Is The "overhead" Cast Sacrilege ? 2024
Texas Hawg Hunter reply :
I got it in my head that casting over your head, rather than sidearm, is a big no no primarily because it makes a much bigger splash in the water and therefore spooks fish. Is this correct? Or maybe there's a better way to do it. It comes in handy in tight spots sometimes, in addition to the backhand cast.
Catt reply :
Totally false! 
Paul Roberts reply :
Do what needs to be done. Sometimes having a lure visible over the water, and even the big splash, can draw bass. This is most apt to happen under dark skies. Bright skies and flat water can yield just the opposite, although I've used super-high (and long) overhead casts to get over and beyond spooky fish in high vis conditions. It's also easier to throw really long casts overhead.
That said, a low profile cast and quiet entry are skills worth having.
Yeah! What he said too! ^ ^ ^ 
hatrix reply :
You ever fish on a boat with like 3 of you on deck? It's fairly common when using spinning gear to cast overhead though.
everythingthatswims reply :
Casting overhead:
Spinning gear- OK
Casting gear- Makes it more difficult for me
Driftb reply :
I am going to bust some chops if I see someone NOT casting overhead in my boat. It is a real pet peave of mine when guys are casting sidearm, or whole arm. I want to see an over head flick cast. it's the most efficient way I know of to cast long. The movement should be 90% wrist, 10% elbow, not the shoulder or upper arm. With a fast or extra fast spinning rod you'll be able to cast farther and with less energy than using a "nightcrawler or doughball sling" You should be able to load the rod just fine starting at 11 o'clock. The long windup is just going to cause problems with the other anglers in the boat. Plus casting all day you want to use as little energy as possible to get the job done.
Flipping and pitching are another story. These are relatively short underhand casts using heavy lures and casting reels. You control the splash with your thumb.
If you are on the bank, just do what you gotta do. Watch out for low limbs.
Texas Hawg Hunter reply :
I could see it coming in handy in different boating situations, but I hardly ever fish from a boat. It does come in handy sometimes from the shore when brush gets in the way, just have to figure out how to minimize the splash. Will try some of Driftb's tips.
Lund Explorer reply :
Every type of casting motion has it's time and place.
Overhead is fine if you're bombing away for distance. Not so much if you are trying to land a lure right on top
of a fish holding spot.
Bassun reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 7:07 PM, Lund Explorer said:Every type of casting motion has it's time and place.
Overhead is fine if you're bombing away for distance. Not so much if you are trying to land a lure right on top
of a fish holding spot.
I think this wraps it up neatly. Mastering different types of casts, with both hands, just gives you a little more advantage. Admittedly though, I still need to spend more time working from my left side.
fishballer06 reply :
Nothing wrong with it. I fish a good bit with 3 in the boat, so overhead is almost the only way to cast.
Overhead casting also works well for super long bombing. Especially if you're throwing with the wind and you want to get some air under the lure and let the wind carry it for you.
WIGuide reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 1:50 PM, Driftb said:I am going to bust some chops if I see someone NOT casting overhead in my boat. It is a real pet peave of mine when guys are casting sidearm, or whole arm. I want to see an over head flick cast. it's the most efficient way I know of to cast long. The movement should be 90% wrist, 10% elbow, not the shoulder or upper arm. With a fast or extra fast spinning rod you'll be able to cast farther and with less energy than using a "nightcrawler or doughball sling" You should be able to load the rod just fine starting at 11 o'clock. The long windup is just going to cause problems with the other anglers in the boat. Plus casting all day you want to use as little energy as possible to get the job done.
Flipping and pitching are another story. These are relatively short underhand casts using heavy lures and casting reels. You control the splash with your thumb.
If you are on the bank, just do what you gotta do. Watch out for low limbs.
Wow...you must be a real joy to fish with...
Raul reply :
Let me see what I can find in The Good Book about this matter ......... Nope, there ain't no commandment sayin' : "Thou shall not overcast" so if there ain't no commandment then it ain't a sacriledge.
Master Bait'r reply :
As a primarily kayak fisherman, with rods on both sides of my cockpit there are only a few options- either side arm cast or overhead. I don't care what anybody else thinks about it tbh haha
desmobob reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 10:30 PM, Master Bait said:...with rods on both sides of my cockpit there are only a few options...
