There are four basic types of fishing rods and reels. The spincasting fishing equipment consists of a reel with a covered fixed spool held above the rod by a crushed reel seat. The spinning fishing equipment consists of an uncovered fixed spool reel positioned under the rod with a smooth reel seat. Baitcasting tackle includes the same type of spincasting rod, although the baitcasting rod is stiffer and features an open spinning spool reel. The fly fishing rod, the most difficult to cast, is long and equipped with a leaded line, as well as having a simple reel to retrieve the line after casting. For each type of launch it is necessary to have a specific set of skills.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Casting with the Spincasting Rod
Step 1. Retrieve the line up to the point where the bait or hook has not reached a distance of 15-30 centimeters from the tip of the rod
In the case of weights or floats attached to the line, these must also be at a distance from the tip of the rod of 15-30 centimeters.
Step 2. Hold the rod behind the reel with your thumb on the button on the back of the reel
Most spincasting rods have a reel seat with a recess and a trigger-like projection around which to wrap your index finger.
Most anglers cast the spincasting rod with the same hand used to retrieve the line. If you are holding the rod behind the reel when retrieving the line, you will need to change hands when casting
Step 3. Orient yourself to the point in the water where you want to launch
You will probably need to arrange it so that the side opposite the hand holding the fishing rod faces slightly towards the casting point.
Step 4. Turn the rod so that the reel handle is facing upwards
By turning the rod you can snap your wrist during the cast, so as to obtain a more natural and vigorous cast. Casting with the reel vertically makes the movement stiffer and takes away your strength.
If you cast with the opposite hand, the reel handles should be pointing downwards instead of upwards
Step 5. Press the button and hold it down
It is possible that the line will drop slightly, but it will remain stationary. If the line falls too far, you haven't pressed the button hard enough. Retrieve the line and try again.
Step 6. Bend the throwing arm
Meanwhile, raise the barrel until the tip is just past the vertical position.
Step 7. With one quick motion, move the barrel forward until it has reached the line of sight
This is approximately 30 ° above the horizontal line, ie in the "10 o'clock" position.
Step 8. Release the button
The bait or hook should receive a push forward towards the goal.
- If it hits the water in front of you, it means that you released the button too late.
- If it flies up, it means that you have released it too soon.
Step 9. Press the button again when the bait or hook has reached the target
This operation will slow down the movement of the bait, making it slowly descend until it touches the desired point.
Method 2 of 4: Casting with the Spinning Rod
Step 1. Hold the rod with your casting hand around the reel seat
Place your index and middle fingers in front of the reel and the other two fingers on the back.
- Unlike spincasting reels, spinning reels are designed to retrieve the line with the opposite hand to the one used for casting. Since most anglers cast with the right hand, the crank is placed on the left in almost all spinning reels. Of course, you can also switch hands.
- In addition, spinning rods are on average slightly longer than spincasting ones, with the guide closer to the reel seat slightly wider than the others to allow the line to slide more freely during casting.
Step 2. Retrieve the line up to the point where the bait or hook has not reached a distance of 15-30 centimeters from the tip of the rod
Step 3. Bend your index finger to grab the line in front of the reel, then press it against the rod
Step 4. Open the headband and take it
The bow is a metal ring placed above the rotating discs on the inside and outside of the reel spool. It collects the line in the recovery phase and deposits it on the spool. Its opening frees the line so you can cast the hook.
Step 5. Bring the fishing rod back over your shoulders again
Step 6. With one quick motion, move the rod forward by releasing the line as you extend your arm
To better direct the bait towards the goal, orient the index finger towards the point where you want to release the line. At first, you may encounter some difficulties in performing this technique.
- If you cast with a long-handled spinning rod like those used in sea fishing, you will need to use the hand that operates the reel as an axis around which to rotate the rod while casting.
- As with the spincasting rod, if you release the line too early, the hook and line will fly forward. If you release the line too late, the hook will hit the water right in front of you.
- Some anglers use covered spinning reels, where the reel is hidden in a similar fashion to the spincasting reel. In these reels, the function of the trigger positioned above the reel is similar to that of the button in a traditional spincasting reel. Grab the line with your index finger and push it against the trigger while pressing it. The rest of the casting technique is also the same as that involving the use of an open spinning reel.
Method 3 of 4: Casting with the Baitcasting Rod
Step 1. Adjust the drag of the reel
The baitcasting reels are equipped with a centrifugal clutch system and a knob to adjust the tension. Before casting, you need to adjust the drag and tension so that the line gently unwinds from the reel as you cast.
- Set the clutch system to zero. If you don't know how to do this, an industry expert at a fishing shop can show you the procedure on a demo reel.
- With a test weight on the line and the rod pointing halfway between "10" and "11", press the reel spool release button while holding your thumb on the spool. The weight should remain stationary.
