Stan Fagerstrom
03-31-2004, 11:21 AM
Put More Bass In The Boat!
Practice Your Casting
Part 1
By Stan Fagerstrom
I doubt anyone in the country has spent more time than I have talking to outdoor show audiences about the importance of casting practice. I started more than a half century ago. I’m still at it.
There’s one aspect of having done so that’s particularly gratifying. It’s when someone I don’t know writes or perhaps comes up at a show to say something like this: “You know, Stan, you were right. I practiced what I heard you preaching at an outdoor show years ago. It has made a tremendous difference in my fishing success.”
Casting ability is important in any kind of fishing. In some it is essential. This is especially true where casting for bass is concerned. You’ll never put as many bass in the boat as you should until you can put a lure right where it needs to be to get hits.
In this and my next column I’d like to share a few quick thoughts with regard to casting practice. For starters be sure you have the proper selection of weights. You should have practice casting weights in ¼-ounce, 3/8th-ounce and 5/8th-ounce sizes. I’m aware there are other size weights out there, but these are the sizes I recommend, especially if you’re just getting started with a level wind reel.
It’s the level wind reel, of course, that contributes most of the misery when it comes to casting. That’s one of the reasons I recommend having a 5/8th-ounce practice casting weight. It’s going to be considerably easier for you to develop your casting skills using that heavier weight.
http://www.ifish.net/sfcastweight.jpg
You need weights of 1/4, 3/8th and 5/8th-ounce sizes for your practice casting sessions.
I’m writing from experience. I’ve seen beginners attempt to learn how to use a level wind reel with a ¼-ounce weight. You may get along all right with a weight that size on a level winder once you know what you’re doing. It flat won’t work in the beginning. You’ll find yourself having to wind up as if you’re doing the Hungarian Hammer Throw to get that light weight out there 30-feet. You’ll also find something else when you look down at your reel. That something else will more than likely be a peadinger of a backlash.
You’ll still get backlashes even if you practice with that heavier weight, but they won’t come as often. They won’t because having that 5/8th-ounce weight pulls line off the reel spool so much easier. You won’t have to put nearly as much effort into your practice cast. You’ll be better able to concentrate on what your thumb doing, and it’s your thumb that’s the real key to consistently good casting.
If you’re helping a youngster learn to handle a closed faced spinning reel, tie on a 3/8th-ounce weight. The ¼-ounce casting plug works is just fine for learning with the open faced spinning reel.
http://www.ifish.net/sfkiss.jpg
You can't kiss 'em until you catch 'em. Few things will help you do that faster where bass are concerned than learning how to master your equipment through practice casting sessions.
In my next column I’ll share some additional thoughts that are a cinch to help improve your casting skills. And as I said in the beginning, once you polish your casting skills it’s a cinch to put more fish in your boat.
-To Be Continued-
Got comments or thoughts to share? Stan can be reached via e-mail at stanf@harborside.com
Practice Your Casting
Part 1
By Stan Fagerstrom
I doubt anyone in the country has spent more time than I have talking to outdoor show audiences about the importance of casting practice. I started more than a half century ago. I’m still at it.
There’s one aspect of having done so that’s particularly gratifying. It’s when someone I don’t know writes or perhaps comes up at a show to say something like this: “You know, Stan, you were right. I practiced what I heard you preaching at an outdoor show years ago. It has made a tremendous difference in my fishing success.”
Casting ability is important in any kind of fishing. In some it is essential. This is especially true where casting for bass is concerned. You’ll never put as many bass in the boat as you should until you can put a lure right where it needs to be to get hits.
In this and my next column I’d like to share a few quick thoughts with regard to casting practice. For starters be sure you have the proper selection of weights. You should have practice casting weights in ¼-ounce, 3/8th-ounce and 5/8th-ounce sizes. I’m aware there are other size weights out there, but these are the sizes I recommend, especially if you’re just getting started with a level wind reel.
It’s the level wind reel, of course, that contributes most of the misery when it comes to casting. That’s one of the reasons I recommend having a 5/8th-ounce practice casting weight. It’s going to be considerably easier for you to develop your casting skills using that heavier weight.
http://www.ifish.net/sfcastweight.jpg
You need weights of 1/4, 3/8th and 5/8th-ounce sizes for your practice casting sessions.
I’m writing from experience. I’ve seen beginners attempt to learn how to use a level wind reel with a ¼-ounce weight. You may get along all right with a weight that size on a level winder once you know what you’re doing. It flat won’t work in the beginning. You’ll find yourself having to wind up as if you’re doing the Hungarian Hammer Throw to get that light weight out there 30-feet. You’ll also find something else when you look down at your reel. That something else will more than likely be a peadinger of a backlash.
You’ll still get backlashes even if you practice with that heavier weight, but they won’t come as often. They won’t because having that 5/8th-ounce weight pulls line off the reel spool so much easier. You won’t have to put nearly as much effort into your practice cast. You’ll be better able to concentrate on what your thumb doing, and it’s your thumb that’s the real key to consistently good casting.
If you’re helping a youngster learn to handle a closed faced spinning reel, tie on a 3/8th-ounce weight. The ¼-ounce casting plug works is just fine for learning with the open faced spinning reel.
http://www.ifish.net/sfkiss.jpg
You can't kiss 'em until you catch 'em. Few things will help you do that faster where bass are concerned than learning how to master your equipment through practice casting sessions.
In my next column I’ll share some additional thoughts that are a cinch to help improve your casting skills. And as I said in the beginning, once you polish your casting skills it’s a cinch to put more fish in your boat.
-To Be Continued-
Got comments or thoughts to share? Stan can be reached via e-mail at stanf@harborside.com