Fishing with castmaster: features, fishing options, fishing for pike with castmaster

What is the Kastmaster spinner

Castmaster spinner is a fishing bait that is one of the varieties of oscillating spinner, which is used both for spinning fishing and for vertical fishing.

Its classic version is made of a metal rod made of a special alloy, cut at an angle of 17 and 23 degrees and equipped with a winding ring to which a treble hook is attached. The outside of the spoon is coated with galvanic protection, and the hooks of the tees are coated with anti-corrosion protection. It can have a wide variety of colors and be equipped with additional elements.

Photo: Spinner Kastmaster original

The original version of this bait is produced by the American company Acme Tackle. It was founded by Henry Lavallee, who, together with his brother, was engaged in polishing and galvanizing jewelry. Henry invented the Kastmaster spinner by modifying one of the wobblers, the rights to manufacture and sell which he bought from the Eda fishing company.

Dimensions, weight

The length of the bait depends on its mass. Classic weight options in grams are: 7 (4.5 cm), 14, 21 (6.2 cm), 28 and 35. They also produce small models 2.5 (3.2 cm) and 3.5 g, as well as heavier spoons up to 56 g (2 oz). Weight distribution and dimensions may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Playing in the water

The castmaster has a special geometric shape, a calculated center of gravity and a special material. Thanks to this, his game resembles a wounded fry who gradually falls to the bottom. This spinner has an average frequency and amplitude of oscillations.

For what kind of fish?

Catching asp with castmaster

Kastmaster oscillating spoons are used primarily when catching asp on a spinning rod, but are also suitable for fishing other predatory fish. So the catch can often include: perch, pike, chub, pike perch.

About

When is the best time to catch pike with a spinning rod?

In order not to leave fishing without a catch, you need to choose the right time. It is necessary to take into account not only the time of year, but also the time of day, because the success of the event directly depends on this.

Read Fishing for pike with a retractable leash and installation of equipment

Season

In early spring, along with the melting of the ice, active pike biting begins. You can catch this predator using a spinning rod as soon as the first serious thawed patches appear. At this time you need to be extremely careful, as you can fall through the ice.

Using a boat is also unsafe, as it can be damaged by the sharp edges of ice floes. It's better to wait until the ice melts completely.

The peak of fishing for pike begins two to three weeks after spawning. It takes place differently in different regions of the country. After this, the fish rests and recovers, and the bite drops. It is possible to catch only small specimens less than a kilogram. This period lasts until autumn.

Times of Day

Pike are usually active during daylight hours, and are especially good at catching in the early morning. By the middle of the day, the intensity of the bite decreases, especially in calm weather. If the water is rough, the bite continues.

How to distinguish an original from a fake

Kastmaster Acme Tackle Co engraving does not guarantee that the lure is original. To distinguish a real Castmaster from a copy, you need to examine the features of its elements:

• the winding rings should be cut at an angle and inward (for copies at a right angle);
• the tees are covered with a matte layer of protection, and the hooks are sharp;
• the surface is well polished, the inscriptions are clearly applied, and the galvanic coating is of high quality;
• neat packaging.

Description of the spinner

This artificial bait has a reputation among fishermen as one of the most successful when it comes to catching predators.

It attracts the attention of such fish both when fishing with direct fast wiring and when used for fishing with jig wiring. It will be useful both when fishing from the shore and when used for fishing on a boat.

This spoon has excellent hydrodynamic parameters and high wear resistance. Such spoons are made of metal and usually have a galvanic coating.

The Castmaster spinner is available in five versions, differing in different weights, multiples of seven grams:

• weighing 7 grams;
• weighing 14 g;
• weighing 21 grams;
• weighing 28 grams;
• weighing 35 g.

The main part of this tackle is an elongated body, in the front part of which a winding ring is installed, and a triple hook is attached to the end of the spoon. The rod should be selected according to the results of the bait tests or, conversely, the bait should be purchased according to the rod test. When fishing from the shore of a reservoir, the most convenient length of a spinning rod will be slightly less than three meters. When fishing from a boat, you can limit yourself to a rod length of about two meters.

