What is your take on the ideal casting rod for for max distance?

[Dashipa]

Hello all......hoping to get some feedback on what you guy think is the best casting rod for max distance for bass fishing. Looking to make a new rod purchase that fills this requirement. I fish from the bank and would like to have a rod or 2 that i can rely on to get my lure "out there".  I have searched the internet high and low and still cant make an informed decision - LOL.  I just wish I could buy a hundred or so rods and try em all out

 

[Tywithay]

For the most part, all rods of the same length will offer similar distance, as long as your lure is in the recommended weight range for the rod (though that's not always the weights stamped on the blank). Line diameter and rod length are about the only way to drastically improve distance. A 10ft rod will outcast a 7ft rod, all other things being equal. 

[Dens228]

It depends on the lure weight.  If I tried casting a jig/trailer on my crankbait rod I wouldn't get it very far.  If I tried casting a squarebill on my jig rod I wouldn't get that very far either. 

[Bankc]

Length is important.  The longer the rod, the more leverage you have to cast it with.  Though, the longer the rod, the heavier it is.  So at some point the longer rods will start to work against you, as you won't be able to cast them with as much speed.  

 

Another important aspect is how the rod loads.  This is where lure weight comes into play.  But it's not just the power of the rod that's important (lure weight rating).  It's also the action.  Typically, slower action rods will load up further down the rod and allow you to cast further.  You get more bend in the rod, and more snap back on the cast.  However, if the lure is too heavy to properly load the rod, then the slower action works against you, as the rod isn't able to snap forward during the cast.  The rod turns from a rubber band into a wet noodle, so to speak.  So there's no one right answer here, other than to say the rod that casts the furthest will be the rod that loads up and releases the best on the cast.  The weight of your lure and your technique will determine how all of that works or doesn't work for you.

 

There are several other factors to consider.  Heavier lures can have more momentum, which means they can be cast further.  However, there's a limit there, as at some point it weighs too much to cast effectively (depends on how strong you are and your technique).  Also, smaller lures and more aerodynamic lures will cast further.  A spoon will typically cast further than a spinnerbait of the same weight for this reason.  Also, spinning rods tend to cast further than baitcasting rods (when matched with the appropriate reels, of course).  This is because a baitcaster has to peel line of a spool by moving the whole spool, while a spinning rod can just let the line slip over the lip of the spool.  The force required to spin the spool on a baitcaster will eat into your casting distance a bit.  And thinner line tends to cast better than thicker line, as it's more aerodynamic.  And the more supple a line is, the further is will usually cast.  

 

And lastly, technique matters a lot.  It's not all about how strong you are or how fast you can whip the rod tip.  A lot of distance comes from how smoothly you can cast it, as well as controlling how the rod loads and releases it's flex.  So there's not really a magic answer that will apply across the board.  It's all a balancing act.  

[Diggy]

Sounds like you need a:

 

DESTROYER P5 (JDM) F7.5-90X I.C.B.M

The bank-fishing special, F7.5-90X ICBM, is a super long-distance weapon developed for the trophy-hunting anglers lining the shores of Lake Biwa. The 9’ shaft harnesses the potential of 5-D GRAPHITE, displaying furious energy to unleash moon-shot casts and uncanny sensitivity to develop sonar-like maps with each bottom-contacting retrieve. The ICBM stands above other rods in its class, delivering an intuitive feel that belies its daunting length.

-

LENGTH	9'0"
POWER	Extra-Heavy
LINE RATING	12-30lb
LURE RATING	3/8-3oz
TAPER	Med Fast

[jimmyjoe]

   There are going to be many replies to your question. If you watch pro distance competitors and their videos, one thing will surface time and time again; technique, technique, technique.  The reason is simple; almost anyone can use a rod to cast a lure, but only very few people with rigorous practice can get the full benefit of the rod's potential into play. In other words, it ain't easy.

    Bass rods bear little resemblance to competition distance rods. Still, you might be very surprised what normal, everyday rods can do in the right hands!

   One other thing that @Bankc and @Dens228 touched on: to really get improvement in distance, your lures will need to be aerodynamic. As I've said before, you can't cast tissue paper very far.

 

   Good luck!      jj

 

  p.s. - For most people, a moderate or moderate-fast action yields the greatest distance. This has absolutely nothing to do with the rod. It simply matches the reactions and coordination of most people, that's all.

