Blind casting has its hang-ups, literally. A jig and trailer tossed near oyster shells or grass will often get stuck, but you have to get the lure close to structure or you won’t catch many fish.
Guides emphasize keeping slack out of the line when blind casting and also when casting to spotted fish. Lures that hit the water and fall on a slack line often either fall to the bottom and foul with moss, hang up in shells or, if struck by an aggressive fish, are often rejected before the angler feels the strike. With spinning gear, as the lure approaches the water at the end of a cast, feather the line with your finger, then engage the bail quickly and raise the rod tip so you are in constant touch with the lure as it lands. You’ll have many fewer hang-ups, and you will catch more fish.
Eliminating slack is equally important for the fly angler. A fly that lands in a puddle of leader and line rather than fully extending toward the target will catch few fish. A fly needs to move to attract a strike from a redfish and a strip strike, hook set is necessary to securely hook and land the fish. Neither can be accomplished until slack is removed from the line. Only cast as much line as you can fully unfold toward the fish and you will catch more fish.
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