what is the norm

[rich the fish]

i can cast say the 3/4 lengh of a football pitch with just the weight dont know how lond that is tho ???????? when baited up and a few beeds and swivels i can only get past the half way line if you know what i mean its still good enough for the bass on the beach and rays in the tamar but would like to cast a bit more or is this the norm distance most people get . i have a mag 525 and good rods so its not down to the gear ,or is it just me trying to put to much into the cast when i have baited up

i know the bait wont cut through the air like just a weight will but does it efect it this much i am small in build so is just i am a weekling lol

[salmon]

i can cast say the 3/4 lengh of a football pitch with just the weight dont know how lond that is tho ???????? when baited up and a few beeds and swivels i can only get past the half way line if you know what i mean its still good enough for the bass on the beach and rays in the tamar but would like to cast a bit more or is this the norm distance most people get . i have a mag 525 and good rods so its not down to the gear ,or is it just me trying to put to much into the cast when i have baited up

i know the bait wont cut through the air like just a weight will but does it efect it this much i am small in build so is just i am a weekling lol

half a football pitch will be around 50-60 yards on most pitches so if your beaches are as they are around here that should be fine for bass.

[GrumpyBloke]

I would have thought that average with bait should be half way into the second half.
Your casting far enough for most situations except flat sandy beaches that have no bass.
I can empty a 525 mag of 20lb line with feathers and a 6oz but still normally fish inside 60 yards 99% of the time.
I am 5.11 and 16 stone , that may help.
Distance is just another tool ,watercraft and experience are far more important.
Just one thing to remember , distances over water are very deceiving , most 150yd casts are 90yds when measured.
If I bump into you on the Tamar I can give you a few points that helped me a lot.

[oldchukka]

what you lack in stature can be overcome with techneque, take up grumpy blokes offer.
the instructor who first taught me, then helped me become an instructor is very small and lean, but at the age of 70+ can still do over 200yds and has made a lot of people into big hitters over the years

[Ravelling Tangler]

and there is no "norm"
long distance casters lose maybe 20% of the distance with small baits clipped-down close behind the lead
with several small baits clipped-down but over a length of several feet of leader they may lose 30% or more of the lead-only distance

with a 3-hook "flapper" rig 40-50% of the distance (unless the baits are very small)

with a BIG bait, it all depends on how aerodynamic it is and how close to the weight and whether it is heavier than the weight

try this

on the field try getting a consistent distance (it doesn't have to be the very furthest you can cast) with lead-only, then add on three flapping snoods with "bait" (jellyworms, or a bit of them, will do - if you like and you don't need hooks) and put in the same effort and timing on a few more casts.

If you don't cast very far in the first place (say 70-90 yards) they won't make much difference (maybe only 10%) - unless it is a very windy day.

And all this matters only if you visit some marks that sometimes require long casts (or if you enjoy casting for its own sake)

the nearest to a "norm" that I have seen on assorted beaches and rock marks over the years (where there in no specific distance known by everybody to be best) has been about 50-70 yards for most fish and


about 30-40 yards (and they really should have been casting 10-20 yards in most places) for Bass

[AndrewJS]

Have a look at this if you want to see how your distance is reduced with bait. My reply is #13
http://www.worldseafishing.com/forum...ad.php?t=41544

[rich the fish]

right just got back from a field a football pitch lol lol firt cast went right over goal post and into the next fried (dont worry this pitch is at antony miles from anything) looking at were it landed i would say 15 to 20 yards so happy with that . second cast went just a bit further so from what you are saying i am casting 120 to 140 yards i only used a old 5 oz weight so didnt really compress the rod to much but it felt just right with the amount of effort

[GrumpyBloke]

If you are happy with that distance dont force it as thats when the rod will bite back.Just give it that little bit more each time you are confident and build slowly.
By the way ,if its a heavy rod and you use a 6oz you will keep that distance with a small bait.

[big guy]

some people can hit 200yrds with a small bait yet some can only hit 100 yrds with bait, yet they catch the same. distance isn't everything, but if you do want to hit further i would suggest you get a lesson from a instructor and then perfect the technique and gradually work in more power.

practise will make perfect, but when you are trying something a little different then make sure there isn't anyone around. when i first tried to pendulum i sent the lead 150yrds straight up the beach, which could have killed someone if they were standing there.

[DAVE H]

some people can hit 200yrds with a small bait yet some can only hit 100 yrds with bait, yet they catch the same. distance isn't everything, but if you do want to hit further i would suggest you get a lesson from a instructor and then perfect the technique and gradually work in more power.

practise will make perfect, but when you are trying something a little different then make sure there isn't anyone around. when i first tried to pendulum i sent the lead 150yrds straight up the beach, which could have killed someone if they were standing there.

When will others learn its not about how far.
its about.
getting a safe cast without to much efort.
i just so happens the by product is a long cast.
but you still have know where the fish will be at the time of tide..