ItsallabouttheBass Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 Hey everyone! So today I was out with my new baitcasters which are BPS PQ on Carbonlite MH Rods and I got my first backlash. But the problem is that it wasnt on a cast. . What happenend was I was fishing a chatterbait near the bottom and got the hook snagged on a log about 15 yards out from shore. I pulled on the line and when it released I looked down at my reel and I have the worst birdsnest I have ever seen. I am not sure what happened? I definately dont want this to happen again as I had to cut my line and start fresh. Coudnt get the backlash out with the drag lock and thumb trick. I would love some suggestions as to why this happened! I am new to baitcasters and believe everything was set up correctly with the reel. BPS PQ 6.4:1 Centrifugal brakes were 4 on, magnetics at 5, 15lb flouro on a 6'9 MH Carbonlite. Lure was able to drop without the spool continuing to spin prior to fishing the chatterbait. That was my setup if it helps you folks help me! Thanks!! Quote
Ozark_Basser Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 The spool must have been engaged while you were trying to free the snag. 2 Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted May 3, 2015 Super User Posted May 3, 2015 The spool must have been engaged while you were trying to free the snag.yuup or .... Quote
CRANKENSTIEN Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 The spool must have been engaged while you were trying to free the snag. Agree. I can't think of any other reason. Unless you had a big backlash from the cast and you were reeling in on top of it. Quote
John G Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 The spool must have been engaged while you were trying to free the snag.Is that engage or disengage the spool? I think that he pressed the thumbar down while the line was under tension. Maybe we are saying the same thing. 2 Quote
Ozark_Basser Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 Is that engage or disengage the spool? I think that he pressed the thumbar down while the line was under tension. Maybe we are saying the same thing. Lol Yeah you're right. My mistake. To the op, you must have disengaged the spool by hitting the thumb bar down while trying to get the snag loose. Either that or your spool got disengaged on its own without hitting the thumb bar. 1 Quote
ItsallabouttheBass Posted May 3, 2015 Author Posted May 3, 2015 Agree. I can't think of any other reason. Unless you had a big backlash from the cast and you were reeling in on top of it. No backlash from the cast at all, but I agree with the other folks...I think I may have disengaged the spool accidentally while trying to free up the lure. That makes the most sense to me. Thanks for everyones input! Greatly appreciated! Quote
Super User Solution smalljaw67 Posted May 3, 2015 Super User Solution Posted May 3, 2015 When you were pulling on the line your thumb pushed the thumb bar down and the spool disengaged, I've witnessed that happen to more than 1 person that was new to bait casting. The reason this happens is the way your natural instinct to hold the rod ends up putting you thumb on the bar and you squeeze hard so you have a secure grip when pulling on the set up to free your bait but when you tighten your grip your thumb pushes down on the bar. When you get more experienced with a casting reel, you'll end up making a cast and your thumb will more than likely end up on the frame of the reel but right now you still have the instinct of holding a spinning rod so palming a casting reel feels strange but don't worry, eventually your hands will end up doing it without you ever noticing. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted May 3, 2015 Global Moderator Posted May 3, 2015 H**L I do that once in a great while myself even now when I'm trying to get one out while I'm looking around, thinking about something else and not paying attention to what I'm doing. It happens Mike Quote
Thornback Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 Years ago when new to bait casters I had a bass hit and I just used my thumb to flick up the bar so as to engage the gear. That won't work, you have to turn the handle. Anyway when I set the hook I heard the reel sing and I had the mother of all bird nests To the OP this sounds like what you got, pulling hard on the reel when the handle had not engaged the gear.. Quote
Super User Chris at Tech Posted May 3, 2015 Super User Posted May 3, 2015 Just a general comment... If you are new to baitcasters as your comment indicates, mono may be a better option to learn on. I personally like fluoro line but it does have its own learning curve, so trying to learn both a baitcaster and fluoro at once may be a bit frustrating. 1 Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted May 3, 2015 Super User Posted May 3, 2015 Most of us have had to learn that lesson. Once you do it a time or two, you will keep your thumb off of the bar. It is also part of the learning curve. I agree with Chris that mono (or a copolymer) would be a better choice while learning. I also like fluorocarbon, but it kinks more easily when you have a professional overrun, and you will have a few more...good luck. Quote
aqualkinbush Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 I disagree with the advice to learn on mono. If you intend to fish fluorocarbon line (And why wouldn't you?) your better off learning on it you will be better for it and won't have an additional learning phase when you inevitably swap. 1 Quote
TBO Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 could it be from not putting the line on tight? i know i didnt when i first used braid and when i set the hooks it knotted up inside the reel. wasnt a huge nest like a cast but was bad enough. Quote
JeziHogg Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 I disagree with the advice to learn on mono. If you intend to fish fluorocarbon line (And why wouldn't you?) your better off learning on it you will be better for it and won't have an additional learning phase when you inevitably swap. Because mono is way cheaper then fluoro. 1 Quote
adam lancia Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 Because mono is way cheaper then fluoro That right there. Buy some Berkley Xt in your favourite test and have at it. Not only will each backlash only cost you a few dollars but the XT is stiff enough to accurately mimic FC. Might as well buy a bulk spool of line while you're at it. 1 Quote
ItsallabouttheBass Posted May 4, 2015 Author Posted May 4, 2015 Just a general comment... If you are new to baitcasters as your comment indicates, mono may be a better option to learn on. I personally like fluoro line but it does have its own learning curve, so trying to learn both a baitcaster and fluoro at once may be a bit frustrating. I appreciate the thought for starting with Mono as I have already debated this but decided just to string up Flouro instead. I am not having any issues with backlashes yet, this instance that I started the thread about was a freak thing that happened. Like others have said, sometimes things like this just happen! I apparently released the spool while pulling on the line and will make darn sure never to do that again!!! Quote
ItsallabouttheBass Posted May 4, 2015 Author Posted May 4, 2015 I disagree with the advice to learn on mono. If you intend to fish fluorocarbon line (And why wouldn't you?) your better off learning on it you will be better for it and won't have an additional learning phase when you inevitably swap. This was basically the reason I strung Flouro up on the reel. I wanted to kill two birds with one stone. I will say though that up to this point working with the flouro on a baitcaster has been awesome! I ran some 10lb flouro on my spinning reels once and HATED it in every imaginable way!! I guess I picked up the baitcaster technique rather quick because I havent had a single issue with backlashing yet...maybe because I run my brakes fairly high as stated in original post. I am very pleased with my decision to go to baitcasters with flouro! Thanks for the input Aqualkinbush! Quote
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