Baitcaster Setup Question

[Penguino]

So I recently just set up my Skeet Reese victory baitcaster with 12 copoly line. When I tried it out, with no centrifugual brakes turned on, when I free spooled, the rat l trap dropped really fast. So then I tried with 3 centrifugual brakes with the spool tension turned on max, the rat l trap dropped really fast. So at this point, I was really ticked so I decided to turn the braking system on max, with the centri. brakes at 6 and spool tenstion on max. No luck. Still, the 5/8 oz rattle trap dropped pretty fast. Does anybody have a solution to this problem? Or is it a problem at all? 

[Alpha Male]

Fyi the zpool tension knob is the one under the drag star. If you tighten that all the way down and it still falls to the floor there is something wrong.

[Fisher-O-men]

Yeah the brakes have nothing to do with how fast the lure drops.  I'm thinking something under the spool tension cap is missing. Did you buy the reel new?

[papajoe222]

First baitcaster? Adjust the spool tension knob first and the brakes after you've made a cast or three.

[Penguino]

Haha yeah that was the problem. I changed the spool tension, and now it works fine. Also, after I changed the heavy crankbait into a lighter frog, I could set the spool tension lighter. From what I have experimented with, I'm pretty sure that this reel would be better with lighter baits, as the brakes cannot apply too much pressure.

[Alpha Male]

Haha yeah that was the problem. I changed the spool tension, and now it works fine. Also, after I changed the heavy crankbait into a lighter frog, I could set the spool tension lighter. From what I have experimented with, I'm pretty sure that this reel would be better with lighter baits, as the brakes cannot apply too much pressure.

You would be surprised how much force they can exert. Also that is what your thumb is for. Good luck and go practice.

[Penguino]

You would be surprised how much force they can exert. Also that is what your thumb is for. Good luck and go practice.

Yeah, I will be practicing all of today.

[Penguino]

So essentially, what you are trying to say is that the centri. brakes don't affect how fast the lure drops?

[Alpha Male]

So essentially, what you are trying to say is that the centri. brakes don't affect how fast the lure drops?

Correct. And neither do the mag brakes. Both of these brakes use the inertia of the spool to act. The centrifugal brakes use the force to fly outwards and rub on the outer race and create friction to slow the spool. The mag brakes use the speed of the spool to create a field of magnetism.

The spool isnt spinning fast enough when dropping a lure to act on it.

The way it works is the centrifugal brakes are forced outwards at the beginning of the cast and as the spool slows and the force is lessened the stop making contact with the race. The mag brakes exert their force throughout the entire cast.

You will need to experiment with what works for best you. I usually use 2 centrifugal brakes on and the mags set at 1-3. I then adjust only the mag brakes depeding on the wind.

[Penguino]

Correct. And neither do the mag brakes. Both of these brakes use the inertia of the spool to act. The centrifugal brakes use the force to fly outwards and rub on the outer race and create friction to slow the spool. The mag brakes use the speed of the spool to create a field of magnetism.

The spool isnt spinning fast enough when dropping a lure to act on it.

The way it works is the centrifugal brakes are forced outwards at the beginning of the cast and as the spool slows and the force is lessened the stop making contact with the race. The mag brakes exert their force throughout the entire cast.

You will need to experiment with what works for best you. I usually use 2 centrifugal brakes on and the mags set at 1-3. I then adjust only the mag brakes depeding on the wind.

Alright thanks sooo much!!! LOL this cleared things up for me.

[new2BC4bass]

Haha yeah that was the problem. I changed the spool tension, and now it works fine. Also, after I changed the heavy crankbait into a lighter frog, I could set the spool tension lighter. From what I have experimented with, I'm pretty sure that this reel would be better with lighter baits, as the brakes cannot apply too much pressure.

 

I have zero experience with that reel, but own reels with at least 4 or 5 different braking systems.  Personally I would find it unusual to have a (normal) reel cast light baits better than heavy baits.  I am not talking about a true finesse reel as I got my first one this winter and haven't even spooled it yet.  Of course you didn't distinguish what is light and what is heavy.  A heavy lure isn't going to slow down as fast as a light lure.  Therefore it should need fewer brakes and less thumbing.  Spool weight also affects braking as does line to a certain extent.

 

As an example I received a used Trion spooled with light braid.  When I disengaged the spool, it spun very freely.  I thought it would work well for lighter lures since it spun so freely.  I took it to Florida with me where I tried casting a 10"  ribbontail worm and 3/0 hook...no other weight.  My understanding is this isn't a very light lure, but that sucker was a backlashing machine.  I could only control it with my left hand.  For some reason I can feather much better with my off hand.  Mike of DVT cleaned it for me later and suggested I go to heavier line and heavier lures.  Spooled with 17# mono, mounted on a 6'10" HF tossing 9/16 oz. lures this is now a casting machine with zero backlashing.....so far.