Where and when is castmaster used?

They fish with it in different conditions: at stakes or on rivers with strong currents, from the shore or from a boat, and also from ice in winter.

Open water fishing

The method of using the spoon differs depending on the season. This is due to the behavior of fish at different times of the year.

in spring

At the beginning of this season, the fish are on the bottom, so stepped fishing is suitable for castmaster fishing, when after the spoon falls to the bottom, make half to three scrolls and again allow the bait to fall down, and so on until the bite. In mid-May, the fish rise higher, so you can use the fishing method for the warm period.

In summer

At this time of year, the fish changes its location depending on the time of day: in the evening, when the heat subsides, it is more in the upper layers of the water, so long casts with wiring sliding along the surface are used. During the day, in the hot sun, it goes to depth, so the castmaster is allowed to sink to the bottom, using heavier models.

in autumn

During this season, fish are often caught from the bottom with bait from 28 grams. stepped or uniform wiring in the bottom or middle layer. The fish hunt a lot at this time, so they actively move and move through the water column.

Ice fishing in winter

This is a special type of fishing that uses vertical lures with a castmaster. At the beginning of the cold season, the probability of catching is greater in shallow water - from 2-4 meters, and later you need to drill holes where the depth can be from 6 meters and use heavier spoons. Larger castmasters are suitable for ice fishing because the “hunting” occurs mainly at great depths where there is a current. If the water is cloudy, light castmasters are chosen, and in clear water, dark models are used.

About

Technique for catching pike perch using kasmaster on a dump

It’s not enough to know how to choose a castmaster for pike perch and find its fishing spots; you need to know how to catch it. Let's look at some techniques for fishing it.

When we catch pike perch at depths, we use heavier models of spinners with additional elements. At the bottom, pike perch are attracted to baits that leave behind a trail in the form of a stream or create a bright animation.

Let's look at an example of how to catch pike perch at depth near a hole or a steep edge. We take a castmaster with a length of 7 to 9 cm and a weight of approximately 30 grams. We attach a silicone skirt to it and throw it at the exit from the pit. This could be a slope or a flatter area.

A promising place would be either the exit from the pits or the lower edge. The areas where we will do the wiring are marked in red in the figure.

First we fish the exit from the pit. This method is often used when catching active walleye during night fishing. He goes out in search of food and to hunt for fry, which also stays in these places.

Such a steep drop can be easily detected by simply tapping the bottom. It is enough to cast the bait further away and simply drag it along the bottom. When it hits the edge, the Quitertype will immediately win back and it will become more difficult to wind further. An ordinary count is used, as with jig wiring. As the bait passes along the slope, the time it falls will decrease.

We start fishing at the exit from the pit. If we fish from a boat, we place it behind the exit from the hole. We throw the bait either on the dump or at the end of the hole and wait for it to fall. We pause and sharply raise the rod. At this moment, the castmaster takes off and raises a cloud of turbidity from the bottom. The moment when it falls is the most promising in terms of catching pike perch. As it falls, the bait plays and looks like a fry. Its silvery sides only emphasize its resemblance to a small fish. The pike perch can watch how the bait falls and how it creates vibrations. And then comes a decisive attack. At the moment, it seems that a snag has occurred, but after some time, powerful jerks and rattling of the rod indicate the “culprit” of the situation.

The tactics in this case are simple. We jerk the rod and wait 10 seconds for the bait to take off and land. You can change the length of pauses and the amplitude of jerks. We also change the weight of the baits. But it’s all about fishing to find out which castmaster will work best. Usually, of the models presented above, at least one fires. This tactic is good when we fish from a boat 10 meters from the exit from the pit. Then it turns out that the bait comes out of the water almost vertically.

