Casting Distance With A Carolina Rig

[Rudy1922]

I've been using a Baitcaster (Chronarch E6) with 30lb braid on a 7' 4" Heavy Fast action rod for about 2 weeks. I use 2 brakes and have the spool tension just short of having any side to side movement.  I can cast a 3/8 oz. jig with a trailer (total weight 5/8 oz) between 30 - 35 yrds. I'm disappointed about that but I'll keep practicing. Anyway, I want to move away from Spinning reels and get a Baitcaster for Carolina Rigs but I'm afraid I'll lose distance. So how far do you guys throw Carolina Rigs using Baitcasters? I plan on using a Chronarch E7 with 30lb braid and a 7'4" rod. 

[rippin-lips]

Sounds like the rod might not be loading up properly. Basically too stiff or not tippy enough. 5/8ths should be plenty of weight but you never know. Do you have a med/hvy rod? Swap reels and throw the same lure and see if that helps your distance. Also you could flush and re oil your bearings. That's never going to hurt anything. As for your C-rig question. It all depends on what weight you're using. I use any where from 1/4-3/4 depending on water depth. Typically it's in the 3/8-1/2oz range.

[motodmast]

it all depends on your rod. i was using a 7'4 H dobyns champ extreme, and i couldnt get a c-rig to cast very far, the rod just didnt have enough tip, i switched my c-rig to a Mh with a little more tip, and it noticeably casted further

[Rudy1922]

it all depends on your rod. i was using a 7'4 H dobyns champ extreme, and i couldnt get a c-rig to cast very far, the rod just didnt have enough tip, i switched my c-rig to a Mh with a little more tip, and it noticeably casted further

That's the rod (DX744c) I've been using for Jigs. I've been trying not to load and whip the rod like I do with my spinning rods because of backlashes. So should I load the rod and use more breaks to avoid backlashes? 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The hardest thing about casting c-rigs is the long leader. Concentrate on casting the weight and not the bait. 35 yards is not a bad cast. There's not a lot of advantage to much longer casts unless maybe you're shore bound or throwing deep cranks.

[Rudy1922]

The hardest thing about casting c-rigs is the long leader. Concentrate on casting the weight and not the bait. 35 yards is not a bad cast. There's not a lot of advantage to much longer casts unless maybe you're shore bound or throwing deep cranks.

No boat so I bank fish. I'll work on educating my thumb and loading the rod more. The reel is stock and from what I've read new reels come over lubed. Is that right? 

[Loop_Dad]

When I throw c-rig for distance, I think how I load the rod is different from when I am throwing other baits (I think). Back swing is slower (I think). The line out from the tip actually helps loading (I think). Depending on the weight and the length of the leader, the optimum length of line that you want to have out is different. Something you need to experiment. The cast is a bit more smooth motion than other baits too. You might want to also experiment with the position of your thumb. For me touching the left edge of the spool gives me the best control. And flushing out the grease and put a drop of oil helped for me.

[kickerfish1]

A few things to considerer for better c-rig distance...

1. Longer rod

2. A c-rig specific rod (IE. Loomis 873 CRR)

3. A heavier weight

4. A more aerodynamic soft plastic bait if you can get away with it.

5. Shorter leader legnth

The above may also hinder your effectiveness of using the presentation but distance should be better.

[Sam]

Baitcasters + Heavy Rods = Good Carolina Rig Fishing.

 

Don't be too concerned with our distance. Be concerned with the hook setting power our rod can produce when setting the hook.

 

I have never worried about distance with a Carolina rig. I am always concerned with feeling the strikes and then setting the hook.

[Arv]

I "wind up" more. Its not as much of a quick whip like most other lures I throw. I don't know if that makes any sense...

[new2BC4bass]

No boat so I bank fish. I'll work on educating my thumb and loading the rod more. The reel is stock and from what I've read new reels come over lubed. Is that right? 

The consensus seems to be that the majority of reels come from the factory over lubed to compensate for those of us that don't like taking them apart for cleaning.  I do like to send mine to DVT for cleaning, tho. 

 

Maximum distance is going to require loading the rod on the back swing.  I have never fished a C-rig, so I can't make any suggestions for improving your distance with that rig.  Other than agreeing with others that a longer rod should yield more distance.

 

However, for general casting I can agree that having a little more line hanging from the tip does seem to help (12-18 instead of 4-6).  Almost all my casts are now underhand (roll?) casts.  This eliminates the stop before reversing the stroke.  Helps me a lot to avoid those backlashes at the beginning of a cast.  Doesn't seem to hurt distance.  Matter of fact, I feel it allows me to have a more powerful forward cast.

 

EDIT:  I'd like to add that casting with 2 hands is a big help for me.  Something I do 99.999% of the time.

[Rudy1922]

Thanks everybody for the help. I'm going to flush the bearings and see if that helps. I'm also going to look into underhand casting.

[Fishes in trees]

I don't throw a carolina rig very much.  That being said,  there are some times when the Carolina rig presentation is the ticket and I found I got bit more when I used a 7' MH spinning rod and 20 lb Firelline rather than a bait casting set up.  Can't explain why, I just do.   I can set the hook at the middle of a fairly long cast with reasonable expectations of sticking the fish.