Improving Your Casting

[Mobasser]

There's always been some really good casters in the pro ranks. Many have been good. If you feel that you need to improve your casting accuracy, I'll suggest watching some videos of Larry Nixon in action.                      As he moves slowly along, he mixes it up with overhand, sidearm, and a kind of lob cast he's got. Each cast is right on the money, with a quiet bait entry, in the perfect spot.               There's no doubt that this type of casting accuracy helped him in his success.              This was before pitching became popular. A standard casting rod, low profile reel, and mono line. One of the all time greats in bass fishing.            His casting is perfection.

[J Francho]

You can spend all the time you want watching videos, but nothing beats time on the water. I didn't develop my techniques by watching videos. They were borne out of necessity. I did learn to pitch watching another local angler that was an artist. For the most part though, it's all through doing. 

[Catt]

43 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

A standard casting rod, low profile reel, and mono line.

 

Mr Nixon started out like many of us with Abu Gracia Ambassadeur® 5000 & then move up to Ambassadeur® C4.

 

Casting accuracy is very important in shallow water, it's equally as important in deep water & a little more difficult.

[Mobasser]

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

You can spend all the time you want watching videos, but nothing beats time on the water. I didn't develop my techniques by watching videos. They were borne out of necessity. I did learn to pitch watching another local angler that was an artist. For the most part though, it's all through doing. 

I agree J Francho. Videos give a good idea, but practice makes perfect.

[scaleface]

I do well roll casting if the lure is the correct weight to match the rod. A little heavy or a little light and accuracy suffers significantly .  Overhand casting there is a lot more leniency.

[WIGuide]

I've seen Jimmy Houston do some pretty incredible things when it comes to casting accuracy with his roll casts. My parents and I have gotten to know him a little over the years, at least enough that he knew he could trust us to used as props if needed. In one seminar, someone had asked a question about setting the hook. We were sitting about 30-40 feet away at the moment and he threw a bait landing it perfectly under my dad's foot and told him to step on that for him so he could demonstrate.

 

The other time, he was actually talking about casting accuracy and demonstrating while he was talking. He told my dad not to move and threw a cast that landed in between his legs on the little bit of seat of the chair that was showing.

 

I feel like I'm better than average when it comes to accuracy, but that's a completely different level.  

[scaleface]

If a person can accurately place a lure in good spots, then even on tough days a big bass might come on any cast . 

[Craig P]

If you’re ever just killing time, sitting on the couch perhaps, get up and grab your rod and practice casting. Make a target with a paper plate, a bucket, etc.  If you need height, stand on a step or something that will raise you up a few inches.  I’ve done this for too many years to mention during the winter. It’s fun, occupies bored times and it really pays off on the water.

 

 

[Jar11591]

1 hour ago, Craig P said:

If you’re ever just killing time, sitting on the couch perhaps, get up and grab your rod and practice casting. Make a target with a paper plate, a bucket, etc.  If you need height, stand on a step or something that will raise you up a few inches.  I’ve done this for too many years to mention during the winter. It’s fun, occupies bored times and it really pays off on the water.

 

 

I practice pitching from the stairs on my deck in the yard. I scatter pavers on the lawn, stand on the second step, and try to pitch to land on the pavers. 

[J Francho]

Try a coffee cup in cover. That's my routine for getting into pitching shape. 

[geo g]

Nothing beats time on the water under a variety of conditions.  Wind from your back, wind into your face, and both side winds.  When out on the water and the fishing is real tough, I will stop thinking about catching, and concentrate on hitting the most difficult targets I can find within casting distance.  If I'm ON  that day, I am HAPPY.  But the truth is it has produced some quality fish along the way.  I go from fishing, to a game of darts, in my mind.  To me it's just fun placing a bait in a difficult strike zone, whether you're catching or not!  Fun is the goal!

[LrgmouthShad]

So I figured that I’m going to start making a habit of practicing my casting. Went out for 15-20min tonight. Here’s the state of my casting. I consider myself accurate, but I never could get it inside a medium sized bowl. I hit the edges about 6-7 times and placed it right next to it plenty, but could not get it inside. That was humbling 

[Glenn]

I just posted this a few days ago.  It should help: https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/casting-distance-accuracy.html

[T-Billy]

I fish a lot of stuff like pictured below. It's all about picking out a little hole that will allow you to pitch or skip deep into the heart of it, and being able to consistently hit those holes. I'm often pitching 5-8 feet back into stuff like this. If you can do this, you're putting your bait where most won't/can't. 

