Getting Started Using A Baitcaster

[skeeter1980]

This year i'm starting to use baitcasters,only used spinning rods in the past.I've got my reels dialed in,but when I cast,I don't get any distance.My rods are 6'9''.with 17lb floro,line on them.Yesterday I was casting 1/4 oz.crankbaits,and 1/4 oz spinnerbaits.our ponds aren't deep.3-6'.some may might a few deeper holes,so I don't need big baits.Am I using too lite of a lure?I was only getting about twenty five yard casts,from the boat.

[BassnChris]

Others with more insight will be along shortly..............but 25 yards or 75 feet seem good to me with 17# line and a 1/4 oz bait. 

 

But maybe we both need some educating........we will see shortly.

[BrianinMD]

Seems like pretty good distance to me on that light of a bait, you say your rod is 6'9", is it a M or MH?

[skeeter1980]

The rods are MH

[frantzracing0]

you will get better distance with m rods. That light of lure is struggling to load the rod

[Scott F]

The way you cast can also make a difference. If you cast using your right hand, hold the rod with the spool up. Rotate your wrist 90 degrees to the left so the handle is now pointing up. Now when you cast, your wrist will give you more power like if you were throwing a baseball instead of just using your arm. Works the same way if you are left handed, its just that the reel handle will point down instead.

[WIGuide]

I'd say that's pretty good distance from the sounds of the setup you have. What is the recommend lure weight on your rod? I'd be guessing the whole range will be over 1/4 oz. I'd look into getting a medium power fast action rod for dropping down to the quarters. If another rod isn't an option or in the budget, you can try backing off on the breaking systems on your reel and train you thumb a little better.

[flyingmonkie]

Yeah, i think your setup is a little stout for 1/4oz lures.  Flouro starts to get pretty stiff at 15lb, and combined with a MH rod, you're asking for heavier bait.  I'd say you're doing pretty good considering the circumstances.

[martintheduck]

For 1/4oz, 17lb is FAR TOO heavy. At most I'd be using 12lb fluro (p-line makes a really solid copoly for like $9)... that should be just fine for ripping a crank through some crap too. 

 

Additionally - Do you cast one handed? If so, that's going to severely stifle you distance. Go watch some videos of KVD fishing and mimic his style.... two hands, doesn't use much arm (if any), he just flicks it really hard and I've had best success with that method.

 

 

Finally -- Sadly, reel quality will effect distance. I've got a $200 Abu Garcia STX and it casts about half the distance of my $250 Quantum Tour MG. Both those cast better than my AG Silver max. All three cast better further than my buddies H20 Express from academy. Point is, reel quality will effect you.

 

 

Cheers!

[FlipnLimits]

I agree with the boys, you are getting good distance with your rig there.  17 is a thick line and MH is pretty stout.  Add the 1/4 lure and you just can't get much more distance.  Go up to 3/8 bait if possible or some part of your rig has to change.  17 might be a touch to heavy for a 1/4 crank but otherwise I wouldn't change the rig for a spinnerbait. 

 

And I respectfully disagree with an above posted sentence.  17 is not too much for 1/4 lures, it just depends on the lure.  I'll throw a 1/4 jig on 20 or 25 line.  Granted I have a trailer and the bait is then heavier.  So as a rule, 17 is not too heavy depending on what you're doing with it.

 

FL 

[mjseverson24]

I also think for the set up you are using that 25 YDS is pretty standard distance, not long by any means but not short either. to help increase distance a longer rod with a more flexible tip will help a lot. For best distance a M/M works great, also decreasing the size of your line will help. typically gus that want distance use 10-12 lb floro/mono you can use braid, 30# seems to be a good size for long casts... Another option is use spinning gear for these lighter lures...

 

Mitch

[frogflogger]

practice practice practice

[Fishes in trees]

75 feet with a quarter ounce bait, didn't say what kind of reel,  I'd say that was decent to great distance.  Does that bait really weigh a quarter ounce?  Bust out your digital scale and find out.  My first guess would be that it is heavier than that.  For instance, the old Wiggle Warts were listed as a 3/8 oz bait.  The original Pre-rapala ones that I have, stock hooks and all that, weigh in around 13 grams, which is closer to a half ounce than 3/8.

 

Not busting your chops at all, just saying that knowing the correct weight of your baits helps the whole decision making process.

 

Nest question:  are you achieving this distance with a wind up or a pitch?  If you can pitch a quarter ounce bait 75 feet, that is phenomenal.  I've got good spinnerbait & crank gear, and I have issues pitching a quarter ounce more than40 feet with any accuracy.  With a wind up, more standard cast, I will go a little farther, but I'm a fan of pitching whenever possible.

[new2BC4bass]

I've got 3 set-ups for 1/4 oz. and less.  Two are on ML rods and the other on a Light.  Two reels are spooled with 6# mono.  The 3rd appears to be the same size, but I can't say for sure because it is the line that came with the reel.

 

I personally feel you are getting excellent distance with your set-up.

[jiggz125]

I have been practicing with the bait caster too. Only birds nest come when I don't stop the spool before lure hits the ground. I am wondering how guys skip their baits under docks so hard and don't get epic backlash?

[5fishlimit]

I have been practicing with the bait caster too. Only birds nest come when I don't stop the spool before lure hits the ground. I am wondering how guys skip their baits under docks so hard and don't get epic backlash?

The same a musician gets to Carnegie Hall...... practice, practice, practice.

[FlipnLimits]

I have been practicing with the bait caster too. Only birds nest come when I don't stop the spool before lure hits the ground. I am wondering how guys skip their baits under docks so hard and don't get epic backlash?

To skip baits with baitcasters will take some time but start to tighten the spool tension and swing harder, for starters.  You will train your thumb and before you know it, you're skipping with a baitcaster.  After a couple years you will skip certain baits 15' or more.