A country mile...

[Raul]

Country mile ----> son of a gun, man that was far.

 

of course, a country mile is shorter than into the next zip code, which is the usual length of one of my casts.

[jr231]

1 hour ago, AC870 said:

I been playing with casting distance in yard and I can sling a spinning rig much further than a baitcaster with same lure. I'm guessing here (but I bowhunt and can gauge yardage ok) average distance with a 3/8 or 1/2 oz lure on baitcaster is 30-40 yds. Same lure with spinning rod is 10 yds further. I'm actually thinking of going mostly spinning as a result. Just bought new 7-foot MH spinning rod due to my testing.

 

I've never noticed much distance either... I can sling with the best of em with a spinning rod. But I just feel more "geared" using baitcast. Lol . Like I'm a pro. 

[Bluebasser86]

I was casting over 3/4 of my spool off the reel each time last Thursday (I'd estimate 50-60 yards), with a 1/2oz RES. It was a perfect storm where the line was stretched from catching fish, there was a slight wind at my back, the boat was anchored so I could put everything into my cast, and there was big fish busting way out in the off limits area so a long cast was the only way to reach them. My bait was sailing much further than normal though. I'd estimate what I'd normally consider a long cast to be closer to 35-40 yards because it's about the same distance as a long bow shot for me. 

[BrackishBassin]

Thanks guys! So, I'm hearing 30-40 yards being the average people are throwing with 50 yards being a really good cast. Not feeling as bad about my casting, but I'll need to get out on a lined field and see exactly how far I'm throwing it. 

[mllrtm79]

Honestly, most of my casts only need to be <15 yards. If I'm slinging the Plopper or a 3/4-1 oz lipless for stripers then I will reach out and touch something... 

["hamma"]

did ya ever wonder why many gin clear lake anglers use alot of spinning gear?

 

 back country mile!,...lol

[Scott F]

Comparing the distance you can cast to what someone else says they can cast isn't very useful. If you want to cast farther, you need to fine tune your gear, and improve your technique.  Decreasing line diameter, lengthening your rod, using enough weight to load the rod properly, adjusting the spool tension, and picking the proper release point during the cast will all effect your casting distance. Play around with what you have and figure out what you can do to maximize the distance you can achieve. Your goal should be to increase your casting distance over what you are getting now, not to what someone else says they can do. 

[A-Jay]

The importance of casting distance can vary with a few factors including but not limited to water clarity, wind & light penetration and  perhaps even how much or lack of stealth used by an angler.  By & large casting distance may be a little over rated.

Clearly distance has it's place and is important for some techniques & presentations, like deep cranking for instance.

The most important concern for me as it relates to casting is, am I getting bit.  And that's all that really matters.

Bottom line, the shorter I can cast & still get bit the happier I am. 

Casting distance has it's place but casting accuracy is first in line in my world.

 Success often improves as bait placement improves. Doesn't always work the same with distance for me - although distance can come into play when looking for a bite & trying to cover water.  That said, once I do get a bass, I'm usually looking to fish smaller and then distance plays less of a role.

Knowing or in my case guessing where to cast, helps too.

A-Jay

 

 

[12poundbass]

16 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

That's a term used by a good ol' boy...

As the crow flys! ? another term we use up here in BFE! 

[WRB]

It's really hard to cast heavy 9' spinning rod/reel long distances with 3+ oz weight, takes perfect timing releasing the line off the finger tip. I have tried using spinning outfits surf casting, the line tends to slip off the finger tip during the back cast. Anything is possible with enough to practice.

We use a type of lure called iron, Salas or Tady,  out west casting long distance for yellowtails working kelp paddies using conventail casting reels and rods 9'+, about 4' to 5' lure drop from the rod tip to increase lure speed and this takes a lot of practice, if you backlash the lure is gone. Never measured a iron cast, but know it's over 100 yards.

I also make long cast when horizontal jig fishing, 40 to 50 yards isn't uncommon with a 7/16 oz jig plus trailer weight. My rods are short in today's standards at 6'10", Tatula 100R reels and FC line. This is a very long cast based on casting on a football field to validate the distance, 50' yards is a country mile using bass tackle. 

Tom

 

[Paul Roberts]

Sorry, haven't read all posts. Kinda jumping in here. Hope I'm not redundant.

