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Took a ¼ oz grub and tied it to a Abu C4 spooled with Ande 12 on a Bass Pro 7’ medium action rod…Cast 10 times from point a towards point b….

Took the same grub, tied it to a Abu C3 spooled with Ande 12 lb on a 6’6 medium action…Cast 10 times from point a towards point b….

Same grub, same C3 on a 7’ medium light action rod...Cast 10 times from point a towards point b…

Variant was a Stradic spooled with a 12 lb Ande on a Ugly Stik 7’ 6â€

I, also, would have thought the spinning reel would yield longer casts. I knew the line made a difference, I think rod action and length makes a difference in casting ease. I've found it much more comfortable to cast with a 7.5' rod.

Give me my stradic and 7 foot rod and I'll outcast a baitcaster all day long. It's all about technique grasshopper.

IMO the two main things that affect casting distance are the line and the rod (assuming casting weight to be constant).

Lighter lines (smaller diameter) will cast further than heavier lines, as there is less friction on the rod rings and less air resistance.

Longer rods, with a middle action will cast further, as they have increased leverage and are easier to "load" pre cast.

I do notice that in the US, because there is little need to cast very long distances, most spinning reels are filled well short of the spool lip.
We fill our spools right to the lip.
This increases casting distances , as there is reduced drag from the spool lip.

All of this depends on what you call "long distances".

When surf casting, I want to put a 4oz weight out about 120 yards.
Some of my lake fishing requires a quarter of an ounce weight being cast almost the same distance.
I stress these are bait (not lure) fishing scenarios.

Tom Keels wrote:Give me my stradic and 7 foot rod and I'll outcast a baitcaster all day long. It's all about technique grasshopper.

Bring it, sensei......

This was with a quarter ounce jig, now I can tie on a heavier plug (she dog) and sling it a country mile with the Stradic.....My intent was to see which weapon in my arsenal would be the better light lure rig...

I'm sure the reel has alot to do with it.....I believe the mag controlled reels are better than my Abus, all the distance casters use magnets for control...But I was comparing the eggs in my basket.....I had a Shimano Citica that was my best reel ever, mag controlled and would cast weightless jerk bait a mile on the 6'6 meduim action rod mentioned above....Looking at maybe making another reel purchase to further refine the hypothesis ......Good reel talk

I will clean/oil the Stradic today and retest it.......

Pretty technical stuff there, Chalk. Puts me in mind of an old argument about the common thermos jug being one of the greatest inventions, simple as it may be. It keeps hot stuff, hot and cold stuff, cold. The big question is- How do it know?? Just kiddin'..
As TC, I always thought an open-faced spinner would out perform most baitcasting reels, so your results is interesting.. And, TK is right about technique of the guy on the business end of the rod.
I expect rod length and, eye size and type, had a great deal to do with distance casting. Other factors involved, would be the wind velocity/direction along with weight, size, and shape of the lure. Of course, we all know, casting into anything over about a 5mph wind sucks.
The ideal rig, it seems, would be a 4 ft rod with 18-20" butt and 'adjustable action' (yet to be invented) and your favorite reel and line.
Or you could go this route--
"The ResQmax is a new generation line-thrower designed to safely and effectively deploy a line across an inaccessible expanse. The patented air-thrust technology is non-pyrotechnic, re-usable, and safe. Operating with 3000 psi of air pressure in the projectile, the ResQmax delivers a line with rocket-like distance and accuracy."

"will clean/oil the Stradic today and retest it......." Clean/oil-- is what most of us don't think about, 'til we are out on the water.

An interesting Aussy forum on surfcasting- http://members.boardhost.com/Surfcasters/index.html

Now, who has too much time on their hands??

My take on your experiments, Dr. Frankenchalk:
*You are dealing with more variables than you may realize!
*And, you are not controlling the rod and line variables very consistently:
*One variable that you haven't given all that much importance, is your bio-feed-back concerning casting a bait caster vs. casting a spinning rig -- it'd take maybe 20 casts with each rig type for your brain and muscles to adjust to the different characteristics of each type rig;
*If you were to control for all variables, it would probably take more time and, especially, a lot more money than you'd want to invest;
*You seem to be concerned more with distance than accuracy, which is the normal interest when, open water flats fishing for trout as contrasted with maybe casting for both distance and accuracy for redfish tailing or moving about in the shallows or around oyster bars;
*If you suddenly come into some big money and want to knock yourself out with the ultimate distance baitcaster, go for the Shimano Calcutta TE CTE200DC -- a digital circuitry ultimate long-cast, anti-backlash baitcaster which allows a cast without any magnetic breaking for maximum distance, until the lure gets very close to the target, then applies breaking! Obviously, this reel takes special technique in casting, but the results are amaizing! And, you'll get back a penny change from a $500 bill! Go change your skivvies, now!

I was only sampling SG...I will gladly work the pits if you want to come and fling your little heart out

No, I am concerned with accuracy and distance....If I perform a samuri move to try an increase a cast the accuracy goes down hill in a hurry

Line was controlled on all but one reel...The idea was to find the best jig slinging rig...The results perplexed me when the distance was the same with different length and action rods.....Wonder if we can go to Bass Pro and demo a few rigs in the parking lot

I have read about those digital calcuttas...on the cheap side for me

I have some interesting garmin news too..new post for later

I'd only consent to joining you in your laboratory, if you'd agree not to bring out that crew cut cadaver with those big bolts in his neck! I couldn't handle you yelling, "It's alive!" at the top of your voice, again, and again!
When will you make public your secret weapon -- is it a GPS controlled popping cork or a wireless controlled (take off on a Smartcast) plastic shrimp (D.O.A. clone)?

Chalk, unless you were joking, how would cleaning a spinning reel, make it cast further ?
No reel parts move when casting a spinning reel (apart from the whole thing in a forward motion ).

I thumb brake my baitcasters when casting, either for accuracy, or to prevent overruns on a "powercast".
I also "feather" spinning reel casts, for accuracy and presentation.

When and where is the BIG CASTOFF?

I posted a picture of the secret weapon yesterday SG....

Cran...It was more oil than clean .....I threw a Catch5 nicely today in the 40 knot wind gust....

Sorry Chalk, but oiling a spinning reel won't make it cast any further. ( to you too )

Sure it will Cran ....I put new line on it too....Didn't check it out though, maybe tomorrow..It threw my mirrolure very well, but I had a good tail wind