How To Cast A Spinning Reel – Directions, Video, & Other Resources

If you are trying to learn how to cast a spinning reel, you have come to the right place. In this article, we’ve embeded helpful instructional videos, and provided step by step directions to get you casting accurately, and efficiently.

We know that if you are trying to learn how to cast, you may not have a rod or reel quite yet. For this reason, we encourage you to check out some other content before you make a purchase. Our spinning reels buyer’s guide, or this guide to budget spinning reels.

You also may want to read our guide: how to spool your spinning reel, or our guide on choosing the best mono fishing line.

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Casting Videos | Glossary | Step By Step Guide

 

How To Cast A Spinning Reel Videos

We have compiled some of the best videos on this subject for you. Any one of these videos alone will be hugely valuable for you:

 

Spinning Reel Parts & Vocabulary

Before we get into our step by step instructions for casting a spinning reel, it is essential for you to know some vocabulary around spinning rods and reels. This will enable you to understand the steps and motions necessary to cast.

The three main parts of a spinning fishing reel are handle, spool, and bail. Knowing these parts closely will help you to understand the casting process.

 

Handle

This is the rotating part in which anglers impart power via the hands to rotate the spool and reel in line.

 

Spool

This part is made of graphite or anodized aluminum. Its function is to hold the fishing line. The line is wrapped around the axis of the spool. There is a spindle on which the spool is rotated both during the casting and retrieval process.

 

Bail

It’s a semi-circular part that is fixed with the reel’s body. The bail’s function is to release to the line for casting as well as hold it in place, and draw in line when reeling in.

 

Drag Adjustment

Drag Adjustment is located on the top of the spool and is usually a twisting tool to either tighten or loosen the drag (make it harder to pull line out, or make it easier).

 

Step By Step Guide: How To Cast A Spinning Reel?

• Grip the rod with your casting hand. Whether the rod is a right retrieve, or left retrieve rod, we still recommend casting with the hand and arm that you feel most comfortable with. You should grip the rod on the handle of the rod so that your hand is comfortable, and you have the ability to cast.
• Make sure your lure or bait is dangling 6-18 inches below the tip of your rod. If it is longer, you’ll want to reel in a bit. If it is shorter, you need to release the bail, let out some line, and close the bail back up to get that 6-18 inch distance. This will allow for accurate and powerful casting.
• Use your index finger, and grab the line just above the bail, and press the line against your rod so that the line cannot be pulled out further.
• Open the bail while keeping the line held on the rod.
• Bring the rod tip backwards to a position where you can cast.
• Quickly cast the rod tip forwards towards your intended target. Let the line go from your fingers so that the weight of the lure/bait casts the line our towards your intended target.
• Once the bait hits the water, you need to manually close your bail so that you can reel in the lure/bait.