Average Bass Tackle Length of Cast?

[GTN-NY]

So what do you think is your max average length of your casts with baitcasting bass tackle?

25, 50, 75 yards? More?

 

Same for spinning?

 

reason for asking is I’m in the process of spooling up braid for my first time. For my budget braid is expensive. I figured if I load up the spool with some old 12lb mono, pull off necessary length by walking it off in the yard, cut it off, tie on braid and spool up. 
 

[MN Fisher]

My average cast is probably about 35-40 yds on BCs, around 45-50yds for my heavier spinners (M-MH)...finesse stuff shorter.

 

I put around 70yds of mainline on all my reels - no matter what the average cast is. Gives me enough to work with even with reties and some possible breakage with enough left on the spool so that the join-knot doesn't interfere.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

100-120’ is a long cast. 75yds of mainline allows for retying and buries the connection knot.  

[huZZah]

When I use backing I do half the spool based on top diameter of line. So probably about 60-70 yards like said above.   My longest casts are maybe 50 yards of wind is at my back. Less with bait caster. You mostly just don’t want your knot coming up. 
 

In my experience most people’s casting distances are even more inflated than the monster that got away!

[ATA]

For me, if I do BFS it will be about 25 yards

Normal lures about 75 yards

but lv-500lipless or weighted Texas rig I am going 100 or even 125 yards.

[FishTank]

For me it depends on line, reel, rod and lure but on average about 40-60 yards at the most.  

 

Under the right conditions probably longer but to be honest > why? and I really don't want to. 

[FryDog62]

Long cast is 60 yards for me, 75 if I’m using a Tatula Elite reel.. 

[diehardbassfishing]

 

Without wind, 40 yrds is pretty darn good! Baitcaster, between 1/2 and 3/4 oz lure.
Could likely bomb one 50, without accuracy. 

 

Karl

 

 

 

[Hook2Jaw]

I think a lot of the folks here would put an arrow over the top of a deer almost every time considering their yardage estimates, but that's just my opinion.

 

I'm between 20 and 50 yards depending on the rod and the tackle tied onto the end of it.  ¹/¹⁵ Nedlockz and a TRD are at the bottom of the casting range, and big cranks, swimbaits, and lipless are at the top.  I might be able to hit 60 yards with a ¾ ounce Yo-Zuri Vibe on the Tatula Elite, but that's a reel on my Texas rig and jig rod.

[A-Jay]

  Accurately judging casting distance can be a little tricky, at least for me.

I do not measure how much line I put on a reel but there's always at least some backing;

usually about 1/4 or perhaps 1/3 of the spool. 

I know one thing though, I'm a Rock Star Caster with a heavy lure and the wind at my back !

?

A-Jay

 

 

[diehardbassfishing]

6 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

  Accurately judging casting distance can be a little tricky, at least for me.

 

 

Sure is!

I measured my 40 yd cast using Google Maps (satellite Google Earth).

Did think is was more than 40 judging by eye. Thought it was over 50.

 

Karl

[bulldog1935]

I think it's really unusual to talk Yards in terms of casting, unless maybe you're tournament casting with surf rods.  

70' is a working cast and near the limit of accurately casting into a bucket, 100' is a long cast.  

 

Blind fishing, you can fish casts out to 150'

[GTN-NY]

I paced of 50 yards from my garage all the way out to the edge of my front yard. Could I cast that far sure! But I’d hate to try to get a good hookset that far out

6 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I think it's really unusual to talk Yards in terms of casting, unless maybe you're tournament casting with surf rods.  

70' is a working cast, 100' is a long one.  

 

Blind fishing, you can fish casts out to 150'

I went with measuring yards because that’s what comes on the spool for the braid that I bought and has 160 yards. I was thinking I could get three spools out of it but I think I’ll end up getting two

[FishTank]

I had another thought on this since it was asked for the reason of backing a reel to save cost on line......

 

Some spools that I have on both casting and spinning have a spot on the spool marked.  It can be hard to see but it's pretty close to 25% of the spool fill.  I back all my spools and this is what I go by. 

 

Also, judging casting distance for me is easy.  I live on a perfect square acre, about 210 feet on each side.  I can stand at the end of the driveway and cast into my neighbor's yard, over 210 feet.  On the water, it's a different story. 

[bulldog1935]

11 minutes ago, GTN-NY said:

I paced of 50 yards from my garage all the way out to the edge of my front yard. Could I cash that far sure! But I’d hate to try to get a good hookset that far out

I went with measuring yards because that’s what comes on the spool for the braid that I bought and has 160 yards. I was thinking I could get three spools out of it but I think I’ll end up getting two

all fair enough.  

 

My back acre is 150' in the short direction, making it a great place to cast.  

First time though, I aimed up with 1/4-oz on my Abu CT and 8' surf-lure rod, the slow cast went over the fence into my neighbor's back acre - oops.  

[Angry John]

If you are trying to save money fill up the reel.  You can use braid for years and then reverse it.  When your spool runs down then add backer.  You will get more use of the line this way than using smaller sections.

