Casting Distance

[scbassin]

I have been cleaning & lubing my casting reels for several days. All have stock bearings. All the reels are Shimano's & are on 6 1/2 & 7 ft. custom rods built on Shikari blanks which are fast action & very on line weight from 8-15 to 12 to 20 on the 6 1/2 rods with lure weights from 3/16 to 3/8 oz. Those reels are Chronarch D, Curado-7e, Antras-AR, Metanium MGL & MG 7, Scorpion 1001, Mg 1001, 71 XG, DC 101 (having a problem setting that one up). Line used on these reels is Flor (shooter) or Copoly (Gamma or Yo-Zuri).  Now the 7 FT. ones. Again all blanks are Shikari which are fast action which vary on line weight from 10 to 17 to 15 t0 30 with lure weights from 1/4 to 2 oz. (max weight used was 3/4 oz). The reels on these reels are, Antras AR, DC & DC-7, Calais DC, 201-A 201-5, 71 XG, Chronarch D 101. Line used was the same.  Yesterday I took 29 set-ups to the pier to see if I put the reels back together right & check casting distance. The supports for the pier are 8 ft. on center & I was to the side on the bulkhead about a foot or two back from the 1st support. My distance was 70+ to 85+.  Except for the Scorpion DC, the directions are Japanese & I have not figured out how to set the line I am using. I am going to town tomorrow with reel & directions to a Chinese restaurant that I go to often, They have a Japanese cook That helped me with the Antras DC's.  I hope I gave you a nuff info to give me your thoughts on the distance. Thank you very much, sorry for the long post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[BrackishBassin]

I asked a similar question a while ago and the most profound thing someone said in the thread was something along the lines of if you’re able to cast to the targets you’re aiming at, then you’re casting far enough. Growing up, my baseball coach’s mantra was accuracy before power. Guess the same goes for casting. How far you cast a bait isn’t nearly as important as being able to put the bait where you want it. 

[WRB]

75 to 80 feet? Or yards? 75' is only 25 yards.

light line using 8 to 10 lb is light, 15 to 20 lb FC or Hybrid isn't light.

Your casting distance is limited by your casting skills, not your reels and not familiar with the rods. 40 to 50 yards should be achievable with the tackle you discribe, however  not easily with high memory line over .012 diameter.

Tom

[scbassin]

I solved the problem with the Scorpion DC.  Thanks Tom I thought I should have gotten further, I was looking for a little over 100 ft. I fish shallow in heavy cover & with that much line out the big girls will have you wrapped up 7 ways from Sunday. With light line I would never get them out, could not get their heads turned & up without breaking off.  I don't care for braid for I like some stretch for a little forgiveness so not to break a rod. I do have several 7 1/2 ft rods that have parabolic bends that I am thinking of useing braid on for frog fishing. I notice you have caught some real big girls, congrats. What line are you fishing with?  Thanks

[new2BC4bass]

It's true that accuracy is often king.  I fish from shore most of the time.  Distance is something I strive for with all my reels....to the point I am more accurate at long distances than at 25 yards or less.  I practice by aiming at leaves, foam coffee cups and plastic bottles floating downriver.

 

I only have a few Shimanos...Curado 51E, 201E7, Chronarch 101A, 100B, Scorpion 1001 4 x4 SVS and Exsence DC.  Most have either 8# or 12# mono/co-polymer lines on them.  All will do better than 100 feet.  Usually by quite a bit.  All but one have stock bearings.  I don't really see much if any difference with the reel having upgraded bearings.

 

If your DC is like mine, loosen spool tension up to where side-to-side play is just removed.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, scbassin said:

I solved the problem with the Scorpion DC.  Thanks Tom I thought I should have gotten further, I was looking for a little over 100 ft. I fish shallow in heavy cover & with that much line out the big girls will have you wrapped up 7 ways from Sunday. With light line I would never get them out, could not get their heads turned & up without breaking off.  I don't care for braid for I like some stretch for a little forgiveness so not to break a rod. I do have several 7 1/2 ft rods that have parabolic bends that I am thinking of useing braid on for frog fishing. I notice you have caught some real big girls, congrats. What line are you fishing with?  Thanks

Long casts over and in cover isn't a good idea unless you plan to into it with a boat.

The only time I use braid is in heavy cover, then it's 60 lb Fins on Irod IRG754F Freds Magic frog rod.

All my giant bass were caught on 10 to 12 lb mono using jigs in deep Rocky structure lakes with sparse brush cover. My average casting distance is about 40 yards sometime up to 50 when targeting giant bass so I don't spook them and shut off bite. I prefer to make 25-30 yard cast if the bass cooperate.

