I had a very nice gentleman on my boat about 2 and half weeks ago who fished a low tide with me. When we first got up on the flat we found some shrimp getting chased by both Redfish and a fair amount of birds in about a foot of water. We had already rigged up his 9 wt. with a Dupre Spoon Fly so I slid it out of the rod holder and we went to work.
We hooked 17 that day and this is why. The first reason was because the reds were actively eating and the birds where helping us locate fish. The second reason was because the water was fairly clean, so the fish didn't have much trouble seeing the fly. Finally, while this gentleman was not a real long caster he had the ability to do what I asked very quickly. Obviously a certain distance was required but mostly it was all about being able to get it there as soon as we found a target and hit that target fairly accurately.
The reason I bring up the difference between a long, quick, or accurate cast is that before heading on a fishing trip a quick and fairly accurate cast might be more obtainable than a long cast in a short period of practice time. In practicing right before a trip don't change too much about your actual casting stroke, instead go with what you have (assuming it is somewhat decent distance wise). If you leave that stroke alone and focus on casting the same amount of line distance wise with one less false cast you will obviously be quicker. In other words learn to shoot line not carry it. Most likely this in itself will make you a more actuate caster, but accuracy is the second thing to work on if you have a little more time.
A very long, quick, and accurate cast will catch more fish, of course. Some days that is the only way you will catch fish. But a reasonable distance done extremely quick and fairly accurately will yield more fish than a lot of distance that takes even 4 or 5 false casts to perform. Fish change direction, get out of range, see your shadow, get spooked by a bird and so on, in one false cast, let alone 5. Get it there now!
