As peterjg says, very subjective this issue, everyone has their own take on it. Having fished with a centre pin on the Trent from the age of nine, this is the style I use, after watching many a Nottingham angler over my formative years. It is basically the Wallis, Avon, Nottingham cast, call it what you will, the result is the same. I begin with the reel mounted on the rod, drum on the left hand side (being right handed) and the line coming off from the bottom of the drum. Start with the rod roughly level with the edge of the bank and about 45 degrees to the vertical, the float about two to three feet below the rod tip. Take hold of the line between the reel to the first rod ring with your left hand thumb and forefinger and begin to gently cast from left to right. When the tackle gets in front of the rod tip, round about the 10 to 11 o'clock position during the cast, and requires more line to go further, pull the line you are holding away from your body and let go as you continue the cast. This will start the reel drum spinning and release more line for the tackle to continue further. Complete the cast by pointing the rod at the position you wish the float to enter the water. The rate that the line leaves the reel is controlled by feathering the rim of the drum with your thumb. It all sounds very involved but in reality, with a little practice, soon becomes one fluid action. Think I have included everything, sometimes when try you explain what you do automatically you forget to mention the obvious, hope this helps, if not there must be some examples on youtube. Pete.
