How to practice casting

[vatech]

Precision casting is not just helpful, it's a must at competitive levels. What methods/instructional DVDs/books or articles have you used to help improve your casting?

I thought this article was great:

http://www.insideline.net/il-online/2009/features/09-0225-fagerstrom.html

This video demonstrates how truly amazing some people are with their rods and reels: http://www.takemefishing.org/community/master-casters/master-casters-home

I feel like it would be helpful to many anglers to develop some form of a drill routine which we could practice daily with a practice plug to make the time out on the water even more productive.

[bigtimfish]

I don't see why you would need a dvd to teach this skill. Just get outside and pick a target. You can teach yourself EVERYTHING. I did. I learned accuracy by learning to cast a BC from a little alum boat and from the bank of a small creek. Under trees, in pockets,under this tree root into that hole. You can learn to flip and pitch in your yard. get a coffee mug or for a little bigger target a plant pot.Put it or them in different locations and figure it out. It's easy.

[Catt]

I don't see why you would need a dvd to teach this skill. Just get outside and pick a target. You can teach yourself EVERYTHING. I did. I learned accuracy by learning to cast a BC from a little alum boat and from the bank of a small creek. Under trees, in pockets,under this tree root into that hole. You can learn to flip and pitch in your yard. get a coffee mug or for a little bigger target a plant pot.Put it or them in different locations and figure it out. It's easy.

Yelp  

[fishfordollars]

If you fish from a boat and want to practice get yourself a footstool to elevate you a foot or so above the ground. You are not at water level while in the bow of a boat so this will keep you at a level close to being in the boat.

[bhos]

"Yard fishing"

When I got back into fishing a few years back and bought my first baitcaster, I started trying to get the plug into the 8-foot diameter kids pool in the back yard, slowly increasing the distance, and have since progressed to 5 gal. buckets (like those orange home depot pails).  The kids (4 and 6) join (and sometimes demnd) me now too, with their zebcos with just bobbers, to go out for a round of "yard fishing" before dinner.  We all have a blast and it's good practice.  I hear some folks practice with coffee cans, I'm not quite there yet

[vatech]

I don't see why you would need a dvd to teach this skill. Just get outside and pick a target. You can teach yourself EVERYTHING. I did. I learned accuracy by learning to cast a BC from a little alum boat and from the bank of a small creek. Under trees, in pockets,under this tree root into that hole. You can learn to flip and pitch in your yard. get a coffee mug or for a little bigger target a plant pot.Put it or them in different locations and figure it out. It's easy.

Sure, plain casting is easy for just about everyone but being a talented caster is not. Watch any top pro on TV and they do some really amazing things. Amazing distance to the spot they want, with no splash to as much splash as they want.

Mike Iaconelli in "Fishing on the Edge" talks about seven BASIC cast types that he uses. A flip, a pitch, an overhead, a sidearm roll, an overhand roll, a straight skip, and a pitch skip. A beginner fisherman isn't going to automatically know how to do these, let alone be good at them. Some people don't have an example to emulate other than watching a DVD or reading an article.

Plus, for many it's not just about going out there and "doing it." For some people that don't fish full time it's about going out there and doing it efficiently. Why not take advantage of every helpful medium that you can?

Personally, I'm looking for tips right now on skipping with a baitcaster. I've been getting a lot of backlashes.

[bigtimfish]

I don't see why you would need a dvd to teach this skill. Just get outside and pick a target. You can teach yourself EVERYTHING. I did. I learned accuracy by learning to cast a BC from a little alum boat and from the bank of a small creek. Under trees, in pockets,under this tree root into that hole. You can learn to flip and pitch in your yard. get a coffee mug or for a little bigger target a plant pot.Put it or them in different locations and figure it out. It's easy.

Sure, plain casting is easy for just about everyone but being a talented caster is not. Watch any top pro on TV and they do some really amazing things. Amazing distance to the spot they want, with no splash to as much splash as they want.

Mike Iaconelli in "Fishing on the Edge" talks about seven BASIC cast types that he uses. A flip, a pitch, an overhead, a sidearm roll, an overhand roll, a straight skip, and a pitch skip. A beginner fisherman isn't going to automatically know how to do these, let alone be good at them. Some people don't have an example to emulate other than watching a DVD or reading an article.

