surf casting 101

[medicdav66]

Okay, I bought a sha30 (hasnt shown up in the mail yet), but went out yesterday and ATTEMPTED to practice casting with a conventional reel. The reel I ATTEMPTED to practice with was a Penn Long Beach 60.
Okay, I could cast 3 out of 4 without getting a birdsnest or watching the 8oz weight I was using fly off in the direction of my aunt's house. But the most I could get out of it was about 35-40yds.
Now, I have watched the videos on Youtube and my casting did not resemble theirs in the slightest :).
Can someone give advice on technique? Or is it trial and errror? Was it equipment (I really didnt expect to get a lot of distance from the Penn)?
I forgot to mention that I have 30lb cheap (chinese Dyneema or something like that) braid on the Penn, and was using a 11ft rod I broke about 8" off the butt-end)
I plan to use an 11ft Penn Pro Guide series rod to throw the Daiwa sha30, but wanted to practice with something I didnt care if I broke
Should I switch to mono for the Daiwa I bought to learn on?

I know this post should probably be on the distance casting side, but I may get some feedback here.

[Digger]

Well I knew it was going to be fun when I saw the long beach.

Get some cheap mono, The braid will well **** I cannot use that language here. Fill either reel.

Look up the Off the Ground Cast. Learn it. Forget the rest until it works well for you. You will know when it does. Truthfully either reel will work doing this. The Diawa setup properly, will be easier.

[dawgfsh]

Been casting for 35years and doubt I could cast a long beach with braid. Wait till your new outfit gets here then put 17-20# mono on it with a 50# shock leader.

need something to do till then, Practice tieing shock leader knots.

[sprtsracer]

Unless the Long Beach has an alluminum spool and is static magged, you will certainly appreciate the Daiwa when you get it. I'm actually amazed you didn't have even more problems with the Long Beach with braided line than you did! That being said, you won't have any problems with the 30SHA. Enjoy it! You'll be amazed!

[9 rock]

this is the easy way to learn then graduate to the other cast if need be
I use this cast exept I dont put my bait on the ground I have never needed to get any more distance that what I get out of this cast wich is about 100yds baitnweight

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[medicdav66]

Thanks 9rock! The reel came in today and I put the red brakes on it like advised. Gonna mount it on the rod tomorrow and see what it will do. I think I may have learned something from watching that video, and can't wait to try it out! I have always used spinning set-ups for casting, but after watching people on Youtube empty entire reels on a cast, I thought I might try this conventional thing out. The only conventional experience I have is with King rigs, and they are for the fight, not the cast. I think me and my buddies I fish with are all getting different kinds of conventional reels. One has purchased an Abu 9000 and the other is gonna get a Saltist, so now I guess we will see which is the better of the reels. Can't wait to get out on Portsmouth Island in the Spring and let'em fly!! Thanks again, Dave

[racewire20]

Dave, Get your practice. I just ordered my new rod yesterday. We'll have to put a beer on the longest cast come May:beer:

[Drumdum]

Thanks 9rock! The reel came in today and I put the red brakes on it like advised. Gonna mount it on the rod tomorrow and see what it will do. I think I may have learned something from watching that video, and can't wait to try it out! I have always used spinning set-ups for casting, but after watching people on Youtube empty entire reels on a cast, I thought I might try this conventional thing out. The only conventional experience I have is with King rigs, and they are for the fight, not the cast. I think me and my buddies I fish with are all getting different kinds of conventional reels. One has purchased an Abu 9000 and the other is gonna get a Saltist, so now I guess we will see which is the better of the reels. Can't wait to get out on Portsmouth Island in the Spring and let'em fly!! Thanks again, Dave

The one that got the saltist got the better "feesh'n reel" imho.......

