chubaka Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 It's a learning process. Been using one five years ago and still learning even till today. Quote
OK Bass Hunter Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 It took me a couple of weeks with the right reel to get competent. I still haven't mastered baitcasters yet. Quote
Super User iceintheveins Posted July 17, 2015 Super User Posted July 17, 2015 Probably a year or so but I still get minor overruns every trip, especially since the winds here change often and I set my brakes as light as possible. Quote
ColdSVT Posted July 18, 2015 Posted July 18, 2015 Been throwing em for about 15 years now and still get the occasional overrun, especially when im pitching in clpse quarters...this year i got brave and taught my self how to skip baits with them... Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 I don't think you can ever really master it, but you'll definitely get better. Overruns are part of baitcasting. I just get less and less as I can continue to use them. Quote
nosdog2 Posted July 18, 2015 Posted July 18, 2015 I use a big old deep dive crank bait that I removed the hooks from; the heavier the better. Â Adjust it correctly and start chucking it around the backyard and get the hang of it and get the feel for using your thumb to help control the spool a bit. Quote
Josh Smith Posted July 18, 2015 Posted July 18, 2015 I still push the envelope and get overruns.  When I started, I used heavy brakes and recommended tension. Now I use light brakes and looser tension.  Try riding the spool with your thumb for a while. I think that's how I started out 20+ year ago, as a teenager. Lots of yard practice throwing to my German Shepherd. Man, that was fun!  Josh Quote
Super User kickerfish1 Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 Not sure how long it was. I learned when I was around 10. Glad I stuck with it. Quote
fadetoblack21 Posted July 18, 2015 Posted July 18, 2015 I've been at it for a little over two years now and am still working out some kinks. I use 4 baitcasting rigs now and am slowly getting my confidence up. Mostly side armed casting because my overhead casting accuracy is a work in progress. I'm mostly a 3/4 caster anyway. . . I started using heavy braid since it was easier to untangle when I had a "professional overrun." Switched to flouro on most rods now and not having too many problems. I've weaned myself off the centrifugal brakes and rely mostly on mag brakes now which seems to help my distance. It does get easier, just stick with it! Quote
Super User Raider Nation Fisher Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 I mastered my calcutta DCs in a matter of minutes. Otherwise, it took awhile. At least to get where I only occasionally had to pick out a back lash. 1 Quote
nick060200 Posted July 18, 2015 Author Posted July 18, 2015 I practiced a bunch last night and things started coming together better for me. i know most of what i read says work on accuracy and then work on distance. after thinking hard about it i feel it should be opposite. i feel you should work on distance a little at a time (to a point, maybe 30yds max), and not getting an overrun or birdsnest and then start dialing in your accuracy. what good is it if i can only cast 10-12'? so thats what i was doing and i got out to about 20-25yds with out any overruns or birds nests. i feel good about it. Quote
Grantman83 Posted July 18, 2015 Posted July 18, 2015 When I first got into fishing, I would spend entire seasons trying to master something. My second season of fishing was to use only baitcasters for anything. It would have helped if I had owned anything "good" lol. It took a whole season of constant use with a variety of lines and lures to get it down. Now, I feel comfortable with almost anything. 1 Quote
offsidewing Posted July 18, 2015 Posted July 18, 2015 I Watched two bass resource videos, bought a Lew's Speed Spool Tournament Reel, a Cabela's tournament ZX cranking stick, and cheap 12lb mono. Tied on a 3/8 oz weight and in one hour, BAM, had it down pat. Now I have 3 BC set ups and only backlash when I'm not paying attention to the wind. There are two schools of thought: One is a monk-istic discipline of your thumb, the other is loading up the rod correctly. For me, once I learned to load up the road correctly (different that spinning reel) the backlashes went away with a trained thumb. Also my advice on gear - Buy cheap, buy twice. Quote
