I cast cack handed off the right bank quite a lot, I am strongly right hand dominant & casting left handed is more difficult due to a previous shoulder injury -which is no problem day to day, but for a weeks fishing with the big sticks [16 footers] + sunk lines in Autumn, well I'd rather not put it under this sort of repeated stress.
Double spey is fine if you have more room at the back for the D loop, but definately not recommended in an upstream wind.
Cack handed works fine with a moderate upstream wind [lets be honest - nothing works well in a howling gale] & throws the D loop more upstream than 'in-bank' so requires less clearance behind than the double spey.
In terms of consistancy /power, rather than over power the forward cast which will result in the usual problems, make sure you transfer your weight efficiently between your feet. In other words:
1] at the start of the cast - weight on your right foot as you commence your lift.
2] transfer your weight to your left [upstream] foot as you sweep the line upstream of you to form the D loop - this will apply extra power, smoothly, to the sweep ensuring the touchdown is where you place it with a dip of the rod tip rather than falling short [ if short, stop the cast as you would risk being hooked if you continue] then continue to lift the rod into the 'cocked' position ready for the forward stoke as the D loop finishes forming.
3] transfer weight back to your right foot immediately before the forward 'tap' - this will tension the loop as the rod drifts forward with you, but still in the 'cocked' position, it will also partially pre-load the rod.
4] a sharp tap of a forward stroke with plenty of bottom
hand & the right stopping high to avoid driving the line down on to the water - the left hand having to stop abruptly to avoid you clouting yourself in your lower right ribs with the butt cap forces us to do what we want to achieve & should be matched by an equally abrupt stop with the right hand, this will create line speed & provide good turn-over.
5] make an upstream mend if required [prior to touch down if using a fast sinking full line] then swap your rod to the left hand keeping the rod out across the current to slow the initial swing of the fly & - Important this bit, I learned the hard way! - as your right hand comes back from the forward position on the rod butt run down the line & clear any loops that are wrapped around reel handles, reel seats etc, failure to do so can lead to some very exciting [but not in good way] moments, it amuses any spectators however.
If you consistantly use the same weight transfer it will provide a smoother cast requiring less 'operator input' at the end, if using sinking lines remember to do a down stream roll cast first to bring the line to the surface & if you are in a deep slack on your bank then you made need to do two of these to achieve that end, partcularly with big water resistant & heavy flies / turbo disks etc.
Oh aye, lastly avoid this cast in a strong down stream wind, although it's slightly more managable under these conditions with a sinking line than a floater as the latter is a lot less dense / fatter & catches the wind more resulting in a greater risk of being hooked or flayed by the fly line, but if possible use the double spey or another alternative where the D loop is formed on your down-wind side in these conditions.
Best of luck, Tyke.
