Starting Out Baitcasting. Did This Happen To You?

[bbodkin]

Hey. I'm having some problems. As you've seen in the earlier thread I posted, I'm having serious backlash problems. I've heard people have problems with backlashes when first starting out, but I think I may have some more significant problems. Everytime I go fishing, I end up getting a really bad backlash.

So the bottom line is, I have bought soooo much line. I've tried taking the backlashes out and a few small ones have come out, but the ones above haven't. So I had to cut it. I have bought probably $30 worth of line. In a week. And I'm using it up. Did y'all have to buy this much when you first started baitcasting?

[bbodkin]

Also. Any tips on setting the brakes, tension and drag, for each bait I mention would probably help. I have a Pro Qualiier so it's dual braking.

I use:

3/8 and 1/2 oz spinnerbaits

1/2 chatterbaits with and without a swim trailer

XPS Rattle Shads by BPS

*** 4" Trick Sticks with 1/4 bullet

And that's about all I'm throwing at the moment.

[Raul]

Not trying to be an arse but have you checked the fourth pinned thread of this section : How to cast a baitcaster ?

[cddan]

Buy larger spools of inexpensive line to start. Cast heavier lures, half ounce jigs or three eights. In your yard walk out enough line for a cast and tape the spool so when the reel does overrun it cannot pass this taped off spot. A good medium action rod tends to cast better than stiffer medium heavy and heavy action rods. Use 12 pound test mono Berkley big game or eagle claw thousand yard spools. Not great line but cheaper. You can respool new line cheaper until you get the hang of it. Read the pinned posts at the top of thread. Learn to maintenance your reel. Good luck

[bbodkin]

Ya I know how to cast a baitcaster. All of my backlashes have been from hitting trees I didn't know were there, unable to see because of the sun, or just an accidental catch in the line. I'm just wondering if y'all had to buy this much line. I recently bought a 700 yd spool of 17 lbs test cajun line.

[Jrob78]

Sounds like you just need to stop casting in trees and you'll be fine.  No, you shouldn't be going through spools of line from backlashing.

[F14A-B]

You say you're just starting out, and going thru sooooo much line.... You need to learn you're rod and reel better.... The guys are giving you sound advice to become better,

[Brian6428]

I'll give you some help on setting the brakes and spool tension. Take off the side plate and on the side of your spool you will see the centrifugal brakes. Push them all in towards the middle of the reel. To set the brakes, it must be balanced. For example, if you are to have 2 out of 6 pulled, the two must be opposite of each other. If you pull 3 they must form a triangle. This is what I would suggest to do. After pushing all the brakes towards the center, pull 3 brakes out in the shape of a triangle. This sets your centrifugal brakes on half power, which is pretty strong.

 

For your magnetic brakes, I would turn the knob to 6 or 7. Work it lower as you improve. 

 

For spool tension, you must adjust it each time you change a lure. It will become second nature before too long. Just set it just tight enough that your lure falls slowly when you open the bail.

 

Also, get some practice casting plugs from BPS. When you get on the water you will be rushed and want to fish, resulting in more backlashes. Get in some good practice at home and it will make you better on the water.

 

One last piece of advice: use braid if your problems persist. I learned to cast a BC with mono as well, but now I use braid. Even the worst backlashes (like hitting a tree mid cast) pick right out with braid. 

 

Brian

[bbodkin]

Thanks for all of the input!

[Glenn]

Here ya go!

http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/how-to-use-baitcaster.html

[Fishes in trees]

$30 worth of line is some line, not a LOT.  You're going to have to backlash much more often to use up a lot of line.  Keep at it.

[tcbass]

Is it magnetic, centrifugal, or both?

If it's both turn 4 of the centrifugal brake pins on, and turn the magnetic brake on the outside to 1/2. Then set the tension knob for the weight of your lure. If it's centrifugal only or magnetic only just do that. Use your thumb feather the cast and slow it down and stop it before the lure reaches the end. Rinse and repeat.

[Catch and Grease]

When I first started using baitcasters I only had one backlash I couldn't get back out... Maybe I was just lucky, I like to think I'm a natural though haha

[spartyon8]

What helped me was to max out the brake settings and use a heavy weight. After a few casts, I would then turn the brakes down a little bit until I was even more comfortable. After a few of those, I started to get a handle on how it operated. The biggest thing for me was using my thumb correctly.

[Kevin22]

1/2 ounce lures, don't cast.. lob. Once you get the lob down without backlashing, then move on to casting. Biggest mistake I see is people trying to throw too hard. Properly set reel, with proper technique will require little to no thumbing, but a newbie should be thumbing the spool the entire cast. If you feel it start to backlash, push that thumb down and stop the spool! 

 

Also keep your casts low. Learn the sidearm cast (lob for now) and then move on to long overhead casts. 

 

By lob, I mean just slowly cast forward letting the weight of the bait propel itself out. Once you can do that over and over without a backlash, try putting some more speed to it. 

