FOREST AND STREAM 
93 
Breaking the World’s Casting Record 
By Dr. Carleton Simon. 
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T was at Midland Beach Pier, 
Staten Island, a trifle over 
seven years ago that I first used 
a rod and reel. I still remem¬ 
ber with what consummate con¬ 
fidence my first cast was made 
and the feeling of chagrin that 
swept over with me when my 
lead went over a telegraph line some thirty feet 
over my head, my fishing line entangled in a 
knot around my reel. With the laughter of the 
spectators ringing in my ears at my ludicrous 
attempt, I made a resolution to become proficient 
in the art of casting and master the persistent 
habit the line had, of backlashing. 
Standing near me, was Mr. Dan Kirsc'hbaum 
whose casting ability I thought then, as now, 
nothing short of artistic. He took me in hand, 
explaining the necessity of thumbing the reel and 
of winding the line upon the spool evenly, ad¬ 
monishing me not to use force but to endeavor to 
cultivate skill. It is remarkable how ready a 
fisherman is to teach a beginner the use of rod 
and reel and it is an evidence of the unselfish¬ 
ness that the art of fishing engenders. 
That fall my improvement was noticeable. 
I was using a heavy rod and reel more suited 
for deep-sea fishing, so I decided that the fol¬ 
lowing summer would see me better equipped. 
From “Gus” Dirkes, a reliable tackle dealer, I 
bought my first surf casting rod, a six foot tip 
and a butt or handle of 29 inches. This rod I 
still possess and highly treasure. 
John Dutil—long may his tribe increase— 
selected my first free spool surf reel, a “Julius 
Vom Hofe.” Incidently I wish to say 'that Mr. 
Dutil who has fished the surf nearly forty years 
taught me many things, not only in the manner 
of casting but as well in the art of fishing, all 
of which has been of great value to me. 
Thus ready with a new rod and reel, I im¬ 
patiently awaited the coming of spring, when I 
applied myself, week ends, to surf fishing in 
which sport I found great recreation. In these 
trips I made the acquaintance of Mr. David A. 
Kelley, who was a veritable encyclopedea upon 
fishing tackle and as well an advocate of surf 
fishing, and whose encouragement stimulated me 
to improve myself. His confidence in my prog¬ 
ress has even been unshaken. He would insist 
upon measuring my longest cast and when, one 
warm sultry day I had gone 256 feet, earnestly 
advised me to enter the tournament of the As- 
bury Park Fishing Club, which was to be held 
that Summer. 
I did so. In that first of contests I felt strange 
and unseasoned, attaining third prize, a silver 
copper loving cup. This I brought to Mr. Dutil, 
telling him to retain it until I would redeem it 
some future day with a First Prize Cup and 1 
mention this incident solely for the purpose of 
bearing witness to my determination to get to 
the top. 
At that time I had cultivated the habit of let¬ 
ting my lead rest upon the ground behind me, 
starting the same forward with a sudden stiff¬ 
ening of the arm and body, calculated to bring 
into action the strong back muscles. I am con¬ 
vinced that the use of this method of casting gave 
me an experience with the thumbing of the reel 
that later, when I changed my cast, proved of 
great value. 
It is also well to state here that with the ex¬ 
ception of the Anglers Club of New York, the 
various clubs hold their tournament upon the 
sand or on grass, the distance being measured 
from where the caster stands to where the lead 
drops, the choice of three or four ounce lead 
being optional with the contestant except in those 
events that specifically called for a stated weight. 
This lead is oblong or pear shaped and is supplied 
by the various clubs, no other lead being allowed. 
The use of 2% ounce lead has never been in 
favor with surf casters, for it is foreign to the 
weight used in fishing the surf, as is also true of 
the use of a silk line and which is barred from 
tournaments. 
The rod must measure within nine feet when 
assembled and no mechanical thumbing device is 
permissible. A sponge and a pail of water are 
usually provided, by which means the line may 
be wet, for a great deal of heat is generated as 
the line is checked with the thumb. A thumb 
protection may be used if desired, such as a 
thumb stall or strips of adhesive plaster. 
My method of casting at that time was with a 
wet line, which was that in popular vogue, and 
still is, with many who have not learned the ad¬ 
vantage of a dry line. 
The following year I again competed at Asbury 
Park, casting off my lead continually which de¬ 
cided me that I was using a too great initial 
force and that a different method of casting was 
necessary. Gradually I changed my “style” until 
I attained the proficiency sought. This “swing” 
is one that I still use and is being further 
evolved by me. It consists of passing the rod in 
front, with a few inches of hanging line, that as 
the rod is passed back, in a semi-circle, runs out 
to about five feet, when it is suddenly snapped 
forward in an overhead and shoulder direction, 
not unlike the method employed by hammer 
throwers. 
It was at about this time that I found that 
Mr. Ernest Holzmann made an especially fine 
running reel, whose casting qualities was its 
chief recommendation. The fact that he was the 
greatest caster that I had ever met and should 
be experienced in knowing just what I desired, 
also decided me to buy his reel. I made an im¬ 
mediate improvement, going in practice 285 feet. 
The record was then held by Mr. W. Day at 284 
feet, a very fine performance, as Mr. Day used 
an ordinary reel and rather poor rod. This dis¬ 
tance was, however, replaced by Mr. W. E. Rice, 
who cast 305 feet, which was done with a silk 
line, if my memory serves me right. 
In 1910 I was ill with inflammatory rheumatism 
and could not participate. It was at this time 
that Mr. W. J. Moran startled the casting world 
by “'hoisting” the record to 314 feet 10 inches, a 
really remarkable performance, when the diminu¬ 
tive size of Mr. Moran is taken into considera¬ 
tion. This record stood for four years and was 
the goal to which all casters tried to reach. In 
fact there was a deep rooted belief that it could 
never be excelled. 
In 1911 a trip to Europe occupied most of my 
Summer and I attended no tournament. In 1912 
I won the 2% ounce event of the Anglers Club 
of New York, held that year in Central Park 
Lake, my average of five casts being, I believe 
243 feet, the measurement being taken where the 
lead struck the water, an uncertain method. 
During 1913 I entered a number of tournaments, 
the earliest being held at Long Beach, where my 
son, Carlton, Jr., a lad of sixteen years, en¬ 
grossed my entire attention. Although a constant 
fishing companion, he had never entered a tourna¬ 
ment, yet won the 2% ounce event by a record 
cast of 284 feet. He also won the three ounce 
event by casting 298 feet, quite a victory against 
a field of seasoned veterans. I won second place 
twice that day. I was below form and in the 
words of my friend “Bob” Corson “did not 
have the wallop.” 
During July, 1913, I attended the Belmar Fish¬ 
ing Club Tournament, in which I usdd a sponge 
provided, in the pail of water for the wetting of 
lines. This was contaminated with a tar-like sub¬ 
stance which smeared my hands and line with a 
sticky ooze, depriving me of my chances of com¬ 
peting. 
This incident was the turning point in my cast¬ 
ing career. Disgusted and discouraged at my 
many failures, knowing that my procedure of 
casting should attain me better results, I at last 
realized the years that I had wasted with my 
peculiar “swing” upon half wet and tacky line, 
and which could not be otherwise with poor 
facility of wetting, and resolved in future to use 
either a line thoroughly wet or absolutely dry, 
protecting my thumb with a woolen stall or 
strips of adhesive plaster. 
One week later I cast for the first time in my 
life with a dry line in the Asbury Park Fishing 
Club tournament, doming second in two events, 
my average of ten casts in both being some 279 
feet, a distinct encouragement. 
About a month later while fishing with John 
Dutil in one of his “secret” haunts upon Long 
