How Far Can You Cast?

[Lucky Craft Man]

I always wondered how far I was able to cast a lure (more for the purposes of knowing how much line to put on a reel after putting filler on).  Last Fall I was casting all the braid (just to the end) I had put on my A-Rig combo.  I thought before I took all the braid off that reel and put on more, I would see how much line that truly was.  I placed a portable line counter on my rod and used a line counting reel to wind up the braid (I wanted redundancy with the two line counters).  I was surprised to learn that I was only casting out approximately 96 ft (one line counter read 96 ft. and the other read 97ft.).  I felt like I was Bombing that A-Rig and in reality, if I stood on the end zone line, I could just cast over the 30 yard line.  The good news is that I don't plan on ever using more than 50 yards of line on a reel (and those 150 yard spools I can use to fill 3 reels).  I know in the past I was putting on way more line than this (I guess I was delusional of how much line I was really casting out). 

 

Has anyone else ever measure how far they were really casting?  I would like to see how my results corroborate with others.

[chromedog]

THis is awesome.  I was just debating this with my brother.  He feels he can cast a football field.  I just don't find it possible, even throwing a 3/4 red eye shad or something.  What is realistic for an able bodied person in their 30's?

[00 mod]

I do not know how far I can cast, but I have figured out a good way to fill a spool with backer and then line.

 

Fill spool with cheap backer.  Make sure it is close to the diameter you want for your "main line".

Take a weight that is at the top of your rods weight limit.  Cast it out as far as you can.  Open your bail, or release the spool and walk back to your weight.  That is 2 cast lengths, that will allow for break offs and re-ties!

 

Jeff

[Brian Needham]

with 200 yard spools I get 3 fill ups (65 yards per reel) which is on par with Jeff's 2 cast set up.

 

I got pretty nice gear, Lews TP and shimano cores, cleaned and supertuned. My opinion is people who say they can cast over 40 yards non wind aided are full of it.........everyone catches 5 pounders until you weigh them, and everyone cast 60-70 yards until you pace it off. My standard response to people when say " I can spool myself on a cast".....you should add more line, LMAO

 

edit Lipless cranks are the exception, you really can BOMB those out there a ways

[senile1]

The good news is that I don't plan on ever using more than 50 yards of line on a reel (and those 150 yard spools I can use to fill 3 reels).  I know in the past I was putting on way more line than this (I guess I was delusional of how much line I was really casting out).

 

I may be misunderstanding this statement, but you still should fill your spool to within an 1/8 inch or so of the edge.  If you only use 50 yards and aren't attaching it to backing to fill the spool your inches per turn of line pickup will be less and you won't be getting the full benefit of your reel's gear ratio. 

 

As for distance it depends on the size of the lure.  I've never truly measured it.  I only estimate.  I think I can fling a zara spook at least 50 yards but that is a guess.  As stated in a post above that may have been wind-aided. 

[Lucky Craft Man]

THis is awesome. I was just debating this with my brother. He feels he can cast a football field. I just don't find it possible, even throwing a 3/4 red eye shad or something. What is realistic for an able bodied person in their 30's?

Well, I am in my 30's, so I would say that 32 yards (as I measured) would be realistic (and on the high end).

[MarkH024]

THis is awesome.  I was just debating this with my brother.  He feels he can cast a football field.  I just don't find it possible, even throwing a 3/4 red eye shad or something.  What is realistic for an able bodied person in their 30's?

You are more knowledgeable than your brother.  I'd say 30 to 40 yards is average for most on bait casting equipment. No proof but just an observation that I see from most people.

[38 Super Fan]

with 200 yard spools I get 3 fill ups (65 yards per reel)

 

I got pretty nice gear, Lews TP and shimano cores, cleaned and supertuned. My opinion is people who say they can cast over 40 yards non wind aided are full of it.........everyone catches 5 pounders until you weigh them, and everyone cast 60-70 yards until you pace it off.

Yup, people really tend to over estimate how far they can cast.

