02-22-2010, 05:31 PM
Casting distance is a super-complicated formula, convoluted by all sorts of laws of psysics...
Lots of the aspects are similar to ballistics.
Line - the smaller the diameter, the less aero drag... BUT, the lighter the line, the less momentum it has and thus it slows down in flight. For this reason, braided line in large sizes kills casting distance. How limp or wiry a line is will also be a factor with friction through the guides of the rod.
Lure - the lighter the lure, the greater initial velocity off the rod... BUT, heavier lures tend to keep their velocity over time and are less effected by wind resistence. Generally speaking, a heavy, dense lure will travel furthest... this is why it's hard to bomb a crankbait. Rattle traps will cast a lot further because they are sleeker and have no lip to resist the wind.
Rod - Longer rods generally translate to longer casts... the mechanical advantage of the rod is increases in a linear fashion in correlation to the rod length. Almost just as important as the length is the action. Try throwing a 1/8 oz lure with a flipping stick and see how far the lure goes.... not too far because the lure isn't heavy enough to load the rod. If casting distance is important to you, throw lures that are close to the upper limit of your rod. The more the rod is bending, the further your casts will travel.
Technique - self-explanatory
Reel - The weight of your spool in your baitcaster is also a factor. Light lures (1/4 oz and smaller) are difficult to get the spool spinning in the beginning of a cast with a baitcaster. There are several aftermarket kits available in Japan to compensate for this... special bearings and spools. Most of the time, we compensate by turning the brakes up... but that kills casting distance, too.
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Lots of the aspects are similar to ballistics.
Line - the smaller the diameter, the less aero drag... BUT, the lighter the line, the less momentum it has and thus it slows down in flight. For this reason, braided line in large sizes kills casting distance. How limp or wiry a line is will also be a factor with friction through the guides of the rod.
Lure - the lighter the lure, the greater initial velocity off the rod... BUT, heavier lures tend to keep their velocity over time and are less effected by wind resistence. Generally speaking, a heavy, dense lure will travel furthest... this is why it's hard to bomb a crankbait. Rattle traps will cast a lot further because they are sleeker and have no lip to resist the wind.
Rod - Longer rods generally translate to longer casts... the mechanical advantage of the rod is increases in a linear fashion in correlation to the rod length. Almost just as important as the length is the action. Try throwing a 1/8 oz lure with a flipping stick and see how far the lure goes.... not too far because the lure isn't heavy enough to load the rod. If casting distance is important to you, throw lures that are close to the upper limit of your rod. The more the rod is bending, the further your casts will travel.
Technique - self-explanatory
Reel - The weight of your spool in your baitcaster is also a factor. Light lures (1/4 oz and smaller) are difficult to get the spool spinning in the beginning of a cast with a baitcaster. There are several aftermarket kits available in Japan to compensate for this... special bearings and spools. Most of the time, we compensate by turning the brakes up... but that kills casting distance, too.
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