Help Me With My Baitcaster!

[Fish Murderer 71]

I'm going to say this about the low priced baitcasters...  If its a magnetic brake, check and see if it has all 6 magnets on the caliper.  I got a couple cheapies and both only had 5 magnets.  I dont know how many times I wanted to throw the combo into the drink but I didnt.  If its centrifuge brake make sure that they are opposing each other.  Most of my birdnests come from to much snap in the beginning of the cast with no follow through.  

[Xyndifor]

That's what I thought you were talking about.  Here are the steps I take when casting: 

 

1) Press the spool release button on the reel and hold the spool with my thumb.

2) Start the cast with the "reverse" motion you mentioned, with my thumb still on the spool.

3) As the rod moves forward, I release my thumb from the spool at a certain point which frees the lure to fly.

4) As the lure slows in the air, I apply light pressure with my thumb and the lure enters the water.

 

Not sure if steps 1-3 are universal as I'm not sure how I could possibly get a backlash on the reversal motion.  I'm not trying to discredit you or anything, I'm sure what you are saying is valid.

What you said is pretty universal. I'm sure some people may do it differently. When I first started baitcasting again 3 years ago I was going back with my rod but I was casting in a more circular motion. The reason most people get backlashes is because they don't have a smooth motion (kind of herky jerky) or they don't have enough brake on (whether it be their thumb or the reel's brakes themselves) and try to throw their bait too hard. I like to set my brakes as light as I can usually just using 1 centrifugal brakeand no magnets and use my thumb lightly on the spool about 2/3rds of the way through my cast to slow the spool down before the lure enters the water. I set my spool tension so when the lure hits the ground my spool won't turn more than 1 revolution so it doesn't birds nest when it free falls to the ground. Obviously with lighter or heavier lures further adjustments may need to be made.