What Do You Consider A 'good' Cast?

[JamesD]

I often ponder this question and ask other guys on the water the same thing.

How far (in feet) is a good cast?

I know this is dependent on rod action, lure weight, line size, and reel size.

Some people say 20' - 30', other say about 35'.

I average 30-35' (but have gotten upwards of 40' with a 1/2oz lure) with my main spinning combo (Shimano TX 1200 graphite from the 80's) running 14lb mono on a 7' ugly stick.

I average over 40' (and have gotten much further with 3/8 spinner) with my Shakespeare Stampede running 6 or 8lb mono on a 6' medium/light IM6 Lightning Rod.

And about 25' with my Zebco Red Rhino 6' 2 piece casting rod paired with a very old Abu Garcia 5500C running large braid. (This has improved by 5-15' since I tore it down a 2nd time and went through it, so I guess 30-35' now? Also, it used to cast a LOT further with my 6' Berkley Scout rod that broke)

All three do very well with varying size of lures up to 1/2 oz. I don't think I own anything larger than 1/2 ounce.

Anyway, all my tackle is old/cheap stuff that I've reconditioned, salvaged, and otherwise made good use of.

For a long time I thought I was getting poor distance, until I went out with a friend who's got higher-quality gear and is casting shorter distances with much more force than I am.

So, what do you guys consider a 'good' cast?

[OkobojiEagle]

The distances you mention above should be yards rather than feet.

oe

[*Hootie]

Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Joe Pesci. LOL

Hootie

[J Francho]

So, what do you guys consider a 'good' cast?

One that results in this:

[*Hootie]

One that results in this:

DOUBLE WOW!!!!

[KevO]

The only time distance is really that important to me is when I'm deep cranking. If I can't cast it at least 50-60 yd's I don't think its being fished effectively and covering enough water.

[JamesD]

The distances you mention above should be yards rather than feet.

oe

the only time I gauge distance in yards is on the shooting range. I find this to be a matter of personal preference, and I prefer feet.

if you do not like that I measure in linear feet, it sounds like a personal problem to me.

Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Joe Pesci. LOL

Hootie

Funn-E....

The only time distance is really that important to me is when I'm deep cranking. If I can't cast it at least 50-60 yd's I don't think its being fished effectively and covering enough water.

This is kind of what I'm thinking, but 50-60 yards far exceeds the distance of cast I am getting.

Also, nice Fish, Francho... but the sarcasm implied isn't helpful.

[Glenn]

In my opinion, distance is not a factor. A "good cast" to me is one that hits exactly where I'm aiming, and lands exactly the way I want it do. It's all about the ability control my presentation.

[OkobojiEagle]

James... I'm sorry you didn't understand my response. A good cast ought to be 20, 30 or 35yds not 20, 30 or 35 feet (60', 90' or 105') I don't care what your units of measurement are.

oe

[J Francho]

Also, nice Fish, Francho... but the sarcasm implied isn't helpful.

No sarcasm implied. Distance has NOTHING to do with catching. Work on your accuracy.

if you do not like that I measure in linear feet, it sounds like a personal problem to me.

People are trying to help you, try to be a little more open listen to the advice.

[tomustang]

James, the only way to accuratey measure your distance is to go to a sports field with your gear and tie on a lead weight and cast out, put your rod down and check with your feet or a tape measure. A football field with lines drawn already would be best.

[dale.m]

Any cast that goes right where I want it to go.

[LgMouthGambler]

A decent cast would be about 90 feet. If Im fishing the flats, then that is the only time I am really going for distance. Other than that, just like mentioned above, its more of an accuracy thing. Just like in shooting, you have to be accurate first before you can go for speed and distance.

[rockchalk06]

One thats not in my driveway and in the lake.

[JamesD]

James... I'm sorry you didn't understand my response. A good cast ought to be 20, 30 or 35yds not 20, 30 or 35 feet (60', 90' or 105') I don't care what your units of measurement are.

oe

This is the answer to my question. I see that my casts are falling short. I need to determine if my line, reels, or rods are prohibiting me from making a cast of that distance.

No sarcasm implied. Distance has NOTHING to do with catching. Work on your accuracy.

People are trying to help you, try to be a little more open listen to the advice.

I'm aware, I asked for guidance, although I found little guidance in that response.

Accuracy is important, but when you're falling short of your mark, there is a reason for it.

James, the only way to accuratey measure your distance is to go to a sports field with your gear and tie on a lead weight and cast out, put your rod down and check with your feet or a tape measure. A football field with lines drawn already would be best.

This sounds like a good idea. Although the only football field I know of is at the local High school. there are lot of public soccer fields in local parks, I could easily measure it with. Thanks for the tip.

A decent cast would be about 90 feet. If Im fishing the flats, then that is the only time I am really going for distance. Other than that, just like mentioned above, its more of an accuracy thing. Just like in shooting, you have to be accurate first before you can go for speed and distance.

So you would classify 90' as a decent cast. That's good to know. That virtually answers my question.

Being that I fish flats, most of the time, in 4' of water or less primarily using lip-less cranks (Rattle Traps), top water, or spinners (what works in the area I fish primarily), this is good to know.

I don't have as big of a problem with accuracy as I do distance. I know where I want to put the lure, and sometimes it falls short.