Having the right bait, rod, and line is just as important. It does no good to put a bait in there that you can't fish through those tangles cleanly. You also need a combo that can pull fish out. For me H is minimum, and XH is better. 40# or 50# 832 does well for me here.

[Catt]

@T-Billy ?

 

In all my years of fishing I have yet to find any plates or cups on the water.

 

While time on the water essential in many aspects of fishing its not completely necessary for some. 

 

Below is the row of bushes between my house & my neighbor's. That is what I practice ^casting" at, not just at the base but past them. If y'all wanna really practice put some obstacles in the way.

 

 

[scaleface]

I have never practiced at home. When I'm fishing shallow  100 percent of my cast is at a target . It might be the most minuscule change in the bank, maybe an out of place blade of grass . My eyes lock  onto something.

[Pat Brown]

30 minutes ago, Catt said:

@T-Billy ?

 

In all my years of fishing I have yet to find any plates or cups on the water.

 

While time on the water essential in many aspects of fishing its not completely necessary for some. 

 

Below is the row of bushes between my house & my neighbor's. That is what I practice ^casting" at, not just at the base but past them. If y'all wanna really practice put some obstacles in the way.

 

 

 

 

Having bank fishing PTSD looking at that line of trees.

 

All jokes aside, Catt makes an excellent point.

 

It's all well in good being able to hit a teacup in your driveway but I find the skill set is more about avoiding hitting lots of obstacles while being able to compensate for current/wins and boat movement.

 

On the bank I find good casting even more critical.

 

This spring I have been able to watch lots of HUGE bass react to my presentation in real time and I can tell ya this.

 

If you can make a 3/4 oz jig hit the water without a splash from 70 feet away and get it right in their face on that first cast, you gonna get bit ?

[Functional]

One of the techniques I could benefit from most give me the biggest headache....pitching. I cannot for the life of me get enough momentum up to get farther than a rods length away from the tip of my rod. 

 

It became pretty obvious when me and another boat were fishing opposite sides of a peninsula and I could see him clear as day pitching like a pro and hauling 3 bass out of the same stretch of cover I was fishing on my side with the same 2 lures (GP senko and jig). 

[Koz]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

@T-Billy ?

 

In all my years of fishing I have yet to find any plates or cups on the water.

 

 

???

 

I'm pretty good at casting, but not an expert. When I'm out there fishing, I don't think about my cast. I think about where I want it and just do it. Frankly, sometimes I'm amazed with my accuracy.

 

And sometimes I'm amazed at how many times the line wraps around a bush.

[J Francho]

Put that tea cup in that cover @Catt

 

 

[ironbjorn]

I'm so good at casting that most of the time I skip it's an accidental 

[LrgmouthShad]

Thank you for the recommendations yall!! 

2 hours ago, Functional said:

pitching. I cannot for the life of me get enough momentum up to get farther than a rods length away from the tip of my rod. 

Pitching is easy. Spend a little time with it and use a heavy bait, you will get the hang of it

 

It’s flipping that’s just friggin weird. 

[Functional]

29 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Thank you for the recommendations yall!! 

Pitching is easy. Spend a little time with it and use a heavy bait, you will get the hang of it

 

It’s flipping that’s just friggin weird. 

if I could pitch like this guy I dont think I'd ever need to flip haha.

 

Might try something heavier until I get the motion. Was primarily trying with a 5/16 and 3/8 jig. My problem is most of the fish I get seem to prefer the smaller profile baits.  

[LrgmouthShad]

I’d heard from @WRB that roll casting while using back hand to propel the butt of the rod forward is bad casting form and detracts from accuracy. Practicing last night I have to agree with him. Roll cast tight to the body with one arm is more accurate 

[Tatulatard]

On 6/5/2023 at 1:38 AM, T-Billy said:

I fish a lot of stuff like pictured below. It's all about picking out a little hole that will allow you to pitch or skip deep into the heart of it, and being able to consistently hit those holes. I'm often pitching 5-8 feet back into stuff like this. If you can do this, you're putting your bait where most won't/can't. 

Having the right bait, rod, and line is just as important. It does no good to put a bait in there that you can't fish through those tangles cleanly. You also need a combo that can pull fish out. For me H is minimum, and XH is better. 40# or 50# 832 does well for me here.

You can also finesse them out of that stuff with 10 lbs flouro when they won't bite anything other than a 1/8 oz jig and tiny trailer or small weightless worm.  I have to do that at my lake with docks early season when the fish are spooky and the water is crystal clear. Once the water gets churned up and they have seen enough boats I don't have to finesse them unless its a bad bite.  The key to getting them out on light line is to gently stick them and apply pressure to coax them out. Let them wig out and try to dive into cover once they are already by the boat.