Cast distances, was experimenting today Abu Garcia EXT rocks; revisited today 2/10

[retiredbosn]

I decided that since it was a pretty day today I would get outside and play around with my rods and reels. Last July I purchased 2 David Fritts reels, and my wife just got me a Garcia EXT. The advertising for the Fritts reels talk a good game about casting distance, I was so impressed with my new EXT that I decided to do some comparing. Both reels were spooled with the exact same line, the Fritts reel was on a 7ft MH BPS Crankin rod, the EXT was on a Quantum MH Tour PT. Using 1/2ounce bullet weights I wanted to see which reel casted the fartherest. I really expected the Fritts reel to outperform the EXT, due to the advertising and also the pole having more flex and able to load better. Long story short the EXT casted on average 42 feet farther, the EXT casted 188 feet, the Fritts 146, respectable distances for both. I also tried to really fling the weights out a few times, I never exceeded the distances of the average cast and most of the time came up short. BTW the longest cast was just shy of 200 feet and shortest 165. I was going to switch the reels and rods so I could compare the rod's affect on the cast but my son wrecked on his bicycle and put an end to my game. Now my question is pretty simple, I am assuming that the distance difference was due to the Abu being a higher quality reel and not the rod, as the conventional wisdom is that a more limber rod will load better and therefore cast farther. Are these distances pretty standard distances with weights? Thanks

[islandbass]

Very cool results. But could you redo it using the same rod? Similar is not the same. I am curious to find out if the rods played a role in their casting differences. 8-)

[retiredbosn]

I'm definitely planning on switching the reels to the other rod and checking.  If my son hadn't of wrecked his bike I would have done it today.  He is four and wanted me, the casting experiment had to go on hold.

[islandbass]

Thanks. I have a 4 year old son myself and they have got to come first. I hope he's alright.  Look forward to the rest of your experiment. Does he like fishing?

[Sam]

Using same rods and casting style will produce a better comparison.

Did you also compare the number of ball bearings in each reel?

Great report. Thanks for sharing.  

[retiredbosn]

Was back at it today, the differences were as follows. Both reels re-spooled with 12lb test Yozuri-Hybrid, both on BPS Crankin Sticks, MH/F, both casting 9/16 ounce of weight. The results are still comparable the EXT still out casts the Fritts reel this time by 30 feet. The casting distance on both reels were less today than the other day, by 20 feet, can't really explain why, maybe the switch in line, or the switch in weights, the other day I was using bullet weights and today I was using three 3/16 weights. Long story short the EXT can really fling the line. I have found out that you need less magnet and more spool tension on these reels than what I am used to (thanks for the tip Micro). Once you get it set up you can cast as hard as you want w/o fear of overrun. I also did some testing on the lightest I could go with each reel, 3/8-1/4 is as light as I would want to go. The reel that did the best with the light weights was a Quantum Accurist PT, and not by much.

As far as bearing counts, the Fritts has 4, the EXT 7 but two of those are in the handles, so I count it as one less bearing in the inside of the reel.

[MitchIsFishin]

My flooger outcasts my trion with 8lb by 21 inches and I know that makes all the difference in the world. :

[Speed Worm]

The ABU round baitcasters cast ridiculously far.

My Record 50 is still the farthest-casting baitcaster I've ever fished with. Argue you can find a reel that casts 3/8oz+ baits farther.