Learning how to cast with fishing rods is important. If you do not know how to cast properly, you’ll probably end up not catching a fish. Thus, learning the basics of how to cast will increase your chances of catching more fish.
With enough patience in learning, casting doesn’t have to be challenging. This article aims to give you the step-by-step process of how to cast. If you are ready, we can start off by identifying what casting is.
What is Casting?
Casting is the process of throwing your bait or lure using a rod, reel, and line. The main objective of casting is to catch a fish. There are various techniques to casting such as overhead casting, pitch casting, flip casting, and sidearm casting.
Casting Techniques
Overhead Casting
Making the overhead cast is a technique that needs to have a good back cast followed by a forward cast.
Pitch Casting
When doing pitch cast, you need to extend the line to the same length as the rod. You need to hold the reel with one hand, while the bait on the other. When pitch casting, quickly flick your wrist to hold the reel and allow the bait to be pulled out by the other hand. Let the line pull the bait.
Flip Casting
Flip casting is intended for pinpoint lure. Use a heavy action rod of 7-7 1/2 feet. Let the 15 feet line go. With your free hand, grasp the line between the reel and the first rod guide then straighten your arm at the side. Raise the rod and swing back the lure. Lower the rod and make the lure swing forward.
Sidearm Casting
The sidearm cast follows the same basic principles of overhead casting, the only difference is you need to be in a sideway position.
What is Casting Fishing Rods
Fishing rods are durable and designed to handle heavier lines. This is the type of rod most anglers lean on to when fishing in thick vegetation or when fishing for bass.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Casting Rod
Rod Length
A general rule for all anglers is if the target is larger than the rod should be longer. If you are casting on a distance and need more strength, it is advisable to get a rod length of 8-10 feet. If you are chasing smaller fishes, you can choose a size between 6.5 and 7.5 feet. This length offers accuracy when casting.
Rod Action
The rod’s action determines how much the rod bends. Fishing rods with a fast action bends towards the tip. While medium or moderate action rods bends closer to the handle.
Fast action rods are versatile offering a good balance of sensitivity and good hook set. These rods are best used for jigging. Moderate action rods are great when using crankbaits.
Rod Power
Rod’s power will determine how much weight the rod can lift. Most of the baitcasting rods range from medium to extra-heavy.
5 Basic Steps in Casting
- Hold your fishing rod waist level in a horizontal position. Wind the line until about 30-50 cm out from the rod tip.
- Place your fingers between the reel foot. Bring the line roller under the rod.
- Hold the line against the rod with your index finger. hold the line then open the bail.
- Make sure that the area is clear, before bringing the rod back to a 2’oclock position.
- Cast the fishing rod by bringing it in a forward movement, releasing a 10 o’clock position for the line.
Different Casting Methods
Cast Surf and Beach Rod
Surf rods are the longest rod types that range 4-5 meters long. To achieve a distance with surf rods, all you need is an overhead cast. Open your bail by placing your finger on the line. In both hands, hold the rod to support the weight. Flick the pole forward and release your finger off the line to launch the bait.
To evaluate your distance, you can throw a few test casts. If you are not happy with the distance, you can adjust the speed and power of your cast. Remember that the bait adds weight to the end of your line which assists in achieving distance. Having a good-quality surf fishing setup then casting would be a lot easier.
Spin Rod Casting
Medium Spinning Rod
Hold your rod and thumb on the top of the rod grip then between your two middle fingers, position the stem of the reel. Rotate the bail arm and rotor until it’s close to your fingers and when the line roller reaches the top of the reel. To position the line in the perfect angle, grab the line with your forefinger then open the bail arm.
Casting with a spinning rod is straightforward and simple. You just need to extend the rod back, then extend it again forward, to release the line and flow through the guides.
Light Spinning Rod
Rotate the rotor and bail arm until the top of the bail arm reaches the top of the reel and your forefinger. Place your finger down on the spool to pinch and hold the line. Once done, you can open the bail arm to make a cast.
This technique helps ensure clean release avoiding tangles in your finger. It also allows you to feather the line during the cast to enhance accuracy.
Baitcaster Casting
When casting a baitcaster, you need to use a 6 foot, 6-inch medium heavy rod to 6 foot, 10-inch medium heavy rod. Hold your rod in a horizontal position, depress the thumb bar making sure that lure falls slowly. In the preparation for casting, bring the rod back over your shoulder.
While maintaining pressure, be reminded that when you depress the thumb bar, your line is released. Apply a firm pressure on the spool after aiming the target.
Fly Fishing Casting
Slide the reel in the bottom of the rod. By sliding the foot of the reel you can attach the reel to the rod. Twist the nut to tighten over the reel. At the end of the fly line, you can make a loop knot. Connect the leader and tippet to string your lure.
With a fishing knot, you can transition from thick line to thin tippet to hold the lure. Tie a fishing knot connecting the leader to the fly line. Then fix a tippet at the end of the leader. Connect the tippet end of the leader ensuring to add a fly to the tippett’s end.
How to Cast for Beginners
- Grip and Stance – Hold the rod by placing your thumb on top and stand on your feet for stability.
- Reel Setup – Familiarize yourself with the reel’s brake system. Ensure that the line is threaded properly through the guides.
- Back Cast – With the rod at 10 o’clock position, bring it backward while loading the rod.
- Forward Cast – Quickly change the position forward to 2 o’clock, by releasing the line with a flick.
- Target Your Spot – Adjust the angle and trajectory of your cast to aim your target.
- Follow Through – Ensure a straight and accurate release with a follow-through motion.
- Practice Regularly – Develop your muscle memory by practicing. Experiment with different casting techniques to find what works best with you.
