How to cast long leader presentations?

[fishwizzard]

Reading some of the threads about splitshot/mojo rigs had me wondering about the specifics of casting them.  With a heavy spinning rod I can usually bomb say a catfishing bottom rig a decent ways out, but there is little accuracy involved.  If I have more then say 6" of line past the tip I have huge accuracy issues with casting reels and not much more luck with spinning ones.  I have yet to find an online video that shows the a full body shot of the casting motion, so I am not sure if there is something I am missing.  The way I normally cast isnt doing it for me and would love any advice.  

[Team9nine]

For most long leader presentations I can think of, accuracy isn't of particular importance - just get the bait to the general area. If you need accuracy for some particular reason then simply shorten your leader. On the cast mechanics, I've always just used a lob type cast. Google some float and fly videos for the extreme end of things, or check out some of the old Bassmaster footage from the 80s and early 90s when Carolina rigs were the deal.

 

-T9

[fishwizzard]

Well that makes me feel a little better.  My backyard casting attempts were less then great.  I wanted to try to use a small floating tube on like an 12-16" leader mojo rig with like an 1/8oz weight, but it helicopters like crazy.  Would upping the weight help any with that?  

[Scott F]

I'm curious to see the replies on this one. I can't stand trying to cast a Carolina rig just for the way they tumble through the air. As an aside, I was throwing a weightless fluke while smallmouth fishing several years ago but the bait wasn't getting down to where the fish were. I added a split shot above the hook which worked but was driving me crazy trying to cast. That's when I remembered that I had some of those Senko things that were supposed to sink on their own. I'd never fished them before so I gave them a shot. That was one of the biggest eureka moments I ever had fishing. Ever since that moment, Senko became the number one bait in my tackle box, all because I couldn't stand casting that split shot rig.

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, Bunnielab said:

Well that makes me feel a little better.  My backyard casting attempts were less then great.  I wanted to try to use a small floating tube on like an 12-16" leader mojo rig with like an 1/8oz weight, but it helicopters like crazy.  Would upping the weight help any with that?  

 

Upping the weight will actually make it worse. The only way to completely eliminate it would be to have the bait weigh more than the weight - it's a physics thing. With that short of a leader, if distance isn't a huge issue you could pitch underhand. You'd gain a bit of control for accuracy but still wouldn't solve the helicoptering. 

Another thing that might help is when you do cast, stop the spool or line with your hand/thumb before it hits the water. With a little practice, this will force the rig to lay out properly right before it splashes down, and helps with tangling.

Last, the wider and slower the arc of the lob cast, the less helicoptering you should have.

 

-T9

[CrustyMono]

in fly fishing you are casting line attached to a fly and in spinning and casting fishing you are casting a bait attached with line.

[crypt]

also try slowing down on the forward motion. sidearm casting works best for me. just sayin. work on the lob.