casting

[poutmaster]

i recently had a casting lesson from a qualified casting instructor, apart from changing my feet position slightly, he was impressed with my pendulum casting, he said i had a good smooth action, and there was nothing more he had to adjust, he advised me on tuning my reel, (florida orange mag elite) which i have done, i am using century carbon metal express with the reel up but i think i am still not bending the rod properly, i am using a seven foot drop for the pendulum, but i am still not getting the distances i should be,after watching gullyworm cast the other week, which was most impressive, with seemingly very little effort i am at a loss on how too progress, any tips or advice would be very much appreciated. (i am only getting about 130-140 yds on the field)

[Ben]

perhaps the rods are too stiff to bend fully, next time we meet up you can have ago with ym rods if you fancy

[poutmaster]

thanks mate, that'll be great, i think they should have some sort of grading for rods. once you've bought your first one, then you could go up and down the grades judging by the first one you bought as after reading all the literature i can on rods, i am still no wiser if i was too change now, i wouldn't know which rod too get without having half a dozen too try out

[Portland Jon]

Originally Posted by poutmaster

(i am only getting about 130-140 yds on the field)

Wow! I wish I could cast reliably half that distance. OK so I am using a Ron Thompson rod and Okhuma FS reel but I struggle to make 70yds with an OTG thump. Forget the pendulum cast for me, I can't even cast with the sinker behind me at 9 o'clock like other OTG casters do.

If there are any meets in the Dorset area soon I love some tips. But at least my local patch is Chesil, where I only need to cast 50yds.

Jon

[Englishman.in.Sweden]

qualified casting instructor ?????????
what a job to have lol
does it pay enough to live on??
to think that all these years i have been fishing im prob casting all wrong.
ah well i dont think the fish i have caught gave me marks out of ten for casting before i caught em.

[gullyworm]

Thanks for the kind words Bob.
I am by no means an expert at casting and think that far to much time is given to the subject.
One of the best anglers i ever new used a scarboro reel from the shore and he could cast no further than 50yrds.
A lot more important is having quility bait and knowing when to use it,reading the beach,picking your tides the list goes on.
Ive got a friend who has the same rods as you and i think one of your problems is that there like a broom stick,you need to be 18 stone and 7ft to bend them.
I bought my last rod from allans in pompey and at the time fancied one of the ones that was setting all the field records,when i enquired about it he strongly advised me against it,recomending something less powerfull.At the time he said its like a sunday driver going out and buying a formula one car,.
A lot of the blame must go towards the tackle shop owners for selling rods that are not suitable for general fishing,also magazines constantly go on about this or that rod and you feel like you cant be seen on the beach without it,ive done it.
I think the most important things when it come to casting are-
The right rod for you.
The right reel for you.
Timing
Practice
Practice
Practice
Not trying to hard,get the basics right first even if that means casting 80yrds.Once youve done that build the power and your distance will increase.

Ive still got an old cono flex cobra that is by todays standards not very powerfull but its a loveley fishing rod that is capable of casting towards 200yrds.Myself Bill and Ben are off monday night about six why not come along and have a go with it and my other rods if you like.
The rods you have are bloody good rods and cost more money than mine but i dont know many people who could bend and control it,i know i couldnt.
Sorry to go on and hopefully see you monday.
john

[poutmaster]

thanks for the info won't be able to make it monday, hope too meet up some other time

[iowangler]

hi mate have you tryed putting your reel down the butt? as i think the c m e was made for it? i was a tournament caster for a while i put a lot well over 250 yards down at a few events and a few of my mates where up with the big boys casting up to 290
you said that your style was smooth are you putting the power in ok?
when you turn into the cast get and smack it not to much power at first you have to build up to full power i read ben said you could try his rods you may need a softer rod and build up to a stiff rod ?
i use a pair of gray`s syntras and a pair of 525 mag`s for skate and general fishing with teklon 0.35 mainline and 80lb leader
and a pair of grey`s pz3oo t`s for eeling and ruff stuff with a pair of 525 gs `s with 0.40 teklon main line and 80lb leader
the syntra`s are sort in the tip and stiff in the mid and butt
and the pz t`s are all stiff both set`s of rods cast great and bite detection is great too!
a mate of mine works in a tackle shop and was a casting instructor he trys alot of new rods so i will ask him what he thinks

john

[poutmaster]

thanks john i am going to have a meet with gullyworm soon and try his rods if you could ask your mate as well that wood be big help i think the only way way to find a rod that is good for you is to try as many as poss

[devondave]

im no expert but im sure my instructer told me too use a longer drop than 7ft more like 9ft and the distance will come with time (so i have been told!)

practice and practice and eventually everything will come together is what my instructer told me (im still practicing )