Anyone Else Turn All Brakes Off With Baitcaster

[Coosa]

I just can't stand the brakes stopping the possible distance of my cast. Anyone else?

[OnthePotomac]

I have had two on forever and get the distance I need. Curados and Citicas with ABEC 7 bearings.

[Goose52]

Spool overrun has to be controlled. It could be by an "educated thumb"...or by a brake system (and usually some of both). In some cases, the braking system would apply more consistent control than than most could do with thumb modulation alone - thus potentially giving a longer cast.

Me, I don't ignore the features built into modern baitcasting reels and use them to my advantage...

[JunkYard814]

Spool overrun has to be controlled. It could be by an "educated thumb"...or by a brake system (and usually some of both). In some cases, the braking system would apply more consistent control than than most could do with thumb modulation alone - thus potentially giving a longer cast.

Me, I don't ignore the features built into modern baitcasting reels and use them to my advantage...

I never use them but I never really thought about it like that. I guess if you turn them on you can cast a little harder. Usually I just leave them all off and even start loosening the spool tension knob as I go.

[Busy]

I use brakes and don't thumb the spool until the bait hits the water. Can't stand the thought of my thumb slowing the spool down LOL (unless I have to to control accuracy).

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I'll rarely turn off all of my brakes now. Usually just have a pair of them on and use the tension knob and my thumb to controll the rest. This is also dictated by line type (fluoro/braid/co-poly).

[tomustang]

Use a spinning reel if you're so worried about brakes.

[baluga]

I only turn off all the breaks when I feel that the spool bearings are sticky and not performing at par otherwise I will have 2 breaks on on the average.

[B@ssCrzy]

I usually have two brakes on and thumb hits the spool when the bait hits the water. With no breaks I get birds nests too much.

[Mike L]

I usually have two brakes on and thumb hits the spool when the bait hits the water. With no breaks I get birds nests too much.

X2

[iceintheveins]

With my curado I usually have two on for 3/8 ounce baits, and 3 for 1/4 ounce baits during windy conditions.

[Sam]

Nope.

Usually put them in an "X" pattern.

If using a baitcater to skip plastics under docks, piers and cover I put on all brakes and hope for the best!!!!!

[jj'sbassinforfun]

Not off, but as little as possible. Really the only time I want max distance is when crankin. I'm usually close enough to the spot and thumbin the spool before it goes past. If I can't reach, I move a bit closer with the boat.

[clayton86]

my Revo sx usually is run with the brakes all the way off and the spool nob loosened up as much as possible to the point where it wont fall off and the spool has slight side to side movement I give it just a bump to keep the spool side movement down. Its about as loose as you can set it I throw jigs and t rigged plastics with it. Some times I flip and pitch some times i bomb a hail marry with it. I also never adjust for different weights I just use my thumb when it hits the water I rarely if ever back lash the only time I do is when I hit some thing like a branch or dock I was trying to go under and missed stopping my lure dead in its tracks and my spool going 100mph lol.

[Dave P]

Usually two on. Spool pretty loose and no more than 2-3 on the external. Sometimes all the way off. Depends on the wind.

[LgMouthGambler]

Never all off. I know some people that do this, but they have to be very careful how they cast, and use a lot of thumb control. I use 2 or 3 on my Shimanos depending on what Im throwing setup wise, and the tension knob to fine tune for wind. I never have to thumb my spool during a cast, and I cast just as far, if not farther than those that think that no brakes is the better option.

[new2BC4bass]

my Revo sx usually is run with the brakes all the way off and the spool nob loosened up as much as possible to the point where it wont fall off and the spool has slight side to side movement I give it just a bump to keep the spool side movement down. Its about as loose as you can set it I throw jigs and t rigged plastics with it. Some times I flip and pitch some times i bomb a hail marry with it. I also never adjust for different weights I just use my thumb when it hits the water I rarely if ever back lash the only time I do is when I hit some thing like a branch or dock I was trying to go under and missed stopping my lure dead in its tracks and my spool going 100mph lol.

You and the others that use no brakes are my new heroes. I can't. I run my centrifugal brake reels with 2 on, my magnetic brake reels high...around 7 and occasionally higher. Higher than I'd like. I think if I could fish 2-3 days a week I would soon have the brakes lower. I do run my spool tension pretty loose...just enough to remove side-to-side movement. I make no adjustments for lure weight or wind conditions except maybe increasing the magnetic brake up to max if throwing directly into the wind.

There is no adjustment that I know of on my Abu Black Max 1600C reels. They do a good job throwing 1/4 oz. directly into a stiff breeze. Pretty impressive actually considering the price I paid for them. The only other reel I have with such a low price tag is a Diawa Procaster purchased on closeout.

[BassThumb]

With no brakes, I have to feather the spool too much. I don't like it, besides rarely do I need that extra casting distance. I use mostly Curados with spool bearing upgrades, and two mags work best more often than not..

[A-Rob]

I just use as little brakes as possible to stop birdsnests

if I'm birdnesting at the beginning of my cast I'll add one brake

distance comes second for me

[Jim_M]

The distance I need is made up of a combination of lure/bait weight, line type and diameter, correct casting force and technique. Finally, a correctly adjusted reel.

In that order.