michang5

I got my first casting setup a month ago (Tatula and *** Black 7'1"). Never touched a baitcaster before. On a recommendation, I spooled up with 15# PLine CXX. That stuff is thick! But it never backlashed very badly. If I did, it was easy to use the mash-and-crank trick and get it out. Problem is that I couldn't catch anything. Maybe I was throwing the wrong lures at the wrong places at the wrong times, but each time I was skunked using the setup. And often, I would catch fish after switching to my spinning rod with a wacky senko. Even if it wasn't the CXX, I had no confidence in it. So I switched to the 12# Invizx that I had been using as leader line for my spinning reel. Picked up a bottle of KVD Line and Lure, too. Due to my poor technique and a few overhanging branches, it was birdnest city. I probably spent about an hour total undoing three different backlashes. But I've caught fish, which may relate to a new crankbait I've been throwing. All that said, I've gotten much better with the setup. I understand the brakes more and how it related to what I'm throwing. No backlashes the last 5-6 outings. So what I guess I'm saying is that -- as a beginner -- you're going to backlash. Get ready to dig them out or cut them. Use whatever line you have confidence in. What's important is that you practice.

I love mine. Built like a tank and should last forever. Works great for it's stated purpose. I also use it -- instead of a stick -- to pull stuck lures. I bank fish and recommend a carabiner to latch it to a backpack or your pants belt loop. One time I was lazy and just slid it into my back pocket. By the time I got to the car, it had fallen out. Was lucky to have found it. You won't be disappointed.

Yup! Some others quickly pointed out the bent hook. Swapped in some new Gamakatsus.

Can anyone recommend a good taxidermist? I really want to memorialize what is likely the SMALLEST creature ever caught on a crankbait. Hooked it while ripping through the grass. Leaving it on the hook as a trailer did not improve the bite.

I've been very happy with using Power Pro Super Slick 20lb. (hi-viz yellow) on my spinning reel. I also use some cheap fluoro backing so I don't have to spool up too much braid. I had been religiously tying on a 12lb. Invizx fluro leader (about 5-7 feet) using the Crazy Alberto knot. Learn from the man himself: Trick that has made tying it a TON easier: Get a standard clothespin (with the metal spring in the middle). Make your loop with the fluoro and use the clothespin to hold the loop in place. Then tie on your braid as instructed in the video. All that said, I've recently switched to using straight braid. Just tie directly to the hook/lure and color the bottom 2-5 feet with a green Sharpie. I get the medium tip markers and split the tip (down toward the handle) with a thin knife or xacto. Pull the line through that split and you'll have both sides of the braid colored. Can use brown or black or whatever color. I have not found any difference with fish caught. They're still just as finicky as before on the small neighborhood ponds I fish. I still average about a fish an hour. And I caught a 3 pounder last week, which tied my PB (using a leader). Good luck!

How long is the slit you're cutting?

Thanks, Mike! Any more thoughts on "best" braid test weight/diameter for making things easier for a new baitcaster user — to minimize line digging, backlashes and/or backlash removal? I was standing in Academy last night with a 50lb PowerPro Super Slick box in my hand, but didn't buy it.

Another data point — and one from a baitcaster newbie... I have a Daiwa Tatula paired with a MHF *** 7'1" rod (3/8 - 1oz. lure weight rating). I've been practicing with two sizes of jigs since I got the setup: I had some 1/4oz jigs with various trailers that I was using with my spinning gear. I've had tons of problems with backlashes throwing with BC, especially with wind. I got some 1/2oz jigs recently and things have been much smoother. Remembering this thread, I grabbed my kitchen scale last night and weighed the various jigs. Each of the smaller, problematic jigs weighed 1/2oz with their trailers. The larger jigs weighed 7/8oz with their trailers. Not much of an "a-ha" other than how much of a difference 3/8 of an ounce can make. I suspect this will become less meaningful as I get better with the baitcaster.

Asking in a totally non-advertiser-baiting way… what were you throwing? And thanks for my recent order of grass and football jigs and chatterbaits. They look great as always. Hoping to get them wet today.

Wacky senko thrown toward any sort of grass, cattails, trees, shoreline. Wait 8-10 seconds for it to reach bottom. Reel up slack and sharp twitch up to start the shimmying-to-the-bottom all over again. Repeat. Totally lame and boring, but it's been working for me. I'm hoping to head to the aforementioned pond at lunch and practice my side/roll casting with new Siebert jigs. I seriously doubt I'll get a bite. And I'll end my session with a few throws of the senko with my spinning gear and hook one.

What about those in the south? We like to sleep in, too! But seriously, is there a reason to beat the sunrise for those areas where 50-60 might be a high temp?

Thanks. I'm very familiar with 10 and 20 lb Super Slick, having used it on my spinning gear. When I bought my setup I actually had a box of PPSS 50 lb. Returned it for the CXX based on recommendation. I had read that it was better to have thicker braid to avoid the line digging into itself. Not true?

