What is casting? Casting in Russia
All anglers are familiar with such fishing tackle as spinning. I mean the classic spinning with a non-inertial reel and, as it is also called for a similar principle of operation, meat grinder. On the classic spinning written thousands of articles and filmed thousands of videos. All the pros and cons chewed by expert anglers to the minutiae.
Most anglers have caught or tried to catch fish this way.
But spinning is not only classic. There is such a kind of spinning tackle – casting. Casting can still be called a relatively new and not very popular tackle in Russia, despite many advantages. The main reason is some difficulty in mastering. Even experienced spinning anglers who have fished for many years with a non-inertial reel, sometimes experience difficulties at the initial stage of mastering.
Casting has gained widespread popularity in our country around 2011-2013, then many people acquired trigger rods and multiplier reels. Someone for specific tasks, someone just to try something new, but within a few years the popularity of this tackle undeservedly came to naught. It is difficult to say what became the main reason. Difficulty in mastering, the use of cheap reels, which simply can not throw or something else. But not for nothing in the same Japan and America this type of tackle is more popular than the classic spinning. Now we are systematically returning to the use of casting tackle, already thoughtfully and thoroughly.
Features of casting tackle
Casting tackle, like conventional spinning, is designed to catch predatory fish on artificial lures. It also consists of a rod with rings, which is also attached to the coil, it also winds the fishing line or braided cord, the same baits are attached to the fishing line and this is probably the similarity ends.
In general, if you draw detailed analogies with the classic spinning, the differences are seen in the initial choice of tackle and the importance of the elements. When in the classic spinning the main role is played by the rod, which is the key element that affects the range of throwing, and the reel, if generalized, the device for storing fishing line and not uncommon cases when you successfully use a good expensive rod worth tens of thousands of rubles and a budget-class reel, then in casting everything is the opposite. Here the main element is the reel, if you calculate the degree of importance in the figures of the reel and fishing rod, then in percentage ratio is about 70/30 or even 80/20. Using a good coil worth more than 10 thousand rubles and a budget stick, even for 1000-1500 rubles, you will catch quite comfortably, which can not be said about the reverse situation, if you buy a good working stick for 10-15 thousand and a Chinese coil for 3000, then most likely the desire to catch in this way you will fall away without really starting.
The main components of casting tackle
Rod
Casting rod is similar to a classic spinning rod, but if you look closely, you will immediately notice an “extra” element on the holder – trigger (or as it is simply called – trigger), which helps to fix the rod in the hand during fishing. The grip occurs in such a way that in the hand of the angler is not only or even not so much the rod, but also the reel.
Also differ in the size and arrangement of rings on the blank. On the casting rod installed rings of smaller diameter and in greater number than on the classic spinning rod, this is due to the peculiarity of throwing a multiplicator reel.
Multiplicator reel
As already mentioned, the reel is the key link of casting tackle. It is selected for specific tasks and even for the type of lures.
The multiplicator reel itself differs from the classic reel in that it is inertial and has a transverse arrangement of the bobbin. Therefore, those who are not alien to the phrase “Nevsky reel” is much easier to master the first throws. Of course, modern multipliers are incomparably more technological relative to the Soviet inertial reels, but nevertheless have a simpler device than the inertial-free, with many more nuances.
Casting reels come in two main types: barrels and soapboxes.
Barrels are powerful power reels for fishing with heavy jerk baits. They are also used for catfishing, and for trolling, often equipped with a line counter. Quite voluminous in size and therefore even small barrels do not lie in the hand so comfortably.
Soapboxes are the most popular reels used for backcasting fishing. They are used from ultralight to heavy weights.
There are combined reels, when in the body of the soapbox installed a large bobbin and a powerful mechanism. Such reels of course with barrels can not compare, but they quietly work on weights up to 80-100 gr.
The distance of throwing in casting depends little on the rod or thickness of braided cord (fishing line) used in the tackle, cardinally on this parameter affects how correctly selected the reel for a particular weight of bait, what type of brakes are present in the reel and how correctly the reel is adjusted.
One of the main elements is the spool, or rather its weight. I will not go into mathematical calculations and tell about the vectors of forces, if in general, this parameter is indirectly related to the power of the reel.
Experienced castinigist only by the weight of the spool can determine the test range of baits, that is, to determine the minimum weight of the bait, which the reel can throw at an acceptable distance and approximately determine the maximum weight, but accurately determine the “upper test” can only understand what mechanism is used and what material is made of its elements.
Also an important point that affects the selection of the reel is the type of brakes. There are several basic types of braking systems.
Axial brake is present on all reels and regulates the free rotation of the bobbin. Proper adjustment is especially important for beginners to avoid “borods” or “overruns” in the process of throwing. It affects the throwing distance.
Centrifugal braking system is most suitable for throwing voluminous, sailing baits, which have a low flight speed, as they work better at low speeds and thanks to this some wobblers can fly away at a distance comparable to the throwing of jig baits. It is most popular with manufacturers such as Shimano and Abu Garcia.
Magnetic braking system – due to the peculiarities of the structure, it works best at high speeds, so it is the best choice when fishing for jigs or pilkers, that is, for those baits that have a high initial flight speed. The most popular among Daiwa reels.
Of course, with each of these systems you can use any type of bait, but with a jig and a centerback, and wobblers, and a magnet, the throw will not please at all. Some manufacturers have tried to combine these systems in one reel, which resulted in the same throw of wobblers and jigs, but it was noticeably less than with a properly selected separate system.
Braided cord and line used in casting
The use of cords and fishing line in casting also has its own peculiarities. First of all, it is the thickness. When using a multiplicator reel, it makes no sense to chase small diameters in order to increase sensitivity and increase the throwing range. The difference will be so minimal that it is not worth paying attention to it. In addition, too thin fishing line will cut into the lower-lying coils on the spool, which is fraught with the formation of beards, overruns and as a result of spoiled fishing, and maybe even shooting the bait.
What to wind on the spool as a result? Braided cord, mono line or flurocarbon? In casting there is no difference in throwing between these types, and in some cases, the lure with flure and monka will fly farther. For jigging it is better to use cord, because of its minimal stretchability and therefore increased sensitivity. For wobblers and jerkbaits is often more suitable flure, because having a greater stretchability it allows you to better animate the bait. By the way, in Japan and America when catching bass casting on artificial lures use flurocarbon, and these are the countries in which spinning fishing is more advanced.
Casting or spinning
Everyone decides for himself what tackle to use. But I consider casting to be more perfect and functional compared to the classic tackle.
Casting has great ergonomics. When fishing I use both tackle, alternating them, then taking the classic spinning rod in my hands, after casting rod I feel some discomfort, If to exaggerate, it is similar to the feeling when you get into Zhiguli from a good foreign car.
Autor: Bob Nudd es un experto pescador con más de 20 años de experiencia y ganador de numerosos concursos.
I recently got into fishing and bought a casting rod. It’s super lightweight and really helps with accuracy. The sensitivity is amazing, too, so I can feel every nibble. It’s made my fishing trips way more fun and successful! Definitely worth the investment if you’re passionate about it!