I am currently using a 14 ft Blue Marlin 3 and a G

[BrianA]

I am currently using a 14 ft Blue Marlin 3 and a Grand Wave 50 with a 4oz sinker.

I tried today using a 6oz sinker and got the same distance. I used the same casting action but gat the same distance. I varied the length of the drop and tried a side swipe action but got the same results.

Will a stiffer rod and more power get a better result. I have a Blue marlin 6 as well should I use that instead for the distance.

I am currently getting about 110m without bait. I need greater distance for Henties bay, I always seem to miss out on those big salmon behind the back line.

Any help gratefully accepted.

 

[Zeebo]

hey brian

I am sure there can be many views on this one, and I am no casting expert, so here's my 2c :

1. You dont mention the line diameter you're using - this has a major effect and if you go down a few points of a millimetre, you should get more distance.  The same goes for using a leader - it will allow your line the extra puch of the cast;[/*]
2. Yes, your tackle needs to be balanced, and you'd be surprised how the weigth of the bait could alter the weigth of the sinker you use. in your case, I would probably not go heavier than a 5 or 6 ounce sinker. 

[/*]
          What i would not do, thought, is buy more tackle or switch yours in case you're  thinking about it- see the next point ....

    3.   Bottom line - TECHNIQUE - the more you practise and learn from the pro's, the better you cast.  Check out the casting vids on Sealine - very good. Simple changes in technique, even little things like drop length and feet position, can gain or lose 20-30m.  As the saying goes, practise, practise, practise !

Good luck

 

[BrianA]

Hi Zeebo

Thanks for the interest, I have dropped the line Diameter from .55 to XX.45 and yes there is a difference.

The advice about not changing equipment is possibly the best advice you could give anyone. You are right I have seen shocking Golfers buying the best clubs to solve there slicing or hooking instead of correcting their own faults.

I dont understand the concept of "Loading" the rod. I have an even swinging action and as soon as I accellerate I get an overwind.

My swing pretyy near vertical should I try to swing more sideways. Like the waders do.

I will get it right I have to those big salmon have had it good for too long.

 

[Zeebo]

Hey BA

Like I said, I am no expert (I have reached abt 130m at best and that is not an everyday thing) but it really does help to hone the technique. 

Dont be fooled - there is NO one style anyone can recommend and it does not help asking.  You need to find a style which suits your tackle and build. For eg, there's no point trying a pendulum cast if you're fishing a small rod.  Similarly, if you're using an HMG rod and not loading it (as seems to be your case as well), no matter how good your technique, the cast will be less than the rod can give and shorter distance. 

As for loading, there's much to be said and if you're really keen, there are some aspects of physics to it as well and the experts can explain better than I can so I wont try ! Do a search on Sealine under casting or check out the casting vids on Youtube. 

On the overwinds, there are various causes but the bottom line is the spool is moving at a rate faster than the line peeling off.  Solutions include tightening your spool, lighter sinker , and what I personally believe in, using a leader to take the initial punch of the cast.  

Leader might affect distance, but it sure stops overwinds most times. From what you describe, especially your even arc of your swing, it does seem you're not loading the rod and the spool is just spinning as you release. I would at least also try to get more of whip to your action than a contant arc in the swing to help load the rod and and help keep the speed of the spool and sinker more consistent.  My 2c worth but I really cant stress enought check out some vids and then get onto a field and practice casts till your arm fall off.  When you're done, go home and come back another day until its starts to 'feel' right and you get the distance to boot !

Sterkte

 

Really hope you come ri

 

[Hookd]

Hi Brian,
I second Zeebo - watch the videos and then get someone to video you. You will be amazed at the difference between what you think you are doing and what actually happens when you are casting.
Good luck!

 

[Compass Two]

Brian A.

After reading your first post, repeatedly, I am pretty sure that you are not loading properly and, as likely as not , to be almost busting a gut to get your 110m.

Now, almost everyone has their own idea about this business of "loading".

Some think its the Holy Grail,   some say they,ve have never felt it happen; some say its all a load of old rubbish and that the rod justs needs to be hit hard.

The fact is, all rods are partly bendy when they have  enough weight dangling off the end... or, they become bendy when a weight is moved with sufficient force.

What this means, is that you develop some recognition of exactly what the rod is doing at any given time ,   learning to do just this, is often mistaken for "practise", usually of the kind that leaves your efforts as unsatisfactory....

A dead give away that you are actually learning,  is a preoccupation with an endless list of things you believe you should be doing better, or faster, or harder.

You can liken this, to all that strangeness that you felt , when you first tried to ride a bike...too many things to think about, too wobbly, too scared of the steering, too scared of falling off : and, the truth is, had you not felt all that, then you would never have learned to ride a bike and have it become instinctive.

To actually feel what "loading" feels like,  will probably help consolidate a base that becomes a vital , instinctive part of your action... and , when you've got that, you practise it.

Have a search around YouTube , for Terry Carrol demo-ing the Brighton Cast. Then, try it yourself...and just do it very slow and easy, with minimum body action, almost totally relaxed;  let the rod do all the work, and allow yourself to be susceptible to the feedback from the rod.

I am not saying you should adopt this style, only that it gives you a very good feel of what loading feels like...

rgds

C2

 

[BrianA]

Thanks guys I appreciate the help I will be going to St Mikes with a buddy to try out some of the new actions .

Cheers

 

[BrianA]

Thanks for all the advice T appreciate the tips, now i have to put it into action.

