How to cast further when carp fishing
There are a few main things you must consider when wanting to increase the distance that you can cast. The rod, reel, tackle, and technique, in this article we have provided a quick and easy to follow process which if copied out correctly will most certainly increase your casting distance and inevitably allow you to target fish much further out on those big lakes.
A misconception which you may have is that you must have a heavy-weight on the line to cast far. Some parts of this is true but the shape of the lead, spod or bag is also a big factor when trying to cast far. The more aerodynamic the weight the easier it will fly through the air.
Technique
Step 1 – getting the right stance:
When casting you need to make sure that you start off with the correct stance. This is key if you want to achieve the furthest cast possible.
You should have on leg behind the other, with about 1 meter or so in-between each leg. Have your stronger foot at the back and make sure that you are in position.
Hold the rod above your head with both arms extended this will allow for a better transfer of energy.
Step 2 – executing the cast
When you are ready to cast pull the rod down towards you with the hand at the base of the rod and step forward into the cast pushing all the weight which was originally on your back foot to your front foot.
When you use this technique of casting you will find that your casting distance will increase considerably and you will be able to target those monster carp lurking in the depths of those large venues.
This method will take some time getting used to and it may feel awkward when you first do it but you will eventually get used to it and do it without thinking. The practice is also a key in getting a further casting range like anything practice makes perfect. We have given you the tips tricks and tackle you will need to increase your cast so follow the steps carefully and you may be surprised at what you can do.
Tips for maximizing your casting distance:
USE A BIG PIT REEL:
When deciding on a reel for your long-range fishing you need to take into account a few different factors. The line lay of the reel must be excellent, this will allow for like the line to leave the reel smoothly which is very important when trying to cast far.
It will also help accuracy and when you’re trying to retrieve your line fast. An example of when this can be very useful is when you are spodding, due to the accuracy and quick line retrieval you will be able to kill two birds with one stone as you don’t have to endlessly be recasting to get the rig to fall in the correct position and the line comes back to you very quickly again saving you time.
A big pit reel is the best suited for the job due to the larger spool and better line lay. These can get pricey but do start from a fairly good price which most people will be able to afford.
WEAR A FINGERSTOOL:
When casting at long-range, wearing a finger-stool is very important especially if you’re using braid. One slip-up can cause a bad accident and people have quite badly damaged their fingers from casting without a finger-stool. Its not worth taking the risk and finger-stools costs hardly anything, for anyone distance casting with braid, a finger-stool is essential.
LUBRICATE YOUR LINE:
This is more applicable to braided line but crucial in order to cast well. If you’re spodding and repeatedly casting, you have to lubricate the line with a little bit of lake water. This prevents the braid from turning into a bird’s nest and also reduces friction through the butt guides of your rod which will help increase the distance you cast.
LOAD UP THE SPOOL WITH LINE:
Nearly all modern big-pit reels have huge line capacity and you want to make the most of it when you’re casting extreme distances, so its good practice to keep your spool filled to the brim when distance casting. Just keep it barely shy of being flush with the spool, you don’t want to over-do this because this can cause tangles on your reel. If you’re wondering how to spool up your reel at home, check out our article on “how to spool up your reel”.
CAST AS NEAR TO THE WATER AS POSSIBLE:
When distance casting at extreme lengths, try to get as near to the bank as possible without compromising sure-footing. Every little adjustment makes a difference when casting at this range so try to get as near to the water as possible when casting. However, if there is a slope or it seems dangerous/impractical to cast in your situation, this tip is unscary.
ANGLE THE ROD:
To get the line to flow off the spool, through the butt guides as resistance-free as possible, you should angle your rod at a 45-degree angle during the cast and at 180-degrees when you hit the clip.
USE THE RIGHT ROD:
There are many different types of long-range rods on the market so deciding on what you need is hard to know if you are not an experienced angler.
When trying to increase your casting distance the rod you use is the most important piece of equipment due to the fact that the rod gives the leverage too actually propel the weight with which you do when casting. The best rods for distance casting are expensive but do not be fooled, some cheaper rods actually have an excellent casting length so don’t think you will have to spend large amounts of money just to cast further into the lake.
Rods come in different strengths and lengths, when looking to get a long-range rod you should not go under an 11-foot rod but a 12 or 13-foot rod will provide an extra few yards of distance.
Now for the strength of the rod, 3 ¾ lb test curve rods are the best for the job as you can apply a lot of force on the cast and they will not snap because they have a very strong backbone.
Test curve is just the measurement anglers use to determine the strength of a rod
If you’re an angler looking to hit 100 yards +, we’d recommend that you purchase a rod with a test curve of 3.5lb or more. These powerful rods will also often feature, high tech blanks which help the rod return very quickly to its original position after the cast.
Rods below this test curve can still cast incredibly far, but your best bet if casting serious distances are the rods with the higher test curves. Another advantage to stronger rods is that when playing a bigger fish you can put more strain on the rod without having to worry about snapping it. Evidently stronger and more powerful rods are more expensive than other rods but don’t pay a ridiculous price for something as you can buy great quality rods for a decent price.
However there is a trade-off, stronger rods bend less, this means in fights you feel you have less control of the fish and it takes a lot of force to get a healthy fighting curve in your rod.
Another feature that you often find in these rods is very large Butt guides, often 50mm in diameter, the size us the Butt guides mean that line is able to flow smoothly off the spool with little to no resistance enabling maximum casting range.
KEEP YOUR ARMS STRAIGHT:
Using proper form will also increase your casting distance, by keeping your arms straight, you’re able to produce the maximum amount of leverage and propel the rig further. It does take some practice but once you achieve the correct form, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your casts.
THROW ALL YOUR WEIGHT INTO YOUR CAST:
To reach extreme distances, you have put a lot of force behind your casts. Start by leaning back and as stride forward to cast, transition your body weight to your front foot and throw all your weight behind the cast.
STRIDE FOWARD:
In most scenarios, stepping into your cast should be fine, but when fishing at a very long range, you need to really push into your casts by striding forward as you angle the rod which will propel the rig just that little bit further.
