Reel placement...

[HatterasCast]

My fishing background is primarily east coast.... Cape Hatteras North Carolina to be exact.

The rods im using are probably similar to the surf rods mentioned in the post above. General rule of thumb for distance casting (at "the point", you need 100-150yd casts every time if you want to catch the big drums or stripers) extend your arm straight out to your side at shoulder level. Take the butt of your rod and put it into your arm pit. Where your "reel hand" is now holding onto the cork is where you should place your reel.

I use this same method when setting up my rods for throwing iron. It might look a little different then everyone else. But if you really know how to fling the iron and utilize a solid distance casting technique (i.e. Hatteras Cast ect.) It'll feel really comfortable when you push with your "reel hand" and pull with your "cork hand" into the butt of your arm pit.

Trust me it works wonders for distance. Proof is in these pics...

[MarkT]

From a yak you might want the reel up a little higher than the standard elbow to hand to make it easier to have the butt under your arm when fighting the fish.

[gupppy]

the way i look at it, even though the reel might be placed lower for more distance, it may not be the most comfortable. again, with the bat analogy, you want to try to knock it out of the park by having your hands at the butt, but even though it may be technically the most powerful position, it's not the most efficient. try it out a few times to whatever feels the best.

[lowprofile]

The reel goes higher for more leverage and distance unless you're doing a back cast then the reel goes at the bottom of the handle. But that's done for surf fishing with8oz or more and bait getting100+ yard casts .

[lowprofile]

Originally Posted by HatterasCast

My fishing background is primarily east coast.... Cape Hatteras North Carolina to be exact.

The rods im using are probably similar to the surf rods mentioned in the post above. General rule of thumb for distance casting (at "the point", you need 100-150yd casts every time if you want to catch the big drums or stripers) extend your arm straight out to your side at shoulder level. Take the butt of your rod and put it into your arm pit. Where your "reel hand" is now holding onto the cork is where you should place your reel.

I use this same method when setting up my rods for throwing iron. It might look a little different then everyone else. But if you really know how to fling the iron and utilize a solid distance casting technique (i.e. Hatteras Cast ect.) It'll feel really comfortable when you push with your "reel hand" and pull with your "cork hand" into the butt of your arm pit.

Trust me it works wonders for distance. Proof is in these pics...

I'd like to see some of your techniques from the east coast. did you bring your rods with you? I'm throwing 6oz and half macks 80-90yrds with 30lb mono on a custom 13ft CUI rod and Abu Big Game 9000CT and also just perfected a long clip down rig with 90lb wire that im able to consistently hit 100yrds with 3oz and a whole squid with 20lb mono on a custom Rainshadow SU1386f and Daiwa sealine-X 30sha both using the hateras cast.

[taggermike]

The fore arm length is a general rule of thumb but it usually works out well enough. I recently found out how important reel placement is. I've had a seeker ulua for years now and never really like it. Those sticks have a large butt diameter so I just placed the reel as far down as the reel mounting bolts allowed. The rod always felt awkward, didn't cast as well as I thought it should, and when I used it on the kayak the longer butt section would some times hang up on my legs or package during a cast. I got a different reel and bought a pair of longer bolts so I could put the reel the elbow to finger distance. The new reel palcement made a HUGE difference. every thing just fes right now. You might want to try different placements and see what works best for you. Mike