[Kevin22]

Ya I know how to cast a baitcaster. All of my backlashes have been from hitting trees I didn't know were there, unable to see because of the sun, or just an accidental catch in the line. I'm just wondering if y'all had to buy this much line. I recently bought a 700 yd spool of 17 lbs test cajun line.

 

Well heck.. then pay attention to what is around you and don't hit the trees. I don't mean to be an arse, but how many trees does it take to learn to watch where you are casting?

 

Everyone hits trees, but I'd say most don't go through spools of line because of it. Live and learn, don't live and repeat. 

 

 

The only time I have done what you appear to be doing, is when I made the very first cast in the new boat. I did a sidearm roll cast and hit the top of the trolling motor which stopped the bait in its tracks and spun the spool to heck. Since then, I have never hit it again. 

[bbodkin]

Ya exaggerated on everything. I was ticked off. Really mad because of that backlash. I was really only spend about $20 on line, but $15 of it was for new line to go on my new reel. So that doesn't count. I hit a tree and got a backlash. And I didn't see the tree so that's why. And today I got one cuz I couldn't see the water because of the sun. Therefore I didn't see when the bait hit the water and bang... Backlash. So I'm much better at casting that all of you think. I can do the over head cast pretty well. And the side arm cast decent. But when I side arm cast it is gets a little loose. Not necessarily a backlash. I just have to pull out about a foot of line and then I'm good. So ya I just needed to rant a little bit. Thanks for all of your input tho guys. Means a lot!

[Hogsticker]

Practice often, but do it in a long driveway, large yard, etc. Make sure there are no trees around! Get in the habit of stopping the spool with your thumb just before the lure touches down. Keep your eye on the bait. If you have the brakes adjusted right you shouldn't have to watch the spool which it sounds like you're doing. Start with soft easy casts and ease into it.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Pull off a cast and a half worth of line and put a wrap of electrical tape around the spool. This will stop the inevitable backlash from going any deeper than that. Let the rod load and do the work. Horsing a cast is the surest way to cause trouble for yourself.

[tholmes]

1/2 ounce lures, don't cast.. lob. Once you get the lob down without backlashing, then move on to casting. Biggest mistake I see is people trying to throw too hard. Properly set reel, with proper technique will require little to no thumbing, but a newbie should be thumbing the spool the entire cast. If you feel it start to backlash, push that thumb down and stop the spool! 

 

Also keep your casts low. Learn the sidearm cast (lob for now) and then move on to long overhead casts. 

 

By lob, I mean just slowly cast forward letting the weight of the bait propel itself out. Once you can do that over and over without a backlash, try putting some more speed to it.

 

What he said^ Don't swing for the fences when you're learning, let the rod do the work. Distance will come as you get better.

 

IMHO, you'll never completely eliminate backlashes. We all get one occasionally. But with enough practice, you'll limit the frequency and severity of them.

 

Tom

[gramps50]

I'll give you some help on setting the brakes and spool tension. Take off the side plate and on the side of your spool you will see the centrifugal brakes. Push them all in towards the middle of the reel. To set the brakes, it must be balanced. For example, if you are to have 3 out of 6 pulled, the two must be opposite of each other. If you pull 3 they must form a triangle. This is what I would suggest to do. After pushing all the brakes towards the center, pull 3 brakes out in the shape of a triangle. This sets your centrifugal brakes on half power, which is pretty strong.

 

For your magnetic brakes, I would turn the knob to 6 or 7. Work it lower as you improve. 

 

For spool tension, you must adjust it each time you change a lure. It will become second nature before too long. Just set it just tight enough that your lure falls slowly when you open the bail.

 

Also, get some practice casting plugs from BPS. When you get on the water you will be rushed and want to fish, resulting in more backlashes. Get in some good practice at home and it will make you better on the water.

 

One last piece of advice: use braid if your problems persist. I learned to cast a BC with mono as well, but now I use braid. Even the worst backlashes (like hitting a tree mid cast) pick right out with braid. 

 

Brian

Good advice also BPS has this really neat little pic to help with backlashes. Fits in your procket.

[WIGuide]

Ya exaggerated on everything. I was ticked off. Really mad because of that backlash. I was really only spend about $20 on line, but $15 of it was for new line to go on my new reel. So that doesn't count. I hit a tree and got a backlash. And I didn't see the tree so that's why. And today I got one cuz I couldn't see the water because of the sun. Therefore I didn't see when the bait hit the water and bang... Backlash. So I'm much better at casting that all of you think. I can do the over head cast pretty well. And the side arm cast decent. But when I side arm cast it is gets a little loose. Not necessarily a backlash. I just have to pull out about a foot of line and then I'm good. So ya I just needed to rant a little bit. Thanks for all of your input tho guys. Means a lot!

Sounds like you might want to invest in some sunglasses.  If that doesn't allow you to see you need to train your thumb. If you feel the line flaring up under it press down and stop it before it becomes a big backlash. Also, there are very few backlashes that can't be picked out with a little patients. 

[Choporoz]

$30 worth of line is some line, not a LOT.  You're going to have to backlash much more often to use up a lot of line.  Keep at it.

 

You should probably heed ANY and ALL advice from someone called "Fishes in trees".....LOL