Long casting (is it worth it?)

[RossW]

Is it worth learning to cast miles for fishing the Tynemouth to Craster area?

On deep rock marks and piers I suppose it doesn't matter. But what about at places like Blyth Beach, Sandy Bay etc?

I know it's often about locating the holes and gulleys but is it ever worth whacking it as far as possible?

Someone at The New Hartley Open weigh in told me that the few codling that got caught were taken by lads casting miles at Cresswell.

Thanks for any advice..

[5150]

Personal opinion of mine is that it's better to scout the beach at low tide and look for the holes and channels, had times at Seaton Sluice beach where the fish have been caught almost under my feet.

[Richie_fishy]

Is it worth learning to cast miles for fishing the Tynemouth to Craster area?

On deep rock marks and piers I suppose it doesn't matter. But what about at places like Blyth Beach, Sandy Bay etc?

I know it's often about locating the holes and gulleys but is it ever worth whacking it as far as possible?

Someone at The New Hartley Open weigh in told me that the few codling that got caught were taken by lads casting miles at Cresswell.

Thanks for any advice..

Sandy bay my local area spot, seems to fish better tide going out.. you may use waders to get further out then cast which is what i do, you can find the sand banks too which you'll have to see at low tide to get a rough idea where they are etc then walk out to it when tides goin OUT, ive caught alsorts from there.. bass, whiten, coalie, codling, dabs, plaice, crabs, ling, rocklings etc etc

[Cod,cod,cod!]

No mate not at all. There are some marks during the day that need big casts to put u amongst fish but not so much at night. Give u an example, me and two mates went down blyth november last year sometime. We all had nothing much to shout about till one of us, the least experienced, fluffed his cast big style and his lead landed no more than 15yards out! After sorting his reel out, tieing his line to the rod stand and back on his reel he proceeded to pull in a codling of 2lb! This codling was practically out of the water with the tide ebbing by the time he got sorted lol. Me and mate looked at each other and started lobbing baits 20yards out. He ended up with 2 for 10lb. I blanked!

The lads were at either some shots at Newbiggin, Bog hall rocks mate. Distance shots. So it is good to learn but there is a time and a place which comes with experience.

[Richie_fishy]

true true cod.cod.cod i casted 30yards at sandy bay & got a 2lb bass i just cast 100yards or less at times, im still learning myself how to cast better n better!

[seanyrooroo]

It's not always essential but it is a powerful weapon to have in your armoury. Sometimes the fish or the gully's you're trying to cast to are that bit further.

[g-force]

It's not always essential but it is a powerful weapon to have in your armoury. Sometimes the fish or the gully's you're trying to cast to are that bit further.

I'd pretty much echo those thoughts - I'd also say that if you can cast big distances in good conditions you're also more likely to be able to cast more modest distances in atrocious conditions, when others are struggling or packing up because they can't handle a big headwind etc.

Gary

[mick dunn]

Funny bringing up this long casting. I was in NETS yesterday and one of the lads was praising the new 16 feet rods for the casting ability. Coupled with the fixed spool they are capable of huge distances.
I can only think they are any good in compos. When i was in the one at Folkstone the fish in daylight hours liked the deeper water. The long casters were defo getting amongst them.
As to our coast i was only casting behind the breakers yesterday and still got dabs.

[Lowrider]

I suppose if you have the ability for long casting then you have that option.
Dropping short is still an option also but better to have the option of hitting the distance if needed.

[RossW]

Great stuff, lads. Good advice. Thanks.

[Castaway]

The thing you've got to remember is that the further you can cast, the more water you can fish. If you can whack it 150 yards then you can fish that distance inovers. Whereas if you can only cast 80 yards then thats 70 yards you can't fish that the other feller can. The only thing is some of the long casters forget this and whack it as far as they can anyway instead of searching the water.
Some years ago fishing the heugh at Hartlepool, a young lad got a 3lb coalie just over the side and all these lads who were casting miles were elbowing the lad out of the way with their 13 foot beachcasters to drop it over the side.

[Charlton]

Is it worth learning to cast miles for fishing the Tynemouth to Craster area?

On deep rock marks and piers I suppose it doesn't matter. But what about at places like Blyth Beach, Sandy Bay etc?

I know it's often about locating the holes and gulleys but is it ever worth whacking it as far as possible?

Someone at The New Hartley Open weigh in told me that the few codling that got caught were taken by lads casting miles at Cresswell.

Thanks for any advice..

For many years I used to say that from tynemouth to Berwick when fishing rock marks there was no need to cast more that sixty to eighty yards, in some cases less than that. I have fished marks around Cullercoats where no more than ten yards got good fish. But now i have changed my mind and under certain conditions casting to the horizon does have benefits, as Paul Westmoralnd has proven, winning matches both sides of the Tyne. long casting would in general be more beneficial along the Durham Beaches.

[drof46]

You get the 'exceptionn to the rule' according to terrain etc. but generally, over an extended time span, the long caster will have more success than the short-chucker as he can reduce his distance at will, the short caster does not have that option.

Also, in a competition, a massed row of baits along the shore will put out an extensive scent trail which will draw-in the fish. If the majority of these baits are lying 80 yds out then they are competing with each other for the fish. However, if your bait is lying 120 yds out you will potentially contact the incoming fish before the majority of anglers.

BUT like I said there's exceptions to every rule. eg. You standing there with state of the art kit and a laddie comes along with a cane and a bent pin.......
nuff said.

It's what makes the sport so interesting

[The Great Wallsendo]

A big cast when fishing the Piers or Rivers can sometimes make the difference I have found - not that I'm a big caster myself, but I have seen the lads that can hit 100yrds with ease and it's no real surprise they are the ones pulling in the fish more often than not

[bozjc]

it wont do any harm for you to practice smaking a bait out as far as possible.

i often go down to the river and just practice casting for an hour or so, there are a few methods, but i have found the best way to be a nice smooth cast. i cant cast massive distances, but it often helps to get a few fish.

im always trying different distances etc during comps to try and find fish, sometimes a good cast can have the edge.

just remember, the further out you cast, the more snags you have to reel back over and its a long way out to reel a fish in lol

most fish i have caught have been pritty close in to be honest, especially under the cover of darkness