Casting Overhead reels

[Samj]

Hello I have been watching videos of people how recon you can cast overhead reels further than spin reels just wondering if anyone uses overhead reels to cast and I was also looking at the penn squall range and I saw there was heaps of different overhead reels I was wondering which ones are the best to cast. 

[kingie chaser]

All overhead reels are not the same!

You could be referring to a baitcaster which are designed to cast where as other overhead reels are not.

And again not all baitcaster are equal, the better more expensive versions have better backlash break systems that will avoid birds nests but they take a bit of experimenting to get right.

 

If you are not a very experienced fisher person the spin reel is a much better casting option.

 

Edited November 16, 2021 by kingie chaser

[DerekD]

The longest casts are done with overhead reels but it is a specialised area. There are people out there that can cast over 300 yards but can’t do much with it. Essentially they are using a 12 foot custom built rod with a “smooth-as” overhead multiplier reel (once the drum starts spinning it doesn’t take a lot of energy to maintain it), a 175/150/125/100gm slug, shock leader and line so fine that it would do a spider proud. Once it is out there you can’t do much with it. For further reading about casting records please see:

http://www.outdoorlife.com/node/1005004666

https://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/topic/751827-world-records/

[noelm]

The above is correct, not all overheads are designed for casting, I guess all can be used to cast with limited range and success, a true casting overhead requires a lot of practice, and things to be "matched" the rod, line and casting weight, any one of those out of balance, and casting will become a nightmare. You need to think about the physics of casting an overhead, first off, you need to get the spool spinning, then maintain that spin while the lure is "in the air" but slow it down as the lure loses speed and starts to fall (your thumb comes into play) then stop the spool completely once the lure has hit the water.

[noelm]

I guess we also need to think about what you are casting, a single handed baitcaster, or a bigger reel and heavier rod for spinning off the rocks/beach, two very different techniques and outfits.

[Rebel]

Stick to Spin it is easier.

[slothparade]

Theres a lot of rumors about them being able to cast further. imo they don't. 

Unless you get a smaller one, you wont really be able to cast all that far. Theres a whole technique to casting overheads and it also depends on size. apparently what your meant to do is have your thumb on the spool, then the guides facing the ground about the level pf your shoulder then lob it so that it is on a very steep angle. there are other ways where you go from the side. I have tried the first technique, works alright

If I lob my overhead with the same size bait and float, I can get it a few meters (5 -10, was at night so very hard to see) less that my spinning. 

But I wouldn't overly recomend unless your going to put the time in. how I started was by tieing a heavy sinker on the free spool and adjust the drag so that it takes a few secs to hit the ground, then I practised thumbing the spool with the sinker, then I tried gently casting. 

If you put a heavy lure of bait on, it helps with casting distance.

I can vouch for the squall, I love mine. Im the 3rd owner and its still going strong. 

 

[frankS]

What type of Penn squall overhead are you talking about. If you are talking the drum type lever drag than forget about casting with it, If you are talking about the low profile baitcaster type than YES it is suited to casting and with practice will  outcast a spin style reel.

Frank

[Green Hornet]

I agree with @Rebel, stick with spin gear as its far more versatile when used as a casting reel.

Back in the old days (pre 1980) overhead reels were popular because spin reels were primarily junk.

Once companies like Shimano started making spin reels with decent sized drag washers and ball bearing bail rollers, the appeal of overheads faded pretty quickly.

That being said, just like fly casting, casting an overhead can be fun in its own right and a good skill to have if you're that way inclined.

[Rebel]

There are some great spin reels onthe market at the moment. With the right rod you can cast a country mile.

The Pro's always told me the hook and the bait were the most important part, now it is the Lures.

Cheers.

[slowjigger]

17 hours ago, Samj said:

Hello I have been watching videos of people how recon you can cast overhead reels further than spin reels just wondering if anyone uses overhead reels to cast and I was also looking at the penn squall range and I saw there was heaps of different overhead reels I was wondering which ones are the best to cast. 