- Rock the tip of the rod. The weight should come down slowly and gently. If it doesn't, adjust the voltage until this is achieved.
- Set the clutch system to approximately 75% of its maximum level. It may be necessary to move it a notch or remove the side cover and intervene directly.
Step 2. Retrieve the line up to the point where the bait or hook has not reached a distance of 15-30 centimeters from the tip of the rod
Step 3. Hold the rod behind the reel with your thumb resting on the spool
Baitcasting rods are designed the same way as spincasting rods and, as with the latter, most anglers use the same hand for casting and retrieving, so if you prefer to hold the rod behind the reel when casting recovery, you will have to change hands during the cast.
You may need to rest your thumb slightly angled on the spool rather than squeezing it onto the line. This way, you will have more control over the sliding of the line during casting
Step 4. Turn the rod so that the reel handles are facing upwards
Like the spincasting rod, this one also allows you to use your wrist while casting. If you throw with the opposite hand, the cranks will be pointing down.
Step 5. Press the reel spool release button
The baitcasting reels built from the seventies onwards are equipped with a mechanism to release the reel spool from the cranks to prevent them from spinning during the cast and thus allowing longer casts. The first models of this type were equipped with a button on the side of the reel; most of today's models are equipped with a release lever located behind the reel to be pressed with the thumb when resting on the reel reel.
Step 6. Bend the throwing arm
Meanwhile, raise the barrel until the tip is just past the vertical position.
Step 7. With one quick motion, move the barrel forward to the “10 o'clock” position
In the meantime, lift your thumb from the reel spool until the weight of the bait or hook can unwind the line from the spool as you push it forward towards the target.
If you cast with a long-handled baitcasting rod such as those used in sea fishing, you will need to use the opposite hand as the axis around which to rotate the rod while casting
Step 8. Squeeze your thumb on the reel spool to lock the lure as it reaches the target
This movement is similar to pressing the button on a spincasting reel to brake the line; however, if you don't squeeze the spool right away with your thumb, it will keep spinning even after the lure hits the water, creating a bird's nest-like mass of wire that you will need to untangle before you can retrieve the hook.. (The reel drag system is designed to help prevent this problem, but you must still press with your thumb to stop the reel.)
- The casting of the line with the baitcasting rod is very similar to that performed with the spincasting rod. The baitcasting rod allows for greater control than the spincasting rod, as the thumb rests directly on the line during friction. However, baitcasting reels are not designed to handle light lines such as those for spincasting or spinning reels. With the baitcasting rod, heavier lines should be used than those with a capacity of 5 kg and thicker ones, for example with a capacity of 7 to 8 kg, are even better.
- Similarly, the baitcasting rod is best suited for casting lures or hooks of around 10g or more, while the spincasting rod is more suitable for hooks of around 7g or less. If you love to carry more than one rod when you go fishing, don't forget to bring one with a spincasting reel for lighter hooks and one with a baitcasting reel for heavier hooks.
Method 4 of 4: Casting with the Fly Fishing Pole
Step 1. Unwind about 6 meters of line from the tip of the fishing rod and unfold the line in front of you
In other forms of casting, a lure or a hook is cast, but in fly fishing the line is cast almost as if it were a whip with a jig tip to snap.
Step 2. Pinch the line in front of the reel against the handle of the fishing rod with your index and middle fingers
Meanwhile, hold the fishing rod straight in front of you, then unwind the line with your thumb resting along the top of the fishing rod handle.
Step 3. Raise the fishing rod to the “10 o'clock” position
Step 4. With a quick gesture, raise the tip of the rod, casting the line behind you
Keep your upper arm on your side, but raised 30 degrees. Stop the movement of the barrel when the thumb is pointing upwards; at this point, the forearm should also be facing upwards.
- Do this quickly enough to allow the weight and movement of the line to bend the rod.
- To give the line a faster movement, pull it down over the reel with your other hand while lifting the tip of the fishing rod.
Step 5. Hold the rod vertically long enough to allow the line to stretch behind you
Initially, you may have to look behind you to see the line stretch, but in the end you will only need to feel a slight tug.
Step 6. With one quick motion, move the barrel forward as you lower your elbow
This way, the rod will move faster, giving your forward cast more power.
You can make the line move even faster by pulling it down with the other hand
Step 7. Lock the forward cast with a flick of the wrist as the barrel returns to the “10 o'clock” position
The thumbnail, at this point, must be at the level of your eyes; the click must be strong enough to be able to feel the tip of the rod whipping forward.
Step 8. Repeat the cast backwards and with the speed necessary to release further line to cover a greater distance
Unlike other forms of casting, with this technique you can increase the casting distance of the line simply by repeating backward and forward casts.