 

Wind resistance and momentum are probably part of the issue with bass baits -compared to a "3oz lead". Also, spool diameter will weigh in too. There are some real limits out there just in terms of scale.

[Choporoz]

18 hours ago, BrackishBassin said:

So, what's a decent distance with a cast then?

This, I think, is the most important of your questions.

 

I don't recall very many times when I thought, "Gee, I sure wish I could cast that another 15 yards"

 

A decent distance with a cast, to me, is that distance at which I can put my lure on fish....AND be able to set the hook...AND land the fish...I don't see too many occasions where those add up to a cast of over 50 yards for me....at least not for the species I target, nor the waters I fish

[IndianaFinesse]

23 hours ago, RoLo said:

There are 3 types of 'miles': Statute mile, Nautical mile & Country mile.

Houses are farther apart in the country, so I think a Country Mile = 1 statute mile + 76 yards  

I could be wrong  

 

 

 

21 hours ago, RoLo said:

 

A country mile

 

 

Never ask a question in the winter and expect serious answers...

[Deeare]

17 hours ago, AC870 said:

I been playing with casting distance in yard and I can sling a spinning rig much further than a baitcaster with same lure. I'm guessing here (but I bowhunt and can gauge yardage ok) average distance with a 3/8 or 1/2 oz lure on baitcaster is 30-40 yds. Same lure with spinning rod is 10 yds further. I'm actually thinking of going mostly spinning as a result. Just bought new 7-foot MH spinning rod due to my testing.

I cast farther and more accurately  on spinning gear with lures up to a 1/2 oz or so but when casting 3/4 oz and above baitcasters are better than spinning in my opinion.   But your distance comes really comes from the rod... Not the reel.  

[whitwolf]

If you can cast far enough to catch plenty of fish then distance Is moot.

[geo g]

22 hours ago, .ghoti. said:

To get a useful answer to your question, we will need more info.

What reel? Is the spool filled all the way?

what line, brand and pound test

what rod? Length, power, action

what bait? Weight?

 

Answer those , and you will get some good info back.

 

 

I agree with ghoti.  There are a lot of variables that go into producing a long cast.  Weight of the lure is a big one.  Tweeking the setting on the reel another.  Wind direction and strength is another.  Line being used is another  If everything is set up correctly then a country mile is a real possibility!!!!!  It is nice when all the factors come together.  

[Bucky205]

     I think range in surf fishing is important, your trying to get out from shore as far as you can.  Bass fishing not so much, I think accuracy in bass fishing is much more important than range. That person that can gently lay the bait down exactly where he wants it, will out fish the one that can throw it a country mile.  I might not cast a country mile, but I can put it over yonder exactly where I want it.

[lmbfisherman]

I actually find that whole phrase annoying.  Like seriously?  Especially when there are so many other variables when casting a reel.  It wasn't the reel folks.  Forget about what rod, line and lure size was used. 

 

Anyway, I don't care about distance in most of my fishing...I care about accuracy way more.  The times I want to throw something "a country mile" is to do that with a crank bait or maybe a Carolina rig once in awhile.  That is it, when I'm throwing a spinnerbait I'm throwing it for accuracy, not throwing it just so I can bomb it and fish it through non productive waters.

[WTnPuddleJumper]

I think the main goal is to "hit what yer aimin fer".  Distance is really only a factor when deep cranking river ledges or maybe frogging a huge lily pad flat.  Most of the time down here in TN we are beating the banks with 100 bandits, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits, where accuracy plays a more important role than distance.

[Scott F]

Distance becomes important in other situations. The northern lakes I fish have very large, weedy, flats that have largemouth or pike scattered over many acres. The normal way we fish it is to drift with the wind over the flat fan casting the open water with a variety of baits. Long casts allow you to cover more water and keep your bait in front of more fish. Another situation is when fishing very clear water. You must keep the boat as far from your target as possible. If you get too close to the fish, they spook and you see them turn away. A third time when I need long casts is when I'm wading rivers. Without a boat, getting close to your target can be difficult. Again, stealth is critical. Long casts let you reach your target from farther back reducing the chance of spooking fish. Getting good hooksets on the end of a long cast can be tough so I always use no stretch braid.

[soflabasser]

This thread reminds me of a +7 pound bass I caught from land 2 months ago that bit my topwater less than 15 away from me. A far cast was not needed for that bass and is usually not needed for most of the bass I catch down here( most of the lakes I fish down here have clear water).