Wild claims of casting distance!!!

[chefchris401]

Competion casting and real world fishing casting are two different things.

These guys competion casting are using 14 ft Rods,
MOdified reels, and light line.

I don't care if someone can cast 600, 800 or 1000 feet with a 3oz casting sinker, you can't catch fish on sinkers.

Now being able to throw a 3oz pencil 120 yards is usually more than adequate for most situations.

Numbskull had a great comment about this on the other site. Basically it was boat guys want to cast as close to shore as possible and the surf guys want to cast as far from shore, pretty funny but true.

I've been throwing a 11ft century stealth and an a 2.5oz pencil average 110 yards, max was 117 yards. I feel that's more than enough for the areas I fish.

I am building a century 1328 and a SPOD, will be interesting to see who those do.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[ReelinRod]

Originally Posted by Sgt Striper

Anyone reading some of the other sites and Facebook lately! There have been some wild claims of 175 to 250 yard (that's 525' to 750') casts with a certain newer rod line. We all know fisherman exaggerate but come on!! Tournament winning distance with 11-12' (fishing) rod, spinning reel and 50# braid!! What's your thoughts on this?

I've been reading those threads but I have to say, I haven't seen the 250 yard claim. Certain models from the manufacturer being discussed are definitely capable of achieving the distances being claimed; the question is, is the caster?

No matter what, I think that to do that distance consistently would require a longer rod and lighter (thinner) braid.

Originally Posted by chefchris401

Competion casting and real world fishing casting are two different things.

Unless you use your fishing equipment in casting tournaments. All I would need to do to go fishing after a casting tournament is take off the rules mandated mono and spool on my braid.

I cast my gear "set-up for fishing" farther than I do "set-up for tourney casting" . . . Just switching to the braid I use is worth 5%-7% increase in distance (@>650ft).

Originally Posted by chefchris401

I don't care if someone can cast 600, 800 or 1000 feet with a 3oz casting sinker, you can't catch fish on sinkers.

A painted in-line trolling sinker with a tube tail or bucktail on it is a popular distance lure down here and I often use a 150gm tournament sinker to deliver a teaser at extreme distance.

Originally Posted by chefchris401

Now being able to throw a 3oz pencil 120 yards is usually more than adequate for most situations

And when it's not?

I can cast a baseball 500ft, . . . an aerodynamic, well balanced pencil??? LOL).

And before anyone says it . . . yes, many fish are in close.

I know, I catch them too!

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by ReelinRod

And before anyone says it . . . yes, many fish are in close.

I know, I catch them too!

Actually I wonder about this, do you or I really catch a high percentage of the fish we overcast? I doubt that we do.

From fly fishing (where you can see what happens) it is clear that even a small fly moving towards a fish is totally unnatural and often spooks the fish. Seems likely a plug moving towards a fish would also often spook it. Overcasting a fish guarantees your plug will "attack it" on the way in.

Likewise, I notice that I often get a fish during the first few feet of my retrieve (I think the splash attracts them) and then less most of the way in, with an upswing as the plug gets very close (where more fish hunt at night).

Also, fish often hit as the plug passes structure. Obviously structure holds fish, but it also shields their vision until the plug passes (or makes a fish feel like the prey can't see it so something approaching them seems natural).

When in a boat, I find the number of fish close to shore is far higher than where my casts land when I fish from shore. So why don't I catch most of the fish in close? I think it may well be that the incoming plug looks unnatural and spooks them.

Bottom line is that casting is fun and when fishing we all fall into the trap of combining the fun of casting with the fun of fishing, even though we would be better at fishing if we focused on closer water and worked it more efficiently.

Sometimes I need to cast far to reach fish or structure that holds fish........but I am starting to suspect that most of the time casting as far as I can every cast out of habit probably reduces my fishing success.

[piemma]

Interesting thoughts. One morning at the Canal last year everyone was bombing casts way out. My nephew and I were catching all our fish within 25 feet of where we were standing. Talk about overcasting. But you are right, sometimes the exact opposite happens.

[spence]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Also, fish often hit as the plug passes structure. Obviously structure holds fish, but it also shields their vision until the plug passes (or makes a fish feel like the prey can't see it so something approaching them seems natural).

I think this would be a problem when over casting. If you launch far out thinking you're covering more water, your plug won't have the same approach as if working the structure directly.

-spence

[ReelinRod]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Actually I wonder about this, do you or I really catch a high percentage of the fish we overcast? I doubt that we do.

