreational permits on adjoining public and/or private Land. Whether it be National Forest, BLM, State Land, or nearby private property, these permits help expand the ranch’s grazing potential and carrying capacity while, at the same time, lowering the chance for over-grazing of the deeded land. Some state and/or private leases offer an agricultural lease as well as a recreational lease. This help expands a ranch’s grazing and hunting area at a very minimal cost to the owner/tenant.  HABITAT ENHANCEMENT It’s worth pointing out that the majority of property enhancements created to help farming and livestock operations can also benefit wildlife (i.e., Stock Tanks, Irrigation, Grass/Hay, Crops, Tree Rows, Shelterbelts, Noxious Weed Control, Nutrient Supplements, Winter Feeding, Predator Management, and Erosion Control). The list goes on, but more often than not, ranches with agricultural components tend to attract and hold more wildlife.  Realizing a Ranch’s Recreational Value/Attributes INCOME In the same way an owner can lease their land to an agricultural tenant, a livestock/farming focused rancher can also lease their land out for recreational purposes. Again, one has various options to choose from depending on their situation. These may include: leasing the hunting/fishing rights to a licensed outfitter, booking private hunting/fishing clients on their own, accepting a trespass fee for hunters to travel through the ranch, or (in some states) selling hunting permits assigned to the ranch to 3rd parties. BIG GAME LANDOWNER TAGS In certain states, like Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Idaho, qualifying ranches may obtain big game landowner permits separate from the general public draw. In these states, those tags may be sold or gifted to a 3rd party hunter and provide an additional source of income for the ranch owner. While other states, like Wyoming, allow for big game landowner permits, they are only valid for use by the landowner’s immediate family. Still, that does add value to the ranch and can help separate properties that qualify for landowner tags from those that don’t. *Please refer to each state’s wildlife agency for more details. FISHERY & STREAMBED ENHANCEMENT There is no better way to add value to a property than to enhance the live water that’s on it. Improving the fishery and wetland habitat not only adds enjoyment, but value, for the landowner. Working with Fishery & Wildlife Specialists to maximize the ponds and rivers’ ability to hold fish, waterfowl, and water itself, is always money well spent, especially in the West! NATURAL BEAUTY John Muir once said “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” There is value, be it economically, functionally, visually, or spiritually, in allowing a ranch to be what it has always been: A unique combination of water & winds, plants & animals, challenges & rewards, and peace & quiet. In an ever-growing world, the value of connecting with nature and the wild things that call it home has never been more important to future landowners FAMILY AND FRIENDS Most of us would agree that the time spent with our family and friends in the outdoors are some of the most memorable moments in our lives. At the end of the day, there is immeasurable value in having a piece of land to call your own. A place where family and friends can gather and explore. A place where a granddaughter’s first fish, or a grandfather’s last deer, is worth more than anything else money can buy. In conclusion, we understand the economic and intrinsic values that a ranch’s Agriculture and Recreational opportunities has to offer. Call the specialists at St. James Sporting Property today to see how we can bridge the gap between Ag & Rec in order to truly show everything this western land has to offer! Mike Callan is a Real Estate agent licensed in CO, ID, WY, MT.  He can be reached via email [mike@sjsportingproperties.com] and phone [970-406-8335].

NOW OPEN St. James Sporting Properties - Northern Rockies Office St. James Sporting Properties is excited to announce the opening of our new regional office in Buffalo, Wyoming. The Northern Rockies Office officially opened its doors in May 2021. Our second location will accommodate St. James Sporting Properties' continued growth and maintain our dedication to our clients, in addition to providing more accessibility to sporting properties throughout the Northern Rockies region! Broker, Mike Callan, will be leading the efforts in this area. He is licensed in Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado & soon to be Montana. Mike’s experience, work ethic, and business sense provides the foundation for being one of the premier brokers in the West. He believes that the most important part of his career is his dedication to his clients, as well as to our Rocky Mountain communities and their future. Mike is an avid outdoorsman and is a member of numerous non-profit and conservation organizations. Mike has spent the last 14 years representing some of the most sought-after ranch and recreational properties.  Years of experience, combined with a powerful marketing plan, allows Mike to dutifully represent the owners of these beautiful ranches. St. James Sporting Properties specializes in properties that have water and mineral rights, high-end improvements, agricultural income, and/or trophy hunting and fishing opportunities. Whether you are looking to purchase your dream property or have contemplated selling your ranch in the Northern Rockies, this is a great time to be in the sporting property market! Northern Rockies Office St. James Sporting Properties (307) 217-6090 37 N. Main Street Buffalo, Wyoming 82834 [maxbutton id="3" ]