Back to basics

fishingmark

fishingmark

Well-known member
After many years with my overhead thump style of casting I have decided to go back to basics and try to learn a better technique that is smoother so as not to knacker my dodgy knee any further and gain some much needed distance.
After blowing up Joe's reel the other day trying to cast with the reel in the low position I got back on the horse today and gave it another go. My first half a dozen casts were really flat and veering to the left but with a bit patience (and about 2 hours :D) I managed to straighten up and get comfortable. Using the TTLDUL and a 4oz lead it felt good not having huge amounts of power to contend with at first. I wasn't too bothered about distance, more with getting the OTG technique right but with gradually putting a bit more power into it eventually it felt ok and releasing with my left hand became a bit more natural. Only one reel blown up out of the three I took was not too bad I felt, although it was a beauty, should have got a photo :D I'm going to give it a go over the next few weeks and hopefully come out of it with a much better, easier casting style and a bit more distance. Looking forward to some more expert advice, it's ok I'll use my own reels mate :D
 
Keep at it mark , it's very strange after years of right thumbing but you'll get there and ya rod will feel softer , it's been about a month for me now and getting better every sesh .
 
Been thinking about trying the reel down position myself but not too confident about it just yet, I still wonder what gains are to be had by doing it though? Maybe i need some tuition anyway, i don't fancy clearing nests out for a shift afterwards.
 
Daysofspeed said:
Been thinking about trying the reel down position myself but not too confident about it just yet, I still wonder what gains are to be had by doing it though? Maybe i need some tuition anyway, i don't fancy clearing nests out for a shift afterwards.
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reel down allows u a better grip of the spool .it also allow more of the rod to do the work for u . :)
 
Forget about any power at all for now. Unwind your trunk, keep your arms out and high and concentrate on not coming over the top of the cast. Technique alone will get you up over 120 yards if not further (with a plain lead).

Once you are comfortable with technique you can the start to hit the cast. Oh, and get your reel running nice and safe (slow), you are going for technique first of all not distance, once you get the technique right you can start speeding up the reel if you want to but you'd be amazed how slow I have my fishing reels running...
 
Softens the rod action so timing is not as critical less pressure on you thumb and compress the blank better 12Ft reel up 13 ft 6 ins for reel down just practice should be ok after few cast's when practicing just use a 5oz till you get your drop a timing right
 
Haha, good stuff mate. I used to use mine reel down but changed back to reel up as I found despite not casting as easily the extra power you get for winding in helps... Maybe I should have just bought a reducer :cool:
 
Well done mark sounds like your getting the hang of it mate. To me it just sort of came naturally 1st go with the reel down and I felt really comfortable. Now when I try to cast reel up. It feels very weird , so much it feels like I'm gonna let go of the rod. Each to there own I suppose. Keep at it mate
 
Juliogeordio said:
Haha, good stuff mate. I used to use mine reel down but changed back to reel up as I found despite not casting as easily the extra power you get for winding in helps... Maybe I should have just bought a reducer :cool:
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spot on if it works for you stick with it, not everyones cup of tea I changed when I bought my first Jupiter & fireblade off Terry when he was at Hebburn just found it transformed the rod went back with my son got another Jupiter for him was impressed with them
 
Stick at it mate. It's just like when you first learned to cast at all.

I started using the reel down a few weeks ago. I think you can feel what the rod is doing more. I've been lucky cos I'm left handed but cast over head right handed. So I'm used to holding the spool with my right hand. It's definatly added distance on my casting already. I've put the reel about 10 inches off the bottom of the rod so there's still something to take a bit weight when I'm reeling in.
 
reel up or reel down?

You need to consider the effective rod length and what works for you.

On a 14 ft rod reel down the actual rod will be around 12ft 8-13ft unless your using a reducer.

14ft rod reel up and it will remain at 14ft and may be too long to cast properly unless your strong and have good technique .

Personally i like my 14ft multiplier rods with a reducer reel down the rod length is nigh on 15ft but casting length is about 13ft 8.

For a 14ft fixed spool rod I much prefer the feel of reel up, there are no problems of spool slip .
 
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Mike or mark if you want abit help with casting with the reel down just give me a shout I'll be more welcome to help. I will start you off with a slow reel until your technique is good enough to move you up to a fast reel. I will then let you use my 525 which is very fast and if you blow it up I'm not bothered as changing the line anyway.
 

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