What You Wished You Knew When Buying Your First Baitcaster?

[RF813]

Looking into buying a baitcasting Rod / Reel over the winter.  I've read that people experience a lot of backlash, and they're generally not as easy to use as a spinning setup.  So what i'm asking is if you're someone who started out Spinning, and made the jump into adding a baitcaster to your current tool set, (or have experience using one in general) what advice would you offer?  I've seen there are things in place to help reduce backlash, and general complications, but it's always good to hear some practical knowledge for those who have been there. 

 

I'm not specifially asking what brands are reliable, but if you'd like to offer some advice there as well, i'll take it. (Howeverm I have / and will continue to search for that info when it gets a bit closer to me pulling the trigger and buying one).

 

Thanks.

[MacP]

There is a higher learning curve with baitcasters.  That's it. 

 

As for what I wished I knew....I wish I knew how much easier it is to crank and throw larger baits with them. 

[MarkH024]

Go with a reputable brand at the price point that suits you best.  No need to buy a $200 reel if you end up hating it.  Don't psych yourself out on backlashing. It happens to everyone from new to pro. It will certainly happen to you a number of times.  You will just need to practice and you'll get the hang of it in no time. To minimize your headache start with a line diameter of 10-12lb mono equivalent, whether you choose to use braid/fluoro/mono. If braid I'd suggest 30-50# to get started.

 

The other big factor is to look into the braking systems.  Me personally, I like Centrifugal brakes like Shimano offers. Set it and forget it and they're simple to adjust on the spot.  I have used straight mag, and it's ok but not my preference.   I've used dual and I'd prefer dual over just straight magnetics for the fine tuning you can do.

[Uncle Leo]

Understand the braking system. Choices are magnetic and or centrifugal. IMHO they are much different, I find with my casting style centrifugal works the best. Also buy the best quality that you can afford, you will soon want to upgrade so buying the best could save you money. As far as backlash you must adjust the spool tension and brake to fit your casting style, unlike spinning this is a must. Also you will be spooling with heavier line so keep that in mine. One other differance between the two is playing and landing a fish. With spinning you use the rod, with baitcasting the reel winches them in.

 

Personally for me I learned to fish with a baitcaster and can not cast a spinning setup with the same accuracy as I can with spinning.

[Felix77]

My first real spinning setup was referred to me by a bas pro after a charter trip.  It included 10lb braid on a 6'6" MH F rod and a 3000 series reel.  I thought I could translate that into a baitcaster.  Boy was I wrong.

 

My first baitcaster was a 6'6" MH F rod with a Silver Max reel and 10lb braid.

 

It was a disaster trying to learn how to cast a baitcaster on 10lb braid.  I naturally changed to Mono because of how expensive it was to keep screwing up my braid.  Once I got it down with 12lb mono I slowly migrated to fluoro and never looked back.

 

So in short ... Make sure your first line is at least 12lb Mono.  Make your mistakes there and slowly move over once you have the touch for using a baitcaster.

[Felix77]

Go with a reputable brand at the price point that suits you best.  No need to buy a $200 reel if you end up hating it.  

 

I agree 110% here.  I had a friend who wanted to learn how to use a baitcaster and bought a $50 Quantum reel.  It was absolutely horrible.  I did some research and decided the lowest I would go was the Abu Garcia Silver Max.  I'm sure there are other lower priced reels which are just as effective but this one worked for me.  Still use it today.

[Raul]

You don´t "need" baitcasting equipment, you get it because you want it, Suggestion and personal preferences are just that, maybe you have nvever heard about Fish Chris, well the man has caught more 10+ pounders than most guys here will ever be able to catch, actually most guys here will never catch a 10 + pounder and the man fishes exclusively will spinning gear. Sir Snook Alot catches sailfish with spinning gear and fishes almost exclusively with spinning gear. My friend Rigo fishes exclusively wih spinning gear, my nephew also and he has caught a couple of 10 pounders. Spinninig gear not powerful enough ? ------> BS !