Thornback Posted July 18, 2015 Posted July 18, 2015 Excellent advice from all. You will learn the bait caster in time and in your own way, but you must be willing to put in the time practicing. The weight (artificial lure or natural bait) on the end of the line must be considered when setting the two brakes on the reel. Think of it this way -- the weight on the end of the line is going to pull the line off the spool, so it must be a smooth steady pull for the entire distance of the cast. Once you learn to smoothly feel the weight pulling line and your thumb learns the "feel" of the spool you will love a bait caster. When you do a side cast you easily feel the weight smoothly pulling. That same feel has to be leaned with the overhand and the underhand cast. I think a good idea is to practice with a heavy lure and also a light lure. That keeps you changing and testing the brake settings. Back lashes are synonymous with bait casters. Just when you think you're good and you'll never have another back lash, you'll get one Learn how to pick out a back lash and you will love a bait caster. Even a nasty back lash can be removed very quickly when you master that technique. Quote
BucketMouth15 Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 Just started on baitcasters this year from spinning. It took me a solid week of practice to get a feel of how to adjust them for different lures. After a couple months I hardly ever have backlashes. Just remember don't ever reel over backlashes, always pull em out. Good luck! Quote
BocaGrande Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 ive been baitcasting for little over a year now.. im very comfortable with it. as far as training my thumb.. i wouldnt be able to cast with little to 0 brakes.. lets just say that lol Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted July 19, 2015 Super User Posted July 19, 2015 Probably about one season before I could make a good cast. I don't think I have ever had a trip where I didn't get at least one backlash. Quote
masterbass Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 I don't know about mastering it, but it took me a few months to gain some skill and confidence. Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted July 19, 2015 Super User Posted July 19, 2015 how long did it take you to master the baitcaster?  Mastering the baitcast reel is something I probably never will accomplish, but learning to use one well is something that can be learned by all of us willing to put in enough practice. For some of us it takes a bit longer than for others.   BUT here's the thing................once you get halfway proficient with one, it is very likely the Bait Monkey will have you purchasing several more. Haven't counted my reels lately, but they must number up around 50 since my first one a little over 6 years ago. It can get addicting. Quote
jitterbug127 Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 It took me about 6 month's and lots of line to feel confident. I still get backslashes but they are rare Quote
BocaGrande Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 Mastering the baitcast reel is something I probably never will accomplish, but learning to use one well is something that can be learned by all of us willing to put in enough practice. For some of us it takes a bit longer than for others. Haven't counted my reels lately, but they must number up around 50 since my first one a little over 6 years ago. It can get addicting. 50 reels? You Wana get rid of any?? Quote
chelboed Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 I practiced a bunch last night and things started coming together better for me. i know most of what i read says work on accuracy and then work on distance. after thinking hard about it i feel it should be opposite. i feel you should work on distance a little at a time (to a point, maybe 30yds max), and not getting an overrun or birdsnest and then start dialing in your accuracy. what good is it if i can only cast 10-12'? so thats what i was doing and i got out to about 20-25yds with out any overruns or birds nests. i feel good about it. Don't get too caught up with distance...and don't believe the gassers that brag about casting 100+ yds because they're likely full of it. I've never needed to cast over 65yds. I would never want to set the hook on 65yds of line either. I'd say most of the time, working structures as a bank fisherman...I rarely need to cast farther than 40yds. Get accurate with that distance and you're fine. Quote
nick060200 Posted July 20, 2015 Author Posted July 20, 2015 well i actually took the rod and reel out saturday night! and in between a few overruns i was actually able to land 2 decent sized bass! the night was really slow overall and very quiet. usually there are a ton of frogs going off and it was just too quiet and i knew it was going to be one of those nights. Â im going to keep at it. Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted July 20, 2015 Super User Posted July 20, 2015 One more (recently acquired) piece of advice that I have not seen mentioned above: Don't trim your fingernails too short.   Sorta amazing that using a baitcaster can affect something as seemingly unrelated as personal hygiene. Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted July 20, 2015 Super User Posted July 20, 2015 Choporoz it just shows there is a Zen-like connection of mind, body, and spirit that allows one to master the art of baitcasting! Quote
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