Taking Aim

[NathanDLTH]

On 12/3/2021 at 5:38 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

Too many 100 yard casters around here to worry about accuracy. 

I'll admit that is my struggle too often lol! I've had to force myself to become better at casting.

[LrgmouthShad]

On 12/3/2021 at 11:25 AM, WRB said:

I see anglers with the thumb upright at 12 O’clock throughout the casting and push the hand forward in an effort to increase distance, both counter productive.

Guilty. And I do this a lot

[Kirtley Howe]

On 12/3/2021 at 11:25 AM, WRB said:

2Roll cast is all wrist movement with the thumb controlling line coming off the spool, the reel handle should be a 45 degree angle at the end of the cast, not upright. I see anglers with the thumb upright at 12 O’clock throughout the casting and push the hand forward in an effort to increase distance, both counter productive.

Tom

PS, always cast in the same hand as your dominate eye; right eye right hand, left eye left hand.

I would disagree with the PS   It is very advantageous to learn to cast with BOTH hands.  You can reduce your fatigue on a long day of fishing. Sometimes it is advantageous to cast from the opposite side than you normally would, for better access under or around cover. With practice you can become equally proficient with either hand.  

[WRB]

8 minutes ago, Kirt Howe said:

I would disagree with the PS   It is very advantageous to learn to cast with BOTH hands.  You can reduce your fatigue on a long day of fishing. Sometimes it is advantageous to cast from the opposite side than you normally would, for better access under or around cover. With practice you can become equally proficient with either hand.  

Proper mechanics isn’t right or left handed, it’s works for both.

Tom

[GRiver]

I was in a situation where I couldn’t leave the house for a awhile. I picked up a cheap combo at Walmart and practiced hitting targets in the backyard. I was getting pretty good with a spinning rig as far a short accuracy goes.

[Log Catcher]

I'm usually reasonably accurate with my casting. I don't worry about long distance casting. I am usually try to hit spots around cover. I think accuracy is important. I'm okay with baitcasters. I wish I had better accuracy with spinning gear.

[Columbia Craw]

On 12/3/2021 at 9:52 AM, Catt said:

69 years old this month & I still practice flipping, pitching, & casting.

 

Muscle Memory

the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement.

Bingo!!!  68 in a couple weeks Catt.  Practice does not make you perfect. Perfect practice makes you better.  Proper mechanics to allow the full movement of the wrist is critical and practice your butt off.  You will actually develop a silent clock in your head to determine distance.  Muscle memory all day long.

[Catt]

5 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

Practice does not make you perfect. Perfect practice makes you better.

 

This is why I do not use a "practice" plug, I practice with what I fish with.

 

5 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

You will actually develop a silent clock in your head to determine distance.

 

Extremely helpful when night fishing 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Extremely helpful when night fishing 

Which we both know is a whole different deal.

Casting 'at nothing'

Talk about using The Force . . . 

A-Jay

[Catt]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Casting 'at nothing'

Talk about using The Force . .

 

Coming from a saltwater background I know the strongest moon phase was the New Moon.

 

When I started night fishing for bass I only fished the New Moon.

 

Take about casting at nothing!

[Jaderose]

I may have talked about this before ? but If I am working a mat half the size of a football field with tons of standing timber, laydowns, crossing laydowns, stumps, open water pockets and lord knows what else, I had better be pretty darned accurate with my frog rod and I am.  Most of the time...lol.  Occasionally, I'll uncork a doozy and leave a souvenir triple wrapped around a dead tree limb 30 ft in the air in the middle of what is basically a swamp.  I can visit these reminders of my blunders and I just laugh when I see them and be thankful that Scumfrogs are cheap.

[Kirtley Howe]

8 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

I may have talked about this before ? but If I am working a mat half the size of a football field with tons of standing timber, laydowns, crossing laydowns, stumps, open water pockets and lord knows what else, I had better be pretty darned accurate with my frog rod and I am.  Most of the time...lol.  Occasionally, I'll uncork a doozy and leave a souvenir triple wrapped around a dead tree limb 30 ft in the air in the middle of what is basically a swamp.  I can visit these reminders of my blunders and I just laugh when I see them and be thankful that Scumfrogs are cheap.

Just remember even the most successful pros sometimes mess up. I have seen Kevin Vandam cast right into a tree, about 25 feet above the water. Stuff happens.

[Jaderose]

2 hours ago, Kirt Howe said:

Just remember even the most successful pros sometimes mess up. I have seen Kevin Vandam cast right into a tree, about 25 feet above the water. Stuff happens.

Oh yeah.  I actually used to be a little gun shy about casting into gnarly areas but I got over it...lol.  I don't mind leaving the occasional tree hanger or stump topper now.  I DO hate leaving line so if I know I'm going to working areas with a high probability of losing lures, I will use a short bit (like a foot or so) of 15-18lb  leader.

[river-rat]

On 12/3/2021 at 11:52 AM, Catt said:

69 years old this month & I still practice flipping, pitching, & casting.

 

Muscle Memory

the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement.

 

 

I'm the same age and have been using  a bait caster since I was 12 years old. I still practice casting everyday. My wife calls it my therapy.