you all use Casting practice plugs?

[Darth-Baiter]

this dorky thing might be one of my oldest remaining pieces of fishing gear.  the humble casting plug.  one of my friends didn't even know what it was.  he uses a hardware nut   I owned this exact same practice plug for decades.  I bought it when I got my first bait caster.  I bet 28 years ago?  I was a hot mess back then, but a few hours in the front yard and I was casting like a pro.  It is a miracle I even still own it (the plug).  I can't even remember how heavy it is.  maybe 1/2 oz.  (I should weigh it). okay I just weighed it.  it is 3/8th oz.  pretty impressive since I was casting that thing about 50 yards yesterday with 50lb braid.

 

this thing is an essential part of my gear.  I do however own a bunch of random hardware nuts.

sorry for the slow news day

 

[QED]

I occasionaly use practice plugs but it's hard to find them under 1/4 oz so for UL/BFS stuff, I just use pencil type drop shot weights.

[JackstrawIII]

Very cool. I used to have one of these way back in the day and have often wished I still had one. Now that I know what they're called, I'll have to grab some. Thanks! 

[king fisher]

All my lures were practice plugs last time I went fishing.

[Fishlegs]

I have some. I still use them after I respool to dial my reel in.

[casts_by_fly]

Nope. I throw on a jig of the right weight and head to the yard. 

[Columbia Craw]

Yes. They can finessed out of my trees.

[813basstard]

Practice? We talking about practice? Not the game..not the game. We talking about practice? Not the tournament I love. We talking bout practice..I mean what are we talking about? Practice?

[RDB]

[scaleface]

I had one . Never could figure out how to rig it .

[Deleted account]

A decent enough beginner tool that can be easily replaced by something around the house, however, it's size, weight and balance makes it cast better than most real lures, so it has dubious use for anything beyond that, kinda like casting with the wind, everyone is a hero. I've never practiced casting anywhere where at least the potential to cross paths with a fish didn't exists.

[Woody B]

I threw mine away.   I never caught anything on it.   

 

Seriously, I've never had one.  I've tied a weight to my line but there's no wind resistance.  I keep damaged lures and remove the hooks for casting practice.  

[Catt]

I practice with what I plan on fishing with!

 

[Mobasser]

I learned how to cast with a practice plug years ago.

[Bluebasser86]

I didn't have any, but my youngest son's rod/reel combo came with one. I've had him using it to practice and while we're in the boat. They're nice because they don't have hooks on them. Same video but 2 different parts if you want a good laugh. 

 

 

[RDB]

Take a safety pin and add your desired weight, wrap some duct tape around it to dial in the weight you want and use the circle on the bottom of the pin for the line tie.

 

 

[Jig Man]

Yes I have them and yes I use them.  When I lube a reel I make several casts with one.  When I put on new line I normally cast a few times

[WRB]

Practice casting plugs have flat sides to reduce line twist on the retrieve. Haven’t used a practice plug in decades.

Tom

[GaryH]

2 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I didn't have any, but my youngest son's rod/reel combo came with one. I've had him using it to practice and while we're in the boat. They're nice because they don't have hooks on them. Same video but 2 different parts if you want a good laugh. 

 

 

He got your attention 

[Bankbeater]

I still use them, and I have some old ones from way back when I was a kid. 

[volzfan59]

I still have a few around here somewhere.

[MN Fisher]

If I want to practice - I got some dipsy sinkers here that I use.

[crypt]

I use an old Zara Puppy with the hooks removed.....makes it easier to get through the grass....

[Derek1]

I bought one when I got my first casting reel. I used it out in the parking lot at BPS soon as I left the store. Made two casts, then went back in had the guy cut the line out and re spool it for me. I don’t often tell that story. 
good times. 

[RDB]

I use them a lot and many don’t have flat sides.  I stand in the living room and pitch/flip into cups while watching TV all the time and skip and cast from both sides in the yard and driveway anytime I have 15-20 minutes to spare.  I also welcome the boys to join in when they feel like they can beat the old man.  The next time will be the first time.

 

P.S.  Never had line twist issues.