I grew up with spinning reels, but I have come to appreciate casting reels, at least in theory. There have advantages in some situations, and I'd like to be able to use them effectively. I've practiced a bit, but I'm still having a hard time. I have an okuma cortez 5 loaded with 50 lb braid that gives me fits, despite the mag cast control. On the other hand, I don't have nearly as much trouble with backlashes casting my okuma cavalla 15 loaded with 80 lb hollow braid.
Anyone have any tips or pointers for learning how to cast these reels effectively? Does heavier line make it easier to learn? How about mono instead of braid?
If you can get a hold of a Newell, it is the best reel to learn how to cast. Mono will definitely be easier for you to cast. On my P229, I can cast a surface iron using an 8' jig stick quite a way out there. Also star drags typically are easier to cast then lever drags. On the penn jigmasters and newells I tend to turn my hand 90 degrees downward once the line start going out. Just the old habit of making sure the spool rides on away from the main gears. Seems to allow the lines to come out nicer and the spool to spin nicely..
Quote from: Three se7ens on October 31, 2013, 05:20:13 AM
I grew up with spinning reels, but I have come to appreciate casting reels, at least in theory. There have advantages in some situations, and I'd like to be able to use them effectively. I've practiced a bit, but I'm still having a hard time. I have an okuma cortez 5 loaded with 50 lb braid that gives me fits, despite the mag cast control. On the other hand, I don't have nearly as much trouble with backlashes casting my okuma cavalla 15 loaded with 80 lb hollow braid.
Anyone have any tips or pointers for learning how to cast these reels effectively? Does heavier line make it easier to learn? How about mono instead of braid?
Daft question perhaps, but are you casting from a boat? the rod set up is very important and the correct weight to load rod and get the reel going. Also start with mono, not braid.
Pull off say, 70 yards of line from the spool. Wrap some tape around the remaing line on the spool. Rewind those 70 yards and cast.
This isn't going to help your casting at all. It just makes your birdsnests a lot smaller and easier to fix while you learn.
.
Now that's a good tip Robert!
Quote from: Robert Janssen on October 31, 2013, 07:13:52 AM
Pull off say, 70 yards of line from the spool. Wrap some tape around the remaing line on the spool. Rewind those 70 yards and cast.
This isn't going to help your casting at all. It just makes your birdsnests a lot smaller and easier to fix while you learn.
.
That is a very clever idea
Quote from: Robert Janssen on October 31, 2013, 07:13:52 AM
Pull off say, 70 yards of line from the spool. Wrap some tape around the remaing line on the spool. Rewind those 70 yards and cast.
This isn't going to help your casting at all. It just makes your birdsnests a lot smaller and easier to fix while you learn.
.
He nailed it, and if your cast goes further it pops the tape off, also heavily cross winding the 50yds on top will help. Put a mono topshot on, heavier bearing oil, and more mags are always great options
Quote from: Robert Janssen on October 31, 2013, 07:13:52 AM
Pull off say, 70 yards of line from the spool. Wrap some tape around the remaing line on the spool. Rewind those 70 yards and cast.
This isn't going to help your casting at all. It just makes your birdsnests a lot smaller and easier to fix while you learn.
.
X2
Quote from: CapeFish on October 31, 2013, 06:30:23 AM
Daft question perhaps, but are you casting from a boat? the rod set up is very important and the correct weight to load rod and get the reel going. Also start with mono, not braid.
I mainly fish from a boat, so long distance casting isn't necessary. The rod is a 6'6" medium heavy jigging rid rated for 1-6 oz lures, it has a slow action and bends pretty easy. That's the rod I have the star drag Cortez on, and this is the combo I'm more interested in casting. The cavalla gets used only live abut fishing offshore.
That's a great tip about taping the spool. I'll do that and add 75 yds or so of mono on top. Is 20-25 lb a good choice?
Initially, use a "heavy thumb" as you are letting the line fly on the cast. Make sure you have enough water on the line to prevent your thumb from burning. As you get to the point where you don't have any backlash when the line stops, gradually lessen the pressure on the line. By this, I mean: On cast #1, hold fairly tight when you "release". Do not try to get distance. Keep doing that until you have zero backlash. Then, on cast #10, hold a bit less pressure on the thumb when you "release". Keep doing that until you don't have any backlash. On cast #20, hold a bit less presser and repeat. Repeat the sequence of reducing the thumb pressure until you are at the point where you have very little backlash and are able to control even your longest cast. Do not try to get distance. Learn to control the line first. Once you can do that, distance can then be achieved.
