When fish push out towards the centre of the lake, being able to cast further can make all the difference. As well as a good casting technique, there are a few other things you can do to eke out those extra few yards. Jack Wheeler reveals all...
Fishing at distance is a whole new skill in itself, where fine margins can really make a difference between catching or not, and there are a few key points which have aided my success over the years...
Braided shockleaders
On venues that permit the use of braided shockleaders, this can be an absolute game-changer for getting extra distance on the cast. My go-to shockleader is Daiwa J-Braid X8 in 50lb. Using four to five rodlengths of this as a leader enables me to use a lower diameter mainline, which offers less resistance when it travels through the air.
Fish safety must always come first, so before you drastically reduce the diameter of your mainline, take into consideration the type of venue you’re fishing. If there are a lot of snags present then it won’t be wise to fish with a thinner line because you risk getting cut off when playing a fish, leaving it trailing line.
Another benefit of using a braided shockleader is that it enables you to use a heavier lead without the risk of ‘cracking off’ on the cast. I find a 4oz distance lead is my sweet spot when fishing at range.
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Braid alternatives
Tapered mainlines can really come into their own on waters where braided leaders are banned. A tapered mainline has several rodlengths of a high diameter monofilament at the top of the spool, which then tapers down to a lower diameter. When casting, the higher diameter line will take the force of the cast and the lower diameter stuff just behind it will ensure minimal resistance through the air.
MAKE SURE YOUR REELS ARE SPOOLED UP WITH THE BEST FISHING LINES.
The right kit
Trying to crack a long-range venue with 10ft rods is going to be an uphill struggle, especially if you see fish activity towards the centre of a lake. This is common on big waters, as any sort of angling pressure can push the fish towards that area.
When casting big distances, it is best to use a rod of 12ft-13ft with a strong test curve. This will give you more leverage and power on the cast, resulting in longer distances being achieved. A big pit-style reel with a large diameter spool will also help dramatically in this respect.
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Baiting at range
One of the most important factors when fishing at distance is being able to bait over the top of your rigs, especially when fishing higher stock venues where there are a lot of hungry mouths to feed.
When baiting up with a Spomb, accuracy is key! However, the further you cast, the harder it is to be accurate, especially in a crosswind.
So, instead of casting to the horizon and struggling to bait accurately over the top, I always reduce the distance I fish to guarantee I can still get the feed out effectively, even if that means fishing four or five wraps shorter than I would normally, due to a strong crosswind.
The only time I would not worry about baiting over my rods is if I am just fishing singles, in which case I am more than happy to fish at longer range.
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Rig selection
The longer the cast, the more time the rig has to tangle. I avoid softer rig materials such as uncoated or even soft-coated braids, as these can be prone to wrapping back up your mainline, resulting in a poor presentation.
Stiffer rigs are more tangle- proof when fishing at distance. Fluorocarbon or semi-stiff coated braids are perfect for the job. A simple rig with fewer components can also be a big edge when trying to prevent tangles. When bottom bait fishing I typically use a blowback rig of semi-stiff coated braid, with a tiny section of uncoated braid just above the hook. It is very rare for this rig to tangle during the cast, and it always presents your hookbait very effectively.
NEW TO CARP FISHING? CHECK OUT OUR EXPERT GUIDE FOR ALL THE TIPS AND TACKLE YOU NEED.