 

You don´t need bc gear, it´s not a must, you can fish with spinning gear the rest of your life.

 

I do own both types, for me it´s exactly the same to fish with one or the other.

[Darren.]

That "cheap" sometimes = headaches and not worth the "cheapness". Inexpensive is a different story.

 

That decent quality can be inexpensive if you know where to look (and this site is a great place to look for that).

[Darren.]

You don´t "need" baitcasting equipment, you get it because you want it ... Spinninig gear not powerful eniugh ? ------> BS !

 

You don´t need bc gear, it´s not a must, you can fish with spinning gear the rest of your life.

 

I do own both types, for me it´s exactly the same to fish with one or the other.

 

I agree with this, even though I bought the "need" thing before I "knew better"... but then again, I actually like using bait casters now even though they are not a "need", but because I wanted to learn them.

[s freud]

That you have to use your thumb when casting... Rookie move, but I had no idea and the guy at BPS didn't tell me. Watch bassresource's YouTube videos on how to use them. I learned on a cabelas tourney zx and love it. I also wish I had known about different gear ratios for different purposes.

[RF813]

Yes, this is a "want to learn query."  I'm a weekend warrior (and at night when I can fit it in, haha). As always, not tring to light the world on fire, just want to understand more tools and their uses.

[cddan]

Get yourself a BPS pro qualifier. It has the dual brakes(plus the tension knob set to tight enough so the spool doesn't move side to side, tighter in the begining, then looser as you get better). Set the internal pins,  two in the on position.Use inexpensive 10 or 12 pound monofilament. Buy a cheap larger spool of line and change line often when you notice it feeling too rough.With the dual breaks you can increase the outer magnetic break for windy conditions or just to keep from backlashing. The reel is a good starter and many people stay with this reel. For $100 or less, on sale they get down to 60, 70, or 80 bucks.Keep the reel clean as you can and periodically oil the spool bearings with quality reel oil/lube(one drop). It may all sound like much but it becomes a labor of love for most of us die hards. Wish I knew all of these tips when I first purchased a baitcaster 30 years ago.(otherwise buy a daiwa or shimano )

[Loop_Dad]

I started off with spincast decades ago when I was a boy. I think it was probably a year later that I picked up my first baitcaster. I really didn't have much problem. Only thing I paid attention was to use the thumb to control the spool, which I'm sure you knew that already. I personally feel this backlash fear is overblown. 

 

What I would recommend is to get a reel with Centrifugal break with line like 12-14 lbs mono, M rod cause it loads better if that's not too soft for your intended application, and practice with a lure in the mid range of the rods rating. You'll be fine. Enjoy it.

[roadwarrior]

"The other big factor is to look into the braking systems.  Me personally, I like Centrifugal brakes like Shimano offers.

Set it and forget it and they're simple to adjust on the spot."

 

Specifically, I recommend the Citica now, but if you can afford to spend a few more dollars, wait for the new Curado.

 

 

 

 

[Paulasaurus]

I just starting fishing a baitcaster for the first time this past season. And if I would have watched the above video above I would have known it was going to be a completely different experience than casting a spinning reel. 

 

I started with brakes on, tension knob too tight and whipped it like a spinning reel. Which obviously didn't work. Once I started to get the hang of it I started to notice that the brakes and spool tension knob were holding back my casting distance so I started to back them off little by little and started to thumb the spool. By the end of the season I had only a couple brakes set and the spool tension backed way off. So don't rely on the brakes and tension knob to control the spool, use your thumb and you'll get better distances on your casts as a result.

[dam0007]

I didnt have this problem because I bought my first one lefty. But some guys do this and regret it from what Ive read over time. SO.. If you grew up holding your rod in your right hand and cranking with left, buy a left handed reel. It will be easier to learn to thumb the spool and you wont be switching hands every cast. Just my $0.02.

 

Other than that get a quality reel.