[Dashipa]

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

  p.s. - For most people, a moderate or moderate-fast action yields the greatest distance. This has absolutely nothing to do with the rod. It simply matches the reactions and coordination of most people, that's all.

jimmyjoe - this is exactly what I have been wondering. Based on a few conversations I have had with some tackle shops the feedback has been that mod-fast rods will produce longer casts.  Problem is ...finding something that is under 7-5....anything longer will not fit in my car.  

 

I am thinking something med/heavy mod/fast.  Is there a rod out there that someone can recommend that falls into this category?  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

For raw casting distance go with a 7.6-8 spinning rod with a 4000 size reel spooled with 20# braid. If you perfect your technique a fast action casts best but a slower action is more forgiving as jj alluded to. 

[MickD]

4 hours ago, Diggy said:

Sounds like you need a:

 

DESTROYER P5 (JDM) F7.5-90X I.C.B.M

The bank-fishing special, F7.5-90X ICBM, is a super long-distance weapon developed for the trophy-hunting anglers lining the shores of Lake Biwa. The 9’ shaft harnesses the potential of 5-D GRAPHITE, displaying furious energy to unleash moon-shot casts and uncanny sensitivity to develop sonar-like maps with each bottom-contacting retrieve. The ICBM stands above other rods in its class, delivering an intuitive feel that belies its daunting length.

-

LENGTH	9'0"
POWER	Extra-Heavy
LINE RATING	12-30lb
LURE RATING	3/8-3oz
TAPER	Med Fast

Wine label writer going fishing? :-)

 

1 minute ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

For raw casting distance go with a 7.6-8 spinning rod with a 4000 size reel spooled with 20# braid. If you perfect your technique a fast action casts best but a slower action is more forgiving as jj alluded to. 

Try the new braids with 8 "fibers," my favorite  is Hitena 21 pound at .006 diameter.  Make sure your spool is properly filled, only an eighth of an inch free space from the line to the lip, two handed casts, work on technique with your longer rod.  It is believed that micro guides add distance.  I'm not sure it's solid science, but it makes sense since micros better take out the loops that have to be generators of air resistance.  So I'd recommend getting a rod with micro runners.  That's all I build, and works for me.  By micro I mean runners that have a ring outer diameter of 3-4 mm.  Go smaller and it's hard to find a braid to leader knot that will work well, + you won't get smaller guides than this on a factory rod.

 

My thoughts are, as others have said, longer the better, action more on the moderate side unless you are willing to perfect your technique, match the power to the recommended lure weight, then consider the details above.

[new2BC4bass]

3 hours ago, Dashipa said:

I am thinking something med/heavy mod/fast.  Is there a rod out there that someone can recommend that falls into this category?  

I have an HMG 7'2" Medium- Moderate Fast.  Rated 3/8-1 oz. which puts it in MH territory in my book.  Never tried to see just how far I can cast with it tho.  I suggest spending a half hour or so perusing casting rods at TW.  Hammer offers quite a few with Moderate action.  Falcon makes quite a few Moderate-Fast rods.  I'd look at a Heavy in both brands, tho, as they tend to fish light.  Both have 7'6" models.

 

iRod has a few.  Lew's has quite  few.  I think you will be surprised how many Moderate-Fast and Moderate rods are available once you start looking.  I know I was. 

[Born 2 fish]

I have a 7’6 m/h bps crankin stick with a Lews tournament mp and I can absolutely launch some lures.

[jimmyjoe]

3 hours ago, Dashipa said:

  Problem is ...finding something that is under 7-5....anything longer will not fit in my car.  

 

   I generally need 2-pc rods for security reasons. I had an 8'-0" casting rod made on a Batson Revelation IP963F blank ("F" denotes 2-pc.). It's rated M/MF, 1/4-5/8 oz., and it casts a country mile.

   I suggest that 1) you consider a 2-pc. rod, and 2) consider a custom rod.

 

   Now that I've said that, there's one more thing. Have your reel professionally cleaned and re-lubed, and include a note when you send it in that you want the reel lubed for distance. On the rod I mentioned above, I have a Shimano Curado 70 that's been cleaned and re-lubed. The distance I get is noticeably greater than what I got when I used that reel brand new, right out of the box.

   The other benefit you gain from a professionally re-lubed reel is ease of casting. In other words, you may not be going for the greatest distance, but the effort you need to put into the cast .... any cast .... will be less.

