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Capt Doug's Info Capt Doug's Bio
My Charter Info Directions to docks I use <---
Charters I Offer Wade Fishing Surf Fishing
Other Flats Fishing Info Capt Doug's Fishing Tips
Stuff to do in Cocoa Beach
Cooking Your Catch
Fishing links What you should expect and what your guide expects from you
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Capt. Doug's Casting tips Here are a few tips that will help you pick the right rod for the job and help improve your casting. I have everything you will need on my boat if you are going fishing with me. I put a lot of this info up just to answer a few questions for people looking for a great rod.
Casting One of the most challenging thing for some fisherman is sight casting. Sight casting is long casting with exact accuracy. This is where most people who don't sight cast become all thumbs. The difficulty involved in making these casts is all up to the person. It is only as hard as you make it. I'm not trying to make fun of anyone but I taught a 3 year old how to do it. I will try to give you a few pointers but keep in mind, until you have a rod in your hand and practice a little, "making the shot" isn't going to happen. The most important tool in any sight casters arsenal are his rods. The rod you chose can make the difference between a long shot and falling short. Most sight fishing rods are 7' 6" to just over 8'. Most have a good sized first guide and a longer butt. This allows the line to come off the reel easily and more leverage in your cast. Most sight fishing rods are very fast rods with ether a fast tip for top water or a little bit of a softer tip for lighter soft plastics. There are a few rods on the market that are a little more more versatile that can do both. Personally I have two rods I fish with the most. However, I do also have one rod that works great with both. I like the G-Loomis Greenwater GWR930S this is a 7'9" fast action rod that is great for reaching out and touching fish with top water. When it comes to soft plastics I use the G-Loomis Greenwater GWR9000S. This rod is a 7'6" rod that has a tip that is just soft enough to whip a 1/8 oz jig. I also have a great new rod that G Loomis came out with last year that can throw both top water and soft plastic lures a mile. By far it is the most incredible sight fishing rod on the market. It is the 7"10" Greenwater GLX GWR941S. If it looks like I am a bit of a Loomis fanatic it is because I am. I have fished with just about every rod on the market and no one comes close to the feel of a Loomis rod. All fishing lines are not the same. Each is designed for a different purpose. Unlike fishing rods there are some good lines on the market. I prefer Momoi's High Catch or Diamond Line because it has great knot strength and very little memory with a small diameter. Most of the line I use is ether 8 or 10 pound test. These lighter lines will give you a nice long cast but are still strong enough to fight big fish. We boated a tarpon a few years back that weighed in at 80 pounds on their 8 pound mono. Personally I am not a big fan of breaded lines for fishing the flats. I have too many days that my water is to clear to use breads on big fish. However, if your fishing mangroves or docks, it can help out. You may not think a reel could affect your cast but it can. You need to have a reel that has a tall deep spool. Most newer reels on the market are built this way. I always like to overfill my spool with an extra 50 to 75 feet of line. This makes it so that the line flows off the reel a little bit easier. There is a down side to do this. You have to always make sure your line is going back on the spool tight or you will have loops form and make a mess. A trick I do is at the end of my cast before I reel I close my bail by hand and lift my rod tip to pull the line tight on my spool. Personally I am a big fan of the Shimano Stradic reels. These reels have a spacer included with the reels to help spool your line just for longer casting. They also have an oil port that makes maintenance a lot easier. If you are going fishing with me you don't need to go out and buy a rod, reel or line. I provide everything you will need. There are a few things you can do though if you have never sight fished or you just want to practice before you come out.
Set up your target 50 feet away. Practice an over head cast while facing the target. Try to follow through with your cast by pointing your rod where you want to it to go. Work at this until you can hit it 9 out of 10 times. Move the target out to 75 feet and do the same. Keep at it until you can hit it 8 out of 10 casts. Move the target out to 100 feet and try again. shoot for 7 out of 10. If you can move it out further and still hit it you are about ready. Now move the target back to 50 feet away. Now try casting and hitting the target with it to your side. The fish are not always going to be in front of you so this will help you get use to casting in different directions. once you feel comfortable try doing the same thing but to your other side. Now start moving the target further away. If you can get to the point that you can do this you will be casting like a pro.
Printable Business Card
Copyright © 1998-2008 [Indian River Adventures]. All rights reserved. Revised: 15 May, 2008
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Capt. Doug Blanton
Copyright © 1998-2008 [Indian River Adventures]. All rights reserved.
Revised:
May 15, 2008
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