As it happens, I am in the middle of teaching my 2 daughters how to do this. I always try to break the steps down. It feels totally different holding a spool still as opposed to holding your thumb on the line of a spinner, So start with just swinging the rod while your thumb holds the line. After that you can start easing off the spool and letting it spin. Start with redicoulously short casts (like 5 yards) and work up. If there is any overrun at all then continue casting at that distance until you can completly control the spool. With an experienced caster it shouldn't take more than an hour or so to get to fishing distance.
Concerning the gear; I recomend mono, it is just more forgiving. Use a reel with no ball bearings and use reel grease on the bushings. Try to find a spool that will allow your thumb to comfortably reach the top of the spool without distorting your grip, for me that is a 3/0 Penn and if there is any reel that I recomend as a casting learner it would be the Penn 60 / 2/0 / 85 etc. that uses the chromed brass 29-85 spool. With that rig and your rod you should be able to get to where you can cast a 3 oz bait as far as you need to off a boat in just a few days if you are willing to work on it.
Above all start casting and keep at it. I've been fly lining anchovies for over 30 years. I can cast a good ways with any rig but I am still no where near at the point where I know everything or am casting as good as I want.
Ron
I would use 30
as far as taping the spool, or ANYTHING on a fishing reel/rod, I'm a big fan of non-adhesive/self-adhering silicone (Tommy Tape, Plumber's Wrap, etc.) -- the stuff sticks only to itself through surface tension; NO STICKY GLUE to gum up your line, or "migrate" to unwanted places... a little sunshine & friction can make the glue on adhesive tapes travel to all sorts of places where you don't want it
Masking tape shouldn't make like sticky
3-7's,
Mono for sure; I wouldnt go lighter than 15-20#. Use the tape if you want. Get a spray bottle of water to wet the line on the reel well, this is for the line more than your thumb. Dry mono is hard and has memory (coils) which inhibit casting, dont forget to wet line periodically. Before casting; lower your casting plug (whatever your using to practice casting with) to a point between your last guide and the reel. Lean the rod back to the 10 o'clock position and release at the 2 o'clock position. Follow the casting plug to the ground/water with the tip of your rod and apply thumb brake when it lands on ground/water. I would set my reel up with some resistance on the spool to assist your currently uneducated thumb. Start out with short casts; as you progress to longer casts use your thumb to feather the spool to control spool speed to prevent over-run. Keep your eyes on the lure from start to finish (safety/learning). Be as fluid as possible throughout your cast, and rotate the reel counter clockwise in your cast until when finished casting the reel is almost upside down in the 7/8 o'clock position away from the gear side of the reel. Remember casting a jig/lure is different than casting live/dead bait fish. You can literally "whip" a lure in casting; whereas this will tear the hook from the flesh of bait. When casting bait you want a fluid pendulum style of cast. Once you develop proffency casting then start casting for accuracy into whaterver is handy (buckets, trash cans,lids, evern cups) and dont forget to periodically wet the line (if your casting on land). When my nephews were little (6-8 yrs old) they could cast better than most of my adult friends who would come fishing with us. A reel that you can COMFORTABLY hold and manipulate is essential to this whole "learning to cast" equation. Dont forget to check out some Youtube video's as well. BTW, this is just overhand casting; there's underhand (good for short distance's), side arm and more.
Hope this helps,
Leo
i don't know what you are throwing but if you are throwing heavier baits lures leads etc, i begin by turning the mag all the way and lightly toss it. and then i slowly and gradually put more force into my cast and slowly lessen the mag control until i get the hang of it. the heavier the weight the less force i use when casting, taking into consideration everything remains the same except for the weight of the lure lead etc. hope this helps...
Good casting is technique and power applied in harmony. Over head thump cast vesus a pendulum style, overhead looses everytime
1. dont cast hard,nice and smooth,no jerk.
2. jam your thumb on the spool just before the lure or bait hits your target.
