BACKCASTING
Sometimes pigeonholed as an effective yet crude method of heavy-duty beach fishing, backcasting can be an attractive alternative
Turning your back on the sea.
Backcasting is used in various guises throughout the world because it is efficient and versatile, and probably the most natural way to throw heavy leads and big baits. It is an all-round method, equally at home with light leads at short range.
Anglers who feel a touch too old and stiff for pendulum casting might welcome an easier option because remarkably little effort is required to fish at respectable range. Anglers with bad backs, arthritis, wheelchair-bound or weakened by wear and tear can switch to backcasting with great success.
The best approach is to try it using your normal beach gear. For most, it will not deliver more distance and control, at least not with up to 150g of lead. You might find it a more relaxed way to reach the same distances as before.
Physique plays its part, and some people are built for backcasting. If you’re built like a tank but not particularly flexible and quick, this style may be your thing. Whether massive or puny, chances are that you can backcast far more bulk and weight than with a forward-facing style.
The right set-up driven by a smooth sweep allows the average angler to fish comfortably with up to 8oz (225g) should the occasion demand it. Sometimes you need more horsepower to get a bait out far enough and to hold bottom.
SIMPLE EXERCISE
Consider this simple training aid – namely a shovel. Throwing a shovelful of sand over your shoulder is close to the action used to propel a backcast.
Start by standing more or less with your back to your target and start shovelling. Aim high and slightly to the right of the intended line. It’s important to load the shovel, otherwise your arms will try to do all the work.
The vital step in backcasting, as in shovelling, is to use your legs and to turn from the waist. Your left arm should remain reasonably straight, while the right stays fairly close to your right hip until the last moment.
Gradually increase the load until you are struggling. Notice how your legs do more work, and that you bend forward at the waist when a heavy shovelful begins to move. Having enough steam to toss a few pounds of sand over your shoulder is plenty for successful fishing.
Legs play a bigger role in backcasting than in most casting styles, so get your knees bending.
MASTER THE METHOD
Now replace the shovel with a fishing rod and go through the same drill. Most backcasters use a pendulum-style swing, but it also excels with off-ground layouts.
Use an off-ground layout when learning this cast. Laying the sinker inside the rod tip’s arc guarantees enough early resistance to make the rod bend properly. As with all off-ground methods, use an extended, outside layout if your rod has a fragile tip. Drop-length and layout angle are not critical at this stage, so find a set-up that feels comfortable and lets you move the rod smoothly into the shovelling action.
To make the cast, sweep the rod around and upwards using plenty of body power. Finish with a flick of the left arm to guide the cast high and slightly to the right. As always, it is essential to be smooth and progressive. Keep accelerating all the
way through. Make sure you keep turning. To avoid the error of bringing the rod through on too steep a plane, keep the action rounded to encourage full use of the body. Keep it slow and easy.
Pay no attention to distance now. All you’re doing is finding out whether you like the style and whether it makes life easier. Timing the start of the power stroke is a little fussier than with the half-pendulum backswing, but it’s a knack soon learned. Most difficulties are cured by lengthening the drop and swinging the sinker a little higher.
Another point worth noting is when standing facing directly away from the water, you may tend to lift the rod almost vertically, which is a common backcasting error. Again, a lot of the power comes from body rotation. To achieve that, you may need to shift your feet so that you are more sideways to the water towards the end of the power stroke. With experience, you might gain power and control by taking a step midway through the action.
It’s possible to cast moderate distances with nothing more than a firm lift of the left arm, but for real power you need to get your body working. Remember though, the more force and leverage you use, the more difficult it becomes to keep the rod butt under control. Advanced styles with very long rods and heavy weights leave you no choice but to anchor the butt cap firmly against the body. The hip region provides the safest support.
With lighter tackle, it’s worth trying a few casts with the bottom of the handle allowed to drift rather than being anchored. The extra freedom for rod butt and right arm to move independently of the body sometimes leads to a more pronounced shovelling action, which can add a bit of speed and tip compression.