Beach Casting Help / Rod Advice for partly Disabled Angler

[Lucky-Ediie]

Hi All,

 

Eddie here, a newbie to your site, but not to fishing

 

I really need some advice, as I have a shoulder problem which has stopped me beach fishing for a few years, but I would like to get back in to it. I am 5'8", about 14stone (if that helps for the next bit), I have a Shakespear Long surf and a Penn Fixspool Beach reel loaded currently with 20lb 0.40dia line, and a 60lb Shock leader and a spare spool with 40lb braid straight through. I use 4 or 6 feathers with a 4 or 6oz lead.

 

I have fished off Chesil Beach after mackie in the past, and I dearly want to do it again. But my casting isn't up to the job any more. Pendulem Casting is out, I am just not supple enough any more, so I have been doing an Over Head Cast (big Pit style) and getting worse about 40 - best about 60yrds but I think that is not far enough to get in to the schol as I only get the odd one or two mackie where others are getting 4+ most casts!!!!

 

Now my question is what casting style do you think I should try/use? or do you feel perhaps a better rod/line/reel may even help get the extra yrds.. ?

 

I am getting really frustrated that old age and injury has beaten me

 

Thanks all

 

Eddie

[Newt]

Hi and welcome to Anglers' Net. Can't help but didn't want you to feel ignored.

[terry t shirt]

I dont do much surf fishing nowadays.

But i would look at the new longer style rods 18ft

These are designed more for an over head thump more than pendulum style casting so should increase your range.

I also use a lighter mainline or braid. purely for the thinner line diameter.

[Ken L]

Hi Eddie

 

There's more to sea fishing than chucking an 8oz lead and bait with a massively overpowered beachcaster.

A lighter, shorter rod with thinner line and a lighter weight will take a lot less effort to cast and will put a lot less stain on the caster - irrespective of casting style.

 

All of my summer beach bait fishing is now done with a pair of 11' 3lb test curve pike rods that will cast a 4oz grip lead without any difficulty, and wegh about a third of what my old beachcasters come in at.

 

Going lighter still, you can float fish for wrasse, mackerel, gars etc off the rocks or bait fish for flounders in the estuaries using a standard carp rod.

 

Going lighter still, but requiring more casting repetition lure fishing for bass and wrasse is very popular and often outfishes bait.

 

Lighter still and you're into coarse fishing for mullet in the rivers and creeks along the coast.

Edited June 4, 2012 by Ken L

[Lucky-Ediie]

Thanks Newt, Terry-T and Ken..

 

A guy on Chesil said I would get some answers on here

 

I don't think I am up for (not fit enough) rock hopping or perking a crank bait/lure.. I would really perfer to get back to the mackie as best I can on Chesil.

 

An 18' may be a good start? with the good old OTH thump, it seems to be the best shot, as its the cast I can do fairly easily.

 

I have been introduced to a guy and we went to a field today.. He brought several rods and though not a Casting Coach, he put me through a far amount of casting styles and rods.

 

It went like this.

 

9' Mackie Rod, Fixed spool reel, 15lb line, 2oz lead. A side/flick cast only got about 60yds

11' Carp Rod, Fixed spool reel, 18lb line/60lb Shock, 4oz lead. Big Pit style (OTH) & Brighton cast 60 - 80yds, but hit and miss.

13' Surf Rod, fixed spool, 18lb line/60lb Shock, 4 & 6 oz leads, OTH cast. Just on 50-70yds on average.

16.6' Surf Rod, fixed spool, 40lb braid line/60lb Shock, 4 & 6 oz leads, OTH cast & Brighton cast. Just on 60-70yds on average, but a lot less when I used 6oz lead.

 

I tried OTG, OTH, Brighton, African, several attemps at the pendulum.. still not getting the range or it hurt to much, or I was casting wild (in all directions apart from were I want it to go).

 

There must be something else I can try? or is there? Am I just pushing a non-starter?

 

Thanks again

 

Eddie, the hopeless caster

[Ken L]

The simple physics of using a long rod/lever is always going to be hard work and in any case, with the exception of winter cod fishing, the most common mistake is casting over the fish.

I'll stick be the recommendation of an 11 foot pike rod, 3oz lead and a cut down set of feathers.

[Phone]

Ediie,

 

Get a bait boat.

 

Phone

[Ken L]

Ediie,

 

Get a bait boat.

 

Phone

 

Well, yes. That

[Lucky-Ediie]

Ediie,

 

Get a bait boat.

 

Phone

 

I wish.. Can't afford one till I get back into full time work.. But yes.. nice idea

[Lucky-Ediie]

The simple physics of using a long rod/lever is always going to be hard work and in any case, with the exception of winter cod fishing, the most common mistake is casting over the fish.

I'll stick be the recommendation of an 11 foot pike rod, 3oz lead and a cut down set of feathers.

 

 

Hi Ken,

 

Thanks again for your advice and yep I understand it's not all brute force, long rods and heavy leads. It is technique and probably the more I practise it the better the shoulders will get, and that will give me the range I need to get to the mackie. Before my accident, I found hitting about 125 and pulling back into the fish worked for me.. now with the shorter range I hit I only get the stragglers not into the schol, but would be nice if I could cut a few corners now to get me to the fish.. and in time I can hopefully get back to casting normally or as near as I can.

 

I have been doing a bit of course fishing to keep me fishing, but getting bored with it, I far prefer beach fishing.

 

I watched for a bit at Chesil this morning, I was amazed to what rods people were using and the range they got. I used the 16.6' Surf Rod, fixed spool, 18lb mono line/60lb Shock, 4 oz lead, 4 feathers with OH thump or Brighton cast.. I got 10 mackie (in the two hours before the rain came in) others had many, many more.

 

I met a chap there he saw the predicament I was in, and he gave me some more pointers, and showed me the "Easy Cast Method" but casting side by side, he almost doubled my cast range every time, probably 'cos I was trying not to cripple myself by twisting to much and not hitting it hard enough. I did however hit the 100yds a couple of times, more luck than judgement lol.

 

I hope to get out with Malcolm again this week (if the rain stops) with even more different rods to try. I will ask him if he has access to the pike rod you suggest.

 

There is a double whammy with beating this, the psychotherapy poeple actually surgested doing beach casting, to build up the muscles again and help with the mobility as 3 days a week in the gym really hasn't helped that much.

 

I would like to say thank you again Ken, your advice has been excellent and given a bit of hope. I know I will beat the problem I have in time.

 

All the best Eddie