[Lucky Craft Man]

I do not know how far I can cast, but I have figured out a good way to fill a spool with backer and then line.

Fill spool with cheap backer. Make sure it is close to the diameter you want for your "main line".

Take a weight that is at the top of your rods weight limit. Cast it out as far as you can. Open your bail, or release the spool and walk back to your weight. That is 2 cast lengths, that will allow for break offs and re-ties!

Jeff

Hmmmm...very ingenious approach! Thanks for the tip.

[gobig]

I do not know how far I can cast, but I have figured out a good way to fill a spool with backer and then line.

 

Fill spool with cheap backer.  Make sure it is close to the diameter you want for your "main line".

Take a weight that is at the top of your rods weight limit.  Cast it out as far as you can.  Open your bail, or release the spool and walk back to your weight.  That is 2 cast lengths, that will allow for break offs and re-ties!

 

Jeff

 

 

Very similar to what I do. Depending on the rod and reel I fill it with cheap braid as a backer.

[senile1]

Yup, people really tend to over estimate how far they can cast.

 

I believe 100 - 120 feet is not uncommon for casts and that is measured.  Thirty yards is a bit short.  I have copied a thread below that discussed this very subject here on Bass Resource.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/85092-casting-distance/

[Lucky Craft Man]

I may be misunderstanding this statement, but you still should fill your spool to within an 1/8 inch or so of the edge.  If you only use 50 yards and aren't attaching it to backing to fill the spool your inches per turn of line pickup will be less and you won't be getting the full benefit of your reel's gear ratio. 

 

As for distance it depends on the size of the lure.  I've never truly measured it.  I only estimate.  I think I can fling a zara spook at least 50 yards but that is a guess.  As stated in a post above that may have been wind-aided. 

 

What I meant by this was that I will fill my spool with backing (or "filler" as I call it) and then top it off with 50 yards of "good" line.  I always used filler (in the case of my A-Rig combo, I was casting all the braid out right to the knot with to the mono backing), but I would try and add say 100 yards (which obviously wasn't the case for my A-Rig combo.  I was way short filling that), but now I don't think I will ever add more than 50 yards (which will be determined by the portible line counter I purchased).  Though, I do like 00 Mod's suggestion of filling the whole reel with cheap backing and then cast out as far as you can and double it.  No quess work there or measuring needed.

[senile1]

What I meant by this was that I will fill my spool with backing (or "filler" as I call it) and then top it off with 50 yards of "good" line.  I always used filler (in the case of my A-Rig combo, I was casting all the braid out right to the knot with to the mono backing), but I would try and add say 100 yards (which obviously wasn't the case for my A-Rig combo.  I was way short filling that), but now I don't think I will ever add more than 50 yards (which will be determined by the portible line counter I purchased).  Though, I do like 00 Mod's suggestion of filling the whole reel with cheap backing and then cast out as far as you can and double it.  No quess work there or measuring needed.

 

Thanks, I figured you were using backing but I thought I would throw that out there.  And 00 Mod's suggestion is awesome.  I've seen his idea floating around on a couple of threads lately. 

[chromedog]

^{Ya, my brother is one of those that knows it all.  lmao.   But I knew it didn't seem possible.  Does anyone think there is a difference in casting distance between and casting setup vs a spinning setup, with the same lure?}

[mjseverson24]

It depends on what rod and reel you are using. I have three setups that can absolutely them out there. all are quite long rods one is 7'6" i use for hollow body frogs I would guess 40+ yards. another is an 8' flippin stick used for football jigs this one is probabily 50+ yd I use 15lb floro no backing and I get about half way through the spool. the last is a 8'6" rod I use for deep cranks and this one also uses 15lb floro and it is about half way through the spool again at full distance(50+ yds). want more distance on your casts use longer rods better bearings for your reels and or smaller diameter line. 

