Casting Techniques

If you’re new to fishing and looking to increase your odds of reeling in some great catches, you will need to practice and perfect your casting skills.

Improving your cast is the key to fishing success.

In angling, casting is the act of throwing bait or a lure using a fishing line out over the water using a flexible fishing rod.

Fishing techniques are methods for catching fish.

There is an intricate link between various fishing techniques and knowledge about the fish and their behavior, including migration, foraging, and habitat.

The effective use of fishing techniques often depends on this additional knowledge.

Which techniques are appropriate is dictated mainly by the target species and by its habitat.

Fishing techniques can be contrasted with fishing tackle.

Fishing tackle refers to the physical equipment that is used when fishing. Fishing techniques refer to how the tackle is used when fishing.

Angling is a method of fishing using an “angle” (hook).

The hook is usually attached to a line and is sometimes weighed down by a sinker so it sinks in the water.

Additional arrangements include the use of a fishing rod, which can be fitted with a reel and functions as a delivery mechanism for casting the line.

Floats or bobbers can be used to help function as bite indicators.

Line fishing

Fishing rods give more control of the fishing line. The rod is usually fitted with a fishing reel, which functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving, and paying out the line.

Line fishing is fishing with a fishing line. A fishing line is any cord made for fishing.

Important parameters of a fishing line are its length, material, and weight (thicker, sturdier lines are more visible to fish).

Factors that may determine what line an angler chooses for a given fishing environment include:

· breaking strength

· knot strength

· UV resistance

· castability

· limpness

· stretch

· abrasion resistance

· visibility

Modern fishing lines are usually made from artificial substances. The most common type is monofilament, made of a single strand.

What makes the perfect cast depends on what kind of gear you want to use.

What are the Types of Casts?

Overhand:

Imagine that you are standing in front of a clock, and your target is toward the 3 o’clock position. Face the target squarely.

Keep your elbow next to your ribs as you raise the rod straight up.

Move it sharply back to the 10 o’clock position, then use your wrist to whip it forward, releasing the lure at about 11 o’clock.

Follow through, using rod movement to control the cast.

Sidearm:

Imagine that you are standing on a clock face.

Your target is toward the 3 o’clock position. Face the target squarely, hold the rod parallel to the water.

If you’re right-handed, move the rod at waist level sharply to the 7 o’clock position, then use your wrist to whip it forward, releasing the lure at about 6 o’clock.

Follow through, using rod movement to control the cast.

Underhand:

Hold the rod at waist level, parallel to the water, and at a 45-degree angle from the target. Lower the lure 6 to 8 inches from the rod tip.

In one quick, smooth motion, “draw” a half-circle with the rod tip, releasing the lure as the rod reaches the bottom of the circle.

Use only your wrist and keep the tip of your rod pointed down. Follow through, raising the rod tip to give extra distance and lure control.

Casting Tips

Position yourself only as far away as water clarity dictates; stay close enough for consistent accuracy.

Cast past the target when possible to make as little noise as possible.

In windy weather, put tension on the line just before the lure touches down.

Learn casting techniques that permit a low trajectory, such as flipping, pitching, sidearm casting, and underhand casting.

Use a quality rod and reel matched to the weight of the lure. Rods with a stiff blank but relatively fast (limber) tip are easier to cast than extremely stiff or uniformly limber rods.

Cast with the wrist, not the arm and shoulder.

Lower the lure a few inches below the rod tip before casting; this gives extra momentum for the cast.

Be sure to “load” the rod tip, causing it to bend backward, on the back-cast, then whip the rod forward smoothly.

Fill the spool of any type of reel to within 1/8 inch of the lip of the spool. DO NOT OVERFILL!

If you do get a bird’s nest (backlash) on a baitcasting reel, try taking the spool out and pulling the line off the spool from the side. This sometimes works when all else fails.