Product Review: Castmaster

Photos:http://www.drydocksports.com/photos.asp

                If I had to classify my fishing style into a category, I would have to say I am a worm fisherman.  Sure, I throw reaction baits and such, but not nearly as much as I am worming.  In fact, I spent much of my first couple of years in the sport, casting and dragging.  I often watched as more seasoned anglers would flip or pitch their baits in the tightest of holes, and pull a bass out of their hiding spots.  The accuracy and the subtle touch on the water always amazed me.  I began experimenting with these techniques, and as the case with most rookies, scared every fish out of the area and caught every tree possible.  This was frustrating.  After taking the advise of a fellow angler, I began pitching and flipping to targets in the yard.  About this time, I also began working several Casting Kids Competitions with my local club.  Teaching kids how to flip and pitch at targets acted as another form of practice for me.  In the end, the results were remarkable.  I don’t claim to be an expert in these areas now, but I am definitely a lot better than before.  I love to flip and pitch in structure, and have caught numerous fish this way.  Just when I thought I was pretty good, I ran into the Castmaster.

                I was first introduced to the Castmaster at the 2002 B.A.S.S. University, in Glendale, when my friend and event coordinator, Gene Alford, had one on hand.  It looked fun and challenging at the same time.  I since acquired one for a review from Dry Dock Sports.  I can tell you that it has gotten a great deal of review time from both myself, and my three sons.  In fact, they hardly let me play!

                This is a truly fun game for anglers of any age, and even for non-anglers.  My son’s friends, who don’t fish, love to play this game also.  Though it is a tool to better your skills in flipping, pitching, skipping, and accuracy, the Castmaster is designed as a game. 

At a distance of 15’, participants use a flipping stick with a 3/8 oz. jig and a plastic trailer to open the lower doors on the Castmaster.  Each door has a different recordable weight, depending on its difficulty.  To open the doors, you must hit the top of the door with the jig.  Once all of the bottom doors are opened, the angler must cast over the center of the device and catch a v-shaped lever, that when lifted re-sets the bottom doors.  At this time, the angler has a 14 lb. bag of fish.  Now it is culling time.  To open the upper doors, the angler must cast over the device and pendulum his jig back into the door.  When an upper door is opened, a new weight is revealed, but a fish cannot be culled until the door is shut again.  To shut the door, you must cast into a half-mooned opening above the door, let the jig fall to the ground, and catch the v-shaped top of the door.  After a gentle lift, the door is shut again and the culling can take effect.  The tricky part is that you have two-minutes to score, so when you get to the top, you must strategically use your time well by closing any doors that you have opened.

I love to play this game when my kids let me.  It is a lot of fun and will definitely improve your skills.  It is well built and features a scenic background.  To get a look at one first hand, drop by Arizona Outdoorsman’s fishing booth at the International Sportsman’s Expo, February 28-March 3.  Room permitting, I will be letting my visitors give it a try, and I will have baits for the kids who do

For more information on the Castmaster, visit www.drydocksports, or call 1-888-785-0828.  And be on the lookout for L.A.N. (Little Anglers Network) Castmaster Tournaments in the future.    

Kip Pollay, AZOD Fishing Editor