[cddan]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/126636-bps-pro-qualifier-bc-reel-%E2%80%93-5-year-challenge-%E2%80%93-4-years-down-1-to-go/

 This is an interesting read

[ww2farmer]

That sometimes asking a question here will get your head spinning 1000 X's faster than before you asked. Everyone want's to, and thinks they are "helping", but sometimes the only way to learn is to get your hand burnt.............. No one's right, and no one's wrong, but so much of the trouble with the first time baitcaster is user error, and only you can work through that. It don't matter if it's a $300 reel or a $50 reel, neither one will be ANY different in the hands of an inexp. user. That being said....I'll toss my .02 into the ring. go with an Abu Max series reel. #1 they are inexpensive enough that if you don't get the hang of it, no big loss, #2 they are quality enough that they will last untill you have become good with it and can upgrade, #3 they are user friendly with externally adj. mag breaks etc....no taking side plates off and wondering if pushing the pin down is on, or up is off, or  what not. And #4 they are available in both LH and RH, so you can get one that is comfortable to you.

[Raul]

Yes there is a difference between an experienced vs an inexperienced user when it comes to backlashing a baicaster, we "experienced" users, or at least in my case, when I backlash a bc the result is phenomenal, line coming out of every single opening the reel has, that didn´t happen when I was a "beginner".

[jtesch]

That buying a baitcaster is like buying heroin, the more you use them the more you search for something better, and more expensive. And don't be fooled by the thought that a more expensive reel is easier to cast. Some are-Revo MGX and some aren't - Daiwa Z type R+ {not for the faint of heart}. Find your self a good all purpose reel to start and go from there into more technique specific stuff as you get comfortable 

[Grantman83]

I wish I had bought quality first. Instead of slowly working my way up from cheap to medium to higher prices stuff, I should have just bought the better stuff first.

[new2BC4bass]

To me the substance of your post is basically the same as "How to cast a baitcaster?" with the added option to make specific reel recommendations.  My best advice is to read the stickies at the top.  Also do a search for even more information.  There are plenty of threads on how beginners should start out casting with baitcast reels.

 

To answer the question in the title, I wish I had known how addictive using a baitcast reel is.  I might not have bought my first one!  

 

My first b/c reel was a Fuego, so I can't say I wish I knew to start with a quality reel because the Fuego is an excellent reel.     Majority of my reels are Daiwas plus I have a couple mag only Revos.  I also have centrifugal and dual brake reels.  Although I love my Daiwas, it is possible that a centrifugal reel might be easier to learn on for some people.

 

However, a fisherman getting ready to go out asked me about my b/c reels.  Said he had a cheap Pflueger (didn't remember the model), but seldom used it because 3-4 casts would be good, then he would backlash.  I tightened up the spool tension a bit (I run it very loose), and handed him my Zillion 50th Anniversary/ custom 843 rod/ half ounce spinnerbait.  A few minutes later he asked me how to backlash the reel.  I said loosen the spool tension.  His reply was that he already had.  So I think it is fair to say that a mag only reel can be used to learn on

[RF813]

All good things to consider, thanks everyone.

[Brayberry]

When I wanted to get my 1st baitcaster, I came up with my own unique plan.  I went to walmart and bought a cheap $25 baitcaster combo, then bought a spool of Walmart brand line for like $1.97.  I think tied on a jig or a casting weight, and went to the backyard to practice.  My thinking was, this would be the worst case scenario, plastic reel with 0 ball bearings, junk rod, line that coils up like a smake, etc.  If I could master casting with that, I'd be a ace with a decent baitcaster.  Even if I backlashed, the line was junk, and cheap, no worries.  If I ruined the rod or reel, no worries, it's junk.  Well I practiced with that pathetic equipment for about a week, getting pretty good.  Then I went out and bought a decent rod and a nice reel.  Instantly I was casting like a pro.  I highly recommend this way, I'd had a few friends do this also and it worked for them also.

 

I started with all the brakes/magnets on, and trying to cast about 5 feet, then after I could do that well, I'd cast 10 feet, then to 15, then I'd play with the magnets.  

[Bankbeater]

Read the forums and reviews before you decide on a model.  It will save a lot of headaches and $$$ later on.