Beach Casting - Reel up or down?

[fishfinder]

I've been fishing now for about 40 years and I've always used my reel in the "up" position. I've never really like the look of casting with the reel low down but now I'm wondering if I'm being too narrow minded! In particular I didn't like the idea of having to control the reel with my left hand!

 

Can anyone tell me what (if there are any) advantages i would have by casting with my reel low down?

[Worms]

I've been fishing now for about 40 years and I've always used my reel in the "up" position. I've never really like the look of casting with the reel low down but now I'm wondering if I'm being too narrow minded! In particular I didn't like the idea of having to control the reel with my left hand!

 

Can anyone tell me what (if there are any) advantages i would have by casting with my reel low down?

In theory, with the reel lower down the handle you have a longer rod and therefore a longer 'lever' to launch your lead and bait...a correspondingly higher effort needs to be put in.

 

It might also be more comfortable for reeling in. I tend to stick the reel where reeling in comfort and casting effort are balanced. If I was in the situation of desperately requiring a few more yards I might stick the reel lower down the rod...then again, you may lose accuracy...not necessarily required, it depends on the area you are fishing!

[Newt]

Fishfinder - did you mean reel above rod / reel below rod or the position of the reel relative to the butt of the rod?

[fishfinder]

I meant having the reel at the bottom of the butt rather than the conventioanl "arms length" up from the bottom

[Phone]

fishfinder,

 

I was with Newt. Many "multiplyers" are either "left handed" or "right handed". I have a pal who uses his multiplyer reel in a "hanging" position (like a fixed spool reel hangs from a spinning rod) so he can reel with the hand of choice. Goofy looking but he makes it work. (i.e. upside down)

Few rods, other than surf casting rods, have handles more than 12 - 15 inches in the US.

 

I'm picturing you putting your reel down where a flyrod reel goes - right? If that's the case, whilst casting, wouldn't line slap on the first ring negate any advantage? I can't believe the pressure point(s) would remain the same when playing a specimen fish either (??).

 

Phone

[Worms]

fishfinder,

 

I was with Newt. Many "multiplyers" are either "left handed" or "right handed". I have a pal who uses his multiplyer reel in a "hanging" position (like a fixed spool reel hangs from a spinning rod) so he can reel with the hand of choice. Goofy looking but he makes it work. (i.e. upside down)

Few rods, other than surf casting rods, have handles more than 12 - 15 inches in the US.

 

I'm picturing you putting your reel down where a flyrod reel goes - right? If that's the case, whilst casting, wouldn't line slap on the first ring negate any advantage? I can't believe the pressure point(s) would remain the same when playing a specimen fish either (??).

 

Phone

You've brought up a couple of salient points there Phone (blimey there's always a first time for everything ).

 

The positioning isn't about positioning of the reel in a dorso/ventral aspect, it's where on the handle i.e. closer to butt or 1st rod ring. The idea was mooted partly because of getting distance with shorter rods and partly that with modern stiffer rod blanks you are getting a 'better' bend in the rod to punch out a bait...using more of the action in other words and utilising some of the inherent strength of the stiffer mid/butt section for more power. Some people use a reel lower down the butt and fit another rod ring between original butt ring and reel to negate the "line slap".

 

Just goes to show how wrong all of those rod designers are eh!

[RUDD]

There are various reasons as follows

John Holden explains

[fishfinder]

A great article - really useful. Thanks

[big_cod]

Casting is better with the reel at the bottom but reeling a decent fish in with the reel at the butt i dont like it everything seems top heavy but its everybody to there own.

 

paul.

Edited October 2, 2012 by big_cod

[Vagabond]

In theory, with the reel lower down the handle you have a longer rod and therefore a longer 'lever' to launch your lead and bait...

 

.. and conversely, a big fish has more leverage against you (as Big Cod has just said)

 

I discovered that when using a South African outfit for bronze whaler shark in Namibia, see below

 

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Vagabon...=Skeleton+coast

 

That experience convinced me !