Why Can't I Cast A Baitcaster - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

aguachico · 01-02-2009, 04:05 PM

When I moved to San Deigo from Philly, I faced the same dilema. I'll give you the same advice I received from an old salt.

Practice.

BTW: you do put your thumb on the spool seconds before your lure hits the water? Of course you do...

I was able to go to the pier and practice before they kicked me off - "no overhead casting". Their are two main tyoes of casting in Socal. One tossing a bait, sardine/chovey with 20-40#.Two, slinging iron with rods 8-10feet 30#/40# test.

Bait - it's like a lob. The motion is smooth. Your just trying to get the bait away from the boat with tearing the bait. Try practicing with a fishtrap and a bait hook. No weight. Lob it 5 feet, then 10 feet. You will learn the rythm of the toss, when to release your thumb mid stgream and stop the spool before the baiot hits the water.

Iron - I was fortunate enough to spend time on the bow of the daily double watching the old dudes throw the iron. The first I noticed was the tempo. Then when I tried it, it was easy to see that if you get excited and try to tweak the distance 10% more, it ususlaly resulted in a backlash.

I played lacrosse, so my move is similar.

Eventually you will learn that the spool backlashes and catches up towrds the end of the cast.

Throw short and clean and accurate. Then as you get better, the distance and tempo will improve.

Pick a spot on the water where you want the iron to land and that will improve your tempo. If you throw at the horizon, it usually casts dirty.

Wind the spool level and the next cast is smooth.

When your line is kinked from throwing, change it

All good casters backlash.

I could talk about this for every. I wish I was younger so I could cast all day. Youth is wasted on the young

kareem korn · 01-02-2009, 05:31 PM

What brinkman said. Bring whatever bait your using to the tip. It should be tight enough that you have to twitch the end and the lure drops than stops. You have to readjust depending on the weight lure used. I'm using one for the first time in 40 years and it casts like butta. Never knew what I was missing.

taggermike · 01-02-2009, 05:36 PM

Yo Ship, maybe you are just uncoordinated. But you can still learn to cast. Practice is every thing. You skills will improve and you will learn the feel of your equipment. What kind of gear are you using? Some baitcasters are easier to use but they all have a cast control knob and some have magnetic systems that slow the spool. Learn to use them. Start with the cast control fairly tight and spend some time practicing. Go some place with few people and cast away. You don't need to swing for the horizon, nice and easy does it. You'll get it. Like aquachico said, all good casters get backlashes. You'll get it. Mike

01-02-2009, 04:05 PM	#1
aguachico Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 719	When I moved to San Deigo from Philly, I faced the same dilema. I'll give you the same advice I received from an old salt. Practice. BTW: you do put your thumb on the spool seconds before your lure hits the water? Of course you do... I was able to go to the pier and practice before they kicked me off - "no overhead casting". Their are two main tyoes of casting in Socal. One tossing a bait, sardine/chovey with 20-40#.Two, slinging iron with rods 8-10feet 30#/40# test. Bait - it's like a lob. The motion is smooth. Your just trying to get the bait away from the boat with tearing the bait. Try practicing with a fishtrap and a bait hook. No weight. Lob it 5 feet, then 10 feet. You will learn the rythm of the toss, when to release your thumb mid stgream and stop the spool before the baiot hits the water. Iron - I was fortunate enough to spend time on the bow of the daily double watching the old dudes throw the iron. The first I noticed was the tempo. Then when I tried it, it was easy to see that if you get excited and try to tweak the distance 10% more, it ususlaly resulted in a backlash. I played lacrosse, so my move is similar. Eventually you will learn that the spool backlashes and catches up towrds the end of the cast. Throw short and clean and accurate. Then as you get better, the distance and tempo will improve. Pick a spot on the water where you want the iron to land and that will improve your tempo. If you throw at the horizon, it usually casts dirty. Wind the spool level and the next cast is smooth. When your line is kinked from throwing, change it All good casters backlash. I could talk about this for every. I wish I was younger so I could cast all day. Youth is wasted on the young

01-02-2009, 05:31 PM	#2
kareem korn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: C-bad Posts: 431	What brinkman said. Bring whatever bait your using to the tip. It should be tight enough that you have to twitch the end and the lure drops than stops. You have to readjust depending on the weight lure used. I'm using one for the first time in 40 years and it casts like butta. Never knew what I was missing.

01-02-2009, 05:36 PM	#3
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Yo Ship, maybe you are just uncoordinated. But you can still learn to cast. Practice is every thing. You skills will improve and you will learn the feel of your equipment. What kind of gear are you using? Some baitcasters are easier to use but they all have a cast control knob and some have magnetic systems that slow the spool. Learn to use them. Start with the cast control fairly tight and spend some time practicing. Go some place with few people and cast away. You don't need to swing for the horizon, nice and easy does it. You'll get it. Like aquachico said, all good casters get backlashes. You'll get it. Mike