If we fish from the shore, then for this technique of catching pike perch with a castmaster, a long spinning rod of 3 - 3.5 m is required. It is easier for them to make such vertical flights of the bait. You can also use a reel to quickly unwind the cord. But in this case, you need to supply the bait at the very beginning of the exit from the pit, not at the dump. This way the bait will not stick into the edge.

When the pike perch is not very active, it spends more time on the lower edge. You can provoke him to bite only in this area. To do this, deliver the bait to the border of the slope and the lower edge and then make light twitches. If the bottom is not very cluttered, then the spoon is easily fished out, and it is clearly visible to pike perch. After twitching, slowly move the castmaster along the bottom. At this time, the pike perch can take it. This method of pulling is effective when fishing for pike perch at great depths in the summer.

Castmaster fishing, wiring technique

This type of tackle is suitable for different wiring, both for uniform classic and specific:

1. Twitching	After casting, waiting for the tackle to sink to the bottom, it is slightly swayed from side to side. If after a cloud of silt rises during the fall, a bite does not occur, you need to create the impression that a weak fish is trying to break away from the bottom. To do this, the line is slowly pulled up, tugging with the tip of the rod. Even a well-fed predator can trigger the instinct to attack an exhausted prey. If this does not work, you can pretend that the easy prey is leaving. To do this, either reel in the reel, then let the bait drop a little, or periodically toss the rod.
2. Bottom jerk wiring	Heavy castmasters are used for it. After casting, the rod remains pointed at the fallen spoon. Then the spinning rod rises sharply and stays in a vertical position, then the bait jumps up to the length of the rod. After the spoon sinks to the bottom, the cycle repeats.
3. Jig step wiring	After the bait falls to the bottom, the rod is left motionless, and it is lifted from the bottom by rotating the reel. After lowering the Castmaster to the bottom, the action is repeated. In this case, you can change the speed of raising the bait, the length of the retrieve or the duration of pauses.
4. Fishing along a cliff while holding	This method is used when fishing on the current where there are drops and edges. You need to choose the weight of the castmaster so that it barely touches the bottom. The spoon is thrown to the bank opposite in a downward direction and a stepwise retrieve is performed obliquely against the current. The castmaster will begin his signature play if he moves slower than the current. To adjust the speed, you can put the reel in reverse and hold back the speed manually, or lift the line handle and hold the line between your fingers.

Methods for wiring a castmaster

This bait is one of the easiest to learn.
First, it is enough to learn how to carry out uniform wiring with it. At the same time, you need to be able to change the speed of its movement, which is necessary for different types of predators and their activity. Once you feel the bait, you can add pauses, twitches, jerks, and pulls to the retrieve. Of course, over time, you need to master the stepwise wiring of this spinner. Moreover, at the bottom and in the water column.

This bait compares favorably with others in its flight characteristics. Even with mistakes and inept actions, it is not difficult to throw it at 30...40 m. Those spinners for whom there are no secrets in using it often throw the lure to the 100-meter mark.

With a castmaster you can quickly explore large areas of water bodies. Baits are indispensable for quickly detecting active predators.

Fishing with Castmaster on reservoirs without current

Baiting in quarries, lakes and other bodies of water where there is no flow of water always brings success. They fish the edges of aquatic vegetation and other promising places with it. The main condition for the success of this spoon on such reservoirs is slow retrieval and the absence of sudden movements.

When casting bait, do not immediately start retrieving it. It works well when free falling in the water column. As it dives, it oscillates and produces glare with its planes, which affects the passive predator.

Knowledgeable fishermen advise, after casting the castmaster, to close the handle on the reel and wait until the bait reaches the bottom. But you need to be alert - often the toothy one grabs the bait near the bottom. If for some reason the pike does not attack the castmaster, you should make several turns of the reel and jerk the bait a couple of times so that it rises above the bottom. Then pause again and wait for a bite.

