Casting lures... help the noob

GotHooked · #1 05-27-2009, 01:44 AM

Okay... so I'm sorta' a quasi-noob. I've been fishing since I was four years old, done both fresh and salt, all of my experience has been on jetties, peirs and bridges. Suddenly two weeks ago while I was fishing for flounder off a pier and dumb luck rears it's ugly head and I get tagged by a 30" striper. My world has changed! Now day in and day out I just wanna nail that next line-sider. So I've come to realize I need to foray into the realm of surf casting. I've been doin' plenty or readin' up and here's what I've got goin' on. Picked up a very entry level Okuma spinning combo. The rod is only 10' mainly because I am a little wary if someone of my height (5' 5") can control anything bigger. I've got it spooled with 17lb mono, with a 40lb mono shock leader. I've been chuckin' some bait into the water and now I'm moving onto lures. Now here's where my noobiness shines. Is casting the same with lures and bait? I've been working OTG and attempted the pendulum. Do these also work for lures? I've been chuckin' 4 oz leads with bait and most of the lures I read everyone recommending are just barely hittin' the 3 oz mark. Do I just need to practice my casts more or is there something I'm totally in the dark about. And oh yeah... I haven't caught another striper since the first.

Doublerunner · #2 05-27-2009, 08:19 AM

I'd use a fluorocarbon leader

Most lures are worked best on a slow retrieve worked back against the current so you're using the rip to help the lure wiggle and waggle

For deep water lures I try to slow retrieve until I feel it bounce off the bottom and then keep the pace up just enough to keep it off bottom

FLOATSUM · #3 05-27-2009, 08:19 AM

Nothing wrong with a 10' surf rod at all.
Just my opinion (not cast in stone) anything over 3 oz I'd prefer conventional gear. Actually 2oz+, I like conv. anyways.
Your spinning rod could be a bit heavy for plugging (maybe). but you're not listing what the rod is designed to handle. "4 oz plus bait" leads me to believe it's in the 6 oz. range.
For spin I'd probably look for 3/4 to 3 or maybe 1 1/2-4,or there abouts. It'll cast better for you if you match it up.
With plugs you'll be doing a lot more casting. A better matched rod will let your shoulder and back live longer.
Most of my plugs are tins / leads in the 2-4 1/2 range lately.

Everyone is different. What works for me, may not for you.

I don't think I'd be concerned with OTG for plugging with a spinner,,, but maybe.

Sudsy · #4 05-27-2009, 11:58 AM

Casting techniques depend on the lure.
Heavier lures like pencils, bucktails and tins lend themselves to the pendulum and OTG styles.
Lighter plugs like metal lips, smaller jigs and rubber, and plastic minnows need to be cast with more of a faster snap technique otherwise the rod won't load enough to get em out there.

khary23 · #5 06-14-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doublerunner

I'd use a fluorocarbon leader

Most lures are worked best on a slow retrieve worked back against the current so you're using the rip to help the lure wiggle and waggle

I think you'd have better luck if you cast up current and work the plug back to you with the current. Especially if your using darters and bucktails. You want the plug to be presented as naturally as possible. Most bait swims with the current not against it.

zimno1 · #6 06-15-2009, 09:12 PM

many feeding bunker schools face into the current if the "wind" is also going the direction of the current "TIDAL CURRENT/CHANELL CURRENT/ABOVE A HYDRAULIC CURRENT/LONGSHORE CURRENT, and are not actually swimming into but riding it in some cases. in this regard, a plug moving slowly in that direction isn't necessarily a bad thing in "certain circumstances".