How to Improve Distance Casting
Distance casting is the answer for catching bigger fishes. Here are the seven tips if you want to increase your casting techniques:
1. Choose the Rod
Choose a rod that suits your fishing style. The action and power of the rod is to be considered. The most common ratings for action are slow, medium, and fast. For distance casting, medium is more appropriate.
There are varieties of good rods to choose from. A good graphite rod option is the Okuma Solaris Surf which retails at about $110. The 12-foot Ugly Stik Bigwater is a fiberglass rod retailing at $70. You may choose whichever aligns with your preference.
2. Right Reel
Choose a baitcasting reel with large line capacity with at least 300 yards. When you consider distance casting, a trophy fish can make a 100-yard run or even more. In addition, you should select a spinning reel with aluminum spool, anti-reverse, and free-spool.
3. Premium Line
Premium lines may cost higher than the standard off-brand lines but its quality ensures success. Lighter lines cast further so you may find that premium lines have smaller diameter.
When distance casting, it is best to fill your spinning reels to prevent overruns. However, if you’re a beginner, this may not be advisable. Braided line in the 20-40 pound range is a good option for open water fishing. Monofilament lines with a 25 pound test are fitted for snag-infested waters.
4. Utilize a shock leader
To provide an added abrasion resistance, a shock leader is used. A 10-pound test of shock leader is required for every ounce of weight casted. For example, if you are casting 4 ounces, you should use a 40-pound shock leader.
5. Select a sinker
Choose a sinker that holds in strong current to help with distance casting. Some sinkers are bank, flat bank, pyramid, halls, storm, and grip.
6. Choose the rig
For long casting, you can use a 6-inch leader together with a rig. The fish-finder rig is one of the recommended rigs for distance casting that is easy to tie. Testing at least 75 pounds, casting a 4-6 ounce of weight, slide on a bead, then tie the swivel to the end of your shock leader.
When distance casting, a variation on the rig should pre-tie your hooks to have a supply of sinker slides, in case you break off. When you use a reel on a free-spool, the split shot helps set the hook, especially when using a circle hook.
7. Brighton Cast
If you are a beginner, the Brighton cast may work well with you. To perform this cast, stand with your left foot pointing at 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock to the right. Swing the sinker towards the direction of your foot and place it on the ground at 6 o’clock.
Then move the tip behind at 5 o’clock. Raise your left hand. The rod and the line should form the letter ‘V’ with your left arm about head high while your arm is bent. Once done, just drop your bait at 100 yards.
Different Types of Lure Retrieves
Knowing how to cast will get your lure out in front of fishes, but that alone won’t give you 100% success to get a fish. Retrieval is as important as casting, as is what gets a fish to take the bait.
Below are some lure retrieves that every angler should learn to effectively catch a fish.
Straight Retrieve
The most basic retrieve is the straight retrieve. This can be used in any type of rod or reel combination. With straight retrieve you can expect the line to be tight, making it easier to feel even the slightest bite. This is ideal to use for distance casting and works well with fishing crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, jigs, and spoons.
Stop and Go
The stop and go retrieve allows repetitive stop and go of the lure. This process involves the lure being retrieved for a few seconds then resting. The process is continuously repeated until the bait is taken. This retrieve is effective because it mimics the movement and presentation of a live bait. The stop and go process works on the top of the water and the subsurface.
Lift and Drop
Bass are more attracted to lures that fall through the water column. The process involves letting the bait fall to the bottom on a slack or semi-slack position, then lift. The lure is lifted slowly, popped, or ripped up. The goal here is to get the lure off the bottom for it to float.
Walk the Dog
This method of retrieval is very famous due to the action it creates. As the name applies, it mimics the action of the dog being on a leash. Primarily, this retrieve is used for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass but eventually, is used to target other species.
After casting, you want to make a 4-6 inch twitch of your rod tip, for the lure to shoot on one side. Reel in the slack. Then, give the lure a short twitch to send it back to the direction where it came. Repeat the process until a fish bites.
Twitching
Twitching is quite similar to ‘walking the dog’ as it involves short and fast movements. This method creates sequential twitches and a sudden pause. There are no specific number of twitches that can be done before catching a fish. So you need to play with different patterns and see what works.
What attracts fishes is the erratic twitching of the lure. This technique is used for jerkbaits, glide baits, and other topwater lures. A medium to heavy action is highly suggested for twitching.
Jerking or Sweeping
This style involves a mix of ‘walk the dog’ and ‘twitching’. It consists of longer sweeping movements that are created by pulling the rod down and sideways. Then the rod will be positioned at your direction and the slack line is reeled in. This retrieve is perfect to use with jerkbaits and crankbaits.
Ripping
Ripping is a simple technique that casts the lure out and rips it back to the boat. You have full control when you want to rip the lure at a steady pace or incorporate some erratic motion by jigging. This method works best when targeting active and aggressive fishes.
Conclusion
Casting a fish requires knowledge, skills, and practice. Understanding your tools and knowing the different methods helps you elevate your casting. With enough practice, you’ll soon master casting.
If you have some reactions or comments you would like to share, please feel free to post them down below. We’d love to hear from you!
Additional Resources:
- 4 ways to cast a fishing pole: https://www.wikihow.com/Cast-a-Fishing-Pole
- How to cast a spinning tackle: https://www.wikihow.com/Cast-Spinning-Tackle
- Secrets to perfect a cast: https://www.almactrailers.com.au/news/blog/the-secret-to-perfect-casting-in-fishing
- Beginner’s guide on casting and retrieving: https://www.gofishbc.com/learn/fishing-tips/lake-fishing/beginners-guide-to-casting-and-retrieving-a-spinning-reel/
- How to cast far: https://www.baitsoaker.com/how-to-fish/how-to-cast/
