6' UL Lure Casting Woes

[digitalvoid]

I have a 6' UL Okuma Celilo and am having problems with casting distance. These problems occur with 1/32 and 1/16 lures. Road Runner and Beetle Spin so far. I'm currently using 4lb mono. I'm wondering if switching to 2lb mono or similar FC diameter would help with this or if I need to consider a longer rod. I picked up a fairly inexpensive combo for bobber fishing so this would only be for casting spinners, jigs, cranks, etc, etc. Thanks and have a good one!

 

Pete

[Michigander]

I would lean towards a longer rod. But I would also experiment with more exotic casting techniques.

[digitalvoid]

2 minutes ago, Michigander said:

I would lean towards a longer rod. But I would also experiment with more exotic casting techniques.

Care to elaborate?

[Michigander]

1 minute ago, digitalvoid said:

Care to elaborate?

Hard to describe with typing, but you can get extra distance by whipping your rod around to build momentum with centrifugal force.

Part of it may also be that your rod doesn't load properly, as you said it's an inexpensive combo.

[Cravin]

It's give and take at that weight. Are you truly after distance at that weight and are you going to be OK with the sacrifices. 1/32 will require a moderate UL rod and manufacturing design will affect that. You'll need to get your hands on one or take peoples word for it. 

 

What can really throw a 1/32 well from what I personally know.. 

Diawa Presso's = any of them! backbone starts midway large guides for better casting, A lot of parabolic bend and flexy feel.

Diawa Procyon UL 7.1 ft = Lots of backbone 3/4 up shaft, Micro guides with nice tip about 14 inches of flex at cast but slightly forced at that weight to me.

Cadence Lux ULM 7ft = A wet noodle that can cast below it's belt at 1/64 accurately. Backbone is weak but worth the trade if your after casting control at the lightest tackle. 

 

good luck

 

[bulldog1935]

1 hour ago, Michigander said:

Hard to describe with typing, but you can get extra distance by whipping your rod around to build momentum with centrifugal force.

Part of it may also be that your rod doesn't load properly, as you said it's an inexpensive combo.

What you're describing is a spiral cast - what we always used to do with an old Ambassadeur or Millionaire to get line speed without jerk and be able to throw light baits - free shrimp on a bare hook.  

You can only do it really well standing on the corner of a dock or corner of a boat.  You begin with the rod pointing down at 45-degrees and continuously accelerate in an arc behind you to overhead release.  If you're really good, you pay a few feet of line with your thumb during that accelerating arc - that's where the real centrifugal force comes from, effectively lengthening the rod, and completely eliminating spool start-up jerk.  

 

The feet on the beach version is a pendulum cast.  You start with the rod up, push it straight forward to accelerate the bait.  When the bait is coming back like a pendulum, you pull the rod backward and continue accelerating that arc into a 45-degree overhead cast.  

[Michigander]

19 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

What you're describing is a spiral cast - what we always used to do with an old Ambassadeur or Millionaire to get line speed without jerk and be able to throw light baits - free shrimp on a bare hook.  

You can only do it really well standing on the corner of a dock or corner of a boat.  You begin with the rod pointing down at 45-degrees and continuously accelerate in an arc behind you to overhead release.  If you're really good, you pay a few feet of line with your thumb during that accelerating arc - that's where the real centrifugal force comes from, effectively lengthening the rod, and completely eliminating spool start-up jerk.  

Yep, sounds about exactly what I was thinking of!

[islandbass]

I have the 7’ okuma celilo and it is one of my favorite rods. 
 

I’d first investigate my casting mechanics, ensuring that I am making the weight of the lure load the rod properly. 
 

I’d also check my expectations. Am I expecting too much? 1/16 and 1/32 are just so light. I mean, how far could you throw it with your arm?    Probably as far as you could cast it, lol. 
 

Lure aerodynamics is another factor/consideration. An inline spinner probably won’t cast as far as a jig of the same weight. 
 

A longer rod can help. That’s for sure. Hope you figure it out for yourself, but I would blame the rod last.  

