Casting For Distance Suppose you're fishing a wide uniform-depth tail out, such as the Babine run called Goose in Lani Waller's Trophy Steelhead video.  The fish could be holding anywhere all the way across the river.  So, to cover the water, it's best to start with short casts, but then gradually lengthen them, if possible, up to 110 feet or so. Use the Half Out and Go method, a longer (e.g. 15 foot) rod, and a heavy line in terms of grain weight.  For maximum distance with a 15 foot or shorter sink tip, insert a 10 foot "cheater" between the head and the tip.  This enables a slightly longer casting stroke, and, more importantly for distance, adds 140 grains or so to the line weight. For maximum distance with a 250-500 grain, 24-30 foot sink-tip, use a heavy (750 grain) Skagit head. No cheater is needed because the casting line is sufficiently heavy and long without it.