CARP TACTICS Simple tricks to help you put more distance on your casts
Ed Betteridge shares his top advice to help you cast further and more accurately
ON BUSY lakes, being able to put your hookbait 10-20 yards further than those around you can be a huge edge, because it allows you to infiltrate the area the carp consider a safe zone.
Linear Fisheries’ Brasenose 1 is a prime example of a venue where distance can be key. The fish here spend a large amount of time in the middle of the lake, and while baiting up out there can be difficult, a single hookbait is usually enough to tempt a bite. A single in the right place is better than a rig sat over bait in the wrong one.
Distance casting is a skill that anyone can master with a bit of practice. These are some of the best yard-adding tips that I’ve picked up over the years…
Technique
There are various casting techniques and you need to find the one that suits you best. Due to my height, I’m quite a slow caster and progressively build power throughout the cast. Alternatively, you can be a punchy caster who uses arm speed to produce the force to propel the lead.
Whichever style you have, it is important to stand side-on, get everything moving as quickly as possible once in motion and remember, timing is key.
Keep a 45-degree angle
Holding the rod at this angle after releasing the line reduces friction and allows everything to sail out into the lake unhindered. The last thing you want is for the tip to crash into the water or pull the lead back. It also makes it easier to feel the lead down.
Wind direction
Wind can either massively increase or hinder your casting distance. If the wind is off your back, you can cast higher and use it to carry your rig out to the spot. If it’s in your face or cutting across, you’ll need to cast at a much lower trajectory.
If you’re having a problem with a bow forming in the line, point your rod in the direction the wind is coming from.
Long and strong rods
I’d recommend using a rod with a test curve of least 3.5lb. Length is important too as you can generate a lot more tip speed with a longer rod. The quicker the rod moves, the further the rig will go. For this reason, I opt to use a 13ft rod for my distance work.
Go for mono line
Big-spooled reels with excellent line-lay are essential. For really big distances of 150 yards or more, I would load these up with braid. For those who are relatively inexperienced distance casters, however, braid can come with serious problems – like savage wind knots! Because of this, I would recommend a strong mono. Remember, the lower the
diameter, the further it will go, but this needs to be balanced with fish and angler safety.
I can still hit over 100 yards with 18lb line on a correctly balanced set-up.
Lead sizes
To hit 100 yards-plus, I always start with a 3.5oz lead. However, lead size is largely dependent on your casting style and the rod you use.
It is important to load the rod correctly for it to achieve its full potential, so have a play around and see which casts best.
As a general rule, I’ve noticed slow casters like myself need a heavier lead, while punchy casters can get away with much lighter ones.
Tangle-proof your rigs
When hitting leads hard at distance the chances of tangles greatly increase. I therefore incorporate tubing or a stiff antitangle leader into my set-up.
This will only cost you a couple of extra yards at most, yet will greatly improve your chances of actually catching something. In most scenarios I use a lead clip with an anti-tangle sleeve and semi-stiff hooklink. This combination will push the rig away from the lead. Avoid distance-casting with a soft, supple braid hooklink – that is a recipe for tangles!
Baiting at range
Being able to Spomb accurately at range comes with practice. There are, however, a couple of things you can do to improve accuracy. First, maintain the same length of drop between your Spomb and the rod-tip on each cast. Second, ensure the Spomb is evenly loaded. This reduces wobble and prevents it veering off in the wrong direction. To do this, simply give the Spomb a good shake after loading. This forces the contents to move towards the head of the Spomb and plug any holes on either side.
Give ‘em some stick
Once you develop your casting style to consistently hit long distances, you can add extras to your rig, such as PVA bags.
I have had great success by threading small PVA sticks on to my rig. These provide just the right amount of attraction to induce a bite and can be loaded with liquid flavours. They also greatly reduce tangles when tied to roughly half the length of the rig. After a bit of practice, you will be able to hit 120 yards with these attractive parcels of food.