[digitalvoid]

1 hour ago, islandbass said:

I have the 7’ okuma celilo and it is one of my favorite rods. 
 

I’d first investigate my casting mechanics, ensuring that I am making the weight of the lure load the rod properly. 
 

I’d also check my expectations. Am I expecting too much? 1/16 and 1/32 are just so light. I mean, how far could you throw it with your arm?    Probably as far as you could cast it, lol. 
 

Lure aerodynamics is another factor/consideration. An inline spinner probably won’t cast as far as a jig of the same weight. 
 

A longer rod can help. That’s for sure. Hope you figure it out for yourself, but I would blame the rod last.  

I guess I never really worried about how the lure loads the rod. Is there an easy way to do this? Maybe I am just being to soft with the casts and need to put some more snap or whip into it (if that makes sense). I'm also bad a judging distance so it's possibly I'm casting them plenty far. Would switching to a lighter line be beneficial? 

[thunderblack]

I have a 7' UL from Lamiglas and it cast baits that size like a rocket. I'm with the other gents thinking rod length is the factor. 

[digitalvoid]

29 minutes ago, thunderblack said:

I have a 7' UL from Lamiglas and it cast baits that size like a rocket. I'm with the other gents thinking rod length is the factor. 

The X-11?

[islandbass]

Usually when you hear a quick whipping sound, you’re already going forward in your cast before the the rod even had a chance to get loaded by the weight of the lure. Not always but check for it. 
 

with the lure tied on, hold the rod out in front of you parallel to the ground, allowing the lure to freely hang. Flick your wrist to enough to pop the lure up and immediately bring it back to parallel, and allow the lure to let gravity act on the lure. As the lure falls toward the earth, watch how the lure, with gravity acting on it pulls the rod tip toward the earth. The lure is loading the rod. This is what the lure should do to the rod no matter what position you cast from. You don’t even need to throw it “hard” or whippy. 
 

I think 4# line is thin enough, but generally speaking, the thinner the line, the farther it should cast. 
 

 

[mrpao]

What reel and line are you using on the 6' okuma celilo?

[digitalvoid]

7 minutes ago, mrpao said:

What reel and line are you using on the 6' okuma celilo?

Daiwa Revros 2000 LT and 4lb Berkely Sensation 

[thunderblack]

3 hours ago, digitalvoid said:

The X-11?

Yes sir 

[WRB]

1st consideration to consider is the line.

Berkley XL 4 lb is popular but .008 dia.

Sunline Super Natural 4 lb mono is .006 dia.

Next is how full is the reel spool, should be about the thickness of a penny (1/16”) below the rim.

Tom

PS, Sunline Super Natural is $$6 / 330 yds.

 

[digitalvoid]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

1st consideration to consider is the line.

Berkley XL 4 lb is popular but .008 dia.

Sunline Super Natural 4 lb mono is .006 dia.

Next is how full is the reel spool, should be about the thickness of a penny (1/16”) below the rim.

Tom

 

Spool is getting a little low. So you think .002 smaller diameter line will make that much of a difference? I was thinking about going to 2lb test, but that 4lb sublime might be the same diameter as 2lb mono

[WRB]

Trilene XL 2 lb is .0057 dia vs 4 lb Super Natural is .0060 dia.

.0020 is 25% of .0080, big difference.

When the line on the spinning reel falls below 1/8” below the spool rim it affects casting distance.

Super Natural is less expense the XL, $6/330yds.

Tom

[digitalvoid]

10 minutes ago, WRB said:

Trilene XL 2 lb is .0057 dia vs 4 lb Super Natural is .0060 dia.

.0020 is 25% of .0080, big difference.

When the line on the spinning reel falls below 1/8” below the spool rim it affects casting distance.

Super Natural is less expense the XL, $6/330yds.

Tom

4lb line in roughly 2lb diameter seems like a win win to me. I'll probably have to order the Sunline but for now I think I'll try to find some other 2lb mono. If that still causes issues I might spring for a longer rod