There is a very good DVD called "Advanced Casting with Frank LoPreste & Randy Toussaint", done by the TV show Inside Sportfishing, that you still can find on the net. Watching something done right from the get go makes it easier for me to try to copy. Frank and Randy are two well known long range captains here on the left coast and for the small price of the DVD it may be worth it to advance your abilities quicker and take alot of the headaches out of the learning curve.
Quote from: Three se7ens on October 31, 2013, 05:50:55 PM
Quote from: CapeFish on October 31, 2013, 06:30:23 AM
Daft question perhaps, but are you casting from a boat? the rod set up is very important and the correct weight to load rod and get the reel going. Also start with mono, not braid.
I mainly fish from a boat, so long distance casting isn't necessary. The rod is a 6'6" medium heavy jigging rid rated for 1-6 oz lures, it has a slow action and bends pretty easy. That's the rod I have the star drag Cortez on, and this is the combo I'm more interested in casting. The cavalla gets used only live abut fishing offshore.
That's a great tip about taping the spool. I'll do that and add 75 yds or so of mono on top. Is 20-25 lb a good choice?
Hello Three se7ens, I have been casting these reels for over 20 years and I think your Rod is half the problem, I reckon most experienced casters would have trouble let alone a newbie to the art.
Both length and lure rating is questionable, especially 1-6 oz, can I suggest that relates to jig size and not casting lure size.
Quote from: Dave Bentley on November 04, 2013, 05:28:06 AM
Hello Three se7ens, I have been casting these reels for over 20 years and I think your Rod is half the problem, I reckon most experienced casters would have trouble let alone a newbie to the art.
Both length and lure rating is questionable, especially 1-6 oz, can I suggest that relates to jig size and not casting lure size.
It's a jigging rod, so those numbers may be a bit misleading. It's fairly light with a slow action, so it bends through the entire length of the rod when it's loaded.
I would think the slow action would be easier to cast since it accelerates the spool more gradually than a fast action. As for the length, it's a boat rod. I don't need this for long distance casting, I have other rigs better suited to casting that I'm far more comfortable with.
While a slow action does allow "softer" presentations it is not necessarily easier to cast. A stiff rod loads rapidly and it is relativly easier to keep it loaded through the swing, all that energy can be difficult to control as far as making the bate go in the direction you want. A slow rod takes time to load and the swing has to be consistent to keep the rod loaded. The fast rod will also almost always cast farther with the same level of effort. This allows you to concentrate on spool control and not worry so much about the rod.
This is in some ways like trying to learn to shoot a shotgun with a 410. More gun means more hits and once you are hitting you can start working on technique.
Ron
Gotcha. Thanks!
But then I take the .410 and murder some squirrels with head shots ;D Everything is different for everyone including rods, you seem to need a stiffer action. They will sling heavy weights further
Yes but you didn't head shot squirrels with a 410 when you started shooting. A slow rod is nice for things like tossing collar hooked live chovies without tossing them off, but only when you have your technique down to where you can get the distance you need and keep the bait on.
Ron
Yea! Grayson! Don't be head shottin' those squirrels! When you started shooting! :D
Its called Hunting, not Murder. ::)
This is about casting, not killer head shots! :o
Gotta save the meat! For slingin live bait, what about a rod with a nice soft tip and a stiff back bone?
Everything works. I grew up fishing livve chovies and the old man liked soft rods so that's what I learned to cast with. Up until not to long ago I wasn't interested in a 20# or lighter rod that wouldn't let the tip touch the but. I maybe didn't cast as far but I rarely tossed my bait off. I have learned to apreciate stiff backbones, especially for tossing swimbaits and such.
Ron
All good stuff here. I am sure this has been said here and there but this is what works for me.
I found that any changes in your line weight or lure weight will drive you batty. I only cast 4 oz. or 6 oz lures! That's all I have in my box. If it needs to be heavier just free spool to the bottom and work it up. Using the quick change spool on a Jigmaster or Squidder for heaver line will mess you all up. Dirty bearings vs. clean = disaster on your first cast. Tell the guy that puts on your top shots to apply more brake on the spooling machine or the first cast will backlash.
In MHO it's all about consistency. I don't have the where-with-all to make big cast to cast adjustments on the fly. Sure I know how to turn the rod over and ride some thumb on the drop but I simply find the sweet spot and stay there! If you change lure weight go easy for 2-5 casts. The rod loads and unloads differently. Your timing changes and everything changes.
I will find the vid mentioned before.