Jump to content

Rod length and casting distance

Rate this topic


Pez Gallo

Recommended Posts

I do most of my surf fishing on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. The large waves and swell of the Pacific side aren't a factor here so I've used nothing longer than a 10ft surf spinning rod. In fact, most of the time i fish a 8.5ft Albright and have not felt the need to step up in length. However, I recently aquired a 12ft rod. My first attempts at casting the 12ft'er have been less than impressive. Frankly, it seems my casting distance is a bit less than usual when casting the 12ft'er. I assumed that armed with this longer rod i would be able to cast a 3oz lure quite a bit farther than my 8.5 to 10ft'ers would allow.

My questions are...where am I going wrong? Technique? Was I wrong to assume the longer rod would provide greater distance?

Any insights/advice appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 12may not be as high quality as the rods you already use.

 

A long POS won't cast farther than a good that is a bit shorter.

 

It could also be an issue of the reel and/or line pieces of the equation being at odds with one another, or the rod and it's guides.

 

Lots more to distance than just rod length.

Bait is for old men and little boys... real men plug.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Your not going wrong.

A lot of people think because you have a longer rod you will get longer distance. The fact is a longer rod is heavier and takes more engery to throw than a shorter rod. You'll be able to whip the shorter rod better than the longer rod giving you more power to get it out there.

 

Now that's not always the case. It all depends on the individual casting the Rod.

 

I've seen guy's on the beach throwing 12' rods & the guy next to him throwing a 9' rod a lot futher. I mean A LOT Futher!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

is the rod rated for heavier weights than what you're throwing? Loading the rod would be the most important thing for distance.... a stiff 12' rod won't throw something light very far. Unless your shorter rods are of vastly higher quality, once you start getting to the sweet spot a 12' rod will cast farther than your shorter rods.

"A jury of flies, likely to condemn and betray all the trouts in the river" - Izaak Walton
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

men have been saying that forever....smile.gif

"A GAMEFISH (which striped bass should be) Is too valuable to be caught only once"...Lee Wulff

 

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty" - Thomas Jefferson

 

"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." Most dangerous words in the English language...Ronald Reagan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Longer rods (11-12 ft) cast further. That being said, your height, strength, technique, lure weight/design, reel size, line type and breaking strength, and rod quality all play into it to varying degrees. If your casting lures in the 3oz range, and not seeing a significant difference in distance over a 8.5 or 10 footers, I'd have to say something is not right.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can help you with this Pez Gallo. I plug the Mexican Pacific. Most of the highly experienced and skilled rooster fishermen on the Pacific use 13 foot rods. Many people are also highly successful with 12' rods. Given everything else is in balance, a longer rod will indeed give you more distance. I think in your case everything else might not be in balance. Or, you have not made the casting style modifications necessary to go along with a longer rod.

 

As a start, what brand and model of 12' rod have you aquired? What is the lure weight rating for the rod? What reel are you using and are you using braid or mono line? - HPD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It takes time in the form of practice and patience to learn how to make the most out of a longer rod. With the right training and two rods of comparable quality except for length, the longer rod will win out in the right hands most of the time.

 

That being said there is a point of diminishing returns to the theory, there is a maximum length for each individual, that if you go over , you will see distances start to drop. If that weren't true you would see people trying to use 20 ' rods. About 14' is the max for most big, strong individuals, for myself anything over about 13'6" becomes "too much rod" for me. There are even "exceptions" to this-- a 14' rod that bends easily may be better for someone than a 13' rod that is stiff as a telephone pole.

"I was a waste of time dumbasses." --  sevenxseventy01

Link to comment
Share on other sites

View PostYour not going wrong.

A lot of people think because you have a longer rod you will get longer distance. The fact is a longer rod is heavier and takes more engery to throw than a shorter rod. You'll be able to whip the shorter rod better than the longer rod giving you more power to get it out there.

 

Now that's not always the case. It all depends on the individual casting the Rod.

 

I've seen guy's on the beach throwing 12' rods & the guy next to him throwing a 9' rod a lot futher. I mean A LOT Futher!

 

^^^ agreed. It's harder to load a 12 foot rod. There's a learning curve if you're not used to handling one. If you handed me the same rod that Big Dave used to cast 800' with, I probably couldn't throw a plug nearly as far as I could with an 11' Lami.

"…if catching fish is your only objective, you are either new to the game or too narrowly focused on measurable results.” - D. Stuver

Link to comment
Share on other sites

View PostI can help you with this Pez Gallo. I plug the Mexican Pacific. Most of the highly experienced and skilled rooster fishermen on the Pacific use 13 foot rods. Many people are also highly successful with 12' rods. Given everything else is in balance, a longer rod will indeed give you more distance. I think in your case everything else might not be in balance. Or, you have not made the casting style modifications necessary to go along with a longer rod.

 

As a start, what brand and model of 12' rod have you aquired? What is the lure weight rating for the rod? What reel are you using and are you using braid or mono line? - HPD

 

 

Thanks all for your insights.

HPD... The 12ft'er I have is one of Stephen Jansen's new line of rods. ( I recall you know Stephen based on reading your previous posts. ) It's rated for lures 2 to 4oz. I'm using 30lb power pro on a Shimano Sustain 5000FE.

I've been casting 3oz Rangers with the 12. I favor 2 and quarter ounce Rangers for my shorter rods.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

View Post^^^ agreed. It's harder to load a 12 foot rod. There's a learning curve if you're not used to handling one. If you handed me the same rod that Big Dave used to cast 800' with, I probably couldn't throw a plug nearly as far as I could with an 11' Lami.

 

 

And Big Dave couldn't throw a heavy tournament sinker near as far with an 11' rod designed for tossing plugs--

 

 

Everything is relative...

"I was a waste of time dumbasses." --  sevenxseventy01

Link to comment
Share on other sites

View PostThanks all for your insights.

HPD... The 12ft'er I have is one of Stephen Jansen's new line of rods. ( I recall you know Stephen based on reading your previous posts. ) It's rated for lures 2 to 4oz. I'm using 30lb power pro on a Shimano Sustain 5000FE.

I've been casting 3oz Rangers with the 12. I favor 2 and quarter ounce Rangers for my shorter rods.

 

You are well outfitted! It can only come down to casting technique. It is very difficult to give someone casting advise without seeing them cast. You might be putting too much power/speed into the cast too early. This is common when switching to longer rods. If the rod becomes fully bent (loaded) too early it will unbend (unload) to a degree before you release the lure. Think of longer sweeping stokes that start slow and have a consistent increase in speed and power. Just before the release there should be a powerful and quick "pull in" the lower hand and a "push out" with the upper hand. Remember, your goal is to achieve maximum rod bending at the moment of release (not before). This requires coordination and practice. Keep throwing and you will eventually hit a "golden cast". Then try to replicate what you did. Eventually the golden cast will become ingrained.

It would be best if you could have Stephen watch you and help you with your casting technique! - HPD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to register here in order to participate.

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


×
×
  • Create New...