Having trouble with baitcaster casting!

[Scorcher214]

so i have a way that i cast where i just have the rod at my side and kind sling the bait out, problem is it is totally inaccurate. i tried casting by swinging to rod over my head then forward but my bait goes up, then down, and all I'm left with is unfixable bird nest :-? Any tips?

Please and Thank You!

[fishizzle]

its easiest to have a friend show you

Adjust the drag so your lure barely drops to the ground holding your rod staight out.  Then tighten it a tiny bit so it stops.

Try casting softly at first until you master 15'

Pull out 30' and put some tape on the spool so while you learn your birds nests aren' too big

when you pull out a nest keep your thumb on the spool--it just works out easier that way--then pick if you need to

good luck

[bronzewb22]

Put you're braking on all the way. Depending on what kind you have, this means turning the side knob down as tight as it goes or puting all of the brakes on inside. Continue to do gentle side casts and just keep a very light amount of pressure on the spool with thumb, making sure to press down hard just before your lure hits the water. As the line shoots out of the guides, follow the lures path with your rod tip. Good luck and omce you start baitcasting you'll never go back.

[Scorcher214]

Try casting softly at first until you master 15'

Pull out 30' and put some tape on the spool so while you learn your birds nests aren' too big

yah i saw Bill Dance doin that on his show but havn't tried.

When i get a bird nest i dont pick at it, i pull out as much line as possible untill i get to a part where i cant pull out anymore, then, i tighten my drag all the way and put a lot of pressure on the spool. Then i reel in as hard as possible with my thunb on the spool, then press the thumb thing, and pull out more line, i continue this till its gone.

[Catt]

If your cast is going straight up your releasing to soon; try pointing at about 43-47 degrees before releasing.

[farmpond1]

Press down on the spool with your thumb a little harder than you think you ought until you get the "feel of it."  Then ease up in small increments until you get the distance you want.  Also, hold the rod with the reel turned sideways (toward your body-not away).

[BASS fisherman]

Tada!!!

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1151590913/0#0

[cwen]

Don't know what your set-up is, but it could be you are trying to cast too light of a lure on too heavy a rod.

[daviscw]

If your cast is going straight up your releasing to soon; try pointing at about 43-47 degrees before releasing.

This was my problem when I switched from spinning.  You have to make yourself release a whole lot later that what feels comfortable.

[retiredbosn]

Just gave my lil bro his first bc yesterday, he is 36 and just now getting into bc's. Here is a copy of the email I sent to him on how to cast, hope this helps.

I will go through the cast, step by step and this will be real boring reading but will aid you in casting properly. Like I already wrote, casting a baitcaster is absolutley nothing like casting a spinning reel. You hold the rod with the handle on the reel up(this assumes a right hand cast with a right hand reel or a left handed cast with a lefty reel). I know this sounds uncomfortable but just hold the rod that way, your hand is in its normal relaxed position and your thumb automatically rests on the spool of the reel, (the line). Now bend your elbow (just your elbow) until the rod is vertical, your elbow should be close to your side, which is where it will want to go naturally, your wrist should be straight up as well. The motion will take the rod past vertical about 40 degrees, now snap your wrist forward and as the rod passes the vertical spot and is close to 40 degrees in front of you let go of the line, your thumb will remain right over the line and will feather the cast on its own (feathering the cast is what prevents backlash). The most important thing to remember is that you do not cast a baitcaster with your arm (like you do with a spinning reel) you cast the line with your wrist alone. As hard as it is do not put your arm into casting your new reel, use your wrist and forearm, mainly your wrist but your forearm will move a little. Never cast a baitcaster across your body like you normally do with a spinning reel, that is a sure recipe for backlashes, short gnarly casts, and inaccuracy. Concentrate on getting this technique down, then progress to a sidearm, we will cover pitching and flipping later, these are harder finesse techniques that I hardly use but do come in handy. Watch Bill Dance on tv and watch how he casts, it is a little flick of the wrist, when I casted those weights today, all I did was flick my wrist.

Something I'll add here that I didn't tell my lil bro, because I gave him the pole too, is it is easy to learn to cast on a MH pole with a fast action. I first tried to learn with a medium power medium action rod that was a nightmare, I can use it now, but when I was starting out, the rod loaded to much and I had a hard time controlling the line, and where the lure released, as I was used to spinning gear. Nothing will snag a reel like a 10 foot cast that you intended to fling 100 feet. Good luck

[burleytog]

its easiest to have a friend show you

Adjust the drag so your lure barely drops to the ground holding your rod staight out. Then tighten it a tiny bit so it stops.

Try casting softly at first until you master 15'

Pull out 30' and put some tape on the spool so while you learn your birds nests aren' too big

when you pull out a nest keep your thumb on the spool--it just works out easier that way--then pick if you need to

good luck

What does the drag have to do with casting?   :-?

