Roll Casting.

[new2BC4bass]

I've read a time or two where a poster mentioned roll casting with a baitcasting outfit. TT also mentioned it while reviewing the Steez reel. How is this achieved? I know the basics of roll casting with a flyrod, but never heard of it before in relation to any other kind of fishing. I don't understand how it can be accomplished since it is the weight of the fly line that does the casting for you (with a bit of help from the rod, natch ).

[Goose52]

First time I read the term here I thought of fly rod roll casting too. However, with the BC rig it's a totally different animal. Basically, it's holding the BC rod horizontally out to your casting arm side and with a wrist action flipping the rod tip in a circular motion (clockwise if you're casting with your right hand) and timing the release of the bait when it's starting to rotate toward the 9 o'clock position. Not sure if that's the clearest description - perhaps others can chime in.

It's a great medium distance cast and a plus is that you don't need room behind you for a backcast. I sometimes use this cast when fishing from the bank with a lot of brush behind or above me.

[new2BC4bass]

Clockwise seems counter intuitive. Searched for a video, but couldn't find one. Do you perchance have a link to a video? Easier for me to understand from watching, then from the written word. Thanks for your reply.

Edit:  Do you mean the lure is not already on the water, but at the end of your rod?  So you would basically be making an underhand cast?

[Sherlock 60]

Yep. It is basically a side-arm underhanded cast.

I always got in trouble for this in Little League, but my propensity for side-arm throws has served me well in bass fishing.

[Nine Miler]

Glenn did a video on spinnerbaits where he demonstrated the roll cast. I am trying to dig it up. Perhaps if someone finds it before I do they will post it.

Edit- I found it.  http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1247326108/0

[new2BC4bass]

FANTASTIC!!!  Great video.   8-)  Just what I wanted to see.  It solidified what I was already thinking from previous replies.  Hope to have both the forward and back cast in my repertoire by this fishing season.   

[Fishbone]

I watched Kevin Van Dam repeatedly roll cast in a classroom yesterday. It is VERY slick way to soft cast a bait a short distance.

I think a way to learn this might be to hold the rod out to your right side. Then in one smooth movement, whip the tip back, down, and out to the front (a clockwise circle). Similar to pitching a softball. Now, when that is accomplished without hurting anybody, try reeling the bait back and with the rod tip lowered and with 2 ft of line still out, whip the tip back to the side and complete the motion described above.

I think this is a roll cast.