Anybody Throwing Less Than A 1/4 Oz With A Baitcaster

[Catt]

Seriously I can not believe y'all can't

Every body I know can including my 13 yr old grandson!

Here in southwest Louisiana we fish a lot of shallow water marshes (18-24") & a 1\16 oz weight is considered heavy.

If y'all can't throw a 1\4 oz y'all need some serious practice!

[aavery2]

I can but do not enjoy it on a BC rod and reel.  I have had luck with a few reels, a supertuned Curado 50 with OS7 bearings, several of my Gen 2 Premiers with OS7 bearings and now a highly modified and tuned Daiwa Fuego which actually does the best job of the bunch.   The rod I have have the greatest luck with was an old Shimano Crucial crankbait  rod,  Med/Mod, it loaded easily and handled the light baits well.

[new2BC4bass]

It isn't 1/4 oz. that causes problems, it is when I go lower.  But then I have about 5 years experience, not 35 years.  Nor do I spend the kind of time with a reel in my hand that you do.  No where near that much time.  I'd be willing to bet you spend as much time in a month with a reel in your hand as I do in a year.  Although I have been casting more often this year than any previous year..  This year I was successfully throwing 3/16 oz. Shad Raps on 2 rods with 3 different reels.  I can throw 1/8 oz., but my accuracy with that weight sucks big time.  Yes....I need a lot more practice. 

 

EDIT:  I also would bet that if I were 12 instead of 61 when I started with a baitcasting reel , that I would have learned a lot quicker.  Plus at that age I got to spend more time fishing. 

[thehooligan]

With my core 51, curado 51, and new chronarch 151 i can wing a 1/4oz lipless crank a mile. Ive tried 1/8 oz hardbaits but didnt get much distance. I stick with spinning rods for hard baits under a 1/4oz.

 

I can throw 1/16oz- 1/8oz shakeyheads on these reels with no problem. If its very windy ill use the spinning rod, if its calm the cumulus/core is coming out 

[bigbill]

I been throwing a 3/8 oz spinner bait with ease using a US Reel 600 super caster bait caster reel on a med action 5'6" rod. I been wondering if I switched to a 5'6" light action rod with 6lb test for the lighter lures. I use a 5'6" spinning outfit with 6lb test for the lighter lures now. I also have one of those micro baitcasters for crappies which is an update to the older open metal baitcasters that's eons old. It's impossible to cast with the 1" grubs. It could be me. I have tiny micro lures too. But I'd like to try a US reel baitcaster super caster using the smaller 1/8 to 1/4oz lures. But I really doubt if it will cast the 1/8oz stuff.

[A-Jay]

You didn't mention if you have a spinning outfit or not but if throwing lighter baits on casting gear for distance is giving you trouble, just use the spinning gear. 

 

It's known to be universally versatile and designed to do what you need here.

 

Why force a square peg into a round hole ?

 

As many have mentioned, with a casting outfit that's right for you (and the job) it's a routine event.

 

A-Jay

[bigbill]

I use all the different line tests on all my rod setups mainly because the lures run better with the lighter line test. Meaning I use 6# & 8# on two of my lighter setups anyway..(spinning)

[Catt]

A-Jay it aint about forcing a square peg into a round hole!

It's about getting the full capability out of my equipment!

The only thing your spinning gear can do that my bait casting gear can not do is cast Crappie jigs...I don't Crappie fish!

[Catt]

new2BC4bass, practice, practice, practice, & when you done practicing practice some more.

How bad do you want it?

Oh spending money on high-end tackle will not make you better if you aint good to start with.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

A-Jay it aint about forcing a square peg into a round hole!

It's about getting the full capability out of my equipment!

The only thing your spinning gear can do that my bait casting gear can not do is cast Crappie jigs...I don't Crappie fish!

 

Crappie lures no issues with my bc reels well when they are 1/2oz red eye shads that is.      I do throw mini fat raps#3 & bitsy minnows that are small cranks at times with my 50 size reels with ML mod 7'6" rod. Like others mention practice is key.

I do feel people try to rely on the better braking systems of today reels instead of actually training the thumb to toss with.

[new2BC4bass]

new2BC4bass, practice, practice, practice, & when you done practicing practice some more.

How bad do you want it?

Oh spending money on high-end tackle will not make you better if you aint good to start with.

The reason I have more casting practice this year than any previous year since getting back into fishing is I because I have been willing to go to the boat ramp at a local river to practice with no thought whatsoever of being able to catch any fish there.  However, for the first time ever, I did catch a few fish while practicing there.  That was a pleasant surprise.