And forgot to mention that I'm sure I'll backlash with any line, but I'm guessing braid will be the hardest to detangle.

Thanks for the suggestions. I definitely need to learn other casting techniques and get better at my sidearm. From the bank spot I was at, I had the tree limb above, a tree trunk 9 feet to my right, and more trees to my left. The casting window was quite small and I needed to reach some submerged trees at the very end if my casting range.

I'm slowly inching my way to braid on my new (and first) baitcasting setup. On a recommendation, I started with 15lb. CXX. That stuff is THICK! And while I only had a two backlashes bad enough to require the crank trick and one awful one that required cutting, I wasn't liking the line. So last night I spooled up some 12lb. Invizx that I had laying around. The line is much nicer and manageable, but I had two UNBELIEVABLE backlashes today. Each time I hit some branches ~13 feet above my head with overhand cast. First one took 20 minutes to pick out. Second one took 5. Sheepishly, I switched to my 6'6" spinning setup after. Today's experience has me seriously doubting I am ready for braid...

Went to a new pond this morning. Was very obvious where to throw -- there were a number of branches sticking out of the water at the far range of my casting distance. I threw a buzzbait and a chatterbait and a grass jig to the submerged trees/brush. Nothing for almost 90 minutes. As a last resort, I switched to my spinning setup and chunked a wacky senko to the same spot. Pulled out a 3 pounder, which ties my previous best! A bit later, I landed a one pounder on a different color senko. In starting to think I should just leave everything else at home.

I'm curious about this myself. I've had my Tatula baitcaster for a week and am getting the hang of it. First ever BC setup. Following a recommendation, it's spooled up with PLine CXX 15lb. That stuff is like weed-eater string! But I've had minimal backlashes, which was the goal. No fish yet. I was originally going to go with 50lb PowerPro Super Slick in green. Was thinking of going straight braid for grass jigs, spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs. I've enjoyed my old spinning reel with 20lb PPSS in hi-viz yellow with a 12lb Invizx leader (as needed). Will still keep that rigged for lighter applications.

I'm probably working them too much like a Texas Rig, which I'm also guilty of fishing too fast. I need to practice the cast > wait to sink > light twitch > slow drag > pause > twitch or small hop > pause > repeat. I first need to work on the beginner-level skill of simply slowing down. The two fish I caught on Arkies both hit the jigs early in my retrieve. And I had just started throwing them, so I hadn't grown impatient and hadn't sped up yet.

I'm in the same city as joeyfishes. I literally placed an online order Sunday night. I drove to the local shop on Monday and saw a display full of Siebert jigs. Picked up two more in-store. Ha!

Good stuff. Listen to the man!

I've re-scanned this thread and see lots of suggestions on how, where and at what water temp to throw a buzzbait. Only see a few short notes on when. Granted I haven't fished for very long, but my buzzbait fish have been very early (before or right as the sun rises) or late (sunset to when it's just officially dark). Most of what I've read suggests the same pattern of success based on time of day.

I was so excited to catch something this morning that I went back at lunch and caught another 1.75 pounder. Same wacky senko. Then I pushed my luck and stopped by for 20 minutes on my way home. Skunked. Desperation breeds obsession.

I'm doing the same thing you are, BostonMahhk, trying to fish every day and reading everything I can. I think I'm also suffering from info overload. My situation is made worse by my buying my first baitcasting setup last week. I want to practice with the new gear, so I'm throwing lots of spinnerbaits, 1/2oz jigs and heavier Carolina rigs. I've gotten one tap my last six outings. This morning I went over to the smaller of the two ponds I fish. I did some repair work to my spinning reel yesterday and I wanted to test it out. Thirty minutes in and I caught my first fish after many skunkings. It was on a weightless wacky senko fished pretty slowly. I guess it tells me that the fish don't care about me spending $250+ on new stuff. They just want what they want.

My first order with Siebert a few weeks ago consisted of several arky jigs, swim jigs, chatter baits and spinnerbaits. They look great! And I've caught at least one fish on each style, using my spinning gear. I've since upgraded to a baitcasting setup and have had to upside my jigs. I placed my second order with Mike last week. Look forward to receiving them. I'm focusing on grass jigs this time. I've had the least amount of success with the standard jig (arky, football, grass from Siebert and other off-the-shelf brands). I need to slow down and work on my presentation. The fault is definitely not with the Siebert products.

Finally broke my 6-trips-and-no-fish drought this morning. It was only 1.25 pounder, but it was a fish. Looking at my fishing log, it's been rainy and/or cloudy 8 out of the last 10 trips. We just keep getting rained on in Central Texas this fall. Required that I put down my new baitcaster, heavier Carolina Rig and jigs. Caught on my spinning setup with weightless wacky senko.