Casting accuracy. Do you see a difference

[new2BC4bass]

with some rods...or reels?

 

I ask because I was out with 2 new outfits the other day and had a surprise.  I've used a TDX before but not this one.  The rod was also a new-2-me rod.  Casting accuracy was fine.  Then I tried the other combo.  Both new.  Never used that model rod or reel before.  First couple casts were a lot further to the right than expected.  It only took a few more casts to be reasonably close, but this reminded me of my OG Crucial.  The Crucial just doesn't seem to be accurate in my hands.  Haven't used the Crucial in some time so maybe that is no longer true.  Maybe I just needed more practice.  I have done a lot more casting since then.

 

The new rod was a 7'M Regista and the reel a Scorpion 70HG.  In this case I have a feeling the reel might be the culprit.  I have a few Shimanos, but this is the first one with the SVS Infinity Braking system.  I've read the spool on this reel is very fast and the reel takes some time to get dialed in.

 

I've used an OG Fuego on the Crucial so I know it isn't the reel causing inaccuracy as my first two baitcast reels were Fuegos on closeout, and they have been used on several other rods with no accuracy problems.

 

I am hoping in the case of the Regista/Scorpion 70 that it is simply a matter of becoming more familiar with the reel.  I will be trying another reel on the Regista.  Naturally the Scorpion 70 will be seeing more use.  Hopefully both will prove to be satisfactory with a bit more use.  I want to like both.

 

Has anyone else experienced accuracy problems with a particular rod or reel?

 

 

 

[jbrew73]

The rod, lure, line and reel need to match up for proper casting.  Remove any one from the equation and accuracy will suffer. 

[drew4779]

Length?   Shorter rods tend to be more accurate.  Longer rods tend to give you more distance.

[WRB]

The combination of lure weigt,  it's aerodynamics and rod action ( how it flexes ) has more to do with casting accuracy then the reel IMO. The rod action and lure weight dictates the release point if your casting motion is the same.

Try switching reels to see if it makes any difference.

Tom

[new2BC4bass]

I use mono/co-polymer within the rod's rating.  I use lures within the rod's rating.  Lure weights preferably somewhere near the middle.  I know shorter rods are supposed to be more accurate.  Personally I think practice can overcome the difference in rod lengths.  I know a jig should be more accurate to cast than a spinnerbait due to its aerodynamics.

 

I am not talking inches here...but yards.  That was how far off my first two casts with the Regista/Scorpion 70 were.

 

Both rods are 7 footers.  Yes I used a swim jig on the one and a spinnerbait on the other.  However, what little wind there was came from behind me.  In the fall I practice at a local river using leaves, twigs, foam cups and plastic bottles that float by as my target.  99% of the time I am using a spinnerbait because I don't like losing lures just for practice.  I have to make allowances for current and wind.  I don't hit them often, but usually come close.  I do accidentally catch a fish now and then.  

 

I don't know if it is the rod, reel or the combination of the two, but I have noticed that some combos are easier to get close to (or hit) my target than others.  Apparently I am alone in this.  I will admit to not having the years of experience with a baitcast reel that many on here have.  Nor am I as good with a baitcast reel as many are.  However, I do well enough to get by most of the time.

[Catt]

After 58 years of throwing baitcasters I still practice flipping, pitching, & casting almost daily. 

 

Some reels cast differently & some rods cast differently but most generally if I'm experiencing difficulties with distance or accuracy it's operator error.

[craww]

I do think theres something about certain rods that just match my body mechanics for whatever reason and I seem to be more accurate. The handful of Fenwicks in MH Fast action I've owned have always been surgical cover casters in my hands. I've owned other rods longer with similar lengths and ratings, but the old HMG's loaded just enough to have a tiny amount of tip, while remaining in control. 

 

But yeah I do think the magforce equipped Daiwas your running behave themselves more than the Scorpion/Curado 70...So that may play a part for sure.

[WRB]

It takes time to coordinate hand eye release points when casting and each casting technique differs greatly. If you tie on a 1/2 oz to a crankbait rod the release point is different from a faster action jig & worm rod by several inches that result in several feet at a moderate casting distance, action flexure matters.

Complicating accuracy is dominate eye verses dominate hand, if they differ your accuracy suffers.

