Casting ....

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:28 pm

I have always advocated that the paramount thought,when casting a heavy lead weight at 100 miles per hour,out to sea,is SAFETY.

How many times have we seen them?What us taffy's describe as 'metal chuckers' flailing a twelve foot peice of carbon in all directions,narrowly missing the poor soul next to them and trying to launch their weight,bait and upper torso into orbit?

I have witnessed more accidents caused by poor casting and a lack of common sense than I like to remember and have on occasion made the effort to prevent it happening twice.

Anyway,my point? Casting is the singlemost important skill you will learn when fishing,giving the angler the ability to reach target,place well a bait and maximise his or her potential for catching fish.The style and technique is dictated by a few factors really,the equipment being used,the physical attributes of the caster and the environment in which the cast is made.The physical ability to perform various techniques is of course the primary issue,where the style used must be 'comfortable',not causing strain or injury, spinal injuries and back complaints are far too common and relatively easy to avoid.Look at the equipment you are using and use a style and method to suit,.Finally,look around you!If you're in a populated area of the shore,on a beach or on a pier,adjust your cast to suit,keeping the safety of those around you at the forefront of your cast.

Ok,lesson over,what's your favourite casting technique?And with what equipment?

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:32 pm

All casting, whatever style should be carried out with SAFETY in mind, as you quite rightly have pointed out mal.

With regards to to favourite technique and gear, when i was fishing i used a zziplex international bullet, daiwa awb129 and usually used daiwa 7ht's on each rod.

Now that all of my casting is over grass i now use a zziplex blue hst and the dymic hst.

Reel choice is mainly ultra mag 3, mag 3 and the ultra mag 2 am also looking at using a 5500 as well.

My technique is of the pendulum variety, i think of it as variety as usually no two styles are the same.

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:33 pm

I should imagine at the speed a lead can travel while casting it could be very dangerous if the line snaps etc, but saying that to be honest in all the time I sea match fished "7 years" I never heard once of anyone ever getting hurt by a wayward lead. and many of these matches I fished had entrants of up to 150 all fishing within 20 yards or less of one another and most of the anglers using power casts of some desciption. mind you most of these sea anglers were quite experienced. I think if you get plenty of practice in a safe enviroment and use the right gear you should be ok. Out of curiosity has anyone heard or know of any such casting accidents???
Cheers
mrix

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 10:02 pm

i'm sure there have been some incidents involving wayward leads and rigs. i know of a couple of incidents at casting tournaments where people have been hit by crack offs. but thankfully they are now ok.

the speeds you talk of are very fast indeed, not my figures but the lead leaves the rod at somewhere in the region of 200mph+. it takes approx. 6 seconds to travel 250yds. these figures are for a plain lead cast over grass.

such is the need for safety at casting tournaments each club now sticks to a set of guide lines. these are well adhered too.