Back Reeling.

[starweldpro16]

Hey all. I was watching Mark Davis drop shotting on Erie.  He was back reeling to land bass. Anyone else here rely on back reeling as opposed to relying solely on the drag? It looked like he was putting his right index finger down  on the bail as an anti-reverse sort of stop. Pretty slick. 

[Choporoz]

Been a lot of years since I tried it....because it ALWAYS resulted in disaster very quickly

[J Francho]

I know some old timers that are pretty adept at it.  Modern drags are far superior for me. 

[everythingthatswims]

Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!

[Raul]

With modern day reels backreeling is absolutely unnecesary.

[Mike L]

It may be unnecessary, but some habits are hard to break.

I wouldn't recommend back reeling unless you know when, for how long, how fast and when to transition back to land the fish.

Mike

[Bluebasser86]

I back reel because I feel like I have more control of the fish. I can back off of a fish or put more heat on them depending on the situation without messing with the drag. Plus I can have the drag tight to help with hooksets.

[Mike L]

I back reel because I feel like I have more control of the fish. I have back off of a fish or put more heat on them depending on the situation without messing with the drag. Plus I can have the drag tight to help with hooksets.

Exactlly!

Mike

[mjseverson24]

Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!

 

I personally don't do it very often, but I see guys on the pro circuit do it quite often when fishing crankbaits... It can and will damage your reel, but it can also help land a large fish when it is close to the boat and she takes a run on you... definitely bad for the reel though...

 

Mitch

[F14A-B]

I never did it, I believe in a great drag set properly & use the heel of my hand to add pressure on the spool if needed. But some folks do it. It seems pointless to me.

[starweldpro16]

I figured there was a benefit for hook setting. Tighten up the drag,set the hook and start back peddling.  Dunno. I'm probably going to rely on the drag. Too old to start retraining myself now. It was interesting to watch him land chunky Erie smallies.

[OkobojiEagle]

Yes, I backreel most large fish.  I use baits with relatively small diameter hooks and I fish them barbless.  They don't pull free as easily when I'm backreeling.  For those worried about a strong run... the drag still works when you hold the handle still.

 

 

oe

[David P]

Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!

Might upset you.. But it WORKS, and has landed me a ton of fish that I otherwise would have lost when they make a hard run. The drag on a spinning reel I let do all the work, but most of my baitcasting rigs are tightened down and frequently use the freespool technique. 

[RSM789]

I don't, I depend on the drag but for a different reason.  I like the option to free up my left hand (on a spinning reel) to do whatever may be needed, especially when fighting a larger fish.  I have often switched hands with the rod if a large fish makes a run to the left, it gives you an extra couple of feet to cushion the power of the run by switching hands.  I really use the rod to fight the fish and don't want to be confined to have to have a hand on the reel at all times.

 

Then again, I'm no Mark Davis...

[Dwight Hottle]

Back reeling or free spooling allows you to adjust drag pressure from light to heavier based on conditions . If a fish hits at the boat with little line out you can feather the drag from easy to hard as the fish dictates. If you have experience with it and are comfortable it has its place.

[Josh Smith]

I've been thinking about building a 5500D for this.  It backreels but a drag controls the backreeling.

 

Been forever since I did this, though.  I took the dog out of a 5000 once and tried it for a bit.  It gave me no advantage over the drag for the time and place I was fishing, so I put the dog back in.

 

Regards,

 

Josh

[Team9nine]

I'm a spinning "backreeler" and a baitcast "free spooler" ('thumb-barrer,' if that is a word - LOL) with any fish of large proportions. Not near as critical with the small guys though. Certainly in the minority of anglers these days, though.

 

-T9

[Paul Roberts]

I've been a back-reeler for some 40 years now. I've never used drag with spinning tackle. I've never wanted a mindless stack of washers giving line for me. I've posted in some detail about it in other threads.

[Jeff H]

No shame, no regrets, I've done it for many years and will continue to do so.  

[SirSnookalot]

No, some of my spinning reels don't have an anti reverse switch.  I would not want to backreel with some of my target species.  

[Lund Explorer]

Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!

 

Why should something that someone else does upset you?  They aren't free-spooling your fish.

 

For what it's worth, I have landed countless fish from bass to bluegill by giving them total complete slack in the line.  A fish wrapped in brush or weeds will often times quit fighting and reverse course away from the obstruction if it doesn't feel the pressure anymore.  Once the fish is back into more open water, the fight can resume.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

I backreel and freespool fish because I feel it makes the fight more fun. I also don't like my drag slipping on a hookset, but I don't want to break off fish. I guess I'm in the minority.

[Oregon Native]

Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!

Why should it upset ya...it's there fish!!

[Oregon Native]

I spend hard earned money on good reels and keep them for years.  I also maintain these reels so I trust them to work...drags included.  Have caught hundreds of steelhead and salmon trusting a drag using from six pound test to fifty pound test.  No complaints.  Also trust for bass too.

People who like to back reel.....that's awesome.  It's all part of the game and what you like and feel comfortable doing.

Tight Lines

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Sharp hooks and appropriately matched line should not require locked down drags for good sets. At the end of the day though you gotta do what works for you.