Fishing with Castmaster in water bodies with current

On such reservoirs there are much more options for working with a castmaster. The bait is suitable for fishing in almost all promising places: spits, riffles, holes, fast streams. It can be done in different ways:

• – classic jig step wiring;
• – wavy when moving through the water column;
• – jerk wiring near the bottom;
• – high-speed wiring in the near-surface layer;
• – wiring for demolition by current.

All of these types of postings are equally successful and bring prey. In all cases, it should be remembered that the castmaster has an open tee and cannot be used in a snag.

Reviews from anglers

Most fishermen note that pike, perch, asp and sometimes pike perch bite well on the Kastmaster. It flies far when casting and is easy to play in the water.

In order to make the best use of the features of the spinner and not create obstacles to its movements, it is necessary to properly equip the castmaster.

It is not recommended to use a winding ring, swivel or carbine to attach it to the main line, otherwise the spoon will not play and will fall over on one side. For such a bait, it is better to use an unequipped tungsten leash, which is attached using the “loop to loop” method. On the other side, a swivel is also attached to connect to the main fishing line. The recommended leash length is 20-30 cm, then the equipment is strong and the Kastmaster plays without hindrance.

About

Habitats

Among the favorite habitats of the cunning predator are rivers and closed reservoirs. Considering that the pike spends most of its time in ambush and waits for a suitable victim, first of all, it is necessary to catch reeds, grass, snags, and flooded trees.

If there is a current in the reservoir, then areas with reverse currents and whirlpools are examined. Often the fishing object can be found at the bottom of dams and rifts. For large specimens, it is preferable to live in holes at depth.

As for closed reservoirs, here it swims behind a school of small fish, which becomes its food. Unlike its river relatives, pike in a closed reservoir are slower and lazy.

After the ice melts, in the spring, the predator begins spawning, and it swims into shallow water. At the end of spawning, the predator is in a depressed state and is sick for approximately one week.

Read Recipes for salting salmon at home

In summer it can be found in quiet, cool places

It is important to know that on a sunny day the pike turns its tail towards the sun; you should also fish with your back to the sun

In autumn, the predator moves to deep-sea areas in search of wintering holes.

Popular manufacturers of Kastmaster spinners

Due to the enormous popularity of the Kastmaster spinner, today it is produced by many fishing companies. The ranking of the TOP 8 manufacturers by the number of Internet requests (places are randomly distributed) is as follows:

1. Acme
2. Condor
3. S.W.D.
4. Flagman
5. Mifine
6. GRFish
7. Sharks
8. Spinner Kastmaster from Aliexpress (Aliexpress)

Some fishermen prefer to make castmasters with their own hands, additionally making some adjustments and spot changes to the design. All this, in their opinion, increases the catchability of the bait.

Photo of castmaster

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Features of pike fishing on Kastmaster

This bait is not recommended for use where there is a lot of snags and algae on the bottom, because the hooks often cling to what is in the water and there is a high risk of the gear breaking. Castmaster spinners for pike are good in the following places:

• deep holes,
• channel section,
• long ditches,
• edges, rifts and deep slopes.

Castmaster size for pike

When catching this predator, it is recommended to use several sizes of spoons, starting with a universal weight of 14 grams and a medium size. If the fish are not active, you can use a smaller bait, and if there is a chance of encountering a large pike, you will need a larger Kastmaster. You should not immediately use the smallest size spoon, as it may not interest large fish.

Wiring a castmaster for pike

Fishing with castmaster can be done in a variety of ways, such as:

1. Uniform, unhurried - suitable for animation both in the headquarters and in a river with a strong current, both in the thickness of the reservoir and closer to its surface.
2. Wave-shaped - used in the water column and in the coastal strip.
3. Uneven is a method of provoking a sluggish predator to attack the bait, used in different conditions.
4. Stepped – suitable for animation at depth, when hunting large individuals in any type of reservoir.
5. Ryvkovaya, used mainly in the water column.

