Winter Casting Training

You read the title right. I'm talking about training your cast during the winter. Athletes spend their off seasons working on different aspects of their game, so why shouldn't anglers? So, here's my take on how to train your (spinning reel) cast over the winter.

• Step One: You need a weight. Any weight will do, as you are simply adding it in place of a lure. I chose a 1/8 oz. bullet weight. You could even use one of those fish-shaped practice lures that come with kid's fishing sets. Tie this to your line or a swivel, depending on your preference.
• Step Two: Head outside. Nobody wants you casting in your house or apartment. At the very least, don't practice your casting inside while your wife is home.
• Step Three: Pick a relatively large spot and start casting.
• Step Four: Start casting towards smaller and smaller targets. I would suggest working towards landing your weight in a coffee cup consistently. 
• Step Five: Congratulate yourself on your casting prowess come summer.

I'd post a video but it's been snowing all day...and my wife might murder me if I accidentally put a lead weight through her flatscreen TV.

Jesse's Thoughts: 

I couldn't agree more with Tim's thoughts on this, being able to cast in precarious places has been an issue of mine, and my lures. They have the aerodynamics of a swing set. There is a bush at local lake that has close to 10 lures and flies in it. Now I haven't been doing the coffee cup although that is a wonderful idea, all I do is set up some rifle targets and try to hit them from various distances.

Although I just had an idea about how to upgrade the training of the coffee cup. So lets say you are pro at hitting the coffee cup now, okay it is impressive however, lets take it to the next level. So get some bushes or brush, and make an over hang, making the cup a nice little home for the cup, with one entrance...your entrance. Now we have an extra level of difficulty.