 

I'm old enough to know that money can't take the place of experience.  My $55 older gold Carbonlite does as well as my TD-Z 105H that I have invested almost 4 times as much money in.  The Carbonlite was another VERY pleasant surprise.

[A-Jay]

A-Jay it aint about forcing a square peg into a round hole!

It's about getting the full capability out of my equipment!

The only thing your spinning gear can do that my bait casting gear can not do is cast Crappie jigs...I don't Crappie fish!

 

I'm with you Catt, I'll use whatever tackle gets the job done correctly.

 

The OP seemed to be having some problems and a simple tackle switch may fix them a little quicker.

 

A-Jay

[Catt]

QUAKnSHAKE, you are correct, many anglers pass it off on the tackle instead of training themselves how to properly use the equipment they have.

new2BC4bass, I'm 62 yrs old & still practice in my back yard.

A-Jay, I've read your post for to many years to be disrespectful, if I sounded that way I did not mean to!

[John G]

I just tried casting a Zoom Finesse Worm with a 2/0 Gamakatsu Offset Round Bend Worm Hook. This worm/hook combo weighs just a tad over 3/16th oz.

 

The reel and line was the same for the 2 different rods that I used. A new Shimano Conquest 100 with 12# Yo Zuri Hybrid.

 

The rods were a Loomis MBR783GLX and a MBR842GLX.

 

I tried it with 3 to 5 brakes on with each rod and a loose to semi loose cast control knob.

 

I found that I can cast it with no major trouble but I did get a lot of overruns that were easily pulled out.

 

Distance was another story. How much distance are you guy getting with lightweight rigs? I was getting maybe 30 to 40 feet.

[seekonkBass]

This is a pretty interesting topic we've got going now. I think my concern was more focused around the lack of distance I am getting with anything less than a 1/4. I think I am just casting too hard, trying to get distance out of a weight that isn't capable of producing the distance I was expecting and the end result is a messy spool.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I just tried casting a Zoom Finesse Worm with a 2/0 Gamakatsu Offset Round Bend Worm Hook. This worm/hook combo weighs just a tad over 3/16th oz.

 

The reel and line was the same for the 2 different rods that I used. A new Shimano Conquest 100 with 12# Yo Zuri Hybrid.

 

The rods were a Loomis MBR783GLX and a MBR842GLX.

 

I tried it with 3 to 5 brakes on with each rod and a loose to semi loose cast control knob.

 

I found that I can cast it with no major trouble but I did get a lot of overruns that were easily pulled out.

 

Distance was another story. How much distance are you guy getting with lightweight rigs? I was getting maybe 30 to 40 feet.

1/8 = .125  3/16 = .1875 

 

In the pic below the Rapala 1/8 mini fat rap #3 (actual wt is .1513oz) middle row left fire tiger pattern on my Core50mg7 ONE brake &  Cumara 7'6" ML Mod rod 12pound sunline suprer sniper fluro I get 60'+ controlled spool. It is right close to 10' off per brake applied 2 brakes around 50' and 3 brakes 40' but there more effort involed with the more brakes applied as well. So one brake to get 40' is easier of a cast than the 3 brakes getting 40'. 

 

Doesnt seem bad with the amount of brakes used. 5 brakes going to take distance away for sure.

 

[A-Jay]

QUAKnSHAKE, you are correct, many anglers pass it off on the tackle instead of training themselves how to properly use the equipment they have.

new2BC4bass, I'm 62 yrs old & still practice in my back yard.

A-Jay, I've read your post for to many years to be disrespectful, if I sounded that way I did not mean to!

 

It's all Good Catt.

 

A-Jay

[LMB ANGLER]

b/c are designed for heavy line and heavy baits, just sayin..... 

[kickerfish1]

b/c are designed for heavy line and heavy baits, just sayin.....

Do some additional reading. Not ALL baitcasters are. There are a handful of current, discontinued, and limited production reels specifically produced for finesse fishing. Sure, they are more costly than a comparable spinning reel. For the individual looking for this option it exists as do finesse casting rods.

[Catt]

b/c are designed for heavy line and heavy baits, just sayin.....

In what rule book is that written in?

Manufactures list line capacity but this is not even a suggestion that this is the only pound test you can put on the reel. It does not even suggest this is the optimum pound test for performance.

The line weight & lure weight written on your rod is nothing more than the manufactures suggestion.

