If it’s more comfortable for you, you can also angle your stance slightly, with the foot of your non-dominant side in front.
If you have a sinker or bobber attached to the line, make sure it’s 12–15 inches (30–38 cm) from the end of the rod rather than your bait. Otherwise, your line will be too short, which will cause your cast to lose momentum.
You have the option to hold the rod in either your right or left hand. Most fishermen prefer to cast spincasting gear with their dominant hand. If you want to cast and reel with the same hand, you’ll need to change hands after your cast.
The line may drop when you press the button, but it shouldn’t travel far. If it drops more than 2–3 inches (5. 1–7. 6 cm), it means you may not have held the button firmly enough. Reel it in and try again. [5] X Research source
Be sure to keep the handle of the rod above waist level at all times. Avoid raising your arm too high. Doing so could cause you to accidentally hook a nearby object or some part of your clothing. It can also put unnecessary strain on your shoulder joint, which will catch up to you quickly after a long day out on the water. Practice casting in a wide-open area so you don’t accidentally hook trees or shrubs behind you. [7] X Expert Source Kathy Sparrow, MAFishing Instructor Expert Interview. 1 April 2020.
The key to a good cast is to make your movements as smooth and effortless as possible. Jerking or being overly forceful with the rod will only throw off your accuracy and cause you to lose distance.
If your bait or lure simply plops into the water in front of you, you probably released the button too late. If it flies upward in a loose arc, you may have let go too soon. [10] X Research source It may be a little tricky at first to properly time your cast with your release. Don’t worry—you’ll start getting the hang of it after a few attempts.
Alternatively, you can re-engage the line locking mechanism by turning the reel crack clockwise until you feel a click. [11] X Research source At this point, you can transfer the rod to your opposite hand if you feel more comfortable reeling with your dominant hand.
Try not to let your hips or shoulders turn while you go through the casting motion. You want to stay square the whole time.
Since more people are right-handed, the majority of spinning reels are designed with the handle on the left and the reel on the right. If you’re left-handed, simply change the orientation of the rod so that the handle and reel are in a more natural position.
Make sure you’re holding the handle of the rod in a comfortable position at about waist-level.
Once you’ve snagged the line with your finger, don’t let go until you initiate the cast. The reel bail is the cylindrical piece that rotates freely behind the spool where the line is wound. It is responsible for gathering the line and depositing it back on the spool when you reel in.
Make sure you maintain your grip on the handle of the rod with your dominant hand while flipping the reel bail open. Casting a spinning reel is a 2-handed process.
A spinning rod should generally follow more of a horizontal trajectory rather than traveling straight up and down.
As with a spincasting rod, be careful not to release the line too early or too late. If you let go prematurely, your lure will go up instead of out, while letting go too late will usually cause it to shoot straight down into the water. [15] X Research source If you’re casting with a long-handled spinning rod, like the kind used in saltwater fishing, stabilize your dominant hand as much as possible throughout the movement. It will act as a sort of fulcrum around which the rest of the rod will pivot.
If you prefer, you can stagger your stance so that your dominant-side foot is in the back, since you’ll be bring your rod back over your shoulder to initiate the cast. Just make sure your foot positioning doesn’t throw off your alignment.
Baitcasting reels make use of a centrifugal braking system and a tension knob, which creates drag when the line is cast. If you’ve never cast with a baitcasting rod before, set the resistance wheel to 9. A higher level of resistance will offer greater safety and control for your first few attempts. Once you’ve gained a little experience, a lower setting will enable you to cast effortlessly and with greater distance. [17] X Research source Baitcasting rods feature a complex design, and it can be easy to throw the settings out of balance if you’re not careful. For this reason, it’s best to have them worked on by a qualified professional.
As with spincasting rods, most fishermen cast and reel baitcasting rods with the same hand. If you decide to perform both actions with the same hand, you’ll need to switch your grip after you cast.
On most baitcasting reels, you’ll find a narrow button or bar on the back of the reel handle just below the reel spool that you can quickly find with your thumb. On older models, the spool release may be located on the outer spool-side edge of the rod instead.
It’s not necessary to hold your elbow or rod at any precise angle. Just get it into whatever position feels most comfortable to you. If the tip of your rod dips down to waist level or below, you’re probably holding it too low. Try raising it slightly so that it sits at about shoulder height when you go to cast.
Keep your arm relaxed and bent through the movement. Casting with a baitcaster is more about finesse than force. Instead of trying to throw out your bait or lure, let its own weight carry it forward effortlessly.
Another reason most anglers use their dominant hand to cast a baitcasting rod is that it gives them more control over the reel spool wheel. If you don’t brake your line, it will continue unraveling after your bait hits the water. This can result in a tangle of overrun line (sometimes known as a “bird’s nest”), which you’ll have to straighten out before you can retrieve your lure. Go ahead and move the rod over to your opposite hand if you want to reel your line in with the same hand you cast with.
During a fly-fishing session, there’s a good chance you’ll be standing directly in the water you’re fishing in at some point. For this reason, it’s especially important that you maintain a solid base. When angling in fast-moving water, make sure you’re conscious of your stance and foot placement at all times. It can be very easy to slip if you’re not careful!
Casting fly-fishing tackle properly requires a good deal of dexterity. For this reason, it’s recommended that you use whichever hand you’re more coordinated with.
When you first begin your backstroke, you can lift the tip of the rod 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) to free the loose line from the water if needed. After that, keep it as horizontal as possible throughout the movement. [23] X Research source Keep your upper arm fixed in place during the backstroke. Unlike with other rods, you’ll primarily be using your wrist or forearm when casting a fly-fishing tackle.
When you’re first learning to use fly-fishing tackle, it may help to look over your shoulder to watch for the line to straighten out. After a few casts, you’ll begin to recognize the gentle tug as the line reaches full extension. Don’t exaggerate the pause too much. If the line flutters to the ground, you’re taking too much time. [26] X Research source Be careful not to rush it. If you don’t pause, everything will collapse and you’ll have to try again. [27] X Expert Source Kathy Sparrow, MAFishing Instructor Expert Interview. 1 April 2020.
For maximum power, distance, and precision, try to time the movement of your forearm and wrist with the exact moment that the rod straightens out after flexing. Once the road reaches the 10 o’clock position, pull back on it gently to stop its forward momentum. This will keep you from overshooting your target by accident.
Becoming skilled with fly-fishing tackle takes a firm grasp of technique and lots of practice. Don’t be discouraged if you feel like you can’t get it right on your first few outings.
