How many casts will you make to one spot?

[J Francho]

It depends on what I'm throwing, what I'm doing, and/or what the fish are doing. If I'm throwing a jig to an important, prominent cover item, I'll throw a dozen or more times. If I'm in search mode, learning a new lake, I'll make a couple and keep moving.  Especially true immediate post spawn. If the bite is on, and its a good spot, that I think holds more than one fish, then I'll keep hitting, changing angle a bit each time. And sight fishing....if its a monster, and its locked on, I might be there for days, LOL.

[piscicidal]

If I'm throwing a crank, I might throw to a piece of visible structure (i.e. stump) several times, until I'm satisfied I've worked it well. It might take a couple casts to get the right deflection off of a limb or stump to trigger a reaction bite on a fish that is not "hot".

If I am blind casting, trying to cover water, I'll rarely make another cast to the same spot.

If I miss a bite on a worm/frog, I might pitch back to that spot with a jig/senko (follow up).

[done]

Several, and with different baits before I move on. How many times have you been into fish on every cast, then nothing for two to five casts, then start catching them again?

Imagine if you had gone to that area, made a couple of unproductive casts, and moved on.

You also may need to cast to that spot/area from different angles.

One of the benefits of fishing from a canoe, kayak, or other boat that does not cover a lot of ground quickly is that you learn to work areas more thoroughly, and fish more effectively.

A half mile long pond is huge when you have to paddle or row your boat.

VERY good point. I have to admit, when I had my slow moving jon boat I would spend a LOT more time in coves than I do now. It is just to hard to slow yourself down sometimes when you got half a dozen other holes you want to hit in a trip.

[IndianaBassin]

I threw at a pair of rocks in the river one time for what seemed like a half an hour.  It was just a perfect area where two rocks formed a large V shape in the water.  I just knew there was a big smallmouth in there.  There was actually a 20 lb. flathead that was waiting in there.  Good fight in the river. 

[Fish Chris]

It depends on what I'm throwing

Eaxactly..... and I guess if I were throwing something small, like a jig, or a plastic worm, (which I basically never throw) I would probably make a bunch of casts too...

But IMP experience, when throwing swimbaits, a big bass is either going to inhale it the first time it sees it, or it's not, and furthermore, if it does not inhale it on that first cast, I'd rather not even give that fish a chance to inspect my swimbait any closer.... > Because I'm telling you, after a short swipe  and a miss, they will certainly follow it 2 or 3 more X's, eying it closely and really get a chance to see all of the fakeness which again, IMPO, will only decrease your odds of sticking that fish later on that day, or in the following days.

1 cast, and they will either eat it, or they won't in 100 ! .....at least with a swimbait.

Fish

PS, Even if you ever throw a swimbait 30 X's on one spot, before getting bit, I'd bet you my truck, that that fish was simply not there when you first started casting, but moved up after 29 casts, and bit it the first time they saw it, on your 30th cast !

[dulouz]

I am bound to the bank, so I am used to working an area as thouroughly as I can.  Last fall I went out on a boat with a friend and we basically trolled along the bank around the lake.  I found it very frustrating because I was lucky to get off three casts to a good spot.  I was overjoyed when he got tangled in someone else's broken off line and I got to fish for a while. 

[farmpond1]

My answer depends on how long I've been on the lake and how many bites I've gotten already.  If the bite is good and I have confidence in a technique or pattern, I'll throw a bunch to a good looking spot.  But if it's been a looooong day and I'm tired and not very optimistic about my chances, I may only make one or two casts.  Not always the best choice but there it is.

[gobig]

As long as it takes to effectively cover the location. Limiting your self to an exact number of casts can be crippling. The number of casts is completely situational. IMO this is more about time, than how many casts. This is a judgement call that is honed through experience. Here are a few things to consider.

Bait size - I have to agree with Fish Chris. When throwing big swimbaits, its either going to happen or its not. The drawing power of a big bait is huge and the big girls will move a long way to get them. The smaller a bait is in size the more casts that are required to cover the area.

Water clarity - Think of it this way, your sitting in a duck blind on a blue bird day. You can see birds 500+ yards away. Now add fog to the equasion. The birds are so close you can hear them. You know they are there, you just can see them until they are close enough to break out of the fog. This is similar to water clarity, in clear water less casts are needed then in stained water.

Cover - The more obstructions there are in the line of sight the more casts that will be required.

[Huntnfish]

I really like to cast a lot to a spot I have good vibes for. Threw a spinnerbait 11 times along side a laydown, 12th time-watched the bass hammer it.

[bassman018]

In the pond  typically will fish 2 spots I know hold fish, but i mayfish that spot for 10- 30 mins then maybe try the other spot and then go back i dont sit there and count casts...

[Ima Bass Ninja]

Really depends on the area for me, If it looks productive or i have caught fish there before then i will spend some time making multiple cast. If its a new place/spot a couple of cast and move on.

[HookSetDon]

On one of my favorite lakes there's one spot that always holds fish, a submerged concrete dock. Its like clock work, two fish off it each time, but often times ill make 5-10 cast for the first fish then have to make another 20 for the other, if I don't get him ill let's the spot rest for half hour and hit it again