Casting (fishing)

In fishing, casting is the act of the throwing a fishing tackle or rig into the water in order to deploy it. In recreational fishing, the term most commonly describes an angler launching a baited hook (or a lure) as well as other attached terminal tackles (e.g. float or sinker) out far over the water, typically by slinging a line manipulated by a long, elastic rod. The term is also used for scattering groundbaits/chums, manually throwing a hook when handlining, and setting out a net during artisanal fishing. The basic casting technique in angling is to flick/swing the rod forward towards the water, with the lagging inertia of the tackles bending the rod backward (i.e. "loading" the rod), and then use the "springing" (elastic rebound) of the rod to "hurl" and rapidly sling the line forward, which in turn will launch out the hook and bait. There are several methods anglers can use to cast further, the most prominent of which is the shifting of body weight towards the front foot in kinematic synchrony to the forward swinging of the rod. That, combined with using a longer rod, stopping the rod swing at 45 degrees, and using correctly weighted and more aerodynamic terminal tackles, will help anglers cast further. There are also variation techniques the anglers can use to cast the tackles more accurately to an exact location on the water or to get past potential obstacles.