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| Hello everyone, I was hoping someone could help me with increasing my casting distance. I feel like I don't get bad distance but would like to improve it. Here is my set-up:
Abu Garcia C5 6500 Reel
St. Croix 7'6" Premier Casting Musky Rod
1/2 reel backed with Trilene 20# Mono
Spool filled with 50# Original Braid Spider Wire
I have a hell of a time casting bucktails and even some cranks like shallow raiders and Jakes. Actually, the only lures I get good distance w/ are heavier ones like topraiders, undertakers, and depthraiders.
I know this is why people have different set-ups for different lures, but I'm new to the sport and I'm trying to slowly build up my arsenal. (w/out getting divorced) lol.
If you see anything in my set-up that I could improve please let me know. Thanks |
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| it's all about the spool tension and thumb control.
practice practice practice.
and keep in mind that an accurate short cast is way better than a long bomb in most situations.
there was a recent article in one of the magazines about casting that may help you out about this - does anyone have the cite for that article? (either in EA or MH i think) |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | Check how you have your clutch set. It may be too tight. You want to set it so that the weight of the bait just starts to take line off the reel whne you push the thumbar/button.
So far I have found the reels that cast the farthest are garcia's low profile torno reels. They have the guts of the round reels and are durable. It's amazing how far they cast, it's actually a good idea to put more than 75-80 yards on the reel because some baits you can cast all that off. Never done that with a round reel. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | If you are couragous go to one of the super oils like rocket fuel. They have one that they only recomend for professional distance casters. Juice it up and back off on the spool tension and watch that light lure fly, until tou get the grand daddy of all backlashes. I have gone to very light thin oil this year. I'm using Singer sewing machine oil. It is not quite as thin as the thinnest rocket fuel but it really sings (sorry). You also might just want to get crazy enough to replace your bearings with abec 5 or abec 7's. They are very close tolerance bearings that are far superior to factory bearings (3's I think for Abu's). They are not cheap and I don't know how much distance they will add but some reel nuts swear by them. You can find the rocket Fuel on the net. Red lable for just good casting. Tournement oil for more danger and distance, and the Yellow lable for the extreemists.
It is usually the cast where you are swinging for the fence that gets you the best backlashes. |
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Posts: 3926
| I use Rocket Fuel oil and my reels are always very clean on the inside. Fling a bait as far as I dare, backlashes are always a big risk. But learned to thumb the spool well and now cast into the wind with little thought, just do it, feel the reel. I can cast a Jackpot, with the wind, about 750 yards. Maybe 1,000. |
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| Andy,
Your reel is fine, backing is fine, and your rod is great! However, I've found that braided line under 80lb test tends to bite into the spool, which makes it tough to get any distance. This is especially true when throwing any baits with much weight.
So, you may want to try using a heavier braid like 80lb Power Pro. The larger diameter won't bite into the spool nearly as much and a little more strength in your line never hurts either.
Even though long casts are great, keep in mind that excessively long casts only make it tougher to control the bait and harder to get a good hook set. So, find a line that casts consistently well with the equipment you have. I think going up in line diameter will help.
Just my two cents! |
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| Thanks for all the great advice. I too thought about using heavier line and this may be the route I try first. I know long cast can be overrated, but I feel like I have to work very hard to get an average cast. Again, the advice is great and I appreciate it. |
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| I have a similar setup and also had problems with the smaller line. I even lost a bait or two when the line really caught and just snapped back, causing the line to just break. Even when it didn't catch, I found it was still tough to get much distance as I found myself "slinging" baits instead of actually casting them.
When I went to the heavier braid, my casts were much better; farther, more accurate and easier to make. The fact that it doesn't bite into the spool made all the difference in the world.
Also, I think Power Pro offers a better quality line over what's offered by SpiderWire. The price is pretty reasonable too. |
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Posts: 9
Location: Anprior Ontario, Canada | I use the exact same setup as you and have no problems casting lighter lures like musky killers and even six inch baits. Dont use any special oil just plain and simple WD. Practice is key!!!!! learn how different baits fly. A musky killer will cast best if the line is slighlty tight at the start of a cast, this gets the bait to lie flat with the weigted end leading the way. Same goes for most jerks likes suicks. Once you practice enough you will be able to loosen magnets right off and just use your thumb to control spool speed. Personnaly I do not like Power Pro period, it bites into the spool to much no matter what puond test. TUF line is much better for casting and untangling backlashes
Edited by Relic 7/8/2004 6:34 PM
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| I'm w/ Todd...I too like the low profile. Scott Jenkins revealed the use of the Shimano Curado 2-3 yrs. ago, and I've had no probs. w/ mine the past 2 yrs. Got 50lb. PP on one, mono on the other; both cast small stuff real well; I like having at least 2 outfits for different settings, and I like the longer rods. You could put together another rig via B-days etc. I use 8lb. Fire Line on me Spanish mack rod, and it'll cast a 2oz. Stinger outta site! Practice is the key as stated above, and do extra stuff around yer hooch to "earn" gear...fortunate for me, I could park a shrimp trawler in the front yard and she'd never know the diff!  |
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| An 8 foot rod really helps cast the small stuff, and the art of casting is more about precision than distance...But who doesn't like to toss a lure a mile?  |
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| The main reason I want to maximize my distance is because I shore fish most of the time. I don't have to worry about casting onto the bank so I try to cover as much water as I can. I do practice hitting targets on the water because I also spend a lot of time fishing creeks that do require more precision and my set-up works there, but most of my time is on a river.
I watch fishing shows on the Outdoor Channel and watch Joe Bucher cast a mile so effortlessly. I have to sling it out there to get half the distance. I do have to basically sling my lure instead of casting and it wears on my shoulder.
I just want to thank everyone for their help, I learned a lot and really appreciate it. |
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| Longer rods help 8'+
More limber rods are better for lighter baits as they load better, M to MH
Get a rod w/ a lot of glass in it as it will load better ie. Loomis Crankbait Series
Get a reel designed to throw lighter baits Chronarch SF, Curado SF, Daiwa CVZ in smaller sizes, smaller Calcuttas are some of many.
Lighter line casts farther - I use 35 lb TUFF for lighter muskie baits down to 8 lb for smaller cranks
Back off on the spool tension and pray for a well educated thumb. Backlashes are brutal w/ light line.
Very light oil as mentioned in other posts, over lube will slow the spool
Accurate casts are often better than long ones esp if you backlash alot |
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Posts: 910
Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | Ranger,
did you mean 750 and 1000 feet instead of yards? if you really meant yards, i think we have a new branch of the armed forces. the 3 treble musky bait snipers! can lip hook a terrorist over the horizon!! |
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Posts: 335
Location: Orland Park | Personally, I don't think casting distance should be a priority. Have you ever seen someone try to set the hook on a fish when the lure just hit the water after a long cast? Even with a super/non-stretch line and a broomstick rod, it's really tough to get hooks in a fish 50 yards out. A few years back, my cousin had a fish of a lifetime hit just as the lure hit the water after a super long cast, but never got a hook in it..........saw a lot of line lying on the water when he set it, and he set it hard.
But if you're in a casting contest, you would want a Calcutta 400 in your hand. |
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Casting Distance?