[AbuMike]

Everyone has an opinion...How ya doin Kenny..:D:D:D

[9 rock]

hey maybe Airdown is converting he just snatched up a 525 penn that could be a step in the right direction:):)







9rock

[AbuMike]

hey maybe Airdown is converting he just snatched up a 525 penn that could be a step in the right direction:):)

9rock



Not in this lifetime.....:--| but thats was a good try 9

[9 rock]

Not in this lifetime.....:--| but thats was a good try 9

yea I hear ya thats the way my uncle is about penns.

me I have mixed rods and reels I bought a penn squidder magged from jimmyz I cant wait to throw it . that was the first bait caster I ever threw



9ball

[medicdav66]

I really almost bought a Squidder or a Jigmaster500 instead of the sha30, but found a good deal on fleabay!! NIB for $70!! Almost all my spinning gear is Penn, they just don't really have a castable conventional!



**NOTE TO PENN---MAKE A MID-SIZE CONVENTIONAL CASTING REEL!!!

(and I know about the 900 series reels)

[SmoothLures]

I really almost bought a Squidder or a Jigmaster500 instead of the sha30, but found a good deal on fleabay!! NIB for $70!! Almost all my spinning gear is Penn, they just don't really have a castable conventional!



**NOTE TO PENN---MAKE A MID-SIZE CONVENTIONAL CASTING REEL!!!

(and I know about the 900 series reels)

What's wrong with the 525, or are you wanting smaller than that? I think the SLX30 is about the same size though. :confused:

[sprtsracer]

I really almost bought a Squidder or a Jigmaster500 instead of the sha30, but found a good deal on fleabay!! NIB for $70!! Almost all my spinning gear is Penn, they just don't really have a castable conventional!



**NOTE TO PENN---MAKE A MID-SIZE CONVENTIONAL CASTING REEL!!!

(and I know about the 900 series reels)
Actually, Penn makes a mid-sized casting reel. The bigger brothers of the 525 (535GS, 545GS and 555GS) have centrifugal cast control instead of magnets. The best ones, however, come from England. The English versions have a "knobby" mag left sideplate, as does their 525, rather than the "slidey". Some of the guys over here have them, but, unfortunately, you have to order them from England.

[Cerberus]

Actually, Penn makes a mid-sized casting reel. The bigger brothers of the 525 (535GS, 545GS and 555GS) have centrifugal cast control instead of magnets. The best ones, however, come from England. The English versions have a "knobby" mag left sideplate, as does their 525, rather than the "slidey". Some of the guys over here have them, but, unfortunately, you have to order them from England.

The Penn 525 Mag is really a purpose built casting reel and fills the role very well. It has a capacity a bit larger than the highly regarded Abu 6500's and a bit less than the Daiwa 20-sized reels. The other Penn GS reels are good casters but built more for general use than long distance casting.

I have the 525 Mag, 535GS and Daiwa SLX-30SHA. In out-of-the box configuration, the Daiwa 30 is a much better casting reel than the Penn 535.

I have said before that if I could have only one reel for beach fishing (Ha!) it would be the SLX-30SHA.

[9 rock]

The Penn 525 Mag is really a purpose built casting reel and fills the role very well. It has a capacity a bit larger than the highly regarded Abu 6500's and a bit less than the Daiwa 20-sized reels. The other Penn GS reels are good casters but built more for general use than long distance casting.

I have the 525 Mag, 535GS and Daiwa SLX-30SHA. In out-of-the box configuration, the Daiwa 30 is a much better casting reel than the Penn 535.

I have said before that if I could have only one reel for beach fishing (Ha!) it would be the SLX-30SHA.

Ihave a gs 535 also I think I throw it farther than my saltist 30 but it has no breaks or maggs so some blowups do occure more often and then when I feel real froggy I sling my avet, the 30 is the best all around I think and great to learn on

[sprtsracer]

Ihave a gs 535 also I think I throw it farther than my saltist 30 but it has no breaks or maggs so some blowups do occure more often and then when I feel real froggy I sling my avet, the 30 is the best all around I think and great to learn on

You have centrifugal brakes. Take the left side plate off and make sure the plastic brakes are moved out to the stops.

