casting distance

[basscatcher14]

i can cast a fair distance but i am having trouble getting the lures as far as i want them. any tips on how to improve my casting distance?



your fishing buddy,
Tyler

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

I used to think you needed to make really long casts to be able to catch bass, but over the years I have learned that a long cast is not always the best answer..A well placed cast will catch you a lot more than a long one will..I have a feeling you are primarily fishing from the shore..Perhaps I am wrong in that assumption but I know most of us started out that way..For shore anglers, distance does seem to be important, but in all honesty it isn't..It has always amazed me that shore anglers try and cast as far out from the shore as they can, while boat anglers tend to cast as close to the shore as they can..There are times when a long cast is more beneficial, especially during the colder months and often during the warmest ones..During the spring and fall casts closer to the shoreline normally produce better or more consistant results..

To make any type of recommendations we need to know what type of rod and reel you are using, what type of line and the lure you are using..

mac

[201Pro]

i can cast a fair distance but i am having trouble getting the lures as far as i want them. any tips on how to improve my casting distance?



your fishing buddy,
Tyler

Tyler,

It's QUALITY not quantity ... meaning accuracy is much more important than distance. Being able to accurately place your bait in a particular sweet spot is much more important than doing the o'heave-ho ... IMHO!

[DeltaDan]

If you are trying to cast the Spro 4 inch BBZ Shad .... It ain't you or your mechanics that are lacking.

-- Ya gotta pich that baby around docks.





Seriously -- I "pitch" everything I throw now !! ... That motion has become my 1st instictive way to place any bait I have in my hands.

~ with the exception of overhand/sidearm casting SwimBaits, Carolina/Splitshot, Frogs, Cranks, Blades and Topwater on occasions.


Distance is all relative on the Delta --

[Randy Walker]

Make sure that you have as much line on your reel that it can take, keep your reel tuned and adjust it to the lure that your casting.

[robertthornton]

down size your line. Make shure your reel is well oiled.

[doug77]

Learn to use a Shimano Calais(they are costly) and you will be amazed
Doug C

[Chris B.]

any tips on how to improve my casting distance?

I just switched from using Shimano Citica 200 reels to the new Curado 200-E7 series and can now cast my light finese rigs like 1/8 oz dartheads about 20 feet farther. I'm now a believer in more expensive reels if you can afford it.

FWIW when I'm fishing in crystal clear water conditions I have found I have better luck if I back off and make longer casts...

[Oldschool]

Most bass fishermen over state their ability to cast long distances.
35 yards is a long cast for most standard bass tackle, under ideal conditions. It is possible to cast a low resistance lure like a jig and some heavy swimbaits, using the optimum rod, line, and higly tuned reel, 50 yards (when the line breaks they sail about 100 yds).
Simply go to any football field not being used and test your casting distance. Place a bucket at any distance and practice your casting accuracy.
If fishing from shore; use a longer rod that has a more parabolic action then you would normally use. Try fishing at different angles or fan cast the area.
Tom

[tunaman]

One other thing to remember... longer rods equal longer casts, while shorter rods equal more accurate targetting (in general). Under circumstances where you want really long casts, be sure you're using a rod between 7' and 8' long, with a fairly long foregrip for leverage. But don't forget to bring along a shorter stick (6' - 6 1/2') for those circumstances where distance matters little, but the target window is small or tight. As mentioned several times, distance is often not necessary and you will be rewarded more often with a well-placed cast.

Roger

[sTony]

Two things come to mind, one is longer rod length generally equates to longer casts and the use of line and lure conditioner can also make for a longer easier cast.

I'm sure others have thoughts as well.

sTony

[Dan McKenzie]

If your looking to improve performance of the gear you already have vs. spending a bunch of money, try downsizing line, cleaning rod guides then apply some dry film lubricant to them. I clean my reels pretty regularly, I use the Extreme lubricant, or you can send them in for a good cleaning and tune. When casting let the rod load up. This should give you some improvement.

[Tin Can]

any tips on how to improve my casting distance?

I just switched from using Shimano Citica 200 reels to the new Curado 200-E7 series and can now cast my light finese rigs like 1/8 oz dartheads about 20 feet farther. I'm now a believer in more expensive reels if you can afford it.

FWIW when I'm fishing in crystal clear water conditions I have found I have better luck if I back off and make longer casts...

I also have a Citica and just got a Curado E5 and the difference is night and day. The Citica just never seemes to cast very far by any standard. Not sure why, it just doesn't. The Curado casts a freaking mile!

[Cooch]

i can cast a fair distance but i am having trouble getting the lures as far as i want them. any tips on how to improve my casting distance? your fishing buddy, Tyler

Tyler, Three things come to mind fer me to improve castability distance.

Back off the line release tension knob. This will allow yer bait to travel farther before hitting that apex and downward trail that causes yer reel's internal braking mechanism to start ta kick in. You may have to learn to rely on your thumb more until ya git used to this.

Second, although a longer rod will allow you to attain greater distances, this may not be desireable for specific applications with the present equiptment you've invested in. You can acheive greater distance too, by using rods with more guides. What this does is alieviate line slap on the rod blank, allowing the line to fly thru the guides much easier and smoother. You would be very surprised the difference in a 6'6" rod with 7 guides, versus that same 6'6" rod with 10 guides. This is something you'll want to consider when purchasing new rods, opt for rods with more guides.

And last but not least, as Tony mentions, start using a line conditioner. I was amazed at how well the KVD Line & Lure conditioner worked when applied to my reel's line spool. Not only did it help to prevent overspins, and make casting more effortless, I did attain greater distances.

As Mac and some of the others have hinted too, lure choice, weather conditions and your personal mechanics can also have yet an entirely adverse affect on distance which may vary, to which you'll have to adjust to accordingly when presented with said conditions.

[GKramer]

Cooch, you missed one key step from the early days of head-to-head tournament fishing.

Stand with your left foot forward, knee bent, right foot back slightly, leg stiff. With your left elbow, hook your fishing partner near the chest while stepping forward with your right foot. As you push him back, step on the trolling motor on hi-bypass, causing your partner to lurch helplessly toward the deck. Kick the TM switch to normal and cast as usual.

This will get you at least one or two long casts ahead of your partner. That is, before he retaliates.

[tunaman]

Priceless, George!!!

Roger

[Cooch]

Cooch, you missed one key step from the early days of head-to-head tournament fishing.

Stand with your left foot forward, knee bent, right foot back slightly, leg stiff. With your left elbow, hook your fishing partner near the chest while stepping forward with your right foot. As you push him back, step on the trolling motor on hi-bypass, causing your partner to lurch helplessly toward the deck. Kick the TM switch to normal and cast as usual.

This will get you at least one or two long casts ahead of your partner. That is, before he retaliates.

HAR! HAR! HAR! I see you've been in the bote once with KB too!