When you start fishing, there are a number of concepts you need to be familiar with. One of these is knowing when a hit is effective. For fisheries such as surfcasting, you will need to pay close attention to notice this.
Why bites are not obvious
You would think that a bite would not be easily missed, and that it would always present itself as a sharp reaction from the rod. However, in many cases, the movement of the rod will be barely noticeable. Several parameters affect this, including the length of the line. The longer the line, the more likely it is that the vibrations will not reach the rod.
Surfcasting is a fishing technique in which the line is cast over several dozen metres. It is therefore common for this problem to occur with this particular technique. Because of this, devices such as the touch sensor have been developed to make life easier for anglers, as well as specific methods.
Relying on the tip of your rod
When you want to notice a bite, you don’t necessarily have to turn to the bite detector right away. One of the first things you can do is to look at the rod tip.
This will act in a sensitive way to your line. So this area is more likely to move or vibrate slightly if a fish has taken the bait. The trick is to stay alert, and notice the smoothest changes, and this can take some practice.
Favouring a good rod
To make it easier to detect bites, you can also invest in a rod that can help with this. Ideally, your surfcasting rod should be a model that is both stiff and light. It is in these conditions that the vibrations will be strongest when received by the line.
For the latter, you should also choose the right model. Braid is more likely to transmit the vibrations emitted by the fish. A special touch sensor is therefore not necessary if you decide to optimise your fishing equipment.
Use an electronic detector
To make sure you notice the slightest changes in the rod, you can use a touch sensor. This is an electronic device that takes care of noticing even the most subtle changes in the rod’s movements. You will be asked to choose between a model with light and one with sound.
The one that uses a light alert is the most suitable for novices, as it will have a higher precision. The model that uses sound to alert you still requires several measures to be effective. It is also characterised by the fact that its accuracy is not the same as that of the light model.