Fishing: Casting

In ice fishing, casting rods are not needed because the fish lines are dropped straight down through the hole in the ice. That contrasts to fishing off a pier or from the side of a river bank. In these cases, it is necessary to cast the bait or fish lure some distance. Even in fishing from a boat, casting is often useful. A lure is cast from the boat and is slowly reeled in to simulate the movement of a bug or injured fish. Some fish lures have a small, curved disc at the front where the lure is attached to the line that causes the lure to cycle up and down in a sinusoidal fashion as it is reeled in. The hope is that this will attract the attention of a fish below. This technique is used in an attempt to catch larger species of fish which tend to be more aggressive. Hence, good casting technique is an advantage to placing the lure a good distance from the fisherman, or to place the lure in a specific spot of water that should be particularly attractive to fish such as proximity to rocks, or sheltered by overhanging trees, or a variety of other situations.

To hone these casting skills, my Dad would take me to the nearby National Guard Armory where on a Sunday morning the facility would be opened to the local Isaak Walton Fishing Club to practice casting, both rod casting and fly casting. Large circles were marked off on the floor, perhaps fifty feet in diameter. In the center, were placed colored rings resembling hula hoops which were not yet invented in those days. Casting trainees stood behind the line and attempted to cast a dummy lure into a selected color ring. Volunteer experts circulated around the ring, giving instruction on the proper coordination of arm, elbow, wrist and the timely release of the thumb from the reel to place the lure into the specific colored ring, not unlike the instruction given to golfers. My Dad became quite good at precision rod casting, and was admired by fishermen who observed his expertise. However, in contrast to good technique in golfing which usually results in better scores, precision casting does not necessarily translate into bigger catches.