How Do You Target Your Backhand? 2025

Choporoz reply :

I've been working on my backhand with baitcasters, and let me just say that it is not pretty. How to you handle targets to your right (if rod is in right hand; or left if rod is casted with left arm?) I am sorry to admit that I've let a lot of likely looking targets go by - especially if there's malicious-looking low overhang to get under.

geo g reply :

When you get into a situation where you have to use a backhand cast don't whip the cast. Make it a sheady back hand cast and be ready to put the breaks on by applying some thumb pressure. You need to practice this cast, and whatever you do don't whip the rod. It is not that hard once you get the hang of it. A good quality reel always helps.

Alpha Male reply :

I cant say that my backhand is pretty either but I have gotten better. I fish from the front of the boat because my father-in-law doesnt want to deal with operating the trolling motor, suits me fine since I get the motor and the bigger lowrance unit, but because I use a 7' pole most of the time its too close to him to cast on the right side of the boat so I have had to practice the backhand. like geog said you have to practice and do not force it.

and the most important tip i can give you it to never pass up a spot that you think holds a bass!

Bruce424 reply :

Backhand Two hand roll cast or pitch the bait as far as I need it.

Senko lover reply :

I switch hands, but the result's aren't pretty. In fact, they're pretty pathetic.

Fishes in trees reply :

What Bruce 424 wrote: i.e. learn roll casting, learn how to pitch. My advice - visualize your target and cast to it - show no fear. Overhanding objects and other obstacles can sense fear and will interrupt your bait - just to mess with you.

This being said - I know we've all had days where if the broad side of a barn was the target, we couldn't hit it. Those days happen - just deal.

skeeter1980 reply :

I just started using a baitcasting rod last year.Let me get the forward arm cast down first,before I try backhanding.LOL

EvanT123 reply :

I didn't see grap a spinning rod in that list of options.

Patrick Morrow reply :

Try it with a bit of an upward flick, so rather than completely horizontal, drop the tip downwards on the back-swing and bring it forward in an arch so the rod tip is traveling along more of a straight line towards the target.The upward motion will help with distance and accuracy, and should also eliminate those little over-runs, which can get bigger if casting into the wind, or as you try for a bit more distance out on the water. As you get better at it, you can try to get closer to being horizontal to the ground. But to start with it should almost be like an upwards backhand flip than a true backhand tennis shot type of action. This works for me anyway.

RanndomUndead reply :

On 3/24/2015 at 10:32 PM, geo g said:
When you get into a situation where you have to use a backhand cast don't whip the cast. Make it a sheady back hand cast and be ready to put the breaks on by applying some thumb pressure. You need to practice this cast, and whatever you do don't whip the rod. It is not that hard once you get the hang of it. A good quality reel always helps.

I stopped whipping casts when time after time i was forgetting to adjust the brake...and well...you know

Choporoz reply :

Thanks, all.

Patrick, I particularly appreciate the detailed description -- going to practice that this afternoon.

A-Jay reply :

I have learned how to cast accurately from either side without resorting to a back hand cast which has always felt awkward to me.

A-Jay

Ozark_Basser reply :

I've been fishing a lot from the bank since about last September. My backhand has gotten a lot better. My backhand skip has improved from nonexistent to fair, still having to pull out some line on that one.

Mccallister25 reply :

I normally just pitch the bait to wherever I need it to go if you he target area is within range.

paangler13 reply :

Roll cast, or pitch, depending on distance.

One thing I will say, is don't skip spots! Last year I tried making casts I knew I couldn't make, even making repeated casts to spots I blew out retrieving a lure from a previous cast. I Noticed my casting got better (more accurate, more stealth on splash down.) My pitching is what I really worked on, and I feel it improved by leaps and bounds.

I felt frustrated at times and some days I was in the trees more than the squirrels, but it made me a better caster, and a better fisherman.

Jim

DocNsanE reply :

With my spinning rods I switch hands but always cast two-handed and have done so since the first day I started fishing them. I feel very comfortable with either hand and can skip the bait accurately this way.

I just bought my first baitcaster a few weeks ago and haven't had a chance to fish it yet but I have a feeling the learning curve for my opposite-hand casting will be a lot bigger than it was with a spinning rod.

papajoe222 reply :

With my bum shoulder, I use a roll cast for all but deep cranking or distance casting. I do the same with my backhand. I haven't gotten to the point that I can skip backhanded, but for accuracy I'd say I'm pretty good out to around 15 yards. I can't even buff the wood left handed let alone cast that way, so I had to figure out something.

Choporoz reply :

LOL

papajoe222 reply :

On 3/26/2015 at 1:49 AM, Choporoz said:
LOL

See, I knew the guys over fifty might get a chuckle out of that. Sadly, I have to admit that despite my physical handicap, I still prefer using my right hand.............for casting.

fishangdood reply :

It's because of kayaking that my backhanded casts are as accurate as my forehanded. I like roll casting but I couldn't do that on my yak when targeting to my left. Try practicing with a plug seated on the ground. It just might be the ticket. It's a bonus when you rollcast it- my 3/8 spinnerbaits get distance like an overhand, but with such a low trajectory and a perfectly timed thumbing, it'll gently drop like with flipping and pitching. The learning curve was super oogalooey. You will be slapping the water on occasion, but you will be the best bird nest untangler.

hatrix reply :

Spend a day beating a bank and hitting spots using only backhand or roll casts. If your really bad you should be amazing better at days end. If I need to back hand under stuff it's easy to do it like a pitch but swing it out to the side with the rod at like a 45. The lure will kind of swing in a curve and with practice you can get a ton of distance that way.

Frogfather reply :

More often than not, I'm moving the boat or figure out another way to get the bait in there. I'm hitting that spot one way or another. I stink with opposite hand and backhand.

matuka reply :

Years ago I went out to the pool to learn a backhanded roll cast. My first couple of attempts missed the pool.....

THE BASS WHISPERER reply :

Playing tennis helps!

fishangdood reply :

On 4/1/2015 at 6:09 AM, THE BASS WHISPERER said:
Playing tennis helps!

I knew my 1 semester phys ed credit came in handy.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Just keep practicing being mindful of release point. The muscle memory will kick in eventually and won't even think about it. I got pretty good with a back hand when fishing tourneys as a co-angler. I got a few good fish off the back side of targets as we passed.

Darren. reply :

I'll either switch hands or pitch the bait.

Never gotten the hang of roll casting, maybe

because I need to be higher up than I can

stand in my kayak...not sure.

Jd_Phillips_Fishin reply :

Just practice using both hands, you'll get it after a while.

RoLo reply :

Sometimes backhand, sometimes underhand, whatever suits the moment,

but I'll never switch hands or reposition the boat.

If I'm not comfortable with any option, there's nothing to stop me

from pivoting my body clockwise until I can make a right-cross pitch.

Roger

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How Do You Target Your Backhand? 2025

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