Casting In The Dark?

[CiMo]

So I finally got my pro max back together... cleaned and lubed it up. Yayyy... anyways... so I'm going fishin tomorrow and wanted to test it so I tied on a 1/4 ounce shakey head rig and slapped a worm on it....

now I can't see and it was set pretty tighta0 avoid any backlash since I can't see.. so I casted and counted my reels in till my worm was danglin about 8-10 inches from the tip.. I reeled 30 full turns.

The pro max supposivly reels in 31 inches per turn... so 31×30=930 inches.. 930÷12= 77.5 feet.. 77.5ft = 25.8 yards ( I think )

So is 77.5 ft or 25.8 yards a decent distanct for 1/4 of an oz + worm? Given the circumstances anyways, ill probably loosen up the spool tension and maybe even let of the breaks some tomorrow though. Just not sure if this is a good distance after cleaning and lubing.

On the bright side regardless tossing light or normal with no real ump behind it like I did for the above measurement, no backlash not even close to it and the only thing my thumb did was hit the release button. So I like that

[Sam]

CiMo, did you "balance" the line test and bait weight with the rod and reel?

 

If you do this you should get maximum distance after a few minor adjustments to your spool tension knob.

 

If you do not know how to "balance" the line test and bait weight with the rod and reel let us know and we can fill you in.

 

Not only will you get maximum distance but you will not get a backlash and the spool will stop when the bait hits the water.

[SirSnookalot]

Your math is not accurate, it may be an estimate.  As line is added to the spool when retrieving the spool becomes thicker and the IPT changes with each revolution.  I believe when manufacturers list IPT it's with a full spool, casting say 30 yds your IPT will be less than 31" increasing with each crank.  My suggestion, forgot the math and just go fishing and don't worry about distance.

[BobP]

X2 on SirSnookalot's suggestion.  Just BTW, under test circumstances on a representative group of fishermen, the authors of Precision Casting found that an "average cast" was 70 ft and a "long cast" was 100 ft.  So they used those distances to test the dive profiles of the crankbaits available in 2000.  The important point here:  hogwash you hear about guys casting 100 YARDS is exactly that unless we're talking international casting competitions with specialized saltwater gear. But this is really beside the point.  OK, we're guys so it's inevitable that some of us idiots are gonna compare sizes one way or the other.  But if you're a bass fisherman, you're not in a distance casting competition - you're there to catch fish.  The right cast is the distance it takes to hit your target accurately.  And the shorter the cast you have to make, the more chance you have of detecting a bite, hooking, and boating a fish.

 

So if your reel is operating smoothly and you aren't backlashing every 5 minutes, you're good to go.  Be happy and just go fishing.

[Felix77]

X2 on SirSnookalot's suggestion.  Just BTW, under test circumstances on a representative group of fishermen, the authors of Precision Casting found that an "average cast" was 70 ft and a "long cast" was 100 ft.  So they used those distances to test the dive profiles of the crankbaits available in 2000.  The important point here:  hogwash you hear about guys casting 100 YARDS is exactly that unless we're talking international casting competitions with specialized saltwater gear. But this is really beside the point.  OK, we're guys so it's inevitable that some of us idiots are gonna compare sizes one way or the other.  But if you're a bass fisherman, you're not in a distance casting competition - you're there to catch fish.  The right cast is the distance it takes to hit your target accurately.  And the shorter the cast you have to make, the more chance you have of detecting a bite, hooking, and boating a fish.

 

So if your reel is operating smoothly and you aren't backlashing every 5 minutes, you're good to go.  Be happy and just go fishing.

 

 

This is so true!  When I first started learning to fish I remember thinking that distance was the key to success for some reason.  Meaning that if I can get the lure out the farthest then I somehow have a better chance of catching the fish.  Length of time in the water ... bla, bla, bla.

 

As I observed my boater (I'm a co-angler) I noticed how short their casts are generally in compared to mine.  As I learned about leverage and the "quality" of the cast vs. the quantity(length) my catch % grew exponentially.  

 

Now there is a time and a place for long casts but it's the exception and NOT the rule.  My go-to cast is far enough to keep control of my bait!  With a spinnerbait it can be very long, with a shakey head not so much.

 

That results in a better presentation and thus more fish IMHO!