Making a big splash

[David Phillips Jr.]

What is the trick to getting my lures, worms, etc. to hit the water without such a big splash. It's like i'm tossing a brick into the water every time I cast.

[A-Jay]

Hello David and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

While I'll admit to being far for an expert in the 'art' of the no slash entry on a cast, pitch or flip, the successes I do achieve here have come from quite a bit of practice.

 Shorter, slower and lower trajectory offerings are often where i see the best results.

 So perhaps give all that a try.

Good Luck

A-Jay

[Wizzlebiz]

What kind of casting equipment are you using. I have found that soft entry is a whole lot easier with a bait caster that a spinning setup for me. 

 

Not to say it isnt possible with spinning gear but feathering the spool while it is coming down is a big part of the magic. That isnt as easy to do with spinning gear. 

[Deleted account]

Side arm cast, pitching or skipping will reduce the entry splash, as will the choice of lure (both type and size). 

[Koz]

I agree with the baitcaster comment. You can place your thumb lightly on the spool as the bait begins to land and slow down the velocity of the bait. You probably also need to experiment with the entry angle of each bait. Some will be quieter with a horizontal entry and some quieter with a vertical entry.

[JK Jake]

I agree with everything already stated, but don’t just do a normal sidearm cast. Do what is called a “Roll Cast”(that’s what others posted may have meant idk). It’s basically a sidearm cast but you kind of make a “U” motion as you swing. Look up a YouTube video, it’s kind of hard to describe but I do this more often than an overhand cast, mainly because I can personally just cast more accurately and quietly with it while still getting distance, as I fish a lot of shoreline cover.

[reb67]

If your using a bait caster it will take alot of practice but if you watch your lure as it get close to the water thumb the spool and lift your rod tip up this will almost bring your lure to a complete stop in the air and the closer you can do this to the water the softer the entry you will get. This technique works great for flipping/pitching. 

As far as spinning gear I only use light lures anyway so it doesn't seem to be much of an issue for me. 

 

Oh welcome aboard this is a great forum for all things bass fishing and many other things. The guys and gals here are great to chat with.

[frogflogger]

Practice - practice - practice - it can be fun and it will make you a better fisherman.

 

[Choporoz]

Fortunately ...sometimes, it seems you gotta get their attention

[WRB]

The higher the lure trajectory the further it falls unless you control the velocity by slowing it down before it lands on the water. The trick to making a lure have a soft landing is slowing it down then stopping it just before it lands and raising your rod tip to get the lure coming towards you, controlled landing without slack line.

Start with casting shorter distance to master the technique, then increase the distance.

Tom

[the reel ess]

As stated above, roll the cast. A rod with a little tip will help out when you thumb the spool just before the bait enters. But I'm sure there have been times the splash got me a reaction bite.

[PhishLI]

It's important to master casting technique. Practice never ends for me. I enjoy it. You never know what the fish want on a given day, so versatility is a plus. That said:

 

Your topic is interesting to me as it's been on my mind for the past few months. In the beginning of the summer my brother went nuts buying big swimbaits, wakebaits, glide baits, and the gear to throw them on. He made friends with a guy who's on the same kick.

 

The first night we got together we waded in a shallow cove. They were fairly close to each other, like 30-50 feet apart, and I was oriented about 90 degrees to them about 125 five feet away. They were launching large bluegillgill wakebaits and I stuck with smalli paddletails. Needless to say it sounded as if someone was chucking dinner plates into the water all around me. We absolutely hammered them. One of the best sessions I've had by far. A fluke? Nope. Next time out was in a different lake and it was another amazing night. A few weeks ago we hit a new-to us spot on the boat. That other guy was in his yak. Same thing again. Huge baits crashing into the water left and right, but we stuck em good.

 

There are two lakes I fish where when they're not biting the usual stuff they'll eat a wacky rigged senko. Not a 5", but a 6" and 7". I bomb them out and they hit the water like a hot dog. Big splash. No problem at all. They grab them instantly.

 

All of this makes me think that as long as I'm stealthy, whether when wading or boating, a big splash can be a good thing. If they're alone it gets their attention. If they're bunched up it makes them competitive.

[David Phillips Jr.]

Thanks for all the info, yall.  I usually only use a baitcaster, so I guess it's just gonna have to be Practice Practice Practice.

[OkobojiEagle]

Plenty of explanation above concerning baitcasting... the same concept with spinning, though the line needs to be "cupped" several inches in-front of the reel (with the hand not holding the rod) and gradually choked (squeezed) during the cast.  Using this technique will help control "tumbling" of lures such as jerk baits also.

 

oe