Why can't I cast far?

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

Sup all,

 

I picked up a Zillion 7'6 ML spinning rod last season I can't remember what reel impaired it with but I only got to use it I think twice before the season closed last year. Anyways it was purchased to throw a 3/16 ish sized small swimbait or underspin but it really didn't cast it very far. 

 

Anyone know why this might be? I feel like it might be my line choice. I did braid to fluro on it and again I can't remember what size of braid or fluro I used but let me know what you guys think could help improve my casting distance.

 

Thanks!

Greg

[Jar11591]

Heavier line = more surface area. More surface area = more friction. More friction = less casting distance. I’d find out what diameter line you’re using and maybe try to step it down, and hit it with some line conditioner. 

[Darth-Baiter]

what do you consider "far".?  or not far?

 

[Fishingmickey]

Not sure what to tell you, Ineed, It's a spinning reel and 3/16ths oz or above should cast very easily, especially with a 7'6" ML rod. 

     I am wondering if your braid could be wrapped loosely on the spool and it would cause problems with your casting. It would be jerky or just not throw very far at all.  To fix that. Go tie your line to a fence post or tree something immovable. Then open your bail and walk half the spool or more off the reel far away.  Then when you think your way past that casting distance. Close the reel bail and start reeling your line back onto the reel tightly. Try casting with it after that. let's us know how it goes, please.  You might try putting the line on another reel or spool or something. Re-spool your reel with 4lb or 6 lb test mono. Berkley Big game or Stren.  That should really make a difference.

Best,

FM

[JHoss]

Sounds like the line is the most likely issue. Anything more than 10 or 15 lb braid is overkill on that setup.

 

Also, what kind of cast are you using? If I'm going for distance with a spinning rod, it's got to be over hand and use my off hand on the butt to "trebuchet" that thing. 

[Reel]

Like it was said, use 10 to 15 pound braid of good quality + a leader if you want (small knot)

Fill the spool tightly to about 1/16 of the edge of the spool.  The spool should be full.

Make sure the line is threaded in the right way - in the eyelets.

 

 

 

 

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

what do you consider "far".?  or not far?

 

I think I could cast maybe 8-10ft

[Darth-Baiter]

oh..that isnt far at all.  

 

your spinning reel is fully loaded with line?  

[DaubsNU1]

Hmmmmm....interesting. 

 

I am amazed at how I can absolutely LAUNCH lures on my medium light spinning rods. 

 

All are spooled with 10lb power pro bright yellow braid, then Alberto-knotted to either 10lb or 8lb fluorocarbon.

 

I so fill my spools very close to the lip. Seems to help.

 

Heavy braid might be your culprit.

 

Run most of my casting rods with 20lb power pro braid. It's more than enough for anything I'm throwing (and I went to Canada last summer throwing 2oz. lures at pike)

 

 

[JHoss]

26 minutes ago, IneedAnewScreenName-98161861 said:

I think I could cast maybe 8-10ft

You sure you aren't tip-wrapped or missed a guide somewhere? There's some serious friction going on somewhere. 

[Rucksack]

1 hour ago, IneedAnewScreenName-98161861 said:

I did braid to fluro on it and again I can't remember what size of braid or fluro I used but let me know what you guys think could help improve my casting distance.

 

Because I feel like a lot of other common issues are being covered, let me take a different shot here. I've had this issue before and it was an issue with my connection knot.

 

This can happen two different ways in my experience: 

1. Knot going into your reel and getting "hung up" on other line, preventing it from exiting your reel 
2. Knot being too large and causing a lot of friction going through the guides. 

Symptom of problem one is usually the line stopping dead and not exiting the reel without some serious tugging. Try re-tying your knot and a shorter leader, so it doesn't go into your reel, and see if that helps.  

[webertime]

Only thing I can think of not mentioned above is your leader knot being big or having long tag ends.

Fill the spool and don't use a leader and give it another try.  I use loooooong leaders to help with this.  By the time the lure is 40ft away and the leader knot starts hitting the guides the lure has slowed down enough that if the knot made a difference it won't be much.  But that's neither here nor there until you figure out the amount of line etc on the reel.