[jimmyjoe]

   I regularly use spoons, and they'll cast a heck of a lot further than spinnerbaits. So the amount of line you want to give yourself is going to depend to a great extent on which lures you will use.    jj

[Catt]

What it was at age 50 vs what it is at 69!

 

I've competed in casting competitions for distance & accuracy so I know exactly what the distances were. 

 

The distance has dropped by 5 yds, accuracy remains.

 

Overall average under fishing conditions 40-45 yds. But usually less.

 

 

[WRB]

Reading this we have world class casters! Amazing how far you actually cast when casting on the football field with yard lines. Try laying down a 40” hula hoop on the goal line and try casting to it from the 50 yard line. 

Good luck!

Tom 

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

   I regularly use spoons, and they'll cast a heck of a lot further than spinnerbaits. So the amount of line you want to give yourself is going to depend to a great extent on which lures you will use.    jj

I'm guessing my average is in the 35-40 yard range...maybe 45 with certain lures.  I paced off a 1/8 oz. spinnerbait.  Casts were running a steady 29-30 paces.

 

Fishing tidal water it Florida with my brother-in-law I was using a 3/4 oz. saltwater spoon on my Gen1 STXL.  It holds 145 yards of 12# mono.  It was spooled to the bevel with 40# Sufix Performance (about 12# equivalent).  Pamphlet says to fill 1/16-1/8 oz. below the bevel.  I don't know if this is where they figured the 145 yards from.  Rod was a 7' MHF Jupiter.

 

Many casts emptied 1/2 or more of the spool.  I figure over 70 yards considering the obvious.  Larger circumference length is greater than smaller circumference.  This is a FAR cast for me.  I'm sure others here could have emptied the spool.  Something I will never do with normal bass gear.  I'm just not that good of a caster. I didn't start until 61 years old with a baitcaster.

 

EDIT: No way would I ever make it sound like I could hit a 2 foot circle at that distance....or 4 foot.    Was aiming for a general area, not a specific target.

[WRB]

Years ago we had annual Fred Hall Outdoor Sportsman shows that offered casting and knot tying contest to attendants. The casting pools were set up for exhibition professional caster using fly rods, spinning and casting rod-reel combo’s usually by Garcia Corp. The pools were about 2 yards wide and 50 yards long 4” deep. The targets set up 8” floating hoop at 10 yards, 12” at 20 yards, 18” at 30 yards, 24” at 40 yards and 36” at 50 yards. 

Anyone could step and try using the sponsors rods and reels with sponsors line and 5/8 oz casting plug.

I won several rod and reel combo’s over the years by hitting all the hops to 40 yards. Never made to 50 yards using the sponsors tackle.

Watching to exhibition casting was always amazing what these pros could do.

Tom

PS, I always gave the rods/reels I won to a kid watching with his dad. Biggest smiles ever!

 

[kayaking_kev]

I don't think I cast very far. Being a former QB and knowing how far I could throw a football and seeing how far I can cast, it doesn't seem like I cast but maybe 40 yards on a good day and that's with a good casting lure like a lipless or dark sleeper. But, I'm also used to fishing for accuracy on skinny rivers more so than bomb casting on open waters, and only have 3 seasons of using a bait caster under my belt. I also don't loosen the spool tension a lot or have mastered the thumbing needed to do that yet. My settings are usually set to where I cast every BC with only needing to use my thumb to stop the lure when it hits the water.

 

I'm also a side caster and also seem to get better distance when casting backhanded for some reason, probably something to do with my mechanics. Hopefully with time and practice I will get better.

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

The distance has dropped by 5 yds, accuracy remains.

 

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Try laying down a 40” hula hoop on the goal line and try casting to it from the 50 yard line. 

 

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

EDIT: No way would I ever make it sound like I could hit a 2 foot circle at that distance....or 4 foot.    Was aiming for a general area, not a specific target.

 

   There's definitely a difference between long distance and accuracy at that distance. I got my taste for a little distance from river fishing, but like @new2BC4bass and unlike @Catt and @WRB, I cast like Dick Swan said: " ... good enough to hit the river!"               jj

 

p.s. - Dick Swan passed away only about 5 years ago, at 80-some years old. RIP.

[Catt]

This is my extreme course!  ?

 

Casting Contest

Rules

Range: 5 targets set up on field at various angles from the deck.

Deck: 24 tall x 4' x 4'

Tackle: Participants choice

 

Targets: Made from Styrofoam extrusion

36" diameter @ 75 yds: 25 points

30" diameter @ 50 yds: 20 points

24" diameter @ 40 yds: 15 points

18" diameter @ 35 yds: 10 points

12" diameter @ 30 yds: 5 points

 

Each participant is allowed 2 cast at each target, points are only given for cast landing inside the target. Judge will be at each target to verify score. Tie breaker: 1 cast @ the 75 yd target

 

Sounds easy? Add wind, rain, back lashes, brain farts & artificial plants of various heights arranged around the target.

 

Get a couple buddies, set up the range and give it a try!

[moguy1973]

What is your budget?  You can get a 150yd spool of Power Pro in 30lb for $12 at Bass Pro during the Spring Sale right now.  Or a 300yd spool for $20.  And you won't need to change it next year.