Casting Practice

[Mobasser]

My grandson will receive a new baitcasting outfit for Christmas this year. His first. He's been fishing with a spinning rod, but now is ready for baitcasting also. I bought rod, reel, line, and last but not least, two new casting plugs. On some warmer days this winter, we'll pick some targets in the yard, or set some up, and he can practice his casting. With enough practice, he'll be able to hit these targets consistently every time. Learning the timing, feel, and release with casting tackle takes some practice, but is well worth perfecting. There's no better way than simple practice. I still do it after all these years. I'm positive it has helped me catch more bass. Being able to drop your bait right on target, consistently, will not only catch you more fish, but alleviate more snags, overshot cast etc. With steady practice, he'll be putting his lures right on the intended target. One of the very basic things in bass fishing, but one of the most important. I'll be practicing with him too. Casting is just plain fun. When our lakes thaw and fishing season starts, he'll be confident with his new tackle. It can make all the difference.

[LCG]

That sounds like some good quality advice and a great way to spend some time with your grandson. 

[onenutinthewater]

I'm glad no neighbors can see me as I am out casting in my field nearly every day...........

Good exercise for the dog to!

[Joshua van Wyk]

My neighbors probably think in crazy for casting in the yard everyday!

[Log Catcher]

I've had people drive by and tell me there weren't any fish where I was casting.

[FishDewd]

3 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

I've had people drive by and tell me there weren't any fish where I was casting.

Nonsense! Those grass carp are everywhere!

[LCG]

5 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

I've had people drive by and tell me there weren't any fish where I was casting.

My neighbour does this all the time, probably thinks I'm crazy

[Catt]

@Mobasser 

 

The only thing I would disagree with is the practice plug.

 

Practice throwing what ya gonna fish with!

 

You can practice in the yard with anything except crankbaits.

 

The wind resistance of a practice plug is going to be different than the wind resistance of a spinnerbait.

 

This way your grandson can learn how to change the settings of his reel to accommodate for wind resistance.

 

It'll help educate his thumb ?

[Mobasser]

25 minutes ago, Catt said:

@Mobasser 

 

The only thing I would disagree with is the practice plug.

 

Practice throwing what ya gonna fish with!

 

You can practice in the yard with anything except crankbaits.

 

The wind resistance of a practice plug is going to be different than the wind resistance of a spinnerbait.

 

This way your grandson can learn how to change the settings of his reel to accommodate for wind resistance.

 

It'll help educate his thumb ?

Good idea Catt. I'll try this.

[Big Rick]

Grab an old spinnerbait, break the hook off, and let him have at it!  Then go to a smaller jig, and finally a T-rig. 

[deadadrift89]

One of my favorite memories is when my Grandfather setup a trash can lid in backyard and taught me how to first cast with a Zebco 33, still have that reel on my shelf from 40yrs ago. Since then I've always tried to do same with my kids and grands❤️

[Columbia Craw]

Oh, how I can relate to all of you. I practice casting several times a week. I find it very relaxing, almost therapeutic.. It's nothing new to the neighbors, i've been doing it for years.  Catt is spot on about casting what you fish. I have old beat up lures with cut hooks.  The wind resistance effects each lure.  I want to get used to that.   One year we had some heavy rain and the drains backed up.  The street flood from sidewalk to sidewalk.  It was a great time to stand in the yard and practice with a frog, spook and buzzbait. A photographer from the paper took my photo. Longview resident Doug **** fishing for salmon from his porch. How stupid. Everyone knows salmon don't come up the Taylor Avenue river.

[Dirtyeggroll]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

You can practice in the yard with anything except crankbaits.

Because of the trebles? 

 

Can always take those off. Changes the weight which could be added back with something else pretty easily.

[Hook2Jaw]

11 minutes ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Because of the trebles? 

 

Can always take those off. Changes the weight which could be added back with something else pretty easily.

Squarebill fan here always looking to improve my casts with them, as I find their placement when worming them through cover sooo important.

 

What would you put on them?

[WRB]

Start to learn using a 5/8 oz casting plug, the shape helps to prevent rolling on the retreive reducing line twist. The nuances of different lure aerodynamics can come later after confidence of casting without backlashes. A Hula hoop makes a 3' diameter target, about the right size to begin with.

Tom

[Dirtyeggroll]

9 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

Squarebill fan here always looking to improve my casts with them, as I find their placement when worming them through cover sooo important.

 

What would you put on them?

A couple extra split rings? Maybe a thin wire key ring?

 

i don’t know precisely what a hook weighs and it probably varies from size and manufacturer.

 

I do think you may benefit from casting crankbaits that are too light, rather than too heavy. Wouldn’t think hooks would change too much in the way of wind resistance.

[Hook2Jaw]

3 minutes ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

A couple extra split rings? Maybe a thin wire key ring?

 

i don’t know precisely what a hook weighs and it probably varies from size and manufacturer.

 

I do think you may benefit from casting crankbaits that are too light, rather than too heavy. Wouldn’t think hooks would change too much in the way of wind resistance.

I'm a very precise human being.  Stand by while I weigh key rings and cut them until they match hooks.  Good idea!

[The Bassman]

My wife asks me if I caught anything when I come in from the driveway. Being on a main road I tell her I didn't hook up but had a few looks.

[GReb]

Just remove trebles from some old hard bait you don’t care about 

[Catt]

If you learn by throwing a casting plug & then hit the water throwing spinnerbait, you will have to learn all over again!

 

Wind will catch that spinnerbait in mid flight & slow it down dramatically.

 

If you practice throwing at different distances why would you not want to practice with various weights & shapes?

 

When my students hit the water they are ready for most any scenario!

 

[Mobasser]

7 minutes ago, Catt said:

If you learn by throwing a casting plug & then hit the water throwing spinnerbait, you will have to learn all over again!

 

Wind will catch that spinnerbait in mid flight & slow it down dramatically.

 

If you practice throwing at different distances why would you not want to practice with various weights & shapes?

 

When my students hit the water they are ready for most any scenario!

 

Catt, very good point. I want Aiden to learn to adjust his reel, for different weights, wind , etc. And yes, I want him to learn as in real fishing conditions, and I'm sure he does too. He's cast my reels a little bit, and does pretty good, but mine have no mag brakes. Learning this way can save him some frustration, and make the process easier for him.

Also , my reels are ABU 4600c. His new reel is an H20 maxim low profile reel. Different, but the concept of timing, thumb,etc are the same. 

[Catt]

@Mobasser don't underestimate the kid ?

 

If he's truly interested he'll pick it easily!

 

Each kid is different, I have two grandsons close to the same age. Y'all have seen Aiden's exploits, he ate up with it like we are. His cousin Evan not so much, he still struggles with a Zebco. 

 

Notice in the picture below Evan is wearing gloves not because it's cold but because he aint touching no fish!

 

[LionHeart]

21 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

Squarebill fan here always looking to improve my casts with them, as I find their placement when worming them through cover sooo important.

 

What would you put on them?

Just bend em' inward

[The Bassman]

The case for using hookless lures is convincing. In reality I yard fish not so much for practice but just for fun. With practice plugs you don't have to focus as much.