Stan Fagerstrom
04-14-2004, 09:52 AM
Put More Bass In The Boat!
Practice Your Casting
Part 2
By Stan Fagerstrom
In my last column I pointed out the need to have the proper size casting weights to use as you practice to perfect casting skills.
If you read that column, you’re aware I recommended 5/8th-ounce for the bait casting reel; 1/4th-ounce for the open faced spinning reel and 3/8th-ounce for the closed face spinning reel
You’ll likely find it difficult to obtain casting weights in a 5/8th-ounce size. They’ve been hard to locate for years. It’s easy to find casting weights in ¼ and 3/8th-ounce sizes. Fifty years ago it was relatively easy to find all three sizes. I had mentioned this in an earlier column. A reader named George Beck sent me an e-mail to tell me the 5/8th-ounce weights are available from the Plastilite Corporation in Omaha, Nebraska.
I called the Plastilite Corporation myself to get some additional details. They do indeed carry the 5/8th-ounce weights. They also market practice weights in the 1/8th, 1/4th, 3/8th sizes. Plastilite does not sell direct to consumers. Ask your favorite tackle dealer to order them for you. The toll-free number for Plastilite is 1 800-228-9506.
It’s really not all that difficult to make your own 5/8th-ounce weights if you choose. Simply drill an opening in the bottom of a plastic 3/8th or ½-ounce plug and fill it with sufficient split shot to bring it up to the 5/th-ounce weight. Use an epoxy glue to seal up the opening and you’re in business.
You can do something else that will help improve your casting accuracy. When you get the right size weights, slide a skirt over each of these practice plugs. I’m talking about a skirt like those that come on so many bass lures like spinnerbaits or buzz baits.
http://www.ifish.net/sfcastingandskirt.jpg
Just slip the skirt over your casting weight and you're in business. The skirt shown here is the type made for use with a spinnerbait. Be sure to use a light skirt color that's easily seen.
http://www.ifish.net/sfcastingweight.jpg
Attaching a skirt like this to your practice casting weight will help your practice casting sessions. It makes the weight much easier to see as it heads for the target.
You’ll find adding the skirts to your practice plugs makes it a good bit easier for you to eyeball the weight as it heads to its target. I started using them years ago because so many times folks watching my casting demos complained about not being able to see what my casting weight was doing. I’ve not had that criticism since I’ve added the skirts. I also found using them improved my accuracy as I practiced.
One final thought where practice casting is concerned. Forget about distance and concentrate on accuracy. Use a couple of targets. Set one at 30-feet and a second at 40-feet. Don’t set them one foot farther, especially in the beginning. I’ll make a promise in that regard. If you concentrate on accuracy at close in targets until you get a handle on things, you’ll find the ability to cast farther comes along as a fringe benefit. Do it the other way around in the beginning---putting all the emphasis on distance---and you’ll spend most of your time picking at backlashes.
Actually, you can turn casting practice into a fun thing if you choose to do so. If you have youngsters you’ll soon hear the kids hollering “Daddy, Daddy, can I try?” If you have pets they too will love it. Every dog and cat I’ve ever owned perked up whenever they saw me pick up a practice rod. They knew they were going to have a chance to chase my practice weights as I worked on my casting skills. The dogs and cast got some good exercise and had fun in the process. So will you.
None of us has much control over most of the problems we face when it comes to catching fish. We can’t do a blessed thing about the weather, the barometer, the water temperature or the wind. We can control our ability to put a lure on target time after time. We can do it through practice.
The sooner you realize that the sooner you’ll start catching your share of the fish.
Practice Your Casting
Part 2
By Stan Fagerstrom
In my last column I pointed out the need to have the proper size casting weights to use as you practice to perfect casting skills.
If you read that column, you’re aware I recommended 5/8th-ounce for the bait casting reel; 1/4th-ounce for the open faced spinning reel and 3/8th-ounce for the closed face spinning reel
You’ll likely find it difficult to obtain casting weights in a 5/8th-ounce size. They’ve been hard to locate for years. It’s easy to find casting weights in ¼ and 3/8th-ounce sizes. Fifty years ago it was relatively easy to find all three sizes. I had mentioned this in an earlier column. A reader named George Beck sent me an e-mail to tell me the 5/8th-ounce weights are available from the Plastilite Corporation in Omaha, Nebraska.
I called the Plastilite Corporation myself to get some additional details. They do indeed carry the 5/8th-ounce weights. They also market practice weights in the 1/8th, 1/4th, 3/8th sizes. Plastilite does not sell direct to consumers. Ask your favorite tackle dealer to order them for you. The toll-free number for Plastilite is 1 800-228-9506.
It’s really not all that difficult to make your own 5/8th-ounce weights if you choose. Simply drill an opening in the bottom of a plastic 3/8th or ½-ounce plug and fill it with sufficient split shot to bring it up to the 5/th-ounce weight. Use an epoxy glue to seal up the opening and you’re in business.
You can do something else that will help improve your casting accuracy. When you get the right size weights, slide a skirt over each of these practice plugs. I’m talking about a skirt like those that come on so many bass lures like spinnerbaits or buzz baits.
http://www.ifish.net/sfcastingandskirt.jpg
Just slip the skirt over your casting weight and you're in business. The skirt shown here is the type made for use with a spinnerbait. Be sure to use a light skirt color that's easily seen.
http://www.ifish.net/sfcastingweight.jpg
Attaching a skirt like this to your practice casting weight will help your practice casting sessions. It makes the weight much easier to see as it heads for the target.
You’ll find adding the skirts to your practice plugs makes it a good bit easier for you to eyeball the weight as it heads to its target. I started using them years ago because so many times folks watching my casting demos complained about not being able to see what my casting weight was doing. I’ve not had that criticism since I’ve added the skirts. I also found using them improved my accuracy as I practiced.
One final thought where practice casting is concerned. Forget about distance and concentrate on accuracy. Use a couple of targets. Set one at 30-feet and a second at 40-feet. Don’t set them one foot farther, especially in the beginning. I’ll make a promise in that regard. If you concentrate on accuracy at close in targets until you get a handle on things, you’ll find the ability to cast farther comes along as a fringe benefit. Do it the other way around in the beginning---putting all the emphasis on distance---and you’ll spend most of your time picking at backlashes.
Actually, you can turn casting practice into a fun thing if you choose to do so. If you have youngsters you’ll soon hear the kids hollering “Daddy, Daddy, can I try?” If you have pets they too will love it. Every dog and cat I’ve ever owned perked up whenever they saw me pick up a practice rod. They knew they were going to have a chance to chase my practice weights as I worked on my casting skills. The dogs and cast got some good exercise and had fun in the process. So will you.
None of us has much control over most of the problems we face when it comes to catching fish. We can’t do a blessed thing about the weather, the barometer, the water temperature or the wind. We can control our ability to put a lure on target time after time. We can do it through practice.
The sooner you realize that the sooner you’ll start catching your share of the fish.