Tom

[BobP]

In the only scientific casting test of bass fishermen that I’ve ever seen, the average measured cast for distance with 12lb mono among a group of experienced fishermen was 80 ft.  Take that FACT and draw your own conclusions about claims made by others.  Btw, if you’re casting 80 ft with anything except braid, good luck on getting a hook set that will bring a big bass to the boat anyway.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

2 hours ago, BobP said:

In the only scientific casting test of bass fishermen that I’ve ever seen, the average measured cast for distance with 12lb mono among a group of experienced fishermen was 80 ft.  Take that FACT and draw your own conclusions about claims made by others.  Btw, if you’re casting 80 ft with anything except braid, good luck on getting a hook set that will bring a big bass to the boat anyway.

You really didnt give any facts. Ill take my results of my actual measurements as facts for me to judge what others claim.

 

What constitutes a scientific casting test? What lure did they use or plug weight? 

 

Id be willing to put up a considerable amount of money that I can cast 10 times a t-rigged senko an avg of 100 feet or more using a decent 12# mono and my Curado 70 or Chronarch CI4 or Core50mg7.

Ill up it to 120 feet avg with say a 1/2oz RES. That would be an easy victory.

 

Look at this video of THE REEL TEST measuring casts throwing a senko. All reels avg over 100'.

 

Both these reels avg over 150' with lipless crank.

 

[BobP]

The testing I cited was published in 2002 using 3/8oz crankbaits and the reels and rods the various fishermen brought to the test.  Obviously, reel technology has improved in the intervening 15 years.  And throwing a 1/2 oz rattlebait is a lot different than a 3/8 oz lipped crankbait.  The testers needed to establish what an “average long cast” was in order to calibrate a course to test the dive profiles of a wide variety of commercial baits.  So the data is what it is from that test and the one you cite above.  I don’t doubt there are guys who can cast 150-200 ft with the right reel, the right rod, the right bait, and the right skill and experience.  But 

I want to see actual measurements done instead of all the wild guesstimates you normally hear, which I think just confuse and disappoint less experienced fishermen. I also think distance casting is hugely overrated as a practical bass fishing thing except in certain special circumstances.  Anything over 100 ft I personally want to be slinging braided line so I have a chance of actually getting a hook in a bass that bites.

[scbassin]

Thank you for all of your replies, they were eye opening. I am getting my gear ready to get back on the water, I am just waiting on the Doc's ok to get back in the boat which will be next week with his ok or not.  I am not looking to set any casting records, just looking to keep from having to go into the slop & alert the fish. I set up the rigs with different test line & weight. I fish out of a Ranger Z21 which has 3 big rod lockers so I can carry a lot of set ups. Once again thank you for your comments Which made me rethink a few things.

[WRB]

14 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

You really didnt give any facts. Ill take my results of my actual measurements as facts for me to judge what others claim.

 

What constitutes a scientific casting test? What lure did they use or plug weight? 

 

Id be willing to put up a considerable amount of money that I can cast 10 times a t-rigged senko an avg of 100 feet or more using a decent 12# mono and my Curado 70 or Chronarch CI4 or Core50mg7.

Ill up it to 120 feet avg with say a 1/2oz RES. That would be an easy victory.

 

Look at this video of THE REEL TEST measuring casts throwing a senko. All reels avg over 100'.

 

Both these reels avg over 150' with lipless crank.

 

IMO Your casting mechanics needs some work, looking at the vedio your hand could be rotated 60 to 90 degrees so the reel handles are upright between 11 to 12 o'clock in lieu of paralell to the ground.

Anytime you achieve 50+ yards distance is a major achievement.

Tom

[new2BC4bass]

16 hours ago, BobP said:

In the only scientific casting test of bass fishermen that I’ve ever seen, the average measured cast for distance with 12lb mono among a group of experienced fishermen was 80 ft.  Take that FACT and draw your own conclusions about claims made by others.  Btw, if you’re casting 80 ft with anything except braid, good luck on getting a hook set that will bring a big bass to the boat anyway.

I was curious as to how far I was casting a #5 Shad Rap (lists 3/16 oz.) on two of my rods.  I paced off 30 yards in most casts with both rods....different rods, different reels.  Admittedly not very scientific, but I have measured my paces before with a 50 foot tape.  I know I am pretty close.  I feel I was within +/- 3 feet and probably less over that short distance.  I tried not to make my casts seem longer by taking shorter steps.

 

My Gen 1 STXL is spooled with 40# Performance.  Not to the 1/16-1/8 below the bevel as recommended in the factory sheet that came with the reel, but to the bevel.  I believe the reel is listed to hold 135 yards of 12 lb. mono.  The braid is equivalent to 10# mono.  3/4 oz. spoon, 7' MHF Jupiter...at least half the spool showing on most casts.  I figure 65 yards is a conservative estimate.  I know it is a heavier and more aerodynamic weight than in the test yet it is still a far cry from spooling the reel as several on here have mentioned doing with lighter weights than that.

 

I will be the first to admit I am not the caster many of the guys on here are.  The only guy I have stood next to who was using a baitcast reel is Tomustang that used to post on here.  I can guarantee he is a more powerful caster than I am or ever will be.