Baitcasting Birdsnest Question

[mathnerdm]

So I plan on picking up my first baitcasting reel (H2O Mettle) and obviously I've heard about backlash and birdsnest and I've hopefully watched enough videos to have as minimal of it as possible when learning. But the question is, I've read a couple times people who do have issues with this talk about how they're having to keep re spooling their reel often... Birdsnests don't actually trash the line do they? I thought you could just pull the line out of the guide hole and just reel it till it's back in the spool, is that not true? Sorry if this is a stupid question, but if I'm gonna have to keep changing line in the beginning cuz of this (or whatever might cause you to change line often) then I might just want to go with cheaper mono line instead of the fluorocarbon line I planned to get for it. Please let me know if birdsnest do affect the line. Thanks a bunch!

[Jrob78]

That is one of major downsides to fluorocarbon.  If it backlashes and gets any kinks in the spool it creates a weak spot that will break.   I would definitely recommend mono or copoly until you get the hang of casting.

[Topwaterspook]

I'd suggest starting with something other than Fluorocarbon.

[BrianinMD]

Start off with some cheap mono to get started, another trick is to pull off a little over a casting distance of line and put a piece of tape across the rest of the spool. Even if you do backlash the tape will help keep it from being to bad.

 

Also, don't worry about distance at first.

[mathnerdm]

So when I've read that people have to keep re spooling it actually is because of the birdsnest weakening the line and breaking? Then I'll defiantly start with mono line, and do I still need to worry about breaking line because of backlash or does mono normally not break (due to backlash)?

[BrianinMD]

Mono can still break after a bad backlash but nothing like flouro.

 

it is not as bad as it sounds, get a decent quality bc reel to learn on, this is definitely a time going to cheap to save money is not worth it.

[mathnerdm]

Mono can still break after a bad backlash but nothing like flouro.

it is not as bad as it sounds, get a decent quality bc reel to learn on, this is definitely a time going to cheap to save money is not worth it.

OK, I was thinking about trying p line or maybe big game for it. Either or thanks! From what you said, sounds like a case of somebody who just didn't learn properly. Or like when I first started driving a stick people telling me it was tough cuz you were gonna stall it a bunch learning lol...

[.RM.]

Put together a well balanced system rod/reel/line/lure.

Learn the proper way to setup the reel with your balanced system.

 

Then practice, lots of practice and more practice.....

 

 

Good Luck & Tight Lines! 

[mathnerdm]

Put together a well balanced system rod/reel/line/lure.

Learn the proper way to setup the reel with your balanced system.

Well I'm going with the Berkeley lightning rod shock and the h2o mettle. Heard great reviews about both so hope it goes well!

[MArnold]

Also the stiffer the line = less backlash and too much line on the reel = backlash

along with the regular brake and tension knob adjustments!

[lmbfisherman]

I say don't get the cheapest crappiest mono line...when I tried to learn baitcasting I used that philosophy and boy was that a bad idea.  I would recommend the cheapest is to go for 10 dollar spool of Trilene Big Game 12lb should be a good all around line or Sufix Siege. 

[Bassin_0502]

It's not only that the line gets kinks and weak spots. When you learn to excel at backlashes like me,(!) you'll find it's sometimes easier just to start cutting line off. 

[stk]

It is helpful to get a little pick like tool to get some of the knots out.  Basically what happens during a backlash is that the spool keeps spinning and you get all these big loops, sometimes the loops fold over one another as you are pulling the line out and stops your line dead in it's tracks.  If you back track a little you can see which loop is caught, and pick that one out.  I have never had to cut my line to get a backlash out, it just takes a little bit of patience and practice.  The pick tool I use is a heavy duty paper clip bent out with a small bend at the end.  Or you can spend the five bucks at bps and get their pick tool. 

 

And one more thing, don't use your time on the water to practice casting your baitcaster.  I got funny looks from people at the park, but I was wasting less time when I was fishing.  Good luck.

[mathnerdm]

It is helpful to get a little pick like tool to get some of the knots out. Basically what happens during a backlash is that the spool keeps spinning and you get all these big loops, sometimes the loops fold over one another as you are pulling the line out and stops your line dead in it's tracks. If you back track a little you can see which loop is caught, and pick that one out. I have never had to cut my line to get a backlash out, it just takes a little bit of patience and practice. The pick tool I use is a heavy duty paper clip bent out with a small bend at the end. Or you can spend the five bucks at bps and get their pick tool.

And one more thing, don't use your time on the water to practice casting your baitcaster. I got funny looks from people at the park, but I was wasting less time when I was fishing. Good luck.

Well thanks for all your help guys! Thanks to everyone on this forum I went out last night in my backyard, put 3/8 ounce bullet weight on my line and just started casting. It was a blast! Only ended up doing about 30 casts because it was dark and a baitcasting novice in the dark with tiny weights is just asking for backlashes lol... Out of those first 30, I had about 4 birds nest none of which were particularly bad either. Not too impressive though seeing as the furthest I was casting was about 30 ft. Went out again today, and still had a great time just practicing. Now I can't wait to get to the lake!

[JD96]

I would recommend Stren 12lb to learn with, it's relatively cheap mono and if I use mono that's what I use because it doesn't get the crunchy feeling other mono lines give me, also, when you learn to use it well and want Florocarbon, to save money learn to tie lines together and spool 3/8 mono and the rest floro. saves money when you mess up.