Learning how to cast a fishing rod correctly helps to make your angling more efficient and ultimately more enjoyable.

Medium Spin Rod

With rod in hand and the thumb placed on top of the rod grip and the fingers wrapping around below, position the stem of the reel between your two middle fingers (you want to have two fingers either side of the reel stem) for optimum control and balance.

Then rotate the bail arm and rotor of the reel until the line roller reaches the top of the reel and is closest to your fingers.  Extend your forefinger down, grab the line with your finger then open the bail arm. This positions the line in a perfect right angle and the optimum position to make the cast. Pinching the line tight to the blank or using multiple fingers to hold the line is a no-no and won’t make for a clean release.

The cast is simply then made by extending the rod back, then extending it forward, releasing the finger from the line to allow the line to flow through the guides.

Light Spin Rod

For lighter and smaller rods and reels the process is similar, though with a slight twist due to reel being smaller and closer to the rod.

The first step is to rotate the rotor and bail arm until the top of the bail arm curve is positioned on the top of the reel and closest to your forefinger. You then extend your finger down placing it on the spool to pinch and hold the line against it, once done you’re free to open the bail arm and make the cast.

This method helps to ensure a clean release and minimises your fingers becoming tangled in the line during the cast. This method also allows you to feather the line coming off the spool during the cast for enhanced casting control and accuracy.

Meet Justin Duggan
Sydney Fly Fishing Tours Daiwa Pro Angler

Justin Duggan is a professional guide who specialises in Lure and Fly fishing with his business Sydney Flyfishing Tours. Justin has travelled the world fishing and is a leading angling educator and speaker with tens of thousands of hours fishing and teaching time under his belt. Justin is comfortable with all styles of fishing but is especially fond of chasing any species using lures and flies.