| Casting is undoubtedly one of the most important | | | | you perfect them, you'll see your casting |
| elements of bass fishing. Quite simply, if you | | | | technique greatly improve. The first thing you |
| can't put your bait where the bass are, you can't | | | | need to work on is hitting the target. The best |
| catch any fish. That's why it's extremely | | | | way to practice this is to attach a practice plug or |
| important to master the art of casting. | | | | sinker to the end of your line and spend a couple |
| It seems like it should be pretty basic, but casting | | | | of hours at the nearest lake. |
| is not that simple. There are a lot of factors | | | | If you can't get to the lake just to practice, you |
| that come into play, such as line weight, lure size, | | | | can practice in your back yard or a local park. All |
| reel type, and rod length. Your surroundings are | | | | you need is your rod & reel and a target. |
| also going to play a part in the ease or difficulty | | | | If you do choose the park, make sure you have |
| of the cast. | | | | enough space to practice and no one is nearby. |
| Each angler will develop their own style and | | | | Stand 40-50 feet away and practice casting into |
| technique. When it comes to perfecting your | | | | your target. An old tire will work perfectly, or |
| casting, focus on skill and technique rather than | | | | some ribbon tacked down with a few rocks can |
| strength. While there may be times that you'll | | | | make a suitable target. If you can cast into such |
| need to cast for distance, more often than not, | | | | a small area 3 times in a row, you should be able |
| short, accurate casts will be necessary. | | | | to put your lure anywhere you want in the lake. |
| There are two basic elements to a good cast, | | | | Estimating depth is a little trickier, and you'll |
| and they are: | | | | actually need a body of water to practice. I like |
| 1. Hitting the target - As I said earlier, accuracy is | | | | to use a "countdown", or "counting" method. |
| key. Another element of this step is the ability | | | | From the moment the bait hits water, you begin |
| to get your lure to the right depth and control it | | | | to count. One-thousand, one-thousand and one, |
| there. | | | | one-thousand and two, etc. The longer you |
| 2. Imitating prey and retrieval - While some may | | | | count, the lower your bait will sink. This way |
| consider this two steps, I think it just a 2 part | | | | you'll establish reference points for yourself so |
| single step. You have to know how to work | | | | you can always determine the depth of your bait. |
| your lure as you reel it in so that it mimics the | | | | Mastering the art of casting is vital to your fishing |
| natural prey of the bass. | | | | success. Hopefully these tips helped, but practice |
| These 2 steps take practice to master, but once | | | | and knowledge is most important. |