Tips for a longer cast
There are 4 contributing factors to a better cast, with these tips i can guarantee you will get more distance with every cast...
lets see what they are...
Rod length
Rod construction
Line type
Line quality
Rod length
This plays a big role in getting distance on a cast, for example if you have a 6ft rod, and you are trying to cast a 5oz weight the rod wont be able to handle the weight, and when you cast (if the rod doesnt break( : ...) you wont get the same distance as with per say a 14ft rod.
So choose the correct rod for the correct fishing circumstances.
Question:
Well its really simple,(rule of thumb) look at the writing on the rod, there you will see rod rating, if it says 3 to 4 oz try to stick with that weight and you should do fine...
Lets see whats next.
Rod construction
There are so many different types of rods out there and i can go into a lot of detail here but lets keep it short and simple.
There are 3 main types of rods, let me explain them.
Fast action
A fast action fishing rod will only bend on the top third or less of the rod.
I personally enjoy these fishing rods for fishing smaller edible fish.
They are in my opinion the second best casting rods as they don't build up a lot of kinetic energy on the cast, so it mainly depends on the anglers strength on the distance the will get.
Medium or moderate action
A medium action fishing rod will only bend usually in the top half of the Rod.
I simply love fishing for large fish species with these Rods as they assist in fighting them, trust me, when you have a huge shark on the end of the line these rods will assist in enduring longer in the fight.
These rods are in my opinion the best casting rods, they build up and transfer a lot of energy resulting in a better cast.
Slow action
A slow action fishing rod will usualy start bending on the lower third of the rod, some of them are even "parabolic" meaning the bend of the rod is similar throughout the length of the rod.
I rarely use these rods, mainly they are very popular among carp anglers.
they are not the best casting rods in my opinion, i would say they are more for dropping bait with a bait boat or drone.
Question:
The short answer, whatever rod that you feel most comfortable with casting.
Experiment with the different rods and find one that suits you easy as that.
Lets move on to the most important part to get great distances on a cast...
Line type
There are so many different types of line out there, but i am going to discuss the two most popular types available.
Mono-filament
Illustration purposes only source:
https://www.leefisherfishing.com/products/joy-fish-monofilament-fishing-line-5-lb-spool
Google defines it and i quote "Mono-filament fishing line (shortened to just mono) is fishing line made from a single fiber of plastic. ... Mono-filament line is also manufactured in different colors, such as clear, white, green, blue, red, and fluorescent."
Most anglers prefer mono due to it being much cheaper than most other types, definitely can take a lot of punishment in rocky areas as they have high abrasion resistance.
For casting purposes mono gives you a good casting distance not the best but i highly recommend it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monofilament_fishing_line
Braided line
illustration purposes only source:
https://solomonstackle.co.za/products/skinny-boss-braid/
Wikipedia defines braided line and i quote "Braided line was one of the earliest types of fishing line, and in its modern incarnations it is still very popular in some situations because of its high knot strength, lack of stretch, and great overall power in relation to its diameter. ... Also, thin braided lines provide less resistance to sea currents."
For casting purposes i would say this is the best for getting maximum distances.
Braid has almost no stretch assisting in bite detection but has very little abrasion resistance, perfect for fishing clear open waters with no rocks and or obstructions in the water.
*please note that braided line can very easily cut into your skin so be careful !!! *
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braided_fishing_line
Question:
Good question, its really simple braided line has a very small diameter for the amount of breaking strength compared to mono, thus it runs more smoothly through the guides and also has less wind resistance when casting resulting in a further cast.
Example:
50 pound braid has a diameter of : .37mm
50 pound mono has a diameter of: 0.70mm
slightly varies from brand to brand
Line quality
Illustration purpose only source:
http://www.unluckyhunter.com/2013/01/why-fishing-line-breaks.html
This is very simple, if you are using poor quality or very old line, you might have a breakage in the casting action resulting in a "No cast" hahaha.
Also cheap fishing line might be much thicker in diameter than say the more expensive brands which could cost you some casting distance.
Summary
Basically its up to you as the angler what you prefer to use and how you fish but remember...
Use the correct length fishing rod
Use the rod construction that you are comfortable with
Use the right type of line for you're fishing circumstances
Use good quality fishing line
Exercise different casting methods that you feel comfortable with
PS: i know this post was a long read sorry for that hehe, and most of the recommendations i made is based on my personal experience/preference.
I hope that this was helpful and please feel free to comment with more tips and ideas for some of the less experienced anglers or if i have missed something.