How Far Can You Cast?

[bigbill]

Making longer casts from shore pays off but you can lose big bass that far out I have. I can cast 35 to 45 yards. I out cast everyone near me they come over to tell me they never see anyone cast that far. My line and rod eyes have a shot of reel magic on them plus my 7' rod is casting a 5/8oz topnocker. I drench it with scents on my very first cast. I use a very long cast first to get my scents out there. It's like walking around the house smelling the turkey cooking you just have to find where it's conning from.

The longest cast I have ever seen was my older brother with his 13' custom built harnnel rod. I could pick him out on a crowded dock by his cast. It looked like a rocket propelled lure. I would say at least 75 yards++maybe out to 100yards. That rod was like fishing with a telephone pole. Being able to cast from shore pays off he would come home with 50"+ strippers. He had everyone fooled in the bait shop fooled that he had a boat to keep them from asking him where his spot was from shore. I know right where it is since he passed on. He was my mentor on fishing and hunting ethics. He taught me to do the right thing, the pheasants need to be flying when we shoot them. I've seen him jump in gravel shallows to grab a 21" rainbow that came off at his feet. He got it what an awesome fish. God does take the angels first.

He always said to keep on fishing and thell turn on sooner or later. Funny it never happened to us when he was alive but one night in a crowd of other fisherman I caught bass after bass in front of everyone. I looked up at the sky and told my brother to knock it off these people are going to throw me in the water. It stopped just like that. I will fish with him in the next life.

[Felix77]

It's not how big your cast is.  It's how you wiggle your worm ... 

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I just measured on google maps using the scale and my average cast is about 35 yards, but with some lures I can get 55 yards.

[Hattrick7]

I've been using a baitcaster for about a month now and I can cast a 3/8 lure about 30yards or so. With the wind maybe and extra 10?

I have found a technique that works for me very consistently. I start my cast sidearm then roll the reel over so its now pointing down towards the ground. I also hold the bottom of my rod with my free hand for added leverage. I'm sure the technique isn't new but it sure is a good feeling being able to huck a lure a nice distance. Way farther than my spinning set up.

I use a Revo SX (3rd gen) and 7' mh AG Vertias rod 15 lb mono. The reel casts and retrieves like butter.

[SirSnookalot]

The only time longer casts are really needed is to reach fish more out of range than normal, most of my strikes are usually within an easy comfortable cast.  The problem with mega casts is getting a good hook set, having to retrieve the fish from a longer distance giving it more of chance to get unbuttoned.  I also think fatigue may come into play as well.  Given a choice I'd prefer to sight cast to a given a spot where I see activity and the potential of getting a strike, that said there are those times when ya gotta turn it on.

[davidgs]

I tested it with both my rods.

 

With a 6'6" rod baitcasting reel, 30 lb smooth braid, a 3/8 oz practice weight, I could get 53 yds.

With a 8'0" rod and same setup... 70 yds.

 

Clearly, lure, rod, line, and wind condition influence the results.  I can believe Kevin can regularly cast 70 yds, but to be honest... what impresses me more is when he can hit a 1 sqft patch of water under a dock from 15 yds.  That's just ridiculous.

 

D

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

 

I mostly cast for practice.  When I cast for distance, it's because I want hang time to analyze a reel I've just tuned.

 

My casting measurements are accurate.  They are done on the range I use for bow shooting.

 

The range is a max of 40 yards.  When using a 5/8oz or heavier weight, any of the rods or reels I use will go over 40 yards and bit into the trees.  1/2 oz steel weight will go 35-40 yards. 

 

Once, using a reel I'm still tuning, I cast a 1-1/4oz (or so) weight into a tree about 50 feet up at 40 yards.  I'm not sure how I did that, and have no idea how far it would have gone had the tree not been there.

 

This has been done with Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5xxx series reels from the '60s to 2014.

 

Rods have been a Cherrywood 5'6" MH, Jupiter M and MH (6'6" and 7'0", respectively), a BPS 5'6" MH, and a Daiwa "Bill Dance" 5'6" MH rod.

 

The longest practical casts I make when fishing range from 30 to 35 yards using original Zara Spooks (3/4oz, IIRC), a variety of 1/2oz+ crankbaits, and 1/2oz+ jigs with trailers, and heavy spinnerbaits.

 

Non-aerodynamic lures will cast from 20 to 25 yards.

 

I use centrifugal brakes and minimum spool tension.  My best spool tension settings are between letting the spool overrun one turn to letting it fluff just a bit without actually backlashing.  This allows me to use my thumb to control any fluffing during the cast, but it's far less forgiving than the traditional recommended settings.

 

Josh

[geo g]

Like others have said its all about the setup, the weight, the lure, the rod, the reel, and most important the weather conditions.   90% of the time I am casting to targets some close, some far.  The one variable I try to control is the weather.  Before going out on a trip I always check the weather and wind direction.  Because our waters are clear to lightly stained, staying in stealth mode is a key factor.  I try to stay off the trolling motor as much as possible and let the wind push you past targets.  With the wind from my back it is easy to make long casts without backlash problems even with weightless plastics.  I use a sea anchor to slow the boat down on windy days, that works great.  If you need long casts they are easy to make.  Eliminate as many head aches as possible, the goal is to make it fun.  That's the plan!!!!!!! 

[A-Jay]

 Casting distance for my personal bass fishing needs is a result of a balanced & properly tuned set up. 