   And when I read what @Delaware Valley Tackle wrote, I went back to your original post. You never mentioned whether you were thinking of casting, spinning or either one. I didn't notice that. ??  My bad.

   He's got a very good point about the spinning gear.  

 

   Hope all this helps you.   ?    jj

 

  

[Dashipa]

Thanks for the reel cleaning and lubing for distance tip jimmyjoe. I think that will be the xfactor to get effortless distance. I have a kast king Royale that outcasts every reel I own. I just give it a light cast and it takes off. This is what I want out of all my reels but I have make a more forceful cast to get any serious distance. I know it has to be easier than what I am experiencing. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

 

10 hours ago, Diggy said:

Sounds like you need a:

 

DESTROYER P5 (JDM) F7.5-90X I.C.B.M

The bank-fishing special, F7.5-90X ICBM, is a super long-distance weapon developed for the trophy-hunting anglers lining the shores of Lake Biwa. The 9’ shaft harnesses the potential of 5-D GRAPHITE, displaying furious energy to unleash moon-shot casts and uncanny sensitivity to develop sonar-like maps with each bottom-contacting retrieve. The ICBM stands above other rods in its class, delivering an intuitive feel that belies its daunting length.

-

LENGTH	9'0"
POWER	Extra-Heavy
LINE RATING	12-30lb
LURE RATING	3/8-3oz
TAPER	Med Fast

Why stop at 9? Get a 12ft ODM, you could sling a head and 3 ounces 70 yards past the breakers NP.

[Dashipa]

5 minutes ago, Rusty_Shackleford said:

 

Why stop at 9? Get a 12ft ODM, you could sling a head and 3 ounces 70 yards past the breakers NP.

?

[GetFishorDieTryin]

8 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

p.s. - For most people, a moderate or moderate-fast action yields the greatest distance. This has absolutely nothing to do with the rod. It simply matches the reactions and coordination of most people, that's all.

How do you mean? 

[jimmyjoe]

6 hours ago, Rusty_Shackleford said:

How do you mean? 

 

   The greatest distance results from the greatest energy storage and release over the least amount of time. This translates to highest velocity, the same as a higher velocity bullet goes farther than a lower velocity bullet, all other things being equal.

   The greatest tip velocity in a rod results, therefore, from a cast which has the least time from full rear deflex to full forward release. If the caster cannot push the rod forward quickly enough to match the rod's energy release, velocity will not be at the maximum level.

   Look at it this way:

   Take a rod. Any rod. Put the max rated lure weight for that rod on it. Set up as if you going to cast, but instead of going through a regular cast, just bring back the rod ever so slowly, and then bring it forward ever so slowly. You just went through the motion of a cast, with the arc of a cast and the weight of a cast, but if you released the lure weight at the end of that cast, it would just plop on the ground.

   Now do the same exact thing; go through the cast again, but this time a little faster. You'll notice two thing: one is that the tip of the rod was deflected by the lure weight, and the other is that the lure weight now travels a greater distance. You have imparted greater velocity to the lure.

   As you go through this same motion every time, but faster and faster each time, your distance will be greater and greater ..... up to a point.

   That point is when one of two things happen. Either 1) the rod is so "floppy", like a willow stick, that it can't release more energy on the forward portion of the cast, or else 2) your reflexes and muscles are so slow that they can't force any greater velocity on the forward portion of the cast.

   If #1 is the case, you've reached the maximum energy and deflection speed of the rod, and you won't be able to force it to give you any higher level of results.

   If #2 is the case, only a longer rod will produce greater velocity, because for the same casting stroke, a longer lever arm has greater tip speed, resulting in greater velocity.

   But .... look at #2 another way. Let's say you have two graphite rods. One has faster deflection and energy release than the other one, but they both store and release energy faster than human muscles can move or react. Theoretically, one can cast a lure further than the other one. In reality, they will cast the same, because no human being can exploit the difference.

   It's not difficult to manufacture a fishing rod where #2 applies. In fact, it's easy. Very easy. Just a stiff carbon-and-epoxy shaft, like a stiff pool cue. I imagine you've seen them; cheap graphite rods from China, puffed up in advertising to be "wonder rods". but in actuality not very useful for fishing. Will they give you great distances? No, they won't. They're too fast for your body's muscles.

   So the best rods for use by human beings are those that match our reaction speed and muscle control for acceleration.

