How to long casts

[kaygee]

When using a rubber worm for bass I never get far enough out. I like to use no weight for better look. I'am using 6# mono and spining reel, 6 1/2 ft light pole. Is a larger spool real better? Would like to use level wind but just makes bird nest with so little weight. Longer rod? Lighter line? Ad weight? Bottle rocket?

[tnj8222]

curiouse on what kind of real you have. with 6 pound test. you should be able to cast pretty far, even with a small plastic. maybe get a pole with more backbone. what kind of worms are you talking about? i can cast a weightless senko a country mile on spinning gear!

[pitchnboy]

like you said...throwing senkos on bait casting gear does take some work espeacially when weightless. i have no problem (practice makes perfect!!!) but you shoulnt have a problem with spinning gear and #6 line...i can cast like crazy weightless...try inserting a nail weight

pitch

[1bigfish]

A larger spool will help the line come off the real better. But unless you are using an ultra light micro real it should not be a problem. I would have to watch you cast to know for sure but I thing it is more likely a line issue. Mono can get strech out and tent to stick to itself. How old is the line you are using and what brand of line is it? If you open the bail on your reel and hold you tip to the ground does the line just peel off by itself or do you have to help it?
And yes a bait caster with a weightless plastic is a birds nest waiting to happen unless you are a pro and forgot to tell us.:grin:

[Hunt'nFish]

The shape of the plastic and how much air resistance it has plays a big role.
Senko's FLY like bullets, finesse worms don't.
Nothing wrong with your setup....I too use a similar setup for finesse fishing.
Perhaps fresh line would help. and a small split shot at the nose of the worm. It'll inrease the fall rate...but at least you can put it where you need too.
Hunt'nFish

[boblag]

Of course, it will cast farther if you have line all the way to the top of the spool. Next, make sure that the lip of the spool and your rod guides are smooth (no nicks, etc.) The limper the mono the better it casts. If all these things are in place and your technique is good, you're probably at the max distance without adding weight.
Longer rods generally cast farther, but 6'6" is fine. A "light" rod, however, is not appropriate for bass fishing with plastics because you don't get a good hookset. (Not to mention that, if you hook a good one, it will be overly worn out by the time you land it.) I suggest at least a "medium," and with a fast tip.

[fishsauce]

Everyone has put in some good advice, so I would try what everyone has said. I use the exact same setup as you for bass. A 6' foot rod, regular spinning reel, and 6# line, I cast my senkos just fine. But if you are casting finesse worms, then you aren't gonna get much distance with those. To keep the worm action looking natural I wouldn't add weight unless it was a nail weight pushed inside the worm. You could also rig the worm carolina style with the weight above the worm and still get decent action.

But if you are adamant about not adding weight, then I would have to throw out another option that was not mentioned. Use a light braided line. Most braided lines are brittle. But not Stren Super braid. It's extremely limp and smooth casting. Casts much further than my mono. I use 8# braided, still thinner than 6# mono. Not trying to promote the brand but it's working great for me.

Good luck.

[BassinFever]

Now, if you put all the above posts together you will be casting a country mile.

Reel with a relativly large spool:
6-10 # line:
Spool filled up within 3/16 to 1/4" from the top:
at least a 6'6" medium to meadium heavy rod with some tip action, and the larger the first three eyes on the rod the better. Larger spool, larger eyes. Rule of thumb, if you are hearing a lot of noise from the line at the first eye when you cast it's likely that your eyes are too small for the reel.

Now, when you make your cast, remember that you are not "throwing" the bait, use the action of the tip of the rod to propell the bait, cast with a smooth motion. Let the bait hang about a foot from the tip, Point the rod where you are going to cast, and then with one smooth motion from front to back load the rod and make the cast. In a sence, you are using the rod as a sling shot.

Practice, Practice!!!!

[BassinFever]

Originally Posted by TommyBoy

Most braided lines are brittle.

WHAT!

[Hunt'nFish]

Braid....I've got two spinning rod w/ braid (30lb Stealth) that I use for carolina rigging and drop shotting. I like the strength on the braid for these methods and I know the leader will be the break point.

But I've found braid on a spinning rod to be some what of a problem in two ways.
1. real limp braid can get flipped over on the rod tip eye. That's why I like Stealth...it's a stiffer braid.
2. it can get hooked on the bail of some reels depending on the bail shape and design. I just searched until I found a couple reels that have braid friend bail designs. The Pluegar Trion is one and the Okuma Ispria is another.

Some people like "fuison" spectra over braided spectra on spinning reels for this reason. Fusion spectra is much stiffer than braid....but it a little larger dia for the same test poundage as compared to braid.
I don't care for the fuzz that develops on fusion from use. And if I can find a stiffer braid that handles ok and doesn't get flipped over rod eyes & bails....then I'm happy.
Hunt'nFish

[tnj8222]

Originally Posted by BassinFever

Now, if you put all the above posts together you will be casting a country mile.

Reel with a relativly large spool:
6-10 # line:
Spool filled up within 3/16 to 1/4" from the top:
at least a 6'6" medium to meadium heavy rod with some tip action, and the larger the first three eyes on the rod the better. Larger spool, larger eyes. Rule of thumb, if you are hearing a lot of noise from the line at the first eye when you cast it's likely that your eyes are too small for the reel.

Now, when you make your cast, remember that you are not "throwing" the bait, use the action of the tip of the rod to propell the bait, cast with a smooth motion. Let the bait hang about a foot from the tip, Point the rod where you are going to cast, and then with one smooth motion from front to back load the rod and make the cast. In a sence, you are using the rod as a sling shot.

Practice, Practice!!!!

i didint know this about the eyes. Thanks!!!

[Dan360]

I prefer a baitcaster if I rig texas style with no sinker because I can use heavier line and usually get it out there further than a spinning rod. When fishing whacky style, I use 8 or 10 pound test on a spinning rod. I use a 6'6 medium/heavy baitcaster and 7'0 medium spinning rod. I will also choose which setup to use based on cover. If it is open water or submerged cover, I prefer the accuracy and feel I get out of a spinning rod. If I am fishing heavy cover or am trying to cover a lot of water, I use the baitcaster for the longer casts and the heavier line. Either way, practice loading up the rod tip and letting the rod do the work for you on your casts. The longer 7 foot spinning rod is great for tossing those light plastics in tight spots.

[BuKuBass]

Originally Posted by Dan360

... I prefer the accuracy and feel I get out of a spinning rod. ....

I respectfully disagree with you. Many who use spinners do not feather the line streaming from the spool for accuracy. Instead they rely on timing. With a baitcaster you must apply pressure to the spool to prevent an overrun, hence better accuracy.

[kaygee]

Thanks for the info-Love using bait casting for control of fish when hooked. Getting use to casting with no weight will take some time. Kaygee

[Dan360]

What can I say, I was a baseball player. You can't throw a ball and pull a string on it. I have to rely on an eye for judging distance and adjust power. I'm in the same boat with Kaygee, I don't use my baitcaster enough to be that good with it. My problem has never been distance, but accuracy.

[ODSKid]

I have a 7'0 UL spinning Lami from G.I. Joes (Pros Guide Choice), a Cardinal 300 reel, and 8lb test. I can cast it two country miles!