[9 rock]

You have centrifugal brakes. Take the left side plate off and make sure the plastic brakes are moved out to the stops.

well I learned something there my brakes were stuck in I guess they slide out on the pin. I bought this reel at anglers for half price when penn was bought out. took it down to the red drum the guy tells me its not that good of a surf reel but I spooled it and used it anyway I really like it holds a lot of line and except for the occasional blow up it has been good to me.

thanks for the info I would have never known


9rock

[medicdav66]

Ok, I took the left side-plate off and put the "red brakes" in there. I think.!!
There were 2 wire-thingy's under the left side plate that are attached to the spool. I put the "red brakes" on the wires with the flat side in toward where the wires connect to the spool.
Now, how far should the "red brakes" be slid onto the wires? All the way down the wires and up against the spool? Or out toward the ends of the wires?
Or are they designed to move while the spool spins? My SLX-30sha doesnt seem to have "stops" on the wires, so what is gonna keep them from simply spinning off the wires during a cast?
I understand the concept of centrifugal brakes, in that they were made to slow the spin of the spool. And the white brakes that also came with the reel are slightly smaller, therefore supply less "drag" while spool is spinning.
I just don't know the best set-up for distance cast. I guess it will depend on each individual caster's spool speed when casting huh?

*Seems awful complicated for a dumb paramedic like me!!

[9 rock]

from what I am told red is more break white is less. I think I would start off with red if no blowups go to white

[Finny]

I've got a 30 I use the red and they slide.It is spooled with 30lb fireline with 40lb mone top shot about 10 yds uni to uni knot I use 6oz in a cut open tennis ball to practize you also need a golf or batting glove or you will burn your thumb good luck

[Cerberus]

Ok, I took the left side-plate off and put the "red brakes" in there. I think.!!
There were 2 wire-thingy's under the left side plate that are attached to the spool. I put the "red brakes" on the wires with the flat side in toward where the wires connect to the spool.
Now, how far should the "red brakes" be slid onto the wires? All the way down the wires and up against the spool? Or out toward the ends of the wires?
Or are they designed to move while the spool spins? My SLX-30sha doesnt seem to have "stops" on the wires, so what is gonna keep them from simply spinning off the wires during a cast?
I understand the concept of centrifugal brakes, in that they were made to slow the spin of the spool. And the white brakes that also came with the reel are slightly smaller, therefore supply less "drag" while spool is spinning.
I just don't know the best set-up for distance cast. I guess it will depend on each individual caster's spool speed when casting huh?

*Seems awful complicated for a dumb paramedic like me!!

OK, it works like this:

In order of braking power from most to least, it is red brakes flat side out, red brakes round side out, white brakes. You can also use any combination of, or all of, the red and white brakes.

For learning the reel you want more braking, not less. Nothing kills your distance more than a bird's nest in mid-cast.

The brake pads just slide onto the pins. They are held in place by the brake ring on the left side cover. They should slide freely along the entire length of the pins. When mounting the cover be sure the pins are slid all the way down or they will get caught on the brake ring.

[Fireline20]

this is the easy way to learn then graduate to the other cast if need be
I use this cast exept I dont put my bait on the ground I have never needed to get any more distance that what I get out of this cast wich is about 100yds baitnweight

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Best and easiest method of long distance casting I have ever seen...I WILL employ this my next trip out....thanks for the video,,,I owe you a big favor:cool::cool::D:D

[NC-Norm-WB]

I have to agree, great video! And the accent makes it even better!! :D
It was straight forward with simple techniques and a good explanation of why the method works. Norm :fishing:

[rattler]

great video. I have a 525mag, and 2 slosh 30s 1 of which is has a mag sideplate. they all cast great. use the mags when the wind is up. good luck and practice!!!!!!!!!!!!!