The Percieved Point of distance casting

wanderer · Nov 15, 2015

Right guys having taken some stick for questioning the need to cast 150 yards plus on another forum, i put the question to you. Some of the lads had a days course by Terry Edmonds, a champion tournament caster, is that not a seperate sport, i asked and suggested that i didnt feel that it would improve their fishing, just the opposite. Some of the guys used only running leads as the norm, at 150 yards plus with slack lines and ten percent stretch on there nylon lines, what chance moving the hook far enough to set the hook in varying depths of water with bars and weed in the way. It is not possible to get any freebies that distance so would you cast a lone bait into a hundred or so acres to a rolling fish, not knowing what the bottom was like or the depth, i wouldnt, i play percentages, the odds always lay with the fish on these kind of waters, prebait for up to a mmonth on a feature at reasonable range, knock the feeding off 48 hours before i fish, how about you, chuck the choddy at showing fish or prepare.

rubio · Nov 15, 2015

I find 150 yards a highly desirable distance for cod off the beach. Most of my carp are caught within a rod length of the bank. Many less than a foot.
You may rightly assume I do not generally fish with matching alarms etc. and therefore my observations may not be very relevant. However I think you're right to urge caution about fishing at extreme distance. I get the impression some feel the need to do it largely because they have invested large sums in a 3lb plus test curve rod that is advertised as the only tool for the job. If I truly felt I had to cast over 100 yards to fish for carp I would seriously consider using a beachcaster. The good ones ARE designed for it, and the tips register activity better than many heavy carp rods. IMO obviously.

wanderer · Nov 15, 2015

Different fishing old chap, the need justifies the distance with a view to maximising your haul, i trust heavy bolts are used at this range, a totally different concept, i am glad you agree with my view, carp are by nature a margin species, to concentrate on them by the splash at range will have relatively few returns, 3.5 thirteen foot carp rod can put a bait a long way, but whether its worth it is open to debate, thanks for your thoughts.

iannate · Nov 15, 2015

My view is quite simple on this, you need your bait where the fish are.

That doesn't mean I agree or disagree with casting 150 yds (or further), if I struggle casting far enough on the venues I fish, I just walk round and cast from the other side.

Not sure as I think there's anything wrong or right with distance casting, but it's probably not for me.

barryjh · Nov 15, 2015

A fellow carp angler (you know the type, we vandalise everything, shout loud, take drugs, antagonise noddies, cause war pestilence and disease, etc etc) once told me "ninety percent of anglers cast over ninety percent of the fish". Now I don't know if this is statistically true, but I like it and it's something I always remember. Personally, I seldom have to chuck further than 60-70 yards, and between one rod length to 15 yards being my "normal" fishing range. 150 yards is certainly far beyond my capability, but one particular pit I fish has two banks out of bounds and carp are often showing in those out of bounds areas, so in this case extreme distance casting would help me.

kenpm · Nov 15, 2015

Distance casting is a useful tool to have in the box if the venues that you visit are pressured enough to put feeding fish at distance but its accuracy at distance that is equally important and that takes practice.
Tournament casting is indeed a separate division of the sport with specialised equipment but many good casters will fish at 150 yards plus in good conditions in the sea but will almost exclusively use clipped down bolt rigs that are totally self hooking.

bennygesserit · Nov 15, 2015

Wow I dont go that far on me holidays

Morespiders · Nov 15, 2015

I've only got 50 yds of line on my distance reels, just have to hope my arbour knots good when I try to hit 100 yds

wanderer · Nov 16, 2015

barryjh said:
A fellow carp angler (you know the type, we vandalise everything, shout loud, take drugs, antagonise noddies, cause war pestilence and disease, etc etc) once told me "ninety percent of anglers cast over ninety percent of the fish". Now I don't know if this is statistically true, but I like it and it's something I always remember. Personally, I seldom have to chuck further than 60-70 yards, and between one rod length to 15 yards being my "normal" fishing range. 150 yards is certainly far beyond my capability, but one particular pit I fish has two banks out of bounds and carp are often showing in those out of bounds areas, so in this case extreme distance casting would help me.

HEE, HEE, there is a lot of truth in what your mate says, i am not against carp anglers, just some of them, but that percentage is something i would agree with, if you chuck so far, it is pure chance, you may get lucky but personally i prefer to fish over a bed of bait.

terry m · Nov 16, 2015

A true 150 yards is a very long cast. I could not achieve that, 120 yards is a struggle for me.