Plus, for many it's not just about going out there and "doing it." For some people that don't fish full time it's about going out there and doing it efficiently. Why not take advantage of every helpful medium that you can?

Personally, I'm looking for tips right now on skipping with a baitcaster. I've been getting a lot of backlashes.

Backlashes are all part of the learning process. Especially skipping BC's.  Good luck

[Bernie Mac]

Check out this link (it's also in Fishing Rod, Reels, and Line) Forum...good advice to get you started and along your way...http://www.***/education/baitcaster-setup-101.html

[Koop]

I'm in the same boat haha I bought my first BC recently and can only cast sidearm, I can do it effectively without backlashes but I end up having to turn my body to change where the lure is going to end up, if I didn't I'd cast to the same exact spot everytime.  Learning on your own is difficult to just "go out" and do it without knowing different ways to "do it".  I hear things like skipping and I have no idea how it would be done.

[Virgil]

When I first started using a baitcast reel I used a hula hoop for my practice casting target. It took me awhile before I could consistently put it inside the hoop. I started with overhead casts then went on to sidearm casts. I still use a hoop to tune up in the spring and then move on to smaller targets.

[DINK WHISPERER]

My back yard was where i learned most of my casting, flippin' and pitchin'!!!!!                      

[Catt]

No matter how many videos you watch until you actually start doing it you will never learn how

I've won several bait casting competitions and yes I watched others, read all I could on the subject but until I spent 2-4 hours a day practice casting and hours on end untangling backlashes I would have still been just average.

On this subject experience is the only teacher!

[topwater.va]

Vatech check your PMs

[Big Phish]

My parents have a pool on their backyard.  It's perfect.  I throw inner tubes in it and cast in them.  It also helps when your using a new bait because you can clearly see the action.

[flechero]

On this subject experience is the only teacher!

for sure!

I never saw a dvd or read a book on casting.... Just go fish- you'll develop techniques that you need to get a bait where you want it.

With the reels of today, it should be quick and easy to learn most casts.

[TrippyJai]

Practice makes perfect. Enough said.

[WRB]

I disagree with the notion you can self teach and learn just a effectively as instructional teaching. Learning good casting mechanics will help you to avoid mistakes. Casting isn't any different than golfing, shooting, archery, baseball or whatever sport that requires good hand eye coordination. If you can avoid developing poor habits and practice good techniques, do it. The key word is practice with rod/reel designed for the lure type and go fishing. There isn't a substitute for casting on the water while fishing. It's a life long learning experience, enjoy it.

WRB

[Jaric]

Good lord, coffee mugs?  That's sounds suspiciously like a game I saw at a carnival last year.  

I think I'll start off with a hula hoop.   ;D

(good suggestion though)

[SaintsFn]

First of all, while you DO HAVE TO PRACTICE anything you attempt in life, you do need some sort of initial instruction/example.  While some can hear about how to do something, others learn and retain best by reading how to do something and still many more learn by watching someone do it.  

I'm sure there's a market out there for folks who need a visual presentation to go out and practice.  

**Note:  I'm in no way affiliated with this product and for daggone sure I'm not buying instructional DVDs  **

[bigtimfish]

I taught myself  everything that I know about casting,flipping,and pitching. I have seen them on tv and went to the yard and tried and learned. I guess I may have used the elite series tourneys on tv as a reference to see what it was. But as far as learning it, it was all self taught.

[Sam]

Go into Lane Stadium and practice on the field.

Beemer will not mind.            

[D4u2s0t]

I practice casting at a tree stump in the yard.  Even if you only do it for a few minutes a day, it helps.  

[SammyLee]

I am lucky in some ways. I can walk 5 houses down and be at the lake to practice. I am still working on the art of the level wind reel otherwise known as a baitcaster.

Within the thread I think, I have a question. Do you practice/cast one handed or two? Seems like the pros distance cast with two hands. I seem to be better with two also. I can use my left hand for the energy of casting and my right hand to thumb the spool with less effort and more finesse.

ps  I was casting a chigger craw with the new BPS finesse BC and doing a super quick retrieve just to get in more casts.  On about the 10th one, WHAM! a really nice bass swollowed the craw and took off.  Nice for me I mean, maybe 1.5 pounds.  I really thought the craw was to be slow fished and bounced off the bottom.