Long distance baitcasting

[Airs98]

Was practicing long distance casting with my new 12' baitcasting setup and "fried" my thumb
Has anyone been using any "protection"? Like perhaps some kind of casting glove (leather, neoprene) ? Any tips are really appreciated!!!

 

[the_intimidator03]

erm my guess is try and use your thumb just before it hits the water to slow it down... make sure that before you cast you set it so it barely drops on its own when the lever/button is pressed

 

[Airs98]

erm my guess is try and use your thumb just before it hits the water to slow it down... make sure that before you cast you set it so it barely drops on its own when the lever/button is pressed

That is the problem... I want to cast as far as possible so I set the centrifugal brakes to a minimum. With 8 ounce weight going supersonic when it hits the water it doesn't stop right away and severely fries the thumb in the process.

 

[beaverfan]

Well therein lies your problem, the reels aren't meant to be casted that way. If you set the drag right it will have minimal impact on your casting distance.

 

[Airs98]

Well therein lies your problem, the reels aren't meant to be casted that way. If you set the drag right it will have minimal impact on your casting distance.

This is the quote from the reel manual:
CAST CONTROL
The cast control knob is used to add the proper amount of friction to the spool. Too much friction shortens the casting distance, too little leaves overrun and backlash unchecked.

So, I must use minimum friction I can get away with to cast farther. At any rate, at some point the burnt thumb will happen. I was just wondering if maybe a some kind of glove could help.

 

[beaverfan]

If you have any leather lying around cut a small square big enough to cover your thumb. Then poke a hole in it and take some string or a longer skinier piece of leather and tie it to your thumb. That's what my dad used to do for Sturgeon. But honestly your likely going to continue having problems. The problem is without the break the spool starts spinning faster than the line is going out. If there is no "brake" slowing the spool down the entire cast your gonna have backlash problems.

 

[the_intimidator03]

I know in fly fishing circles they have finger guards for when you strip off line to prevent finger burns i am sure something like that would work for your thumb

 

[Airs98]

Thanks guys!!! Those are good leads!

BTW, I don't really have backlash problems, good quality reel takes care of that. I just want to save my "assets"

 

[SantiamDrifter]

Im guessing your trying to cast out into the middle of big rivers like the big C. Sometimes you just gotta settle for not being able to cast as far as you want. Thats why so many people run their rig's out with a boat then drop them in.

 

[kirkster]

Wow

 

[Airs98]

Im guessing your trying to cast out into the middle of big rivers like the big C. Sometimes you just gotta settle for not being able to cast as far as you want. Thats why so many people run their rig's out with a boat then drop them in.

How does that work? You mean they fish from a boat? Or just drop the bait and go back???

I was even thinking about you know a stupid thing like a small radio contolled toy boat to deliver the bait to the right point, but that will not work with waves and chop and big boat traffic. Besides it will look just silly...

 

[kirkster]

Several years back there was a guy that had a great big sling shot mounted to his pickup and this contraption would launch twice as far as any bait caster would. But as far as looking silly. Try casting with a glove.

 

[Hawk]

You can probably get in a hobby shop a rubber thumb protector. Like what they use in Banks /Casinos when counting $1 bills Maybe get one in Office Depot.

 

[SNDSLGR]

You dont need any attatchments or gizmos. Just get your line wet before casting, either dip it in the river or poor lots of water over it. Lube man- lube!

 

[SantiamDrifter]

How does that work? You mean they fish from a boat? Or just drop the bait and go back???

I was even thinking about you know a stupid thing like a small radio contolled toy boat to deliver the bait to the right point, but that will not work with waves and chop and big boat traffic. Besides it will look just silly...

Yes, they leave thier rod on the bank and run the bait out as far as they want. Then they drop the bait and head to shore. It gets them out farther then any other bankie's

 

[kirkster]

Dude the best thing you can do is what was said at the beginning of this thread and set your spool tensioner and magnetic control if it has one. Your cast is not going to go much further by protecting your thumb because your having to slow down the spool with your thumb. Witch is excactly what your settings will do. Thats just my two cents and by no means am I trying to tell you your buisness. Good luck

PS If you look at the ad I believe it was called the "thumb dinger" and that isn't desingned for casting. Thats for when a fish decides to rip a couple a hundred yards off your reel during the fight. The entire add showed off shore trolling. Not casting.

 

[DirectDrive]

What is your rig ?
With this type of gear, some cast control is needed, IMO.
I turn everything off on my driftrod rigs but this is a different level.

Distance casters like magnets and mod their reels with some cool kits.

 

[halibuthitman]

well if your fishing steelhead or salmon, most of the fish are up near the bank... so you are casting over them, I don't know where you might be sturgeon fishing.. but most of my holes I anchor less than 50' from shore. And if you are casting a 100 yards Im curious how you can get any kind of a hookset in time to get the fish... mabe you just need to find some more user friendly water??

 

[Airs98]

I have posted this question in "Fishing Techniques" section as I didn't want to make it about salmon or sturgeon or what have you. I want to become a better all around angler and I think at some point accurate long distance casting skills will come handy.

My reel is Daiwa Saltist 40 and the rod is a 12' Ugly Stick. I can cast it in the vicinity of 100 yards with 6-8 ounce weight, which should be good enough for bank sturgeon fishing and perhaps, surf fishing as well.

This forum is like a knowledge base for me and for other anglers, so if you have a tip or trick that you don't mind sharing please do. Thanks guys!

 

[halibuthitman]

Airs98, I wasn't trying to convince you not to learn the long shot, I know a lot of elk hunters for instance, most of them can call elk amazingly well, becouse they think callin is what produces elk... but when the elk gets in close, they miss, becouse they never practiced shooting their bow as much as calling.. fundementals.. thats what im talking about, the number one reason I can see on this forum for anglers not getting fish, like saying catching steelhead is hard.. is they lack the basic fundamentals of things like reading water, I can tell how long a guy has been fishing most of the time by how he approaches a river, where his first cast lands... and how much crap he has in his hands... casting farther is a bad habit that become a handicap for a lot of anglers... most fish live within 100 feet of the bank. Just my take on it.. seems like a lot of people think they have to drive faster or fastest to win a race.. when they really just need to learn how to drive.