casting accuracy?

[hiker]

People talk about how accurate they are with their baitcasters, but I've never heard anyone really try to tell what that means exactly.  I'm just a little bit curious if anyone has ever tried to quantify their accuracy claims.  Something along the lines of ... "In practice I can put a cast onto a paper plate 9 out of ten times at 50 feet" or "I tried casting 10 casts into a 5 gallon bucket 40 feet away and put 6 into it and hit the side on 2."

For me, I cast to hula hoop laying on the ground at 60 feet, and I generally get about 5 or 6 out of ten into the hoop.  My best is 8 for 10.

[Hook Set]

Sounds like your pretty accurate to me.

I also practice casting to spot in the backyard, about the size of a hula hoop. I practice my pitching standing on the tail gate of my pickup truck (to mimic being on the boat) and pitch to a 5 gallon bucket. Lately I've been practicing my roll casting for my buzz bait, spinner bait applications. I rarely get them all in the spot I'm casting for, BUT my percentage is consistently getting higher. I"m convinced, an accurate cast will yield a higher catch ratio.

[K_Mac]

This usually ends up with something like, "I can pitch a jig into a shot glass at 125 feet, in a pouring rain and 35 MPH winds." :

I think I do OK until I fish with someone who is really good. There are some very good casters out there. I am not one of them.  Watch a pro pitch a crankbait into heavy cover. It is a thing of beauty. I am getting better though. 8-)

[hiker]

This usually ends up with something like, "I can pitch a jig into a shot glass at 125 feet, in a pouring rain and 35 MPH winds." : ...

Hahaha, yeah, we all remember the great ones and seem to forget the others.  We all remember that perfect throw where we hit our buddy in the ear with a snowball or whatever.  But we forget the million others that missed.  That's why I think you can't just talk about those casts you make during a day of fishing, where you layed it right on the lilly pad you were casting for.  It's not a real representation of your skill level.

[burleytog]

Practical accuracy is a skill acquired through experience.

[b.Lee]

[b.Lee]

Shaw Grigsby in his... well just watch

[D4u2s0t]

i'm pretty accurate with spinning and casting,  I practice regularly.  I've never kept a score, but now i'm interested to find out.  I need to work on pitching/flipping with casting gear, i'm not very good at that yet.  Spinning i'm spot on flipping or pitching.

I think casting is something that most people don't practice, but it's one of the most valuable and worthwhile things to get better at.  I took my brother out for perch a few weeks ago, and while we caught similar #'s of fish, mine were consistently bigger because I was able to cast next to the stump that was under the tree branch with maybe a 1-2 foot opening.

Also, I like casting with the baits I use, not a practice weight.  A practice weight casts totally different than a soft plastic does, so I'll tie on a bait and go to town.

[Blue Streak]

People talk about how accurate they are with their baitcasters, but I've never heard anyone really try to tell what that means exactly. I'm just a little bit curious if anyone has ever tried to quantify their accuracy claims. Something along the lines of ... "In practice I can put a cast onto a paper plate 9 out of ten times at 50 feet" or "I tried casting 10 casts into a 5 gallon bucket 40 feet away and put 6 into it and hit the side on 2."

For me, I cast to hula hoop laying on the ground at 60 feet, and I generally get about 5 or 6 out of ten into the hoop. My best is 8 for 10.

Now lay that hula hoop under a bush and cast to it with the branches covering most of it. Seems like that is what you need to do on the water, the honey holes are seldom easy.

[WRB]

Apparently you haven't visited any seminars or fishing exhibitions where casting contest are regularly held.

Expert casters can perform amazing feats and cast into a coffee cup at 50 yards. Very few recreational bass anglers can cast 50 yards, let alone accurately.

As mentioned hula hoops are a common target and some shows will have bulls eye type targets to cast to.

Contest are run during these exhibitions for attendees to try to win prizes by casting the longest distance closest to the bulls eye, a few can hit a 3' diameter ring. The are also contest for pitching and flipping from a bass boat to targets; usually small target set up out to 30, 40 & 50 feet.

Go to a show and test your skills.

WRB

[Catt]

I can hit a 3# bass in the mouth @ 30 yds in 20' of water

[Blue Streak]

Casting contests and casting while fishing are two entirely different things. Put those contest casters in a boat with the wind blowing and branches hanging over their target and see if they can still hit it at 50 yards.

[WRB]

I can hit a 3# bass in the mouth @ 30 yds in 20' of water

+1; and in the dark without any lights.

great answer Catt!!

[stealthcaster]

Casting contests and casting while fishing are two entirely different things. Put those contest casters in a boat with the wind blowing and branches hanging over their target and see if they can still hit it at 50 yards.

x2.

[Catt]

Casting contests and casting while fishing are two entirely different things. Put those contest casters in a boat with the wind blowing and branches hanging over their target and see if they can still hit it at 50 yards.

x2.

I find this answer interesting since casting contest participants I've met while competing were all guides, tournament anglers, & highly productive anglers.

[CRFisher]

I can hit any type of tree branch imaginable from shore.  Overhangs, submerged branches, branches on the opposite shore (usually with spoons), floating branches, etc. - I can't miss!