Tom

[dodgeguy]

9 hours ago, drew4779 said:

Length?   Shorter rods tend to be more accurate.  Longer rods tend to give you more distance.

This is it. . action also effects it.

[new2BC4bass]

I use rods and reels from several brands.  Switching among them doesn't seem to cause me any trouble.  I am thinking the reel was the cause.  Not the reel itself, per se, but the fact I have never handled a reel with that type of braking.  I was reasonably close in 4 casts which leads me to think it was my unfamiliarity with the reel.  I plan on getting out this weekend.  See how it goes.  I can take an extra reel with me this time to see if changing reels helps....should I still have an accuracy problem.

 

Best of luck to you guys this weekend.  Hope you all land a PB. 

[FishingGeekTX]

Obviously this is just another guess:

Have you set the brakes/tension appropriately for this new combo?

 

SVS I believe requires you to both set the pins inside for the rough brake setting, and then adjust the dial for fine adjustment.  I think they come all on?  Not sure.  On Metanium I think they say leaving all on is normal (it's only 4).  If yours has 6, I'm not sure if that's the case.

 

  I set up reels casting roughly the same distance-- a far cast, but not hard/over-casted, and I try to go about the same distance, with no backlash.   I screwed one up and it was harder to cast, and accuracy was terrible as a result.   I would overcompensate for the harsh braking, and was casting harder than I should have, which ruined accuracy.  A week later I re-did the brakes and low and behold, it casts like a dream, and without accuracy issues.

 

Line differences (wiry/stiff line casts poorly) and lure/rod loading are the other two big accuracy issues I run into.

 

 

[islandbass]

19 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

with some rods...or reels?

 

I ask because I was out with 2 new outfits the other day and had a surprise.  I've used a TDX before but not this one.  The rod was also a new-2-me rod.  Casting accuracy was fine.  Then I tried the other combo.  Both new.  Never used that model rod or reel before.  First couple casts were a lot further to the right than expected.  It only took a few more casts to be reasonably close, but this reminded me of my OG Crucial.  The Crucial just doesn't seem to be accurate in my hands.  Haven't used the Crucial in some time so maybe that is no longer true.  Maybe I just needed more practice.  I have done a lot more casting since then.

 

The new rod was a 7'M Regista and the reel a Scorpion 70HG.  In this case I have a feeling the reel might be the culprit.  I have a few Shimanos, but this is the first one with the SVS Infinity Braking system.  I've read the spool on this reel is very fast and the reel takes some time to get dialed in.

 

I've used an OG Fuego on the Crucial so I know it isn't the reel causing inaccuracy as my first two baitcast reels were Fuegos on closeout, and they have been used on several other rods with no accuracy problems.

 

I am hoping in the case of the Regista/Scorpion 70 that it is simply a matter of becoming more familiar with the reel.  I will be trying another reel on the Regista.  Naturally the Scorpion 70 will be seeing more use.  Hopefully both will prove to be satisfactory with a bit more use.  I want to like both.

 

Has anyone else experienced accuracy problems with a particular rod or reel?

 

 

 

Assuming the reel is properly set and the lure can load the rod correctly, the only thing that can make your cast go to the right is an error in your timing of the cast. Simply put, you’re letting go late. It’s a good thing you didn’t make an overhand cast, lol. 

[Deleted account]

Rods and reels aren't more or less accurate than one another. Each has it's own particular characteristics.

Experienced anglers with years of accumulated muscle memory will of course find different or unfamiliar gear will cause the same motion and timing will cause different results. 

 

[scaleface]

I had a rod that was warped and it would not cast accurately . Also some lures are prone to fly off course .When I throw  Stanley Ribbits they might go  five foot one way then on the next cast the other way .

[A-Jay]

Balanced gear in the hands of an experienced user can offer solid & repeatable results when it comes to casting accuracy.

However, there is some level of 'skill' involved and that can be specific to each caster as well.

So if you miss the nail and smash your thumb, often times, it's not the hammer's fault.

A-Jay

 

[new2BC4bass]

3 hours ago, islandbass said:

Assuming the reel is properly set and the lure can load the rod correctly, the only thing that can make your cast go to the right is an error in your timing of the cast. Simply put, you’re letting go late. It’s a good thing you didn’t make an overhand cast, lol. 