I don't care what anybody else thinks about it tbh haha
I don't think anyone here is going to judge you....
(Although I have to admit it makes me uncomfortable to read that.)
;-)
I use a straight overhead cast a lot; especially when lateral accuracy is important, like when casting between two rows of pilings, etc.
I do notice that when I'm lawn fishing, I often get a backlash when casting straight overhead. There must be something different about the way I apply power to my casting stroke in an overhead cast.
Tight lines,
Bob
Bassun reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 11:16 PM, desmobob said:I don't think anyone here is going to judge you....
(Although I have to admit it makes me uncomfortable to read that.)
;-)
I use a straight overhead cast a lot; especially when lateral accuracy is important, like when casting between two rows of pilings, etc.
I do notice that when I'm lawn fishing, I often get a backlash when casting straight overhead. There must be something different about the way I apply power to my casting stroke in an overhead cast.
Tight lines,
Bob
I had the same problem getting backlash on my overhead casts -- Then I noticed two things I was doing. One, I was generally casing harder changing the speed in which I was despooling but secondly I noticed I had a habit of "snapping" the rod. It worked great on spinning gear and will shoot the lure out like a rocket, but with the baitcaster I was snapping it and not modifying my thumbing. It took me a while to figure out what I was doing and for a while I actually avoided strait overhead casts it was so annoying. I used the reel brakes for a bit to tame things down, but then once I realized what I was doing, thumbing it became natural.
Having said that... I still backlash more than I would like to admit, lol.
J Francho reply :
I never thought about what cast you can and can't do. No one has ever told me what's right and wrong, either. It's pretty silly, if you think about it.
*Hootie reply :
How I can or cannot cast? Come on guys, this is Amurica. I'll cast however I want.....next?
Hootie
J Francho reply :
It's the second Monday of an odd numbered month - flip casts only today!
Catt reply :
My book list 2 commandmentsOn 11/10/2014 at 10:18 PM, Raul said:Let me see what I can find in The Good Book about this matter ......... Nope, there ain't no commandment sayin' : "Thou shall not overcast" so if there ain't no commandment then it ain't a sacriledge.
#1: make what ever cast necessary to get the lure to the bass
#2: do what ever is necessary to land caught bass
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 11/11/2014 at 12:03 AM, J Francho said:It's the second Monday of an odd numbered month - flip casts only today!
You must work for the government! : )
ColdSVT reply :
No...but hooking me is! Lol
Alonerankin2 reply :
Julian date is..14314 , so overhead & pitch cast's only please.
PersicoTrotaVA reply :
Boat Owner- "Only rule on my boat is no overhand casting"
PersicoTrotaVA packs up his stuff and goes home.
END OF SCENE
I am not going to have anyone tell me how to fish, even if I am on their boat. The overhand cast, especially with a spinning combo, is crucial.
*Hootie reply :
On 11/11/2014 at 12:41 AM, ColdSVT said:No...but hooking me is! Lol
That looks EXTREMELY painful....OUCH!!!
Hootie
Siebert Outdoors reply :
I use the overhead throw a lot with traps and jerkbaits. Fishing in the northern lakes its about the only cast I use. Side arm doesn't get the bait out as far for me.
MO_LMB reply :
Yeah there is a time and place for every type of cast.
geo g reply :
I agree with some of the posters. Use whatever cast is good for you and the guy your fishing with that day. You should have a whole repertoire of different casts for different situations. I overhead cast quite often, but I also roll cast side arm if that side of the boat is open. It is very smooth, effortless, casting method, and much easier on the old body parts. From the bank I roll cast a lot with overhead branches in the area. I occasionally back cast and pitch. Whatever is good for that particular situation is what I use. I would never tell someone they have to fish a certain way to be in my boat. That just sounds un-American, and not very friendly! The secret is to go out and have fun for the day, without a lot of restrictions.
grampa1114 reply :
Geez....isn't this a topic for waaay in the middle of the winter.....people are still tryin' ta' fish here.....
Lund Explorer reply :
On 11/11/2014 at 12:22 AM, Catt said:My book list 2 commandments
#1: make what ever cast necessary to get the lure to the bass
#2: do what ever is necessary to land caught bass
Nothing about tithing into your half of the livewell?
Master Bait'r reply :
On 11/10/2014 at 11:16 PM, desmobob said:I don't think anyone here is going to judge you....