[Blue Streak]

Casting contests and casting while fishing are two entirely different things. Put those contest casters in a boat with the wind blowing and branches hanging over their target and see if they can still hit it at 50 yards.

x2.

I find this answer interesting since casting contest participants I've met while competing were all guides, tournament anglers, & highly productive anglers.

Probably true Catt. But if a guy is in a casting contest that involves distance plus accuracy. Don't you think he is using equipment suited for that? I think they would be using reels with super fast bearings and ultra light spools and probably using the lightest line they can possibly use.

   But my whole point is, it is much easier to hit a target while standing on solid ground rather than in a boat with the waves moving you up and down and branches or whatever blowing around in the wind obstructing your target. And who neds to make 50 yard casts while fishing? Sorry I am not impressed with competion casting.

[cufishin]

I can hit any type of tree branch imaginable from shore. Overhangs, submerged branches, branches on the opposite shore (usually with new spoons), floating branches, etc. - I can't miss!

There, I fixed that for you. If they Have a contest to see who can snag a lure the highest in a tree I'm in.

[dmac14]

The thing with casting is if they are good on land then I am sure they are just as good on the water.

If they can hit a stationary target indoors with no wind, but you cant, I am sure they would have a better chance of hitting it under windy conditions than you would.

[Catt]

Casting contests and casting while fishing are two entirely different things. Put those contest casters in a boat with the wind blowing and branches hanging over their target and see if they can still hit it at 50 yards.

x2.

I find this answer interesting since casting contest participants I've met while competing were all guides, tournament anglers, & highly productive anglers.

Probably true Catt. But if a guy is in a casting contest that involves distance plus accuracy. Don't you think he is using equipment suited for that? I think they would be using reels with super fast bearings and ultra light spools and probably using the lightest line they can possibly use.

But my whole point is, it is much easier to hit a target while standing on solid ground rather than in a boat with the waves moving you up and down and branches or whatever blowing around in the wind obstructing your target. And who neds to make 50 yard casts while fishing? Sorry I am not impressed with competion casting.

The competition I compete in is outdoors, with normal fishing tackle, and from the deck of a parked boat.

[Blue Streak]

Casting contests and casting while fishing are two entirely different things. Put those contest casters in a boat with the wind blowing and branches hanging over their target and see if they can still hit it at 50 yards.

x2.

I find this answer interesting since casting contest participants I've met while competing were all guides, tournament anglers, & highly productive anglers.

Probably true Catt. But if a guy is in a casting contest that involves distance plus accuracy. Don't you think he is using equipment suited for that? I think they would be using reels with super fast bearings and ultra light spools and probably using the lightest line they can possibly use.

But my whole point is, it is much easier to hit a target while standing on solid ground rather than in a boat with the waves moving you up and down and branches or whatever blowing around in the wind obstructing your target. And who neds to make 50 yard casts while fishing? Sorry I am not impressed with competion casting.

The competition I compete in is outdoors, with normal fishing tackle, and from the deck of a parked boat.

Are you saying then that you can pick up any one of the oufits you use for bass and cast it 50 yards and hit your target? In the outdoors, from the deck of a boat.

[Catt]

Blue Streak, to avoid coping every thing we each type the answer is yes I can

The ranges we cast at are 25 yds, 50 yds, & 75 yds; as distances increase so does target size & each target is surrounded by artifical brush/trees.

FYI maximum casting distances for baitcasting competition is 135 yds with specialized rods with tuned Abu Garcia 6500 reels.

[Blue Streak]

Catt I wish I could give you the opportunity to pick any two outfits out of my boat and do that. I won't believe it until I see it. By the way my equipment is always in max operating condition.

[Catt]

There is a whole world of fly, spin, and bait casting competition out there at all levels and I competed at the lowly amatuer level.

FYI American Casting Association Games

5/8 Oz. (18g) Plug Accuracy is mainly associated with bass tackle and fishing.The only thing it lacks are obstacles to make it realistic. The hardest thing to acquire is the proper tackle that allows feeling the rod flex and a fast free running reel. Then it takes hours upon hours of practice to perfect.

1/4 Oz (7.5g) Plug Distance Single Handed requires a spinning reel and has a rod length restriction of 8'2". This event represents fishing medium sized bodies of water with small lures or bait. Most casters use fine monofilament line. Casts can approach 300' in length.

5/8 Oz (18g) Plug Revolving Spool Distance, Double Handed resembles tackle you'd use for surf fishing with bait. Of course, you'd jetison the bait this way! The rod length is unrestricted and both 5/8 games require line no thinner than .010". This event produces the longest of the ACA casts in the 380' range!

5/8 Oz (18g) Plug Distance Double Handed is the finesse plug distance event. Backlashes take you out of it! Matching reel lube viscosity to air temperature is only one important factor. Casts in the 350' range are goldworthy.

[NBR]

Many times I have heard that trap and skeet shooters were not as on target when shooting live birds. Since I have had the pleasure of both clay target and liv e bird shooting with a state champion clay target shooter. Few misses on clays and few misses on birds.

I would bet that 99.99% of casting contest people got into contests as an offshoot of fishing and because of basic talent and considerable practice they would waste most of us on the water.