[casts_by_fly]

Guys- he’s talking about 8-10’. I don’t care if you are using 80lb power pro on a 500 size reel or a double quad uni knot connection- you’re going to get more than that. You can pull out 10’ of line from the reel (past the tip) and get more than that. There is a fundamental rigging issue here that requires a picture to diagnose. 

[WRB]

 8 to 10’ something is seriously wrong!

1) make sure the line is threaded through each guide ring and not the guide frame.

2) make sure the bail is open all the way and line comes off the with ease.

3) unwind all the line onto another reel so the spool is empty. Determine what line you used ie; diameter or pound test.

4) Respool using line under .010 diameter until it spool is filled about 1/8 to 1/16 from the rim.

Spooling line use a pencil for an axle and make sure the line comes off the bottom of the filler spool. Run the line through a folded wet towel to maintain correct tension on the when spooling.

Problem should be solved.

Tom

[Darth-Baiter]

27 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Guys- he’s talking about 8-10’. I don’t care if you are using 80lb power pro on a 500 size reel or a double quad uni knot connection- you’re going to get more than that. You can pull out 10’ of line from the reel (past the tip) and get more than that. There is a fundamental rigging issue here that requires a picture to diagnose. 

100%

 

i gotta ask.  OP.  can you cast other rods further?  this your only rod?

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

So I use a FG knot. I do a fairly lengthy leader, not long enough that mainline doesn't start to come off during the cast. 

I don't seem to have this problem on other spinning combos I have. I'll try respooling with a 10lb braid main line to a 10lb fluro leader. Fill the spool on the reel and that should work in theory, correct?

[woolleyfooley]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

Guys- he’s talking about 8-10’. I don’t care if you are using 80lb power pro on a 500 size reel or a double quad uni knot connection- you’re going to get more than that. You can pull out 10’ of line from the reel (past the tip) and get more than that. There is a fundamental rigging issue here that requires a picture to diagnose. 

I agree. I think it would help if OP could post some pictures of the setup. 

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

55 minutes ago, WRB said:

 8 to 10’ something is seriously wrong!

1) make sure the line is threaded through each guide ring and not the guide frame.

2) make sure the bail is open all the way and line comes off the with ease.

3) unwind all the line onto another reel so the spool is empty. Determine what line you used ie; diameter or pound test.

4) Respool using line under .010 diameter until it spool is filled about 1/8 to 1/16 from the rim.

Spooling line use a pencil for an axle and make sure the line comes off the bottom of the filler spool. Run the line through a folded wet towel to maintain correct tension on the when spooling.

Problem should be solved.

Tom

I always thought the line should be coming off the top side of the spool when filling the reel. Maybe that's my issue...

[JHoss]

8 minutes ago, IneedAnewScreenName-98161861 said:

I always thought the line should be coming off the top side of the spool when filling the reel. Maybe that's my issue...

I doubt that would be enough to limit your casts to 8-10'. You'll have some line twist from doing it wrong, but it shouldn't twist enough to cause that many issues. Also, if you did it wrong and want to fix the twist without unspooling, cut off your lure, open the bail, and let the line trail out behind your boat until the spool is empty. Let it drag for a couple minutes, then reel it in with some tension and you'll be set again. 

[Bankbeater]

I'm seeing that you're up in Ontario.  Is it cold up there?  Are your guides freezing up?

[F14A-B]

What reel? What size braid?

[WRB]

1 hour ago, JHoss said:

I doubt that would be enough to limit your casts to 8-10'. You'll have some line twist from doing it wrong, but it shouldn't twist enough to cause that many issues. Also, if you did it wrong and want to fix the twist without unspooling, cut off your lure, open the bail, and let the line trail out behind your boat until the spool is empty. Let it drag for a couple minutes, then reel it in with some tension and you'll be set again. 

Make sure the line is going through the guide ring not frame.

Tom

[Skunkmaster-k]

The lure is too light to load the rod ?

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

The lure is too light to load the rod ?

This was my thought, but what else would you use?

[casts_by_fly]

A 3/16 plus small swimbait will be plenty of weight. 
 

put up a couple pictures of your reel and the last couple guides on the rod.