Why autumn is the best time to catch pike with castmaster

Before wintering, the predator accumulates nutrients, so it feeds especially actively. It is more mobile, so it can be found both in the water column and closer to the bottom. It is in this range that the castmaster works.

How to choose a castmaster for pike perch?

Castmaster is a fairly standard bait that has 5 weight categories. For catching pike perch, baits weighing from 20 to 32 grams are best suited. This is if we catch it in deep areas. Lighter models are used only when pike perch goes out to feed in the coastal zone. This happens most often at night and late in the evening.

A castmaster is like an oscillator. However, oscillating spinners have much smaller petal thickness. But if we talk about the varieties of pike perch, they have a very narrow body with great thickness. This statement is confirmed by such models as zander and boat:

These lures are one of the best for catching pike perch from the bottom. Castmasters also have a similar body geometry. For pike perch, models with a narrower base and slightly thicker are selected.

They fly great and play very well. They are good for step retrieving and fishing by raising and lowering the bait. Such models hold the current very well and demonstrate clear play even with medium and strong water flows. This quality of castmasters is very useful when we fish along the rifts and at the border of fast and slow currents.

How to choose a castmaster for pike perch? Classic castmasters are silver in color. Pike perch prefers this color. You can, of course, experiment with multi-colored models. Moreover, now you can buy kasmasters of all colors of the rainbow. But still, silver baits will be the most suitable for pike perch.

Experienced spinning anglers have repeatedly noted the love of pike perch for silver baits. There is an unconfirmed theory that such baits, when falling, very closely resemble fry with bright silver scales. There is also a version that an ion trace remains behind the silver bait, which has a magical effect on pike perch.

It is difficult to somehow understand these details; let ichthyologists deal with them. For fishermen, the main thing is that pike perch take silver, and silver-coated castmasters are the most common. Some models also have small scales, which shimmer beautifully during wiring. There are also castmaster models that are covered with a silver holographic film. If the film holds securely after repeated use and the edges do not tear up, then such variations can be considered quite suitable for fishing pike perch.

Since spinners have an impressive weight, they quickly fall during step-by-step retrieving. In such cases, there are several ways to proceed. The first is to make large swings with the rod in order to increase the time the castmaster falls. This method is suitable if we are fishing on a drift and the boat is standing behind it, that is, on the lower edge. It turns out that with each rise the spoon falls longer as the depth increases.

But there is another way to increase the castmaster fall time. Just attach red threads, a silicone skirt and other decorations to it. These elements act as a parachute. They slow down the movement of the spinner when falling. It turns out to be an imitation of a slowly falling fry. Such “numbers” inspire pike perch to actively attack. You can attach a small twister to the castmaster. It will balance the game of the bait and liven it up a little.

Another important property of castmasters is their excellent flight qualities. When the tackle needs to be thrown over the horizon towards a channel hole, lures in the form of a truncated cone come to the rescue. Sometimes they seem to fly like bullets. Only weighted spoons, jigs and jig baits with heavy Cheburashkas can boast such an excellent flight range.

Castmasters are also useful when searching for a school of pike perch. Fishermen often use this technique. They swim in a boat into a certain area and begin throwing it into the deepest places where the pike perch is supposed to be located. After discovering a school, a decision is made: either continue to fish with castmasters, or use jig baits.

Here are catchy castmaster models for pike perch:

Acme Kastmaster

COLONEL SILVER

Homemade

Description of castmasters

The bait is available in five versions - 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 g. The classic color is silver. The set consists of one winding ring and a treble hook. Any spinning rod with an optimal length of 2.5-2.7 meters is suitable for working with a castmaster. It is better to use a spinning reel; it is much more convenient for long-distance casting. Mono fishing line is more suitable for fishing with this bait, because it has a number of advantages:

• High elasticity.
• High abrasion resistance.
• Uniform laying on the reel.
• Performs well at low temperatures

(I talked in detail about the choice between regular fishing line or braided line in this article)

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