Basic Spincasting Unit 3

Spincast Tackle and Casting - Educator Packet

Teaching Suggestions

Following are activities that can help acquaint students with basic spincasting equipment, casting, and tackle set-ups.

Basic Tackle

Overview: Discuss basic equipment. View online video clips, or research websites on basic fishing equipment. Some online resources include:
Spincast rig: Obtain spincasting rigs from a local DNR loaner site or have students bring in their own. Review the various parts and their functions. Note: Be sure to discuss action (flexibility) of rods, test strength of line on the reels, and kinds of fish that might be caught with the tackle.
- Option: Tie string to a hanging or spring scale and have students pull to the breaking point. (Be sure to tie the line to a stick or other object; don’t wrap it around your hand – it can cause injury.)
Terminal tackle: Divide students into pairs or small groups. Provide each with terminal tackle items and discuss their functions.
- Option: View the video, Terminal Tackle Assembly (for bluegill and other panfish). Discuss
Handling: Discuss how to properly handle the equipment.
- Include safety tips for handling hooks and carrying rods to avoid breaking tips or injuring others.
Reel care: Discuss care of reels. Following is one resource: Rod and Reel Cleaning - IDNR YouTube®
- Option: Invite a local tackle shop owner to discuss types of tackle and how to properly care for them.
Tackle Assembly: Knots are a critical component of assembling tackle. Review written instructions, videos, or online demonstrations.
Practice tying an improved clinch knot and/or palomar knot. Hint: Use braided ⅜-inch rope or paracord and large eye bolts or metal shower rings to practice. You can also practice knots using string or monofilament line and paper clips before progressing to actual hooks.
- Option: Copy knot-tying illustrations that describe knot-tying procedures and give these to students.

Check out the following online resources:
Complete Review Sheet 3-1: Equipment.

Skills Tests:

Each student should be able to correctly tie the knot(s) as demonstrated.
Optional: Students should be able to set up a bluegill rig as demonstrated.

Casting

Overview: View basic overhand casting techniques in the online video: How to Cast. Other casting techniques are demonstrated in the instructional video for the Fish Iowa! Games.
Technique: Pair students and practice casting with spincast equipment. Demonstrate the proper procedure for an overhand cast (Unit 3 Background Information).
Have pairs line up so they are about at least five feet from the pair on their right. Provide a spincast rig with a casting plug attached for each pair. Verbally review the correct casting procedure as you (or students) demonstrate.
- Safety: Go over the Casting Do’s and Don’ts (Unit 3 Background Information).
- Practice casting in an area with short grass or a smooth surface with few obstructions to decrease the chances of plugs getting snagged (e.g., football or soccer field, empty parking lot). Be aware of any overhead obstructions such as trees, rafters (gym), or power lines.
- Have observers stand on the right side of right-handed casters and the left side of left-handed casters to better observe the casting procedure. [Tip: Start without targets This helps students focus on using correct casting form. Add targets after students demonstrate the correct form.]
- Demonstrate how to dislodge a snagged plug or hook. First, try reeling the line tight with the rod tip down and then pressing the thumb stop. If this doesn’t loosen the plug, grasp the line past the end of the rod. (Do not pull using the rod – this can break the rod tip.) Wrap the line around a stick or similar object so it doesn’t cut your hands. Pull the line directly toward yourself near the ground. (If you pull up on the line, the plug may fly through the air and hit someone.) Pull with steady pressure until the plug is dislodged or the line breaks. Be sure to remove and line that was stretched while dislodging the plug before attaching another one.
- Accuracy: After students have demonstrated mastery of overhand casting techniques, pairs can then work on accuracy.
Set up targets and play casting games like Target Casting, Plug Golf, or F-I-S-H (Casting Games) to improve students’ casting skills. Pop bottle rigs also can be used for casting practice.
Option: Learn the basic overhand cast, flip, and pitch and have a casting competition. [See “Teaching Resources” for casting.] Students can learn more casts and work to improve accuracy.

Skills Tests:

Each student should be able to demonstrate the correct procedure for safely casting overhand
OPTIONAL: Students demonstrate flipping and pitching techniques.
OPTIONAL: Students demonstrate casting accuracy.

Teaching Resources

Extensions

The Arts (Crafts)

Make knot tying boards, wire hooks using large gauge wire, and/or casting plugs for use with the unit.

Science

Discuss fish biology in relation to what terminal tackle you use (e.g., hook size in relation to fish mouth size, specific colors of lure, retrieval methods, etc.)

Mathematics

Complete order forms from a variety of catalogs for a fishing rig; calculate the cost with sales taxes and shipping.
Hold a casting contest for distance and measure in standard and metric units or do conversions between the two. Design a score card for the contest and compute scores.
Determine the gear ratio of your reel.
Determine the amount of line your reel can hold properly.

Social Studies (Economics)

Compare and contrast advertisements for fishing tackle.
Compare and contrast products and services available from a chain fishing supply store, a local fishing supply store, and a department store that sells fishing supplies.

Family and Consumer Sciences

With a pre-determined budget, outfit a fishing tackle box from a variety of catalogs.

Fish Iowa! (class) order form: Fish Iowa! trained educators - Submit to order materials such casting targets for your Fish Iowa! unit.

Aquatic WILD guides are available via training. Check out the Iowa Project WILD site for more information.