Hi,
Some causes of tailing loops. My tuppence halfpenny's worth.
1) Mis-timing the cast .
If you start the rod moving forwards before the line is fully extended backwards then you will create a tailing loop on your next forward cast. The opposite also applies.
If you move the rod backwards before the line is fully extended frontwards , you will create a tailing loop on your back cast.
Cure: Do not start the rod moving until the line is fully extended front and back !! Watch your line . The timing will soon become second nature .
2) Too much power in .
This can bounce the rod tip causing a shock wave to travel along the line which when it reaches the end , throws the fly down under the fly line . This can occurr on both the front and back casts.
Cure: Take your foot of the gas . Remember the fly line weighs only a few grams . Aim to use the minumum energy required and you will become an effortless caster . Honest !
3) Too little power .
Particularly with weighted flies, the line and fly has insufficient energy to turn over resulting in a tailing loop .
Cure: Increase power application by trial and error until the loop extends above the rod tip travelling smoothly backwards and forwards on each false cast .
4) Starting the cast in one plane and ending in another . (Particularly when it's windy)
Cure : Try to picture your cast and move the rod tip backwards and forwards in the same plane . Get someone to watch you and tell you what they see. I find that it helps to keep a weather eye on your thumb to ensure that it tracks back and forth in the same plane . ie. Thumb controls direction of rod tip , rod tip controls direction of fly line .
Far easier to demonstrate these things than describe them in words. I,m sure Magnus will be able to add to /edit the above .
Agree with Ben , you need to get someone to watch you.
,often what we think we are doing is not what we are actually doing.
Hope some of that makes sense and is useful to us tailing loopers. (Everybody does it sometime).
Paul.