Use pound test or weights above or below manufactures suggestion does not void warranties or cause catastrophic damage.

It's no different than a manufacture saying this is a spinner bait rod & that one is a worm rod...it is only a suggestion.

[marinetech]

b/c are designed for heavy line and heavy baits, just sayin..... 

Guess you never tried a pixy type r or a PX68R. They are capable of throwing a bare hook !

[new2BC4bass]

Guess you never tried a pixy type r or a PX68R. They are capable of throwing a bare hook !

Does that mean a guy without 20-40 years experience with baitcast reels can throw 1/16-1/8 oz. baits?  Just asking, not being smart.  I can't afford those reels anyway, but am curious.  I know in my own case it has taken over 4 years of limited use...and a couple reels capable of throwing light weights...to reach the point where I can cast a 3/16 oz. lure with ease, and a 1/8 oz. lure with horrible accuracy.

[marinetech]

That I cannot answer. I just know that a reel that is meant for light baits makes it a much less fustrating fishing trip. The pixy is an amazing reel and that is a huge help.

[.ghoti.]

This is about "balance". It takes a balanced baitcasting combo to cast very light weights. Well, actually, it doesn't. You can do it with heavier gear if you're willing to put in a lot of practice time, but I'm guessing that wasn't what the original poster was asking about.

 

I use Daiwa Alphas reels for the lightest of weights. .

 

I have Daiwa Zillions which never see really light weight baits, so I don't know if they're capable or not. I have no reason to find out. The Zillions are spooled with heavier line than the Alphas and are mounted on much more powerful rods. This makes them unsuited for casting the lightest of baits. If they were all I had, I would have to make do, but I have better options.

 

I have Fuegos, which are good down to about 1/8oz, but given the line and rods utilized, these combos are mostly used with baits in the 3/16 - 3/8oz range. Again, if they were all I had, I could use them for the lightest of baits.

 

My Alphas are spooled with light line; one with 6, one with 8 and two with 10lb test, all mono. The best combos I have for light weights are as follows.

Best: Alphas 103, 6lb line, St Croix LTB 6'9" ML-XF. Good down to 1/16oz never tried anything less

2nd Best: Alphas 103F, 8lb line, Kislter Helium 7' ML-MF. Again, good down to 1/16oz

 

The other two Alphas are mounted on medium power rods, so they never see really light weights, but they both will cast 1/4oz just fine.

 

I made the decision a couple of years ago to get re-aquainted with spinning tackle, so I pretty much use that now when I need to go under 1/8oz.

 

I would love to have a Pixy SPR, but the cost of admission is too high for me.

[new2BC4bass]

This is about "balance". It takes a balanced baitcasting combo to cast very light weights. Well, actually, it doesn't. You can do it with heavier gear if you're willing to put in a lot of practice time, but I'm guessing that wasn't what the original poster was asking about.

 

I use Daiwa Alphas reels for the lightest of weights. .

 

I have Daiwa Zillions which never see really light weight baits, so I don't know if they're capable or not. I have no reason to find out. The Zillions are spooled with heavier line than the Alphas and are mounted on much more powerful rods. This makes them unsuited for casting the lightest of baits. If they were all I had, I would have to make do, but I have better options.

 

I have Fuegos, which are good down to about 1/8oz, but given the line and rods utilized, these combos are mostly used with baits in the 3/16 - 3/8oz range. Again, if they were all I had, I could use them for the lightest of baits.

 

My Alphas are spooled with light line; one with 6, one with 8 and two with 10lb test, all mono. The best combos I have for light weights are as follows.

Best: Alphas 103, 6lb line, St Croix LTB 6'9" ML-XF. Good down to 1/16oz never tried anything less

2nd Best: Alphas 103F, 8lb line, Kislter Helium 7' ML-MF. Again, good down to 1/16oz

 

The other two Alphas are mounted on medium power rods, so they never see really light weights, but they both will cast 1/4oz just fine.

 

I made the decision a couple of years ago to get re-aquainted with spinning tackle, so I pretty much use that now when I need to go under 1/8oz.

 

I would love to have a Pixy SPR, but the cost of admission is too high for me.

 

Zillion, Fuego and Alphas reels......you are a man after my own heart.     Majority of my reels are Daiwas.  Picked up my 1st Alphas over the winter...the Purple one.  It is an awesome reel.  Would love a few more.  Already have 2 reels set up for light stuff, so my Alphas won't be seeing anything lighter than 1/4 oz. and probably nothing over 1/2 oz since I have it on a Medium rod.