This could be attributed to by either my tackle, or the motion of which I cast. Being self-taught, and having little shown to me, I have been working on the techniques that work best.

[21farms]

i was reading a thread in another forum where some guy says he casts 80 to 100 yards. i thought, "that's nearly impossible!" but no one else seemed to think it was out of the ordinary and so i was left feeling seriously inadequate and alone

i've never used a tape measure but i know i definitely cannot cast the length of a football field. i'd guess i can cast 50 yards tops.

[tomustang]

Yardage is the common calculation for spool line so it's a given to use the higher increment for measurement

[OkobojiEagle]

I find distance and accuracy increase if I concentrate on letting the bait fully "load" the rod during the back cast and timing the forward cast when the rod is fully loaded. If the bait is not loading the rod well possibly the rod has too heavy an action for that particular bait.

oe

[.RM.]

One that results in this:

X2 Nice Fish!...

Definetly one that results in that..

"Accuracy is much more important than distance" - KVD

Tight Lines All!

[BassinMD]

For me I would say I average between 30-40 yards on an actual cast, crank rod probably 60 but like most people have said accuracy is the ticket, if your fishing from a boat you should be positioning yourself at a distance that your not throwing your arm out to get in the strike zone fish comfortably you will be much happier the next day

[Capt.Bob]

i was reading a thread in another forum where some guy says he casts 80 to 100 yards. i thought, "that's nearly impossible!" but no one else seemed to think it was out of the ordinary and so i was left feeling seriously inadequate and alone

i've never used a tape measure but i know i definitely cannot cast the length of a football field. i'd guess i can cast 50 yards tops.

Accuracy is the important thing when casting, but distance is to, many because they don't fish from a boat. I do both but would have to say the blow hard that is making 100 yard cast needs to invest in a better range finder!! he might be the same guy that is casting All his line off his Revo that I seen another forums post. these guys are preying on those that don't know no better and tryin to boost there egos with B.S.! I fish with 100's of other fisherman in the spring, wading in the Maumee river and am one of the guy's that get's the distance when needed over most others, and right with the best. 60 or a little more yards is a good cast and 50 is more common, with 5/8 to 3/4 oz weights, in a head wind drop that drastically.

Not all of em but a lot of good fisherman, the banks are lined like this for 5 or so miles on both sides for the most part, they must be some sorry casters?? Spinning and casting.

With my 400 Calcuttas with 65 braid and an 8' rod tossin 1 1/2 or more weight on a rod designed for it, on a good day with a little wind at my back 75 to 80 yards is a d**n good cast, and even when I was yonger all day firing like that would take it's toll, plus that aint bass or Walleye gear! regaurdless what you do you need top end equipment to do accuracy distance, thats when the money spent pays off.

A lot also has to do with matching your rod to what your trying to throw. A light action wont get it with 3/4 and 1 oz lures, and a heavy action ain't gonna impress anyony throwin 1/8 to 3/8 oz. I say worry about matching your gear and hitting the spot your aiming at, don't worry about what someone says they do, you will be a lot happier with your gear, and catch more fish!

[Bigbarge50]

Capt Bob...... that picture is crazy.... shoulder to shoulder...... I have never seen that many guys.... looks like a heck of a time.

If the original poster is looking to up the distance, some KVD line conditioner I have found to help up the distance.... sometimes very dramatically.

100 yards seems absurd...I can not imagine someone casting from goaline to goaline in giants stadium.

[SirSnookalot]

IMO Glenn gave an excellent response. Some of my fishing is "target fishing" and by that I mean putting the lure where I want it to be. I really don't tape my casts, imagine my normal cast may be around 30 yds, that's at water's level with little or no breeze. Under those conditions a further cast can be obtained by using a more aero dynamic lure and with a weight that allows the rod to load up.

Since long casts were brought up, yes 100 yds is not unusual at all, it's quite common. Fishing from an elevated position like I do quite often from a 10' jettie this with a 10-15 mph wind at your back I've casted out half of my 200 yds of braid, quite often, different lure weights and shapes affects the distance. Probably my same weighted jerk bait as as a spoon goes considerable less distance. Then I have a guy next to me casting twice as far, he's using a 12' rod and surf reel with a 4 oz thin profile diamond jig. Those same set ups cast 100yd+ from shore into a wind, distance is all about the equipment and technique.

A long flowing cast allowing the rod to load up will go further than a snap cast.

On topic using typical bass gear, 30 yds sounds about right for a cast.

[tholmes]

Any cast that goes right where I want it to go.

^^ Truth.

Accuracy trumps distance, IMHO. I'd rather be able to drop a lure in a bucket at 30 yards than throw an 80 yard missle.

Tom

[new2BC4bass]

James, I've no idea why your casting distance is so short. I've only measured distances when I was practicing pitching with my grandson's 6' MH Lightning rod a couple years ago. Standing on my rear deck (about a foot above ground level) I was able to pitch 30' using a Daiwa Procaster and 15# mono. Neither rod nor reel could be considered optimal equipment for this technique.

Does the spool spin freely? How much spool tension are you using? Bearings making any noise? Are the brakes maxed out?

You should be rather easily achieving at least 3 times the distance you are getting with a 1/2 oz. lure of any decent aerodynamics..