Is The "overhead" Cast Sacrilege ?

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

I got it in my head that casting over your head, rather than sidearm, is a big no no primarily because it makes a much bigger splash in the water and therefore spooks fish.  Is this correct?  Or maybe there's a better way to do it.  It comes in handy in tight spots sometimes, in addition to the backhand cast.

[Catt]

Totally false!

[Paul Roberts]

Do what needs to be done. Sometimes having a lure visible over the water, and even the big splash, can draw bass. This is most apt to happen under dark skies. Bright skies and flat water can yield just the opposite, although I've used super-high (and long) overhead casts to get over and beyond spooky fish in high vis conditions. It's also easier to throw really long casts overhead.

 

That said, a low profile cast and quiet entry are skills worth having.

 

Yeah! What he said too! ^ ^ ^

[hatrix]

You ever fish on a boat with like 3 of you on deck? It's fairly common when using spinning gear to cast overhead though.

[everythingthatswims]

Casting overhead:

Spinning gear- OK

Casting gear- Makes it more difficult for me

[Driftb]

I am going to bust some chops if I see someone NOT casting overhead in my boat. It is a real pet peave of mine when guys are casting sidearm, or whole arm. I want to see an over head flick cast.  it's the most efficient way I know of to cast long.  The movement should be 90% wrist, 10% elbow, not the shoulder or upper arm.  With a  fast or extra fast spinning rod you'll be able to cast farther and with less energy than using a "nightcrawler or doughball sling"  You should be able to load the rod just fine starting at 11 o'clock.  The long windup is just going to cause problems with the other anglers in the boat. Plus casting all day you want to use as little energy as possible to get the job done.

Flipping and pitching are another story.  These are relatively short underhand casts using heavy lures and casting reels.  You control the splash with your thumb.

  If you are on the bank, just do what you gotta do.  Watch out for low limbs.

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

I could see it coming in handy in different boating situations, but I hardly ever fish from a boat.  It does come in handy sometimes from the shore when brush gets in the way, just have to figure out how to minimize the splash.  Will try some of Driftb's tips.

[Lund Explorer]

Every type of casting motion has it's time and place.

Overhead is fine if you're bombing away for distance. Not so much if you are trying to land a lure right on top

of a fish holding spot.

[Bassun]

Every type of casting motion has it's time and place.

Overhead is fine if you're bombing away for distance. Not so much if you are trying to land a lure right on top

of a fish holding spot.

 

I think this wraps it up neatly.     Mastering different types of casts, with both hands, just gives you a little more advantage.  Admittedly though, I still need to spend more time working from my left side.

[fishballer06]

Nothing wrong with it. I fish a good bit with 3 in the boat, so overhead is almost the only way to cast. 

 

Overhead casting also works well for super long bombing. Especially if you're throwing with the wind and you want to get some air under the lure and let the wind carry it for you. 

[WIGuide]

I am going to bust some chops if I see someone NOT casting overhead in my boat. It is a real pet peave of mine when guys are casting sidearm, or whole arm. I want to see an over head flick cast.  it's the most efficient way I know of to cast long.  The movement should be 90% wrist, 10% elbow, not the shoulder or upper arm.  With a  fast or extra fast spinning rod you'll be able to cast farther and with less energy than using a "nightcrawler or doughball sling"  You should be able to load the rod just fine starting at 11 o'clock.  The long windup is just going to cause problems with the other anglers in the boat. Plus casting all day you want to use as little energy as possible to get the job done.

Flipping and pitching are another story.  These are relatively short underhand casts using heavy lures and casting reels.  You control the splash with your thumb.

  If you are on the bank, just do what you gotta do.  Watch out for low limbs.

Wow...you must be a real joy to fish with...

[Raul]

Let me see what I can find in The Good Book about this matter ......... Nope, there ain't no commandment sayin' : "Thou shall not overcast" so if there ain't no commandment then it ain't a sacriledge.

[Master Bait'r]

As a primarily kayak fisherman, with rods on both sides of my cockpit there are only a few options- either side arm cast or overhead.  I don't care what anybody else thinks about it tbh haha

[desmobob]

...with rods on both sides of my cockpit there are only a few options...

 I don't care what anybody else thinks about it tbh haha

 

I don't think anyone here is going to judge you....  

(Although I have to admit it makes me uncomfortable to read that.)

 

;-)

 

 

I use a straight overhead cast a lot; especially when lateral accuracy is important, like when casting between two rows of pilings, etc.

 

I do notice that when I'm lawn fishing, I often get a backlash when casting straight overhead.  There must be something different about the way I apply power to my casting stroke in an overhead cast.

 

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Bassun]

I don't think anyone here is going to judge you....  

(Although I have to admit it makes me uncomfortable to read that.)

 

;-)

 

 

I use a straight overhead cast a lot; especially when lateral accuracy is important, like when casting between two rows of pilings, etc.

 

I do notice that when I'm lawn fishing, I often get a backlash when casting straight overhead.  There must be something different about the way I apply power to my casting stroke in an overhead cast.

 

 

Tight lines,

Bob

 

I had the same problem getting backlash on my overhead casts  -- Then I noticed two things I was doing.  One, I was generally casing harder changing the speed in which I was despooling but secondly I noticed I had a habit of "snapping" the rod.  It worked great on spinning gear and will shoot the lure out like a rocket, but with the baitcaster I was snapping it and not modifying my thumbing.  It took me a while to figure out what I was doing and for a while I actually avoided strait overhead casts it was so annoying.  I used the reel brakes for a bit to tame things down, but then once I realized what I was doing, thumbing it became natural.

 

Having said that... I still backlash more than I would like to admit, lol.

[J Francho]

I never thought about what cast you can and can't do. No one has ever told me what's right and wrong, either.  It's pretty silly, if you think about it.

[*Hootie]

How I can or cannot cast? Come on guys, this is Amurica. I'll cast however I want.....next?

Hootie

[J Francho]

It's the second Monday of an odd numbered month - flip casts only today!

[Catt]

Let me see what I can find in The Good Book about this matter ......... Nope, there ain't no commandment sayin' : "Thou shall not overcast" so if there ain't no commandment then it ain't a sacriledge.

My book list 2 commandments

#1: make what ever cast necessary to get the lure to the bass

#2: do what ever is necessary to land caught bass

[Ratherbfishing]

It's the second Monday of an odd numbered month - flip casts only today!

 

You must work for the government!  :  )

[ColdSVT]

No...but hooking me is! Lol

[F14A-B]

Julian date is..14314 , so overhead & pitch cast's only please.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

Boat Owner- "Only rule on my boat is no overhand casting"

 

PersicoTrotaVA packs up his stuff and goes home.

 

END OF SCENE

 

 

I am not going to have anyone tell me how to fish, even if I am on their boat.  The overhand cast, especially with a spinning combo, is crucial. 

[*Hootie]

No...but hooking me is! Lol

 

That looks EXTREMELY painful....OUCH!!!

 

Hootie

[Siebert Outdoors]

I use the overhead throw a lot with traps and jerkbaits.  Fishing in the northern lakes its about the only cast I use.  Side arm doesn't get the bait out as far for me.