 

Mitch

[South FLA]

I once cast  all the line out of an Shimano Antares that was full to capacity with 40 or 50 lb braid, I am not sure how far it was, but I had a reputable witness that frequents this forum on occasion.  I cheated a bit though, since mid cast I loosened the tension control knob a bit and had a little tail wind. Nevertheless, unless you need to cast far (e.g. clear water, shallow water, spooky fish, etc.) you are just getting a workout and stroking an ego.

 

 

^{Ya, my brother is one of those that knows it all.  lmao.   But I knew it didn't seem possible.  Does anyone think there is a difference in casting distance between and casting setup vs a spinning setup, with the same lure?}

 

I would say on average and for your average angler the spinning cast farther. I think all the world records are set with bait-casters though. 

[Teal]

Theres a video on you tube of David Fritts chucking a crankbait over 60the yard with a BB1

[Dwight Hottle]

Well Mr Hajime Murata casted a shimano Antares 110 yards with a 5/8 casting plug. His performance starts at 6:30 minutes into the video.

 

[Dwight Hottle]

I remember that performance rather well. I wish we had measured how much braid I actually had on there.

 

 

I once cast  all the line out of an Shimano Antares that was full to capacity with 40 or 50 lb braid, I am not sure how far it was, but I had a reputable witness that frequents this forum on occasion.  I cheated a bit though, since mid cast I loosened the tension control knob a bit and had a little tail wind. Nevertheless, unless you need to cast far (e.g. clear water, shallow water, spooky fish, etc.) you are just getting a workout and stroking an ego.

[Lucky Craft Man]

^{Ya, my brother is one of those that knows it all.  lmao.   But I knew it didn't seem possible.  Does anyone think there is a difference in casting distance between and casting setup vs a spinning setup, with the same lure?}

 

I sence a betting oppurtunity.  Take your brother to the local football field and bet him $20 that he can't cast the lure of his choice from the one end zone line through the uprights on the other end.  If he fails, you get $20 and if he succeeds, make sure to film it and put it on YouTube, because that would be an amazing feat and worth the $20 just to see.

 

As far as the spinning vs. casting question goes, that would be a good experiemnt.  I suspect I can cast a baitcaster farther, but I never really tried bombing any lure with a spinning set-up, so I can't really say.

[Teal]

30 yards is good distance... but there are other variables in play that can aid in increasing casting distance. Lure weight, line size, type of line, rod length, rod action, and casters technique and of course the reel itself.

Ive paced off 43 yards plus or minus with my deep crankin rod using a 3/4 oz crank bait dummy.

Like brain said, im using decent equipment and do not see the 50 yard bombs some folks chat about.

Other than deep cranking or A rigs or somung like that, i really dont need the 40 yards.. id venture to say, most of what i do is inside of 20..

[chromedog]

I sence a betting oppurtunity.  Take your brother to the local football field and bet him $20 that he can't cast the lure of his choice from the one end zone line through the uprights on the other end.  If he fails, you get $20 and if he succeeds, make sure to film it and put it on YouTube, because that would be an amazing feat and worth the $20 just to see.

 

As far as the spinning vs. casting question goes, that would be a good experiemnt.  I suspect I can cast a baitcaster farther, but I never really tried bombing any lure with a spinning set-up, so I can't really say.

Too funny, I was thinking the same thing.  Time to put up or shut up for mr. big pants.

[Lucky Craft Man]

Well Mr Hajime Murata casted a shimano Antares 110 yards with a 5/8 casting plug. His performance starts at 6:30 minutes into the video.

I love his "roundhouse" casting technique! I may need to try that when casting Pounders for musky.

[Lucky Craft Man]

Well Mr Hajime Murata casted a shimano Antares 110 yards with a 5/8 casting plug. His performance starts at 6:30 minutes into the video.

Hey Chromedog, I hope this isn't your brother.

[ChrisAW]

I am right there about the same distance for a majority of my fishing. But with my DD cranking rod, 7'6" MH with an ounce lure, I can consistantly reach out to 200 or more. My back yard is almost a perfect square acre, and casting across it is about 215ft feet. I'm usually right there from one end to the other, but a tailwind can push further if there weren't trees about 250 feet away.

 

That is my only exception.