Stan Fagerstrom
01-30-2003, 08:10 AM
Use Your Left Forefinger To Get Accuracy With A Spinning Reel
By Stan Fagerstrom
There's usually more than one way to do darn near anything.
The problem is we get so darn used to doing things one way we neglect to consider what other possibilities there might be. That applies just as much to fishing tackle and the methods of using it as it does elsewhere.
If you've ever watched one of my casting exhibitions at an outdoor show, you're aware I use my open-faced spinning reels differently than most. I don't use my right forefinger to release and feather the line as do most spinning reel users.
The procedure I use goes like this: I begin by placing the spinning reel in my left palm. Then I extend the left forefinger out in front of the reel's spool. As the bail is opened, I trap the line securely against the front of the spool with the left forefinger. The right hand still provides power for the cast. The primary difference between my procedure and a conventional cast is that all the time the line is flowing from my spinning reel it's coming off the spool under my left forefinger.
http://www.ifish.net/sfcasting.jpg
Here's the casting technique I use with the open faced spinning reel. The bail has been opened and I have the line trapped against the front of the spool with my left forefinger. It's easy to control the flight of a lure by applying pressure to the line with the left forefinger as it flows off the reel's spool.
I get much better accuracy using this technique than I could achieve trying to stab down with my right forefinger to control the line. Having the line come off the spinning reel spool under that left forefinger is similar to what users of level wind reels experience with their thumbs. It's constant thumb control that lets an experienced bait caster achieve pinpoint accuracy. I get darn close to the same kind of accuracy using the left forefinger to control things on an open-faced spinning reel.
If you've been a careful observer you're aware I did something else with my spinning reels. That something else was to remove the spinning reel's bail wire. The way some older spinning reels are constructed it is awkward to get the left forefinger in the required position with the bail still in place. I solved that problem by simply removing the bail wire. Your fingers will do the same thing the bail does if you'll simply take the time to train them a little bit.
But I reserve the right to change my mind about things. I've been around the sport of fishing long enough to know you'd better not get yourself locked into always doing things one way. Things change and anglers are forever having new tools with which to work.
The past couple of years I've been using Shimano spinning reels. I was both surprised and pleased to find that I could use the left forefinger technique with my Shimano reels without removing the bail wire. There is sufficient space between the bail wire and the reel spool to let me slip my left forefinger in where it needs to be to control things.
I never liked having to remove the bail wire from my spinning reels. It did pose difficulties. One of them came when I had invited someone to fish with me and I was providing all the gear. The problem came when I handed my companion one of my bail-free spinning reels. It takes a little time to teach your fingers how to get the job done when there's no bail to work with.
I went ahead and removed the bail wire from the first Shimano reel I started working with, but that was before I discovered I could get by just fine without doing so. There are times, depending on the position of the reel's handle when I'm ready to cast, that it's not quite as easy or convenient still having the bail there. But it's no big problem and having the bail intact does help in other regards.
Over the years I've shared thoughts with many spin-fishing enthusiasts who wanted to try the left forefinger technique I developed, but were reluctant to tear up a reel to do it. It pleases me to say that it's no longer necessary provided you have the right reels to work with.
The two Shimano reels I've used most with the left forefinger method of line control are the Model 1000 Symetre and the Model 4000 Stella. The Symetre is the reel you'll find on the spinning rods I use for demonstration casting. Both the Symetre and the Stella are super fishing tools. I was also surprised at how well the Stella handles heavier line. Even when you're using spinning gear, now and then there are times and situations where you need stronger line. I've used monofilament as heavy as 17-pound test on the Stella. I got along just fine with it.
http://www.ifish.net/sfsym.jpg
Here's a view of the left forefinger method of line control from the other side. The Shimano Symetre (pictured here) is an excellent reel to use with this technique.
As I said in the beginning, there's usually more than one way to do almost anything. Often it's the circumstances we're up against that bring about change. That's why I developed the procedure I use with the open-faced reel in the first place. When you supplement your income by giving casting demonstrations you'd darn well better be able to hit your targets. If you can't you won't wind up with enough bucks to buy your beans.
I couldn't do that as consistently as I desired trying to use an open-faced spinning reel in conventional fashion. Once I refined the method of left forefinger control I could. And now, thanks to my new Shimano reels, I no longer have to tear up a brand new reel to make it possible to do so.
