Baitcasting Techniques

Part VI

As we journey through life as anglers, picking up new skills is very important. Have you ever been in a situation where you see the fish, want to cast to it, but do not do so because of something or someone is in your way? Learning different casting techniques will help you in situations as such. Not only does it help you cast, it also helps you catch more fish. The more skills you have the better your chances of catching fish.

Last issue we did the side cast, a cast that is done from the side of your casting hand or dominant fishing hand. Now let us look at the backhand cast of which is the total opposite of the side cast.

(I am assuming that you are already an above average user of the baitcasting reel and thus will not go into the basic details here. For basic details please refer to earlier issues of The Angler.)

Fishing with a low profile bait-casting reel is an experience on its own.

Backhand Cast

If the side cast simply means casting from the side of which your hand holds the rod, backhand cast being the opposite, means doing the cast from the opposite site of the hand that holds the rod. It is like taking a backhand shot in badminton or making a backhand serve in badminton.

Say for example you are right handed and you hold your fishing rod in your right hand. Doing a backhand cast simple means that you do a cast from your left.

Start with the rod crossing your body as in the picture.

The Mechanics Of The Backhand Cast

In this article I will assume that you are right handed and that you are holding the rod in your right hand. Imagine doing a backhand serve in badminton.

Step 1

Adjust the brakes and spool control to a setting that you are comfortable with.

Step 2

Hold the rod as if you are holding a badminton racket and move it to a similar position as if it were a badminton racket and you are preparing to do a backhand serve. This simply means that your rod crosses your body with the tip pointing to the left.

Practise drawing the letter “C” with your rod tip.

Step 3

Practise this over and over: Using your wrist, draw the letter “C” with your rod. Do not release the line and keep your spool locked. Keep doing the letter “C” using your wrist and not your entire arm. Feel the force of the casting plug as it wants to shoot out due to inertia.

Keep doing this and soon you will be able to catch the timing of release.

When you feel the timing is right; release your thumb and let the plug or lure shoot out…

Step 4

As in Step 3, draw the letter “C” with your rod but this time release the line allowing the rod tip to flick the lure or casting plug out. If it goes too high, you will have to release the line sooner. If it goes too low, you will have to release the line later.

…Follow through with the cast by pointing the rod forward.

Step 5

Reel in your casting plug and try again. Practise these few steps over and over again until it becomes second nature to you. As you get better, slowly loosen the spool and brakes to achieve better distance.

Give it a try and if you are still unable to do so, send me an email at phil@aseanpublisher.com and I will see how best to help you.

Remember, practise, practise, practise.