Baitcasting Tips For Accuracy

[Rippinlips14]

Im coming up on a year using my baitcasters i have a 4. my casting is somewhat efficient. Im almost always dead on but sometimes i have a cast that are totally off my position? TBH it annoys me. Am i just moving to fast? Any tips? Im using 14 pound mono on my pqr 1000H reel on a temple fork outfitters signature series 6'6 MH power fast action rod

[ABW]

Cast using your wrist instead of your entire arm.

[Rippinlips14]

Cast using your wrist instead of your entire arm.

I do but 2 out of 10 cast will be off of what i want it to be

[Catch and Grease]

Nobody is a perfect caster, some people are just closer to perfect than others lol Keep practicing.

[Choporoz]

Glenn has a good, short video on overhead casting accuracy.  I rarely have a problem there anymore.  Where I struggle is sidearm/roll casting.  I generally seem to seek out targets that require low trajectory.  Pitching and flipping certainly have their place and uses, but I would like to be more accurate with my side arm casts and skipping.   I'd say maybe 40% of the time, it'll be exactly where I want it; 40% of the time 'close' or even 'close enough'....10% that are backlashed or otherwise stupid....and then there's that other 10% that are way off or into the bush/tree....5 or more feet away, etc.

[deep]

Difficult to say what you're doing wrong without seeing it. Post a video of you casting.

[DogBone_384]

Like anything else, practice, practice, practice.  Other than using your wrist and not your arm, I'd say remember to always keep your eyes locked on your target and relax.  Don't overthink your casting, just keep at it.  It took me two full seasons to get consistent accuracy and distance.

 

Best of luck!

[Ozark_Basser]

Whenever I forget to oil my reels, I find my casting accuracy can get a bit off. A good clean reel does help with consistently being accurate. 

[J Francho]

Use a two handed cast.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Making sure the reel is clean and lubricated correctly, and adjusted properly is a good place to start along with making sure the rod loads correctly. Too heavy or soft of a rod will have a negative affect in casting accuracy. Develop a nice, smooth casting stroke. Let the rod do the work. When you practice, remember casting is much like throwing a ball. The cast will go where you look for the most part and release point is critical.

[Senko lover]

Use a two handed cast.

 

Yup, that'll help. I suck at one-handed casting; two-handed ups my accuracy by 50%.

[Catch and Grease]

I find it near impossible to cast a set-up like a 7' MH/F rod with a tatula with one hand all day. It destroys my wrist...

[Ozark_Basser]

I find it near impossible to cast a set-up like a 7' MH/F rod with a tatula with one hand all day. It destroys my wrist...

Depends on the bait more than anything for me.  Throwing Hula grubs on an 1/8 oz jighead out of canoes all day means one handed casts.  Anything heavier than a 1/4 oz or if I'm on the lake, gets a two handed cast. 

[FunkJishing]

always remember to follow through, just like you would pitching a baceball or throwing a football. take all the actions of the cast and smooth them out togeather. Nobody casts perfect, it takes practice.

[new2BC4bass]

I find it near impossible to cast a set-up like a 7' MH/F rod with a tatula with one hand all day. It destroys my wrist...

 

I used one hand to cast when I first started....I think.  Now I hardly ever make a one handed cast.  So much easier with two.

[Rippinlips14]

Thanks guys! Great tips

[greentrout]

Don't forget the thumb. The best I've ever seen have a smart thumb that is precise and can feather a cast with ease. Not easily done. Some will master it. Most won't. Life ain't fair but it sure beats the alternative.

 

Old school basser...

 

 

[Ozark_Basser]

I really only use my thumb in a few situations, skipping, casting in the wind, and if I spool too much line on. That's generally with the mag brake turned almost off along with only two centrifugal brakes on. I never use the mechanical brake it seems as well. This is for baits 3/8 oz and over however. 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

If your looking for the best accuracy mid range and close .put down the long handle rods get a pistol grip 5'"6 or 6'.in no time you will be roll,casting,underhandcasting,backwards casting,,etc you wont believe what you will be doin in a few months it will look like magic

[Blues19]

I find it near impossible to cast a set-up like a 7' MH/F rod with a tatula with one hand all day. It destroys my wrist...

I agree. I have weak small wrists as it is, but I cant cast anything with any distance one handed.  Two handed 99.4% of the time for me. There is a rare time I cast one handed with a baitcaster

[fishindad]

I was lucky enough to have attended a sports show back in Seattle many years ago, and watched Stan Fagerstrom effortlessly toss jigs into a coffee can 30 feet away. I remember his rod was a Loomis CR721 (very limber tip) and the one thing he emphasized is to make sure you are in the right position before making a cast. He would simply flick his wrist and it was amazing to watch. I think most folks use the wrong action rod and line and try to go for distance. I fish mostly open water on Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie so that I rarely ever "target' cast, just bomb it as far as possible to cover water or dropshot and drag tubes for smallies. But I've always wanted to make the time to get very good at target casting and agree it takes LOTS of practice time but, I would suggest watching some of Stan's videos. The guy is a magician with a rod and reel. 

[Preytorien]

i still can't cast with one hand. 

[FunkJishing]

rods with micro guides are said to bring about better casting accuracy too.

[J Francho]

I'm not tossing jigs into cover with a 1 power rod, lol.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

rods with micro guides are said to bring about better casting accuracy too.

In a way they do, but some of the claims of production rod makers are over the top. Casting distance and accuracy improvements achieved with micro guides are real, but ancillary to the sensitivity and frequency enhancement.