Drives me nuts

[KYbass1276]

I can cast sidearm,  underhand, flip and pitch but when it come's to overhand there are days I can do it without a problem and days I feel like chucking the rod and reel out into the water when trying to cast overhand. Does anyone else have problems doing it. cause I'm about to say the hell with the overhand and just stick with what I'm good at. It's realy bugging me > any thoughts on what to do

[playmaker47]

same here. I basically just stick to sidearm. I am pretty accurate with sidarm, and then i can pitch and that about covers it. every now and then when i have to cast overhand i will get about 1 in 5 casts to be good.

[Triton21]

Practice,  Practice, Practice, and Practice some more till comfortable wit hte cast.

[phisher_d]

When you cast overhand are you holding the reel horizontally?  I had a tough time learning to overhand cast and then I read somewhere that if you hold the reel in a more vertical position you will backlash less (handles up if you cast right and reel right like me).  I tried it and wow... it solved my problem completely.  I don't know it works (someone on here probably will), but it was like magic for me.  Couldn't hurt to try... good luck  

[flechero]

Ive heard lots of people say the horizontal reel thing... never tried it myself though.  The biggest thing I see people do when going to overhand is not using the wrist enough to get the rod to work.  For starters, use your other hand on the butt of the rod to generate more tip speed.  Make the rod do the work.  I guess it's easier to show than explain.  If you go 2 handed to get the feel, it's easy then to see what you're not doing when just using one hand.  

[Will]

I don't throw overhand much, it makes a louder splash. I would rather go sidearm, and for the shorter casts I do a little sidearm circle cast which is very quiet, fast, and efficient with some work.

[Chris]

Turn your wrist palm down and use two hands.

[KYbass1276]

So turn the rod so that the rod handle's are pointed toward the sky am I correct or still in the dark here  And thanks a bunch for the help so far I find it truly amazing some of the simplest things that you think are easy to do isn't

[Triton21]

You got it.  The handles up.

[basser89]

Basically what you're doing by putting the handle up is allowing on side of the spool to rest on the one side of the reels frame. This is giving you another "tool" to slow the spool down which will help reduce backlashes. Another tip I'll add is try not to load the rod tip as much. Loading the rod tip will generate more lure speed which in turn speeds up the spool more and that will cause problems. Bring the rod back, stop.....then continue with your cast. As you get more comfortable casting overhand, you can load the rod tip more and more. Hope this helps!

[paulheelsc]

I say if you are good casting in the other areas, then stick with them and dont worry about overhand.  

[Bass Hunter12]

One thing that you could do is tightenup reel just a pinch this may help with overhand. The only time I ever use an overhand cast is when I am trying to sling a crankbait a country mile but, even when I do that my rod is at a 45 degree angle. I learned on side arm, and I find it is the best way. So there is really no need for the overhand cast.

[paparock]

I guess I'm the oddball because I learned to cast on saltwater flats and I can overhand cast easily. It's the others that give me fits.

[FlyRod]

You got it.  The handles up.

Unless, of course, you are casting left and NOT changing hands to crank. In other words, using a "rightie" reel, like a 'Rado 200 instead of a 201. Then, it's "handles down". Of course, if casting right, and using a "lefty" reel, (201) and NOT changing over to crank...."handles down".

Your wrist does not have enough rotational ability in the "palm down" position (unless you REALLY liked "Brokeback Mountain" :-X) to cast well and with control.

Good luck, and practice, practice, practice!  

F.Rod

[FL_fisher]

I can cast sidearm, underhand, flip and pitch but when it come's to overhand there are days I can do it without a problem and days I feel like chucking the rod and reel out into the water when trying to cast overhand. Does anyone else have problems doing it. cause I'm about to say the hell with the overhand and just stick with what I'm good at. It's realy bugging me > any thoughts on what to do

windy days maybe?

[Guest avid]

Try using your opposing as a counterpoint on the bottom most portion of the rod.  The action would be pushing forward with your casting arm, and pulling backward with your other arm.  This helps with the timing of the release untill you can easily do it onehanded.

[BD]

I almost always cast overhead. Maybe I am not understanding the problem?

:-/

[KYbass1276]

Thanks guys for the help I went out today and fished some after work and the tips helped out alot. and it was windy yesterday so that had some to do with it. the only problem I had today was I got bit and went to set the hook just to have the drag not set right and lost the fish  Thanks agin fella's

[Guest avid]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh drag settings, now thats a whole different kettle of fish  

[Yankee_Bassman]

I say if you are good casting in the other areas, then stick with them and dont worry about overhand.

Ez-actly.....the only time I throw overhand is if the water is so clear that I need to get a topwater way out from the boat, and I'm not trying to get close to a specific target....otherwise, it's sidearm or rollcasts for me....