I will be going to St Mikes and trying to improve. I will geta budy to video the action and then check it out.

I think that my action may be too smooth if that could be the case who knows.

Thanks.

 

[BrianA]

HI thanks for the help.

I spent two days on the rocks trying out different combinations and have reached the following conclusions for me.

Using the Blue Marlin 400/5 and a 6 or 7oz sinker and a 2m drop with a slight pendulum action I increased my distance almost 20m or my paces on the beach.I got this increas regularly, but I also found that by increasing the angle of the rlease i was more consistant.

Using the Blue Marlin 400/3 and a 5oz sinker i got the same distance at last.

I am going to try out my HMG tomorrow with an 8oz to see what will happen.

I used my Grand wave 50 in all instances with .45 XX line and a .55 Maxima leader.

Those big salmon in henties are the target now.

Cheers

 

 

[porkhead]

Howzit Brian - Ask Brendan to customise your reel. He did it for me.

There are 2 parts that are actually there to slowdown the spin, which when removed will give you less resistance and thus slightly greater distance for whatever factors are coming into play.

 

[speartackle]

porkhead wrote:

Howzit Brian - Ask Brendan to customise your reel. He did it for me.

There are 2 parts that are actually there to slowdown the spin, which when removed will give you less resistance and thus slightly greater distance for whatever factors are coming into play.

Very true.  I bought a Cabo cnw30 a few months ago. Was very happy with my Daiwa slh30 but wanted a replacement for the Penn 49.

At first, from the very first cast with the Cabo, my excitement of having the new reel turned to despair.  I was getting in the region of 30m less distance with the Cabo than the Daiwa.

After talking to a few guys, one suggested that I remove the brakes.  Well, what a difference, distance is not the issue anymore, the only issue is that the brakes helped against overwind, which now has to be kept in mind, especially when changing sinker weights.

How often does one forget to reset the spool after changing weights?

I also find that one attempts to muscle the cast is that one picks up problems.  I also feel that the casting goes better once the line is wet, so don't go all out on the first cast.

Otherwise, I guess we all question our casting abilities more often than we care to admit. 

 

[The Master]

Old man.
I told you years ago it is only Brandewyn and Coke that improves distance, but you insist on Rum and Coke. Stick to .45 and use a 40KG leader. Use a snatch action and leave the gentle swing action alone. The acceleration of the rod tip is the only real science involved here, but at your age acceleration could prove to be a problem. So use a stiif rod (shame) and a 6 ounce sinker and hook your bait onto the sinker.
Cheers.
The Master.

 

[The Master]

C2.

You are getting too technical for my old friend. Believe me he has caught some big fish in Namibia, but alas he is getting on now and needs a miracle to get into the water.

he he.

The Master.

 

[Compass Two]

The Master wrote:

C2.

You are getting too technical for my old friend. Believe me he has caught some big fish in Namibia, but alas he is getting on now and needs a miracle to get into the water.

he he.

The Master.

That being the case, Then I must apologise for sounding as if I was trying to teach my Granny how to suck eggs.

Truly, I am no spring-chicken myself , nearer 70 than 60, and what I wrote was from my personal experience of getting out of a casting rut in which I had languished for years, thinking that I knew it all, and being too set in my ways to see it all the same way I saw it, when just a young-un......

To get back to basics, was a breath of fresh air for me and re-learning it all again , was  the best thing I ever did. 

I dunno if you are a player of music, but it was like going back to K545 after 40 years and finding new treasures therein.

regards

C2

 

[BrianA]

Hi Age is a problem.

It took me a while to realise that C2 was in fact Compass 2. The Master gave me good advice , when I said that I needed an extra 25m he just said well then wade in the 25m and cast. Thats great but he forgot to tell me how to get back to the shore.

My pressure is that I am taking 6 newbies to henties and have been regailing them with the stories of the 9 trips with The master and the DOF society (doddering old farts). Now the time has come to "haal uit en wys" so I need that 25m.

I have modified the Grand wave and will be trying it out this aftrenoon.

Master we will meet again on the Beach at Henties,,,,,,Ek gee jou a brief.

Thanks for the interest C2

 

 

[Compass Two]

'Morning, from a chilly Yorkshire.

Reference, rod loading...if you're still interested to give it a try, I have dug out the link to a uk site which has a list of fishing videos... just have a scroll through and have a dekko at Carols Brighton Cast.

He goes banging-on about its original use on space restricted marks,  but fails to enlighten as well as he might have,  on the fact that it is ideal for anyone who has any sort of mobility/agility problem......you see, the thing is, you have no need of any rotation at all and, in fact it is mostly a slow and modest arm action....so you actually are swishing through just the last one third of a normal ground cast, ...but...because of the inside layout, you have already pre-loaded the rod... 

When they try it for the first time, most folk comment on the higher trajectory and the odd feeling...     anyway,here's the link,

www.totalseamagazine.com

rgds

Compass 2

 

[Tope]

Welcome to the forum C2 from another yorky ;-)

 

[BrianA]

Hi I have been a bit quiet for a while, trying out the different ideas.

I dont know what happened but the distance has improved so I cany wait for the  2011 Henties trip.

As a blast from the past I have been using my Vintage Pen 49 with great success combined with my HMG and an 8oz sinker.

The Bronzies Beware.

I have started generating a whipping action that seems to increase the loading of the tip of the rod, maybe that is what is helping.

henties will be the testing ground.

All the best for the New Year. To all Sea Liners