I was wondering what the best way was to cast light weight crankbaits. I know the ideal method is to troll them but since I often like to cast from shore or on a boat without a trolling motor, this isn't always possible. Is it simply to use a longer, lighter action rod? Should I switch from my normal 8# test line to 4# or even 6#? Right now I use a medium action 6' rod with 8# Trilene XL on my spinning reel and i can't seem to cast some crankbaits far enough for them to reach their intended diving depth. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Well, going to 6# test should make some difference. Going to 4# would result in more lost lures and $$. I like 4# line to but feel in the BWCA/Quetico it puts more stress on released fish because you wind up having to play them longer.

I'd dropped down to 6# on a high capacity spinning reel and make sure you fill the spool to the max. Some reels like ultra lights just don't allow for very much line.

Dave

Try putting a small split shot up the line. Shouldn't harm the action of lure, but you may have to retrieve a bit faster and less slack in the line if you don't want to drag the bottom. The 6'6" rod may help from shore but I find them a bit harder needing more whip to set the hook in a canoe.

Go with the 6lbs line. It makes a big difference I think. It is was I use most of the time. I usually use a lighter rod as well with more flex.

6 lb line and a longer rod works for me

5 pound maxima.

Use a sinking rap, longer rod, lighter line. Or you could try a bottle rocket adhered to the bait.

By the way I love the name RustyShackleford. Its what we call our bolt cutter at work.

Rusty I use a 7 foot and 7 foot 6" Inch med-light rods. The extra length improves your hookset, lets you handle big fish with light line, and helps you cast light lures. Any one can catch fish when there going gangbusters, but when they are in a super shy mode you have to use small lures on light lines, from a greater than normal distance, especially with fish such as brown trout. The longer rod really helps with this, and I like a rod with a whippy flexible last foot or so anyway for shock absorbtion when im fishing crankbaits and rapalas.

I have a 7' light action rigged with 4# 'limp/low memory/long casting line'. When the 'bite' is slow, it helps and is a lot of fun. Gotta hook'em before you can lose 'em. :)

I bought a 6'6" ultra light panfish rod this year. It has a little backbone and a fast tip. I matched it with small spinning reel with a high capacity longcast tapered spool and 2 pound XL line. Man, I didn't know it was possible to cast a tiny jig so far.

I like using a fly rod/spinning reel combination for casting light lures.

I use 8 or 10 lb fireline.......and WHEN I need to, I will tie a 12lb florocarbon leader.

This has worked GREAT for many, many years. I can cast a small crank plenty of distance with this. AND I can really blast out a medium sized bait with this setup.

Later,

Geo

I went through this issue some time ago. I ended up with a 7-ft St. Croix ultralight rod with 4lb test line which I would use with very light wire leaders for pike fishing. Great fun, even in July when mostly the smaller ones are in shallow. As I continued to scale down, I ended up fly fishing. If you like ultralight fishing, topwater fishing (who doesn't?), and prefer fishing for SMB and pike to walleye, then give fly fishing a chance. At first, I gave up in frustration because I could not teach myself to cast worth a damn after years of fishing conventional tackle. Then I tried again and improve year to year with casting. It is great fun and feels much more like hand to hand combat rather than using a winch and a rope.

It's also possible to do a little improvising on some hollow crankbaits. Heat up a paper clip pop a hole in the body and fill with water, then reseal.

It's possible on some crankbaits it may ruin the action...if that's the case just reopen, drain and reseal.

I used to do this on M2 Flatfish fishing for King Salmon from shore. Casting from shore the bait would only be in the strike zone for a very short period of time. With the added water and weight I could cast much farther and the bait would run a lot deeper from the beginning of the retrieve.

Dave