[BASS fisherman]

Click this link and read it! Best info you'll find! It is clear and well written too.

http://www.***/education/baitcaster-setup-101.html

[Captain Obvious]

If this is you first baitcaster and your use to fishing spinning here's a few tips

1. tighten the casting control  so that the lure falls SLOWLY when you push the release.

2. Casting with a baitcaster should be done in a smooth motion, don't try and power it out there, just try and learn to cast with a nice easy motion until you can do it without back lashing, the smoother you can cast the loser the cast control nob can be= longer cast without back lash

3. The cast control  must be adjusted for different lure weight, what might have worked for 1/2 ounce might not work for a 3/4 ounce lure, can't tell how to do this since I adjust for only my own style and what "feels right to me" only experience can teach you that.

good luck

[fishizzle]

its easiest to have a friend show you

Adjust the drag so your lure barely drops to the ground holding your rod staight out. Then tighten it a tiny bit so it stops.

Try casting softly at first until you master 15'

Pull out 30' and put some tape on the spool so while you learn your birds nests aren' too big

when you pull out a nest keep your thumb on the spool--it just works out easier that way--then pick if you need to

good luck

What does the drag have to do with casting? :-?

I meant the other knob--sorry

[islandbass]

its easiest to have a friend show you

Adjust the drag so your lure barely drops to the ground holding your rod staight out. Then tighten it a tiny bit so it stops.

Try casting softly at first until you master 15'

Pull out 30' and put some tape on the spool so while you learn your birds nests aren' too big

when you pull out a nest keep your thumb on the spool--it just works out easier that way--then pick if you need to

good luck

What does the drag have to do with casting? :-?

I meant the other knob--sorry

Oops! I read that same thing and my mind inserted csta cotnrlo kbno auotatmiaclly!

To the subject, you just need to have more quality, focused practice. Invest the time to cast underhand, overhand and sidearm. It will pay off.  The causes for your casts have already been covered.

[nralover]

These little points have helped me learn alot-

1.) Don't use too long of a rod for you. I started using a 7' and had nothing but problems. I switched to a 6'6" and it balanced the rig alot more.

2.) Don't use an extremely full spool. If your spool is full, peel off about 10 yards and throw it away. When you get better you can use more line.

These things have made it MUCH easier for me to get a feel for baitcasting. I went from backlashing every 5 casts, to comfortably throwing overhand 30 yards with ease.

[ILfisherman]

First things first.....casting a baitcaster is NOTHING like casting a spinning reel.

Next, before you do anything, rig your bait up (ex. senko t-rigged). Then hold your rod tip at 10 'o clock in front of you. Tighten your cast control knob all the way. Hit the clutch. The lure should not move one bit. Then, slowly, un-tighten the cast control knob until the lure falls slowly to the ground.

Now you're set to cast. Practice casting overhead first. If you have a RH reel, make sure the knobs and handle are facing up. Hit the clutch, hold your thumb firmly on the spool, move your rod tip back behind you to ten o' clock and load the rod tip up w/ the weight of your lure, then fling your rod tip to about 11-10 o'clock in front of you then let go of the spool w/ your thumb. Don't touch the spool with your thumb until the lure is about to hit the water, lightly put pressure on the spool just as it hits the water. Reel the lure back to you and repeat until you get the hang of it. Make sure that your reel handle is facing UP throughout the entire cast. Later on, when you get the hang of it, you can cast any which way you please.

Hope that helped. Trust me, all the practice WILL BE WORTH IT IN THE END.

[Catt]

Quite releasing so high and you'll be fine  

[I.rar]

i had my first baitcating practice session in the backyard today....and im terrible.

after reading though these posts and the links  in them , i have a few things to try. and ill have to agree , they are completly different from spining, but im determined.

[ToledoEF]

Once you get your cast controll set all you need is practice, practice, practice, go find an open field somewhere and throw it. I did that and I am throwing 50yards+ now with no backlashes, the more comfortable I get the more ill loose my brake and cast controll.

[NBR]

Read Reelmechanics item on baitcasting!

[SudoomFisher]

For the cast control knob, I adjust it so that lure falls at a slow speed but you know you got it right when the you have the spool stop spinning right when the lure hits the ground.

(Thought this would help you know what everyone means by slowly, but this might not be the same definition everyone else has)

[retiredbosn]

On starting out I would recommend setting the spool tension knob to the point that the lures moves about 10 inches and stops when the rod is given a tiny little shake when the rod is held straight out in front of you. The casts will be shorter but the control over the line is greater.

FWIW I used this setting when getting used to a new reel recently and was still able to get casts well in excess of 150 feet using an one ounce weight.