Well I just got a Penn 309, and I need to do some practice casting it out, anyone else in Houston area that might wanna meet up and do some practice? I'm gonna be heading down to surfside on Thursday morning , so I wanna practice before then. So if you a know a spot or want to meet up at a park and practice for a couple hours let me know .

Not to be rude but what the hell are u talking about? Y whould u not just "practice" at the beach with bait on the line. No better way I can think of "practicing" but that's just my 2 cents

Well I agree with you, but as the saying goes" practice makes perfect"go on YouTube and look for casting practice videos , well I would like to go " practice" at the beach but it takes me about 1.5 hours to get there, and plus why mot practice? I would rather practice here than going to the beach wasting time learning instead of fishing. That make sense? Well that's my 02 pennies.

Ya it does what size rod u using

10' w/ 50# test 5 oz weight 12/0 circle hook.

I would highly recommend practicing your casting, especially if you are not familiar with the Penn 309 and 50# mono.

Noobs to this type of reel will have fits starting out with backlashes until they get it down pat. The last thing you want is to cast, get a nasty bird's nest backlash, and before you sort it out you get bit by a monster red. Don't forget to set your reel tension to the proper setting to minimize backlash, and remember to apply thumb pressure to the spool just before it strikes the water surface, and you will be fine.

The other big benefit to practice casting is accuracy. Now the vast majority of fishermen/women are some of the nicest people around, but anybody will get their patience tested by a newbie who keeps casting out and crossing their lines when space is tight like on some piers. Accidents will happen, but some people that repeatedly do this really should spend time practicing before going out.

I am assuming that you are new to this type of rod & reel, or you would not really feel the need to practice, because once you have it down, its like riding a bicycle.

I just bought a new Okuma CV45L, which is the direct competitor of the Penn 309, and a 12' Ugly Stik surf rod. I have used Penns all my life, but before I wet my bait, I am going to cast that big mama a few times for refresher training and to just get familiar with a different reel. Good luck and let us know how you do on your next trip.

I 309 is not a good caster. 50# test is a bad choice for you're target species from the beach and is to heavy for casting respectable distances. That reel and line is best used on a broom stick rod and fishing around offshore rigs/reefs.

The 309 has a level wind-bad for casting. with the 50# test, a 8oz spider wieght and 8 ozs of fresh cut mullet I bet you don't cast it over 35 yds.

I'm not putting you down, I've played this game for 30 years and am just telling you the truth.
The best thing you can do at this point is remove that 50# line and then get out the instruction booklet that cam with the reel and remove the levelwind and ascossiated parts and then re-spool with 30# big game.

Now go practice cast and when you do simulate with the wieght you will be chunking wich will be 16 ozs to simulate the bait and surf sinker's combined wieght.

The 309 was never designed for surf casting or it would not have a level wind. You should had bought a jigmaster or a squidder or something similar. A favorite in-exspensive surf casting reel is the peen Sea Boy.

Maybe, if you have your recipt you can exchange it for a proper surf caster and 30# test.

Well the 50# test was free, I had them put it on so I can practice with it , and when it runs out I'll go 30 or. 40, as far as the level wind, I might leave it on till I get used to the reel, I know they cast farther without then but it will get tidious guiding the new line on it , so after I use up the 50, and load up the 30 or 40, I'll see how it works with it off.

Uhmn...I was just trying to help you but I can see you have it all figured out.
Best of luck to you trying to cast a pound into the surf with a 309 and 50# test.

On the 309, take the 50lb off and fish 25lb or 30lb, You could even fish 20lb with a 60lb shock leader. You will gain distance also. As for your reel, Its not the best for casting. If thats what you have then make do. Once you get the reel tuned and set you should be able to cast without using yor thumb as tension, only for the brake when your weight lands. You can see from the video's we don't put our thumb on the spool at all.
Practice does this...


Going the distance "Click here"..

I practice casting with carp gear at a golf driving range by my house I have a tennis ball rigged up with a 3.5oz weight to keep the lead from sticking in the ground....you have yardage markers so you know you distance and if you crack off they are usually long enough your not going to kill anyone.

I can consistently hit around 160 yards with a 13' carp rod....

sounds like some good info, I'll take the 50# off and I'll load it up with 25 or 30, whichever I have more and then I'm out the door to practice so I can be readi for the morning, I'll post up how it goes, also what's the best knot to tie the line to the leader? I use the polomar, seems to do good.

I use a uni to uni for attaching shock leaders

sort of like practicing to eat dinner

how so?