Adopting an ultralight spinning rod, for instance, when trout fishing, can enable you to present smaller, lighter lures more accurately, with practice.
But the latter word is the keyword. It takes a little work, and presenting consistently and accurately is not always easy for all anglers. Here are some tips to help you cast farther and more accurately.
Focus on Controlled, Smooth Movements
In tight spaces, when the conditions are not forgiving, it can be hard to focus on a controlling casting arc. But these are casts that are difficult even for experienced ultralight anglers to make.
Instead of jerking the rod tip or snapping the cast, make it more like a light, controlled lob. As you get more confident you can focus on your form, but till then, be metered in your cast.
Don’t Whip the Rod
There are occasions which will call for short, sharp movements of the rod tip – especially if there is little to no room for a backcast – but this is something you should avoid as you are learning.
Whipping or snapping the rod is ineffective at adding power to the cast, and inferior to more fluid loading. It also puts a lot of stress on your leader. As mentioned, be controlled.
Keep Lure Overhang Consistent
When you’re getting into your groove, keep the lure overhang (the distance which it dangles from the tip of the rod) consistent. The individual lure selected should determine this, but in general, between 6 to 8 inches is a good place to start. Whatever you’re using, stick with it as you develop skill.
Lower Your Line Weight
Line weight is one of the biggest factors that determines the distance you can cast. It is arguably the single biggest one.
For ultralight and BFS fishing, we recommend braided PE line because it is sensitive, abrasion resistant, and does not stretch. Although, if you are having a hard time reaching your targets, consider stepping down in line weight. Lighter line is thinner and will enable farther casts.
Make Sure the Lure Weight Is Appropriate for the Rod
Ultralight spinning rods (as a very general rule) do not perform well with lures that weigh more than ¼ ounce. If the lure is too heavy, it will be difficult to control, as most ultralight rods lack the weight (stiffness) to support the casting arc. This will make your casts inaccurate at best, and difficult to control at worst.
Learn How to Feather
Baitcasting reel enable inherently more accurate casting than spinning reel, but with an ultralight spinning reel, you can improve accuracy by learning to feather the line.
When you cast, cup your non-dominant hand loosely over the line that’s coming off the spool; this will enable you to slow the lure’s progress if it’s traveling too far, and it will afford potentially greater accuracy (though it won’t help you cast farther).
Don’t Try a Backhand Cast Till You’ve Mastered the Basics
You may have seen experienced anglers snap a backhand cast to present a lure where there was not room for a typical cast. This can be exceptionally effective at reaching fish, but the backhand cast is not forgiving and can be extremely difficult to master. It is a skill you will want to learn, but leave that off the table until you are confident with your “standard” casting abilities.
Where to Get Your Next Ultralight Spinning Rod
Put some of these tips into practice the next time you’re on the water. Hopefully they help you cast farther and more accurately.
If you’re here for an ultralight spinning rod, visit Jackson USA. They carry light, BFS trout rods as well as a unique selection of surf and inshore saltwater rods.
For more information about Bait Finesse Rod and Surf Fishing Lures Please visit: Jackson USA.