 

  If I can't quit reach my target accurately, I'll move the boat closer. 

 

 On a side note; my last 3 lmb PB's were all less than 15 yards from the boat when they hit.

 

 So although long bomb casts are fun, they have yet to help in that area.

 

A-Jay

[Raul]

Hello,

 

 

Non-aerodynamic lures will cast from 20 to 25 yards.

 

.

 

Josh

 

Yeah, like spinnerbaits that have the aerodynamic sleekness if a friggin´ kite !

 

Or jerkbaits without weight transfer like the Original Rapala Minnow where you put all the muscle, technique and spirit just to make it land at your feet.

 

In reality, long casts are important when you try to place your bait but you can´t get closer to the target, so, in certain circumstances and places can be whan somebody is limited or forced to cast on a fixed position, in other words, when you fish from shore, when you fish from a watercraft you can always move closer. 

[everythingthatswims]

If there is a 1oz blade bait in production, spool up a baitcaster with 10lb mono and the results would be scary. 

[IAY]

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.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSxzZqk3pSY

Yup, Antares is a beast of a reel. I know he also said how DC LV can get further distance than Antares; its definitely been in production for a long time for a reason ^^. I wonder how much I can cast with my Conquest if I spool it up with some 30 pound braid, unfortunately I cant bear the thought of the line staining my rod/reel.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

90-100 feet (35 yards +/-) can be considered a long cast as far as practical fishing goes. There are all kinds of factors that affect the maximum possible distance. The golf analogy of "Drive for show, putt for dough" applies here. Accuracy trumps distance 99% of the time. 

[J Francho]

Based on how far I sent a CBD20 flying after it snapped off in the middle of the cast, I'd say that's how you want to cast for distance.  Fray your fluoro just enough to hold on the back swing, but snap at the perfect moment when you release.  Had to be a football field or more, lol.

[Choporoz]

I can usually cast far enough to hit the water.

 

On the other hand, about the only time I cast over 30 yards is when the overhanging branches are 28 yards away.

[Catch and Grease]

What happened to the guy who claimed he could spool a tatula with 135 yards of line on it?? Haha

[WRB]

Your local high school football field, when vacant, is a good place to determine how far you can cast. Stand on the goal line with both feet in the same position you normally stand when casting and let fly. The grass doesn't hurt the line and yard markers are accurate. No telephone lines or trees to bother you and the field is level.

For all of you who believe they can cast over 50 yards, here is your chance to prove it. If you have a hula hoop, set it out where you think you can put the lure into it and practice accuracy at a distance.

This way you are using the rod/reel/line/lure you normally fish with.

You can also use the yard lines to measure the line and use a Sharpie to mark the line

Tom

Just want to bump this post up.

There is a lot of questionable threads regarding how far a bass angler can cast their lures. Been fishing for several decades with a lot of good anglers, very few can cast further. 50 yards is a very long cast with bass tackle, unless you are talking about specialized swimbait or crank bait rods/reels, then 60+ yards is realistic for expert casters.

Tom

[hoosierbass07]

 When I look at most of the bass I've caught while bank fishing or in my kayak, it seems most have been within a comfortable easy cast.  In fact, I don't really remember catching any bass while making super long casts.  The only thing I get from those very long casts is a shore shoulder.  

[BasshunterJGH]

I can get 50+ yds on a 1/2 oz crankbait, 12 lb mono, and a long rod, 7 ft 6 in +.

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

 

I just put spool bearings in my old '60s 5000 I use regularly.  It's still a great reel other than being slightly noisy when cranking.  It has a steel drive gear and this is likely the reason.

 

Anyway...

 

This thing is on a 5'6" Daiwa MH "Bill Dance Spinnerbait" rod.  

 

It as a polished worm gear, two spool bearings, two worm gear bearings, a cog gear bearing, and a crankshaft bearing.  I guess in modern parlance it would be a 5+1.

 

Everything is highly polished.  Slow moving stuff is polished at 2000 grit, and high-speed stuff is polished at 3000 grit.

 

I flicked my wrist and sent a 1oz weight over 40 yards.  How much over I have no idea.  It was stopped by dense vegetation at the 40 yard mark.  

 

The spool tension doesn't brake enough now, so I'll have to go back to medium brakes from light brakes.

 

Regards,

 

Josh 

[Mike2841]

I can throw 3/4 oz lipless crankbaits and Sammys a lot further than I have to, I think 40 yards would be a good ball park estimate

[J Francho]

Keep casting as hard as you can guys!  I got a new lure picker to get your baits out of the trees and keep for myself, lol.

[Josh Smith]

Keep casting as hard as you can guys!  I got a new lure picker to get your baits out of the trees and keep for myself, lol.

 

Except with braid, I tend to cut small branches that would cause grief with mono.

 

Josh

[Bluebasser86]

Except with braid, I tend to cut small branches that would cause grief with mono.

 

Josh

I've got plenty of baits out of trees with short lengths of braid attached to them. Bad thing about braid is it will dig into the tree branch too, and it only takes a wrap or two to do it. Then you have to cut it since it's almost impossible to pull and break. Sometimes if you have to break a bait off in a tree with mono that rubberband effect will knock the bait out of the tree, which is good or bad depending on the trees location and if your bait floats or sinks

[Josh Smith]

I just lightened the cog gear and that took off enough momentum to go back to the light brakes.

This stuff is fun!

Josh