How to Cast an Open Faced Spinning Rod

An essential aspect of fishing is presenting the lure or bait in the proper location. For fishermen using an open-faced spinning rod, this means that a major part of their success hinges on their ability to cast with accuracy and distance. The art of delivering the perfect cast is something like achieving the perfect golf swing; it is an elusive goal that can take a lifetime to master. Fortunately, however, the basics of casting an open-faced spinning rod are easy to learn.

Things You'll Need

  • Spinning rod
  • Fishing line
  • Lure, or other weight tied to fishing line
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie a weighted object to the end of the fishing line. You can use either a real fishing lure -- watch out for hooks -- or you can purchase "practice plugs," which are small plastic weights that mimic lures for casting practice.

    • 2

      Hold the rod in the direction you want to cast, with the reel facing downward. Grip the rod with your dominant hand so that that reel foot -- the skinny piece that connects the reel to the rod -- is between your middle finger and ring finger.

    • 3

      Pull line out of the reel until the weight on the end of the line hangs approximately two feet below the rod tip.

    • 4

      Use the forefinger of your dominant hand to pin the line coming out of the reel to the underside of the rod. This will lock the lure in place, ensuring that it does not move until you are ready to cast.

    • 5

      Flip the bail of the spinning reel -- the thin, metal rail that encircles the top of the reel -- into its "up" position.

    • 6

      Raise the rod tip over and behind your head, then quickly move the rod tip forward, in the direction you want to cast. Release the fishing line with your forefinger, and the line will flow out of the reel as the lure carries toward the desired target. The speed with which you move the rod and the timing of the release will depend on how far you wish to cast; the faster rod and higher the release, the longer the cast.

    • 7

      When the lure hits the water, flip the bail down and reel in the lure.