Casting Accuracy.

[new2BC4bass]

How much is rod?  How much is reel?  I ask because I was out practicing a few days ago and doing not too bad with the exception of constantly throwing 3-4 feet past the target.  Switched to another combo, and even that accuracy went AWOL. 

 

[gravestone]

For me i'm more accurate with a shorter rod. For casting under over hanging limbs or skipping under docks I use a 6' MH spinning rod, For pitching to "holes" in shoreline blowdowns I use a 6 1/2' med spinning rod.

[Catt]

Accuracy is in the rod - reel holds the line

[baluga]

I have better accuracy using baitcaster  than a spinning setup.  I could safely say 65% hit the target with 1- 2 ft  radius at 60-80 ft distance using a baitcaster on 6'6"ft rod.  I would be lucky to hit the same one time with a spinning setup. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Accuracy is in the rod - reel holds the line

x2. Properly adjusting a baitcaster aids in accuracy but rod length and power are the real keys.

[MarkH024]

x2. Properly adjusting a baitcaster aids in accuracy but rod length and power are the real keys.

X3

[new2BC4bass]

reel holds the line

Was kind of aware of that.    However, reviews by tackletour have occasionally mentioned certain reels aiding in accuracy.  Not sure my casting skill is sufficient to discern the minor differences between reels.

 

These brings up another question.  Is there one type action that contributes more to accuracy than the rest?

[Hattrick7]

I'm sure both rod and reel have something to do with it but I think it's more angler than anything else. The angler is the one that'll release the line during a cast no matter what rod/reel combo you have. It's all about the release point relative to bait thrown. When I throw a senko I had to learn to release the line literally when my rod is perpendicular to my body to get the bait to land in front of me. If I release at where I think it needs to be released, the bait ends up about 10' to the left.

If I want total accuracy I cast overhead with a BC and then control distance with my thumb. I spot the target and then cast on that same line/trajectory.

Distance I cast sidearm. It's still accurate but not like overhead.

But ultimately its where I release the line.

[SirSnookalot]

I only do spinning, most of my freshwater casting is 6'6 or 7' rod, much of it is 1 handed side arm, under arm flips and back hand, these combos are pretty light and easy to cast but not as accurate as I could be. My 7, 7'6 and 8' inshore rods, all 2 handed casts and I'm real accurate.  I think the type of lure has a lot to do with it,  a thinner profile with less air resistance IMO is more accurate and more distance.

[Bankbeater]

You may be more accurate with a shorter rod, but I think practice has more to do with it than anything else.

[new2BC4bass]

Obviously ultimately it is the angler, but having the best combo for accuracy can't hurt. 

 

I also cast overhand for best accuracy.  Most of my casting is done 2-handed, and I feel this helps a lot.  I have to agree that a jig should be more accurate than a spinnerbait.

 

I used spinning gear only in my youth, and was pretty accurate.  If old age affects hand-eye coordination like it has my strength and balance, then it is easy to see that I probably never will again be as accurate as when a teenager.

[thehooligan]

You may be more accurate with a shorter rod, but I think practice has more to do with it than anything else.

 

I agree with this, its all practice. I have 25 years of practice with a spinning rod, 3 years with a baitcaster. Way more accurate with a spinning rod...

[.RM.]

Accuracy is in the rod - reel holds the line

X4...

 

"However, reviews by tackletour have occasionally mentioned certain reels aiding in accuracy."  can you say sales pitch? 

 

A properly balanced system (rod, reel, line, lure) is the key to accuracy...

 

Oh forgot to mention...Lots of practice, practice, practice......

 

Good Luck & Tight Lines! 

[.ghoti.]

A man on his first trip to New York stopped an older gentleman and asked' " can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall"? The old gent said " practice, man, practice".

As RM suggested; a "balanced" combo is key.

[J Francho]

Balanced, unbalanced, rod, reel....as long as the gear works, accuracy is ALL about PRACTICE.

 

Did someone say practice?

 

[baluga]

With baitcaster you can acutally smoothly control the distance where the lure falls by feathering the spool where as in spinner you have less control on the amount of line the comes out of the spool, you can't really  feather. 

[Hattrick7]

How's this for accuracy?!?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oV8BCp_6MA

[flyfisher]

With baitcaster you can acutally smoothly control the distance where the lure falls by feathering the spool where as in spinner you have less control on the amount of line the comes out of the spool, you can't really  feather. 

You can feather a spinning reel and i do it every cast. 

 

Like has been mentioned it is all about practice for either set up.  You can have the most unbalanced set up but if you practice enough you can become proficient.  Same goes for spinning versus baitcasting.

[J Francho]

With baitcaster you can acutally smoothly control the distance where the lure falls by feathering the spool where as in spinner you have less control on the amount of line the comes out of the spool, you can't really  feather. 

 

Sure you can feather a spinning reel.  Pretty easy, actually.  I'll have to capture some video of it.  I do it pretty much every cast.

[BobP]

In the real world, a medium action rod will be more accurate for most guys because they won't be trying to overpower their casts to get distance.  Developing a controlled casting stroke that lets your rod do the work contributes greatly to accuracy.

[baluga]

Well I guess I have to practice feathering on spinning reel.

Thanks!

[J Francho]

Without seeing, best I can describe it is cupping the spool, and actually letting the line flow through you're thumb and fore finger.  It's great for controlling the bait when skipping.

[SirSnookalot]

Without seeing, best I can describe it is cupping the spool, and actually letting the line flow through you're thumb and fore finger.  It's great for controlling the bait when skipping.

I do pretty much the same thing.  Having my palm the spool serves 3 functions for me, gives me some control on my casts, applying pressure with my palm with increases without having to make a manual adjustment.  Lastly is an isolated incident only happens on 1 reel brand and it's happened on each of 3 sizes I own.  Using braid in windy weather if I'm not careful the braid can get blown underneath the spool and wrap around the spindle, it's happened quite a few times.  Letting the line feed out thru my fingers as I'm casting has eliminated the problem.

[gravestone]

I "feather" my spinning reel with my index finger. I hold the reel between my middle and ring fingers and extend my index finger to the spool .FWIW  i'm just as accurate with spinning tackle as I was with BC tackle.

[J Francho]

I do pretty much the same thing.  Having my palm the spool serves 3 functions for me, gives me some control on my casts, applying pressure with my palm with increases without having to make a manual adjustment.  Lastly is an isolated incident only happens on 1 reel brand and it's happened on each of 3 sizes I own.  Using braid in windy weather if I'm not careful the braid can get blown underneath the spool and wrap around the spindle, it's happened quite a few times.  Letting the line feed out thru my fingers as I'm casting has eliminated the problem.

 

Another benefit I didn't mention is when dropping baits deep, like 20+ FOW.  Sometimes a fish will pick up the bait on the way down, and you'll never notice as the line just keeps uncoiling from the spool.  By having your fingers on the line, you can detect these "drop strikes" better.