By Stan Fagerstrom
There's usually more than one way to do darn near anything.
The problem is we get so darn used to doing things one way we neglect to consider what other possibilities there might be. That applies just as much to fishing tackle and the methods of using it as it does elsewhere.
If you've ever watched one of my casting exhibitions at an outdoor show, you're aware I use my open-faced spinning reels differently than most. I don't use my right forefinger to release and feather the line as do most spinning reel users.
The procedure I use goes like this: I begin by placing the spinning reel in my left palm. Then I extend the left forefinger out in front of the reel's spool. As the bail is opened, I trap the line securely against the front of the spool with the left forefinger. The right hand still provides power for the cast. The primary difference between my procedure and a conventional cast is that all the time the line is flowing from my spinning reel it's coming off the spool under my left forefinger.
http://www.ifish.net/sfcasting.jpg
Here's the casting technique I use with the open faced spinning reel. The bail has been opened and I have the line trapped against the front of the spool with my left forefinger. It's easy to control the flight of a lure by applying pressure to the line with the left forefinger as it flows off the reel's spool.
I get much better accuracy using this technique than I could achieve trying to stab down with my right forefinger to control the line. Having the line come off the spinning reel spool under that left forefinger is similar to what users of level wind reels experience with their thumbs. It's constant thumb control that lets an experienced bait caster achieve pinpoint accuracy. I get darn close to the same kind of accuracy using the left forefinger to control things on an open-faced spinning reel.
If you've been a careful observer you're aware I did something else with my spinning reels. That something else was to remove the spinning reel's bail wire. The way some older spinning reels are constructed it is awkward to get the left forefinger in the required position with the bail still in place. I solved that problem by simply removing the bail wire. Your fingers will do the same thing the bail does if you'll simply take the time to train them a little bit.
But I reserve the right to change my mind about things. I've been around the sport of fishing long enough to know you'd better not get yourself locked into always doing things one way. Things change and anglers are forever having new tools with which to work.
The past couple of years I've been using Shimano spinning reels. I was both surprised and pleased to find that I could use the left forefinger technique with my Shimano reels without removing the bail wire. There is sufficient space between the bail wire and the reel spool to let me slip my left forefinger in where it needs to be to control things.
I never liked having to remove the bail wire from my spinning reels. It did pose difficulties. One of them came when I had invited someone to fish with me and I was providing all the gear. The problem came when I handed my companion one of my bail-free spinning reels. It takes a little time to teach your fingers how to get the job done when there's no bail to work with.
I went ahead and removed the bail wire from the first Shimano reel I started working with, but that was before I discovered I could get by just fine without doing so. There are times, depending on the position of the reel's handle when I'm ready to cast, that it's not quite as easy or convenient still having the bail there. But it's no big problem and having the bail intact does help in other regards.
Over the years I've shared thoughts with many spin-fishing enthusiasts who wanted to try the left forefinger technique I developed, but were reluctant to tear up a reel to do it. It pleases me to say that it's no longer necessary provided you have the right reels to work with.
The two Shimano reels I've used most with the left forefinger method of line control are the Model 1000 Symetre and the Model 4000 Stella. The Symetre is the reel you'll find on the spinning rods I use for demonstration casting. Both the Symetre and the Stella are super fishing tools. I was also surprised at how well the Stella handles heavier line. Even when you're using spinning gear, now and then there are times and situations where you need stronger line. I've used monofilament as heavy as 17-pound test on the Stella. I got along just fine with it.
http://www.ifish.net/sfsym.jpg
Here's a view of the left forefinger method of line control from the other side. The Shimano Symetre (pictured here) is an excellent reel to use with this technique.
As I said in the beginning, there's usually more than one way to do almost anything. Often it's the circumstances we're up against that bring about change. That's why I developed the procedure I use with the open-faced reel in the first place. When you supplement your income by giving casting demonstrations you'd darn well better be able to hit your targets. If you can't you won't wind up with enough bucks to buy your beans.
I couldn't do that as consistently as I desired trying to use an open-faced spinning reel in conventional fashion. Once I refined the method of left forefinger control I could. And now, thanks to my new Shimano reels, I no longer have to tear up a brand new reel to make it possible to do so.