Long casting is sometimes useful, but my gut feeling is that it is over used much of the time.

peter crabtree · Nov 16, 2015

Having fished loads of silvers only matches on large gravel pits ( Willows, Tring ressies, Old Bury hill old lake, Sussex ressies etc) the only fish I can think of that often require a really long chuck, albeit in pressured conditions, are skimmers?

sam vimes · Nov 16, 2015

Many carpers, and the tackle industry that supplies them, sometimes seems a little too preoccupied with distance casting. However, I rather suspect that there's an awful lot of exaggeration goes on in this regard. There are many anglers that claim to be casting huge distances when they aren't getting close to the figures they state.

Distance casting is just another tool in the box. It can be invaluable on occasion, but it's rarely the only way to catch. Much depends on the fishery concerned. However, being able to out cast the majority can definitely result in more fish on the bank on some venues. That applies to pretty much any species and method. I've seen it when float and feeder fishing as well as carping. The casting bit doesn't apply, but the distance aspect can even when fishing a pole. Even just an extra metre or so can boost your chances in some circumstances.

snooozer · Dec 31, 2015

150 yrds is far beyond my capability and my kits ability

I wouldn't mind some casting lessons irrespective of distance as just getting 2 rods into a smallish baited are 50 yrds away is more luck than skill

I can see where as already stated presenting a bait just off the opposite bank that you have no access to at these sort of ranges would be an advantage (Fish showing or features) but never thought about the amount of slack line that would result, You would need the line bow string tight for good indication surely.
Not fished these distances myself so might be talking aload of old Boilies

mg:

If i needed to i think a bait boat would need to be added to my already over crowded 10 ltr holdall.

bankchat · Feb 19, 2016

I fish at range when I need to , minimum of 4oz of lead and tight lines .

On some waters 130 yards doesn't even seem that far there so vast & could still be considered the margin

Don't get some of the comments about not being able to get bait out at 130 + yards a large spomb will soon empty a bucket of bait in quick order .

The fish aren't always in the margin :thumbs:

robtherake · Feb 20, 2016

I can get the distance or be accurate, but not both, so I stick to the range I can be accurate at. There again, I don't fish pressured waters and most of my favourite pools are only a couple of acres in size so there's no real need.

To make up for the wayward casting I usually nick a PVA stocking bag on the hook, or maybe a PVA stick. That way I know there's always a bit of feed around the hookbait even if it's off target.

None of my current rods are up to the job, really; the heaviest rods I use are 2 and 3/4 lb TC and are fairly slow in action. Back in the day - when I still did a bit of beach fishing - I'd practice at the local footie pitch (more of a field with goalposts in, really) and a measured 150 yds is a long, long way. An article in the Angling times showed how to cast "off the floor" with the lead laid behind and to one side and line wound tight to the rod tip behind you. Be careful, it said, because the rod is compressed so quickly its easy to break it. But I was only a lad, so I just gave it some welly with the old Paul Kerry special and 7000C and saw the lead disappear over the top of the far goalposts (which I'd been struggling to reach,) past the two allotments behind it and into the side of a part-time mechanic's corrugated workshop: a measured 168 yards (the lead was bent double - if Mick had been in his garage he'd have kicked me round the village.

) I see no reason why the same technique wouldn't put tens of yards on a carp angler's maximum distance, casting off a groundsheet with a foam nugget on the hook point. Worth a try?

bankchat · Feb 20, 2016

Think your on about pendulum casting , more of a beach casting technique & tournament casting.

robertroach · Feb 20, 2016

If there aren't any fish within 150 yards I would find somewhere else to fish!

ciprinus · Feb 20, 2016

i am of the opinion that if i chuck my lead 150 yds, i stand a good chance of knocking the dressage jockey off her horse in the next field

mg:

robtherake · Feb 20, 2016

bankchat said:
Think your on about pendulum casting , more of a beach casting technique & tournament casting.

Not pendulum, the lead's static on the ground at your heel.

the unnamed angler · Feb 20, 2016

If a fish shows at any distance, and you are able to cast that distance, it makes sense to cast at that fish.

I have had a lot of success casting at showing fish regardless of distance, i also wouldn't worry about the depth, or the bottom contours, gravel or anything else. I've had a few occasions where i've cast to showing fish, and had the line roar off before even setting the indicator.

A showing fish, is an opportunity, and imo, every opportunity should be taken.
For years, during winter, i choose one rod to cast around with, leave the bait alone for an hour, then re cast elsewhere, can pay dividends.

The Percieved Point of distance casting

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