I know I am out of practice with a baitcaster, just dont get to fish as much as I did when younger.

I prefer baitcasters but I have a hard time using one while sitting in a kayak.

Tips please ?

I am terrible at casting no matter where I am but I use my wrist more in a Kayak than when I am on a boat.

What exactly is giving you trouble? The casting motion? Or having little accuracy while sitting?

After casting several million times it is such a thoughtless act, I have found it hard to explain. I have pulled out my hair trying to teach my wife and son. If you have some experience then best I can say is practice, practice, practice, and practice some more. Good thing is you'll catch fish while learning.

Some tips I can give about casting from a yak is keep your other rods on the opposite side you cast. I'm right handed so all my rod holders are on the left side of my crate to keep from hitting them. Same goes with your fish finder. Keep it on the opposite side you cast. Also be aware of your back swing while casting. On longer kayaks you can snag the rear handle or rudder and backlash bad.

I use the same motion standing as well as sitting, the beauty of sitting is I don't have to go sidearm in the wind. I still use my thumb more than the cast control and set my brake for the lure.

My suggestion, sit in your yard and practice hitting targets until you get comfortable with it and it will become second nature.

+1

When I first read the title, I was like "Do what??" Because its so second nature to me I don't even think about it lol

I find myself casting sidearm more when I sit in my kayak. Every time I try to cast over my head from a seated position I get the dreaded birds nest. However, I stand most of the time when I fish from my kayak anyway so from that position I can more easily cast from any angle.

I for sure need more practice, main problem is that I have way more backlashes in the kayak.

Dont have much trouble in boat or bank.

Seems like seated so close to the water makes it different for me. Guess I just need to practice in the kayak and work my way past the backlashes.

I must be changing my form while in a kayak.

Using spinning gear is where I have accuracy issues. Guess more practice for both.

Lean to set your tension cap and don't be afraid to add a brake when your casting into the wind. Once you train and use your thumb it will be much easier. Also don't over cast, that will always get your spool turning faster than the line can get down your rod and it has now where to go but not a nest. Make your cast nice and easy, the better you get the more you can zing it. A rod with a stiff tip is also hard to cast, match Rod to lure weight as much as possible. The line you use will even affect your casting.
It all plays a part in good casting.

I like the idea of sitting down in the yard as Bert described, just to feel something similar.

Well, speaking of kayak casting and the name, "Bert," there was an NFL QB by the name of Bert Jones. He had a buggy whip arm and was a noted very long passer. And, it was said that Bert could squat down to his knees and throw a football 60 yards from that position.

Well, the moral of the story, if there is one, is that when you are sitting or squatting, you cut off a major portion of the leverage you have to throw something. Your body can't rotate as far, less torque working its way up your spine and down into the arm. It also marginally changes the standard path of the cast, hence the possibility of backlashes being more common because you have changed "something" in the way you cast while seated. So, this changes things for us from kayaks.

Two advantages? One is your cast has a lower release point and this means a bit less affected by the wind; and, two is that since you are in a stealthy kayak, you should be able to glide in closer to your target area and simply make a shorter cast.

Hmm? Generally speaking, one of the beefs we hear more often relates to spinning reels. Since they are under-mounted, they hang down and often touch our laps, so we have to sort of hold them up a bit and not in the more natural position we use with them standing.

Brad

If you're having more backlashes then maybe you're too far from you target which is causing you to use too much "power." Don't forget that you're now in a quiet kayak and can get a little closer to things without spooking the fish. I've made casts 20 feet from my bow and caught the fish I missed from 40 feet. Casting with a bait-caster should be one big steady swoop, the whipping motion is for spinning gear.

Below is a video from Flukemaster on pitching from a kayak. It has helped me tremendously. What some people did naturally I had to watch be done to truly get it. Although it's not "casting", it might help you out.

Check your brakes and put half or two thirds of them on. Focus on a smooth cast and adjust the spool tension knob as needed. As you get better, cut down on the number of engaged brakes.

A little backyard practice is great advice. Focusing on casting rather than fishing will help you improve your technique.

Thanks a lot guys all good stuff.

Try starting off with a 5 or 5-1/2 rod, and shorter cast.. Your Accuracy will be better, more control, and more confidence.. And practice as above