The spinning rod might begin with the same rod blank as a bait-casting rod, but it accepts a different type of fishing reel, the open-face spinning reel. Most anglers find the spinning rod and reel much easier to manage than the bait-casting rig. Even novice fishermen pick up the basic casting skills in an afternoon of practice, without the frustration of backlashed line.
Basic Spinning Rig
Unlike bait-casting and spin-casting rigs, the spinning reel hangs below the rod. Rod line guides also follow the underside of the pole. Right-handed anglers hold the rod in the right hand, setting up for a cast by trapping the line either between the index finger and the bottom of the rod, or between the index finger and the reel's trigger lever. Lifting the reel's bail allows line to strip freely off the reel's spool. Cranking the reel with the left hand flips the bail down again, stopping the line. Because line leaves the reel in an elongated spiral, the line guides of spinning rods reduce drag by using larger eye diameters than comparable bait-casting poles.
Learning to Cast
To cast efficiently, a spinning rod needs a reel built to handle line and tackle that matches the strength of the rod. Correct lure weights and line strengths should be printed on the rod. Choose a plain sinker within that lure weight range for casting practice and practice in an open area using an old tire as a target. With bail open and finger pressure on the line, swing the rod up and back, then swing forward and release the line. When the sinker hits the ground, reel it back in and try again.
Casting for Distance
Strive for smooth action before trying to put much power into the cast. Let the practice lure hang about 18 inches down from the pole's tip. Move the pole smoothly up and back and release the line when the forward swing of the pole hits 45 degrees. Keep the pole at that angle to reduce friction on the line. Set the bail of the reel as the weight strikes the ground to stop excess line from going out. As timing improves, try a faster swing for more distance. Levering the butt of the pole toward the body with the left hand as the right hand swings the pole forward gives maximum tip speed, says John Merwin of "Field and Stream."
Casting Flat
Although you'll cast farther with that smooth lobbing style, if you're after fish actively feeding on the surface you'll need a more efficient cast. Lobbing casts hit the mark accurately but take a lot of extra line from the reel. Top-water fish often hit a lure almost as it splashes down, shaking it out before the angler reels in that long arc. A faster flicking cast uses the flexibility of the pole itself to project the lure. Casting flat with a spinning rod requires good timing and a snap of the wrist. Keep the angle of the pole flatter to keep the lure closer to the water, trading distance for faster reaction time. Set an old tire on edge to practice this cast, training until you can fire a lure through the tire, not just at it.
Trick Landings
When fishing steep banks along small streams or angling among rocky structure like partly submerged boulders, dropping a lure where it's dry sometimes catches more fish than landing it in the water. Stand opposite the target structure and cast the lure on the top of the bank or onto the dry top of the boulder. Carefully reel in the excess line and then hop the lure lightly into the shadowed water. Fish often strike as the lure falls.
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