Cast Techniques for Bass Fishing

Cast techniques are the various methods of using a rod to present a lure to the targeted spot.

Why Are Cast Techniques Important?

Cast techniques are important to:

Control Cast Distance: To get to distant locations or to cover water.
Obtain Cast Accuracy: To have precisions casts to targeted spots.
Cast Frequency: To maximize the number of casts to maximize covering water.
Avoid Spooking Bass: Stealth lure entry to avoid spooking the bass.
Addressing Wind: To select the right cast based on the wind conditions.
Address Tight Spots: To address awkward target spots.

Casting Options

Long Cast Distance:
- Overhand: Overhand cast, or the overhead cast, sometimes referred to as bombing when making long casts, is casting the rod directly overhead towards the desired location. It is common for both spinning rods and baitcaster rods.
Medium Cast Distance:
- Roll Cast: Also called an underhand cast, or a sidearm roll cast, is a cast where you roll the lure in a loop movement close to the water to create upward/outward momentum such that the lure will be tossed to the targeted spot and have minimum splash. It is also the cast that is the foundation of skipping. Roll cast is considered one of the more accurate casting techniques.
- Skipping: Skipping cast is roll cast (some call side arm or underarm cast) where the lure skips to reach the target spot commonly to get under brush, laydown or a dock, but less common to achieve a top water action while minimizing the splash.
- Sidearm Cast: Sidearm cast (side arm cast), not to be mistaken for the sidearm roll cast, is a horizontal cast with no roll typically used for lures that can’t be easily skipped into tight spots for example under branches or a dock or to cast into the wind. Some compare it to a side arm pitch in baseball.
- Backhand: Backhand cast is casting with a backhand motion from the casting hand typically using a roll cast at short to medium distances. Common when boat positioning is difficult (or takes too long) or a second angler is nearby interfering with standard cast.
Short Distance Casts: Commonly chosen due to their accuracy, low noise splash factor, typically with a baitcaster rod.
- Pitching: (Pitchin) which is a lure in hand then using a baitcaster rod to cast the lure a short distance. Also described as an underhand pitch or toss of a lure. Pitch casting can also be used to skip a lure when close to the target. Pitching is sometimes inaccurately called flipping, but flipping, historically common, but now with the advances of baitcaster reels not as common. For example, it is common to pitch a flipping jig but it is no longer common to flip a flipping jig.
  - Punching: Punching, (punchin) is using a pitch cast with a heavy lure to punch through thick floating/matted grass canopy.
- Flipping: Flipping, (flippin) often a term used incorrectly to refer to the pitch cast, is now a relatively uncommon casting technique due in part to the advances of the baitcaster technology. It is only for very short distance casts where the angler never uses the reel, instead, uses his free hand to position the lure so the rod can lower the lure into select locations near the boat.