NEW SERIES: PART 1
The art of delivering our rigs and baits accurately to the spot every time is crucial to our success, says Rob Hughes
HOW ACCURATE are you when you cast? When I say ‘accurate’, I don’t just mean where the rig lands, but how it lands, and that includes hitting the water as well as the deck.
It also means how you stand, how you hold your arms, where you position your feet and the power of the cast. Does the rig hit the clip properly or are you feathering it down? Was there any bounce-back, did you feel the lead down, and has the rig landed neatly? That’s a lot to think about… and then put into practice! However, it’s vital that all these things happen in the right order, at the right time, and in the right way.
Of course, most of the above comes naturally when you’ve been casting a while, but if just one of these things is even slightly out, your chances of a capture can be significantly reduced.
I’ve recently started private coaching lessons, and it’s become quite clear that many anglers need to touch up on their casting skills.
Whether it’s distance or accuracy, a little like a golf swing, it’s easy to get into bad habits, so a re-group is always worth a look.
HOW TO STAND
Correct foot positioning is vital. Your feet need to be in the same place every time you cast out, so find a comfortable spot and always cast from the same place.
I actually mark the spot, or feel for a stone or root under my foot, so I know I’m always standing in exactly the same place. When casting at short range and aiming for pinpoint accuracy, keep your feet together no further than hip width apart. Some anglers find keeping the knees and feet together in the manner of Terry Hearn works best for them, so experiment.
Stand with your shoulders square on to the lake, relax and drop them a little before lifting your arms, and take your time.
ARM POSITION – PUSH OR PULL?
Arm positioning is vital for both distance and accuracy. The arms should be held straight above the head and slightly bent for short-range accurate casting, or straightened and extended for long-range casting. Don't hold them by the side of your head or face.
One of the easiest things you can do to increase your distance is simply to extend your arms. If you’ve been casting a long time, this may well feel alien, but you’ll be surprised how much farther you will cast with straighter arms. Bent-arm casters tend to lead with their right arm and punch the lead out. With straight arms, the right is simply a hinge point and the left is the powerhouse used to pull back to the chest.
Pulling generally tends to get you further than pushing!
HIT THE CLIP OR FAIL
The singular most important thing you can do to be consistent and accurate is to hit the clip properly just before the lead hits the wate
