Whilst the prospect of casting a fishing rod correctly and accurately might come across as a little daunting, it’s actually much easier than you might think.
The first step to making a faultless cast is to familiarize yourself with the rod at hand. You will want to know what the various parts do, as well as know how to handle it.
This way, you will find that casting the rod feels a lot more natural.
If you want to catch fish, then you are going to want to know how to cast. All of these techniques that we show you below will take a lot of practice to perfect. In fact, you don’t even need to practice by water.
Do it in the local park, in the backyard, or any open space you can find. Over time you will find that the movements and motions will come naturally to you.
In this article we shall take a look at a simple method of learning to cast that is suited to beginners who want to then go on to be more advanced by learning new techniques.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get to it!
Step By Step: Basics Of Casting A Fishing Rod
When it comes to casting a rod, the basics still stand, no matter what type of fishing you are doing. The timing of both the swing of the rod and the release of your lure matters.
Even so, do keep in mind that there are changes depending on whether you want to fish at the beach, or at a river. This is because if you are casting your rod at the beach, you will need a bigger rod.
If you are a beginner, then using a spincasting reel is a great one to try. Not only is it low in cost to put together, but it also doesn’t require much in terms of maintenance – though you will need to learn the technique of using a spinning reel.
It is also one of the easiest ones to learn, so hopefully after a few months you will be able to master it in order to catch some fish. However, you won’t be wanting to use any heavy lures with this one, unless you want to break the line.
Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Starting Position
Hold and place the rod horizontally at waist height, making sure that the reel stays below the rod. At this point, the lure should be around 15 inches or so away from the tip of the rod.
Step 2: Move Line Roller To Underneath The Rod
Make sure that you are holding the rod securely, and then place fingers between the area of the reel foot.
Once you have done that, the line roller will need to be brought round underneath the rod.
Step 3: Opening Up The Bail Arm
With your index finger, take the fishing line and hold it up to the rod. Then, begin opening the bail arm.
Step 4: Check For Clearance
Quickly check to make sure there is nothing behind you. If it is completely clear, pull back the rod at a 2 o’clock angle.
Step 5: Making The Cast
Now you can cast the rod by pulling it forwards in one long and smooth motion, feeling the lure move it forward. Once in the 10 o’clock angle, you can then release the line.
Step 6: Retrieving The Fish
Close the bail using your hand, and when you feel a fish has been caught, you can then reel it in using the retrieve method.
What Are The Different Casting Methods?
Whilst there is the spinning reel which you have read about above, there are also other methods to try. For example, the baitcaster reel is a casting method that is commonly used and can be learned by the novice fisherman or woman quite quickly.
The difference between this method and the spinning reel method, is that the baitcaster reel relies heavily on the lure’s weight. You also need to have a revolving-spool fishing reel, also known as a free spool, attached to the rod.
Despite it being something a novice can learn, it does take a lot of work to perfect the skill of the method. So that being said, always start with a more common beginner method like the spinning reel.
Other methods include the fly-fishing tackle and trolling, the latter not being something you would likely use as a fishing hobbyist. It involves using a number of lines to catch fish, rather than just the one fishing rod.
Can You Self-Learn How To Fish?
Of course you can teach yourself how to fish. The key is to keep everything simple, such as using a method that is simple enough for the beginner.
Simple doesn’t necessarily mean easy, but once you know how to do a common technique when it comes to finishing, you can begin to learn other ways of fishing.
You will also want to learn about the other basics of catching fish that come alongside fishing techniques, such as how to add bait to the hook, tying a clinch knot, and so on. Doing these things will get you used to using a rod, and help it to feel natural.
Plus, you need to know these basic beginner tips to start fishing anyway. Without it, you can’t possibly have a clue on where to begin.
Final Thoughts On Casting A Fishing Rod
Whether you are a novice or you have been out of the game for a while, casting a fishing rod isn’t as difficult as you might think. It takes a lot of practice, sure, but once you master the technique, you will (hopefully) be catching lots of fish.
If you liked this article, then take a look at the rest of the website to learn all there is to know about fishing.
Hi, I’m Tommy Bull. I can safely say that this was one of the best days of my adult life. The weather was perfect, not too hot or too cold, the lake was peaceful and still, and my bounty was impeccable.
This day is what started my love of fishing. Since then, I’ve been traveling around different lakes to see if I can match the magic of Irvine lake. No luck yet, but I remain hopeful. Until then, I can always count on Irvine lake to remind me of that feeling.
Anyway, I created Irvine Lake to teach people how to fish so that they feel more confident to go out and find their own fishing spot to embrace that feeling.
From then on, the site has grown to encompass my love of all things camping and outdoors too.