The Squall's have live spindles/ floating spools which is a good feature for long casting distance. The 2 small ones have magnetic anti backlash control and are good models for beach fishing. The larger ones would be good for high speed spinning with heavy metal lures.

I like overheads off the beach and they are ideal for this as you are using heavy leads. They are quite satisfying to use as you are involved in the casting and it takes a bit of skill. They hold a lot of line for a small size, don't take up much room in your haversack and have some mechanical advantages when fighting fish. My Alvey's and beach threadlines just sit in the cupboard these days.

[campr]

You haven't stated what type of fishing you do.  Big difference between short accurate casts for bass with a baitcaster and casting a heavy sinker or lure from shore with a bigger overhead.  I haven't used anything bigger than an ABU 7000 off the beach with big baits for jewies.   Basically I would use a threadline for light weights and an overhead for big weights.  Ron 

[slowjigger]

The ABU 9000C was popular with rock fishermen making long casts for snapper.

[kingie chaser]

6 hours ago, Green Hornet said:

I agree with @Rebel, stick with spin gear as its far more versatile when used as a casting reel.

Thought I mentioned that in post #1 

 

First time poster & very limited information & here we are making all sorts of suggestions without any background on the actual fishing type/style the op is talking about.

 

@Samj just FFR you need to be more specific in what your asking about to get the right info back to you.

Fishing, tackle, hardware is a big open book so the more detail you can provide the better the detailed responce to your situation will be!

[Samj]

I will be using overheads reels for live baiting bigger gamefish like maceral and fishing for smaller sharks when I was looking at the penn squalls there was heaps of different types I was wondering if any of them were any good for casting. I don't care about backlash I am willing to put in heaps of time to fix that.

Edited November 17, 2021 by Samj

[slowjigger]

6 hours ago, Samj said:

I will be using overheads reels for live baiting bigger gamefish like maceral and fishing for smaller sharks when I was looking at the penn squalls there was heaps of different types I was wondering if any of them were any good for casting. I don't care about backlash I am willing to put in heaps of time to fix that.

Well that seems a bit contradictory as casting is not usually a priority for live baiting. A lever drag is fine as you only need to lob a live bait out a few meters and then let it drift out. You even mentioned out casting spin reels.  

[slothparade]

9 hours ago, Samj said:

I will be using overheads reels for live baiting bigger gamefish like maceral and fishing for smaller sharks when I was looking at the penn squalls there was heaps of different types I was wondering if any of them were any good for casting. I don't care about backlash I am willing to put in heaps of time to fix that.

The small squalls are alright for that. On a coustom beach rod would probably work, seen on yt

https://pennfishing.com.au/product/penn-squall-lever-drag-reel-overhead-reel/

But still im secptical you could cast further, if you spent the same amount on a spinning rod you should be casting the same if not further

Edited November 17, 2021 by slothparade

[Jiggy]

Just from the technique perspective lookup the old Ron Calcutts Fishermans World on Youtube. Especially Spinning for Spaniards. Made in the seventies these guys were masters at casting lures a long way on overheads. The gear has advanced a huge amount since then but the techniques used could still have merit.

Cheers

Rob

 

[Thunderboltlifestyle]

Hey, so i started out with a cheaper bass lumis setup cost me around $100 it casted superbly when you could get the brake right once i could cast that cheapy really well and with good distance i invester in something more expensive ive got a Daiwa Zata on a Good rod and it superb but i reckonbuy a cheap one and if you can work that out and get consistent with it then invest in something better. I still use my Bass Lumis for particular lures. it lives on my boat as one of my go to rods. 

[onearmedfisho]

i only use bait casters as my left arm is permanently in a sling. I currently keep 3 rods on my boat and they are all bait casters as i said. I use shiimano and ive got 2 Curado's and a Chronarch. I use them for throwing plastics, hard body's and also for squid.