Definitions for "False cast"
Keywords:  lengthen, fly, cast, backwards, shorten
A cast in which the line is kept moving above the water's surface; used to progressively lengthen a cast, change the direction of a cast or dry a fly
A common fly fishing cast; used to lengthen and shorten line, to change direction, and to dry off the fly. In false casting, the line is kept moving backwards and forwards without touching the surface of the water or the ground. The fewer false casts you need to get it back into the zone the better (like a u-turn…if you've got to engage from drive to reverse more than a few times, you've got issues).
Casting that does not put the fly on the water.