   I apologize for the long post; I hope I made things clearer!   ???    jj

[DanielG]

What everyone else said.. I won't repeat it. But as a lure make I find that among other things like lure weight for the type of rod being used. I think a major component is the shape and location of weight. I've got some long slender lures that don't cast that far. I've got some narrow stubbier ones that cast like a bullet. I've found that narrow shorter lures with some weight towards the tail end will cast much farther than some other shapes. Sometimes I will use a lure just because of it's casting ability. Strange but true for me as I get satisfaction in lure casting. They usually are more controllable in the cast oo.

[Jermination]

20 hours ago, Dashipa said:

Hello all......hoping to get some feedback on what you guy think is the best casting rod for max distance for bass fishing. Looking to make a new rod purchase that fills this requirement. I fish from the bank and would like to have a rod or 2 that i can rely on to get my lure "out there".  I have searched the internet high and low and still cant make an informed decision - LOL.  I just wish I could buy a hundred or so rods and try em all out

 

i've tried scanning the entire convo to see what you are wanting to throw? the answer will be different for just about every type of lure you tie on. in general if you are throwing something 3/8-3/4 oz any medium heavy is going to launch it pretty well. The longer the rod the more distance. The lighter the line you throw, the more distance(be careful! lighter line will backlash way easier than 15 lb flouro) 7'6 is plenty of rod

[king fisher]

You are on shore trying to cast as far out in to the lake as you can.  I am in a boat trying to cast as far as I can towards shore.  Maybe the fish don't care how far we cast?  

     A 9 foot two piece moderate fast with the weight of the lure you are using in the middle of the specified range, will give you the best distance.  I use on of my steelhead salmon rods, when I want to really bomb crankbaits.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On ‎9‎/‎15‎/‎2020 at 7:03 AM, jimmyjoe said:

 

   The greatest distance results from the greatest energy storage and release over the least amount of time. This translates to highest velocity, the same as a higher velocity bullet goes farther than a lower velocity bullet, all other things being equal.

  

With all due respect I disagree.  Speed is dictated by powder charge.  The distance depends on the weight of the projectile even if the velocity is the same.  Steel will lose energy much faster then lead because steel doesn't have the density of lead, so its much lighter.  The same principle is applied to a light lure.  There are 2 sources of energy at work in a cast, leverage being a means to increase energy .  The energy you input and the potential energy stored in the rod when the blank loads on the back cast.  Its similar to stretching a rubber band.  A pool cue(casting a weight in the sweet spot of the range) that doesn't load far into the blank needs more power on a cast then a rod with a softer tip.  A "noodle" is more dependent on leverage and the rod unloading for distance.  Because of the slow action your not getting the leverage you would be getting with faster action rod of the same length.   Casting a noodle with more "power" results in minimal gain because there isn't enough backbone left to push.  A blank with a tip that loads a little deeper then a Fast but not nearly as deep as a Mod.  Out of all actions casting optimal weights, ModFast generally yields more distance.  Length gives you leverage, but just because a rod longer doesn't necessarily mean it will cast farther then a shorter rod.  For example I have a 8'6 Mod. Fenwick that would be considered a noodle.  I have a 7' ModFast Loomis that casts considerably farther then the Fenwick even if the Fenwick is throwing a bait in its "sweet spot."  Action plays an important roll in distance.  Surf rods made to cast maximum distance are nearly all Mod Fast.  Cleary surf fishing has nothing to do with rods designed for bass fishing, but the principle remains the same.

[Chasethefins]

For absolute max distance you need to have 3/4-1oz weight tied on with whatever plastic you want to use and a heavy rod so you have the backbone to really whip it make sure your line is strong enough to handle that type of force though 

[new2BC4bass]

On 9/15/2020 at 9:01 AM, king fisher said:

You are on shore trying to cast as far out in to the lake as you can.  I am in a boat trying to cast as far as I can towards shore.

 

I put both into practice all the time.  And I'm not the only one.  People on shore cast for the middle of the lake.  People in a boat follow the shore line casting towards it.

[bulldog1935]

Yamaga Blanks.  

[Reel]

You seem to be looking for a baitcasting rod.  The one that gets me the most distance right now is a Shimano Curado 7'3'' MH + Fast.  This is with baits from 1/4 to 3/4 oz.  Also important in getting distance is a good baitcasting reel lubed with very light oil and using your two hands to make the cast.  For me my left hand on the rod but and that pull at the end of the cast gets me 10 or 12 feet more.