(Although I have to admit it makes me uncomfortable to read that.)
It makes me uncomfortable too sometimes... But what can I say? It's a burden I'm willing to bear!! 
desmobob reply :
On 11/12/2014 at 3:00 AM, Master Bait said:It makes me uncomfortable too sometimes... But what can I say? It's a burden I'm willing to bear!!
Nice fish! Nice tackle!!
I'd be worried sick I'd lose that rod out of my kayak.... =:-0
Tight lines,
Bob
Brian6428 reply :
The overhand cast is about as sacrilege as wearing a jersey if you aren't a pro 
.
Just kidding. On both accounts. About 50% of my casts are overhand.
Justin Mott reply :
I wouldn't think anything about it, my friend. We all make up these stories about how we catch fish. We say that we can't do this or that and we have to do this to catch a fish. In all honesty, that bass has a tiny brain that tells it to eat when its hungry and hide when it is in danger. Why that bass decided to eat our baits is beyond our grasp on most days.
Personally, I would invite you to do whatever feels comfortable for you. If you need a little insight to help you feel more comfortable overhead casting, I think I can help. Splashing is a natural thing in a bass's life. A splash for a bass most likely represents two things that are natural to him/her. The first is something falling in the water. Maybe its a stick, or maybe it is a bird, rat, frog, etc. That's feeding opportunity to checkout. The second is a predatory fish chasing an other bait. A bass might see a chance to steal a meal from another fish. Both of these can be good.
I tell myself stories all the time that re-enforce the approach that I am taking. Whether they are perfecting true or not, doesn't matter. The truth is that at the end of the day I am successful in catching bass. I believe that if you can shake the worry about splashing, you will save yourself some frustration down the road.
Justin Mott
WRB reply :
There are several types of casting skills to master as a all around bass angler.On 11/10/2014 at 12:34 PM, Todd Ward said:I got it in my head that casting over your head, rather than sidearm, is a big no no primarily because it makes a much bigger splash in the water and therefore spooks fish. Is this correct? Or maybe there's a better way to do it. It comes in handy in tight spots sometimes, in addition to the backhand cast.
The basic overhead casting technique is used a high % of time where objects above the water do not interfere with the lure flight.
Accurate short distance casting can be performed using several techniques; the loop cast, the flip cast, the pitch cast, the skip cast, the bow& arrow cast are popular.
Take some time and develop casting techniques that work for you and you can be the judge your own skills.
If your casts end up in a tree or power line, or someone's boat, if was a bad cast.
Tom
Hattrick7 reply :
If it is than I be sinning at times.
I only do it if I'm confined to a space that doesn't allow me to sidearm or I want pinpoint accuracy. If I'm trying to hit a target like going between two stumps about three feet apart 30+ feet away I will overhand cast. You're already on that line trajectory and it's just releasing the line to target.
lordpaxin reply :
My cast is goofy
I start behind my right shoulder with both hands
Left hand palming the right holding the rod blank just in front
I throw forward from about 2 o clock
Once I reach shoulder level I stop moving my arm and flick the wrist and release
Tilting the reel counter clockwise to reach a vertical spool position
It's the only thing that works for me
JackDaBass reply :
As of lately I've been pretty renown for my overhand high cast. Maybe I need to switch to the side cast...
Master Bait'r reply :
On 11/12/2014 at 3:08 AM, desmobob said:Nice fish! Nice tackle!!
I'd be worried sick I'd lose that rod out of my kayak.... =:-0
Tight lines,
Bob
Fish 'em like you stole 'em!
Bassun reply :
On 11/14/2014 at 8:26 AM, JackDaBass said:As of lately I've been pretty renown for my overhand high cast. Maybe I need to switch to the side cast...
I've had some overhand casts which have somehow become exceedingly high. I've been bombing away and end up WAAAY up trees, or on top of two story docks, etc. Kind of embarrassing if anyone else is around, lol.
iceintheveins reply :
I do primarily overhead casting, whether it's casting gear or spinning gear, because I like to cover water and make long casts. You can have a fairly quiet entry if you thumb the spool just as the bait hits the water.
Sidearm casting, pitching, and skipping are all skills you need though, especially the last two.
tatertester reply :
No different than using a spinning reel upside down...lol..Just kidding.
Skeeter Dan reply :
To each it on. What ever works for you.
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