I do a considerable amount of baitfishing on open beaches and for me at least a third of my fish come from over the bar or the mouth of a cut (my favorite structure to fish).

For lure fishing I work from close to far as the structure demands when there's no signs of active fish. Depending on tide stage, water clarity and day or night it can be a complete waste of time to fish close . . .

Competing in 15 - 17 surf fishing tournaments a year for 20+ years and not having the luxury of picking your spot has told me what I need to know about having the ability to place a baited hook / lure out 150+ yards . . . Every guy on the team I was on could cast far and the standings show the value of that . . . That team won the championship for 27 out of 30 years.

A different style of fishing from what you guys do but the argument stands, at least for me.

[Sgt Striper]

Originally Posted by ReelinRod

I've been reading those threads but I have to say, I haven't seen the 250 yard claim. Certain models from the manufacturer being discussed are definitely capable of achieving the distances being claimed; the question is, is the caster?

Unless you use your fishing equipment in casting tournaments. All I would need to do to go fishing after a casting tournament is take off the rules mandated mono and spool on my braid.

I cast my gear "set-up for fishing" farther than I do "set-up for tourney casting" . . . Just switching to the braid I use is worth 5%-7% increase in distance (@>650ft).
I can cast a baseball 500ft, . . . an aerodynamic, well balanced pencil??? LOL).

And before anyone says it . . . yes, many fish are in close.

I know, I catch them too!

I'm not pointing to any specific manufacturer and no one has in this thread! These claims have been from many different rods. Your right on the money "is the caster". But most fishing rods are not!! To cast the claimed weights that distance would require a full on pendulum cast and no Century,CTS,St Croix or whatever would stay in one piece under that stress!!
Using a tournament rod for fishing is not practical ( in general, not pick'n on ya) unless maybe your throwing a hunk of bait, but to throw plugs!
True,most fish are in close and a 100 to 120 yards is all you need for the occasions the fish are over the bar.

[ReelinRod]

Originally Posted by Sgt Striper

I'm not pointing to any specific manufacturer and no one has in this thread! These claims have been from many different rods. . . .

Neither did I; I was just referring to the latest thread with those claims which we are familiar with (and you posted in).

Originally Posted by Sgt Striper

To cast the claimed weights that distance would require a full on pendulum cast and no Century,CTS,St Croix or whatever would stay in one piece under that stress!!

I disagree on nearly all points. I and a lot of guys I know can do 200yds and more with an aerodynamic jig with a Hatteras style cast.

CTS S8's can be thrown full pendulum within their weight range. I have no real experience with the newer Century's being sold now; the few I have thrown were way too soft in the butt for me.

I use a Century Carbon Metal Crest as my tourney rod and heaver for bait fishing so that can definitely take the strain. OTOH, I did explode a Century Blackbird.

As for newer St. Croix, I would tend to agree with you; I still do full rotation OTG's with the two Ben Doer's that I still have in service.

Originally Posted by Sgt Striper

Using a tournament rod for fishing is not practical ( in general, not pick'n on ya) unless maybe your throwing a hunk of bait, but to throw plugs!

You don't need a tourney rod for those distances.

Sure, you aren't doing it with a 120GSB and a PennZ but let's be real here. The proper tool for the job is the golden rule. 200yds is a long ways but every development in rods, reels, lines and guides makes it a little bit shorter. Back in the late 80's early '90's only a few of us were doing the legwork to acquire long cast Daiwa Whisker SS reels from Japan and then when braid came out it changed everything. Every year now once unthinkable distances are conquered by "ordinary" fishermen.

Originally Posted by Sgt Striper

True,most fish are in close and a 100 to 120 yards is all you need for the occasions the fish are over the bar.

There are always fish over the bar.

[BigFish]

Last I checked......the fish are in the water...not on the other side of the canal....so who cares??? I tried it on a football field once.....110 yards was the best I could do and do not find I need to do any better!

[Sgt Striper]

Originally Posted by GattaFish

When I buy a rod it is for a much different reason than distance... big plugs and keeping fish out of the rocks.... thats what I tell my Rod guy to make me,,,,,

Originally Posted by tattoobob

Casting distance and penis size is something guys always lie about

Originally Posted by BigFish

Last I checked......the fish are in the water...not on the other side of the canal....so who cares??? I tried it on a football field once.....110 yards was the best I could do and do not find I need to do any better!