John Holden South African Cast

A demonstration of the South African off ground surfcasting method by John Holden.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• John
• Holden
• surfcasting
• South
• African

[TheTomz97]

What reel was that one in the video????

[fox22250]

@TheTomz97 Penn 525 Mag multiplier - the "T" version.

[TheGooseZA]

Hi John,

I've been learning to cast a conventional reel with this method and I get it right probably about 75% of the time without an overwind (although not very far, but far enough). When I'm fishing off the rocks I struggle as I can't always lay the sinker down to start off. When I start with the sinker in the air I almost always get an overwind. I know you can't help much without seeing my casting action but do you have any ideas what I might be doing wrong?

[fox22250]

Backlashes usually happen because the first part of the casting action is too quick and strong. The answer is to slow down. It usually helps to lengthen the sinker drop as well. This is the opposite of what you might expect, but it's what you generally need to do to control casts that begin with the sinker in mid-air. So length the drop to about half the rod length, then cast at about half your normal speed. Learn to get the cast running smoothly, then build up the power.

[redharehorse]

Thanks again for your help John. Its a good cast which I use for very stiff rods on 4-5oz lead. Alot of potential to develop the cast into some others to suit individual needs. Do you mind posting a video on how you build an aerodynamic big bait rig? Didn't quite get it as mine entangles often.

[fox22250]

Rigs are on the list for a video or two. Meanwhile, the basic answer is to use a bait clip as near to the lead as possible; better yet, put the baited hook into a clip incorporated into the lead as on Breakaway's Impact Lead.

[TheGooseZA]

@fox22250 Thanks so much for the tip! Will try that out. I think because I don't have as much space to wind up on the rocks I feel I need to push it a bit more. Will try lengthening the drop and slowing it down.

[fox22250]

The Brighton cast is more like the Easy Cast because both begin with the sinker more or less under the rod, while the South African style uses a much wider layout.

[DumblyBrilliant]

Many years ago I bought Paul Kerry's and John Holden videos, practised for a bout a year with both methods and then taught them to tourists in Cornwall for a fee. Thanks for helping me to make some money lads.

I used to field cast to help gets the twists out of the line by the way. Worked a treat in the short grass.