Sam:
That isn't much distance for baitcaster. Not sure what you are trying to cast, but for pike it should be something heavy enough to do better than that. Unless you are throwing a feather duster!
Before messing with the reel, I'd take the reel and a casting plug - or weight - or hookless lure to the sport shop and try different rods in the parking lot. The rod may not match what you are trying to throw. I learned this on a bass fishing trip a few years ago. I had a new Carrot Stix rod, and put at least 20% of my casts up on shore - and some of those I tried to stop. The new rod simply cast much farther than what I had used before.
Anyway, see if you can talk the folks into letting you try different rods. I've only done it once, but I learned that the rod I picked by flexing it in the store was not the best caster. But then, I'm so cheap I buy the sale rods and live with them!