It wasn't directly overhead.  Maybe 15-30 degrees off.  I realize I was releasing too soon to be that far off.  Which is why I feel it is more a reel thing than a rod thing.  My timing was off.  I've been using baitcasts reels almost exclusively for 9 plus years so my timing is normally a lot better than that.  (You didn't want to see my casts when I first started.  )

 

Internal brakes (4) come all on.  From my previous reading on these reels, I left them on and started with 6 on the external dial.  I left the spool tension loose.

 

A-Jay....as I said in another post, I feel it was my unfamiliarity with the reel and braking system.  I will say that this hasn't happened to me since learning to use a baitcast reel.  It is not the first new reel/braking system that I have used, but the first that went so far off target on my first couple of casts.  It was a surprise to me.  Had me wondering if it was my fault or something else.

 

I have to agree with craww.  It has been my experience that some rods just seem to be inherently more accurate.  At least in my hands.  I also agree that practice makes perfect.  Well....closer to perfect. 

[diehardbassfishing]

Purchased a pair of OG Crucials a few years ago - bought together as a buy one, second half off. Two diff ratings. Couldn't resist - looked forward to seeing the difference between them.

One is 6'10", Medium Heavy - Fast, Line Wt: 10-20 lb, Lure Wt: 1/4-3/4 oz

Second  6'8", Medium - Extra Fast, Line Wt: 8-17 lb, Lure Wt: 1/4-1/2 oz

 

Found the 6'8" M-XF rod difficult to cast accurately. The stiff tip just didn't load up well. Thought the top rating of 1/2 oz interesting; being less than the rod with the softer tip.

The 6'10" MH-F rod was wonderful for accurate casts.

 

I suppose 6'8" M-XF would make a nice "over the side of the boat jigging rod", but don't do much of that at all. I've kinda labeled it as a broom-stick. The 6'10" MH-F is one of my go to rods. Much like my Avid 6'6" MH-F, loads up well for very accurate casting. Even with a roll cast.

 

Karl

 

 

[clh121787]

Its not the arrow its the indian. 

[Deleted account]

13 minutes ago, clh121787 said:

Its not the arrow its the indian. 

True, but doesn't keep the tribe from spending wampum, I'll give you some beads for that GLX...

[MickD]

When accuracy side to side is important I cast directly overhead at the target.  Usually all I have to adjust then  is the distance.

 

I think the worst mismatch for accuracy is if the rod is much stiffer than it should be based on the weight of the lure.

 

I also think that while not as important as matching the lure weight, a more moderate action is probably more accurate than the faster actions.

[JustJames]

16 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Apparently I am alone in this.  I will admit to not having the years of experience with a baitcast reel that many on here have.  Nor am I as good with a baitcast reel as many are.  However, I do well enough to get by most of the time.

It happened to me but I won’t tell anyone lol.

[The Bassman]

I let loose a wild pitch with my baitcasters more often than I'd like to admit.  I'm pretty consistent with my spinning.

[islandbass]

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

It wasn't directly overhead.  Maybe 15-30 degrees off.  I realize I was releasing too soon to be that far off.  Which is why I feel it is more a reel thing than a rod thing.  My timing was off.  I've been using baitcasts reels almost exclusively for 9 plus years so my timing is normally a lot better than that.  (You didn't want to see my casts when I first started.  )

 

Internal brakes (4) come all on.  From my previous reading on these reels, I left them on and started with 6 on the external dial.  I left the spool tension loose.

 

A-Jay....as I said in another post, I feel it was my unfamiliarity with the reel and braking system.  I will say that this hasn't happened to me since learning to use a baitcast reel.  It is not the first new reel/braking system that I have used, but the first that went so far off target on my first couple of casts.  It was a surprise to me.  Had me wondering if it was my fault or something else.

 

I have to agree with craww.  It has been my experience that some rods just seem to be inherently more accurate.  At least in my hands.  I also agree that practice makes perfect.  Well....closer to perfect. 

Sorry! I was looking at it backwards. Casts to the right would be early and not late. I was just ribbing you on the overhand cast because a late release overhand can lead to the lure landing right in front of you. An early release could lead to a “rainbow” cast that goes far upward and not so far forward. 

 

The culprit may very well be in the set up of the reel’s brakes. You also don’t want to see my learning curve with a bc reel. Downright embarrassing.