How Long Did It Take You To Master The Baitcaster?

[blckshirt98]

Just remember even the pros get backlashes.

[Way2slow]

When you can take a 7 1/2'-8' heavy action rod, a wide spool reel with 50/60# braid, and a weighted 5" popping cork with a three foot leader and a small white fluke tied to it, then bull whip the ever loving crap out of and to try and sling it into the next county without backlashing it, then you're getting the hang of it. I have actually broken two rods from casting too hard doing this.

I'm sure some know what I'm doing this for but just in case, this is a setup I using for schooling bass when they are busting the surface and sometimes you have to be able to sling one a country mile when chasing them. For distance, never tried to measure it, but I've probably made cast of 100 yards doing this. I know I can send it a long, long way sometimes when they are way out there.

Now, if and when you do get a backlash, you will usually be re-spooling, you don't get many out unless it just happens to be a little overrun at the end.

[ImAtCSULA]

Hi,

 

I'm new to fishing in general. I learned the baitcaster in about 10 mins after a few backlashes and havent had any serious issues. I think personally for me it was quite easy because im using a left handed reel in my right hand. so i think that has alot to do with my progression. either way it wasnt hard for me i learned really quickly.

[The Bassman]

Hi, and welcome aboard.  Just a question. Did you learn under fishing conditions?  To this day I find it a challenge to throw into a breeze with something bulky. I'm a bit stubborn about tightening up my tension, though.

[livin2fish]

All of the above is great advice when learning a baitcaster.  Some get it right away.  Others, it takes some time.  Keep frustration out of it.  Backlashes, professional overruns, whatever you want to call them are going to happen.  If you "have to" catch fish, use a spinning rod or something you know.  Otherwise, "practice" the baitcaster and if you catch a fish or a few, good on you.

[new2BC4bass]

8 hours ago, ImAtCSULA said:

Hi,

 

I'm new to fishing in general. I learned the baitcaster in about 10 mins after a few backlashes and havent had any serious issues. I think personally for me it was quite easy because im using a left handed reel in my right hand. so i think that has alot to do with my progression. either way it wasnt hard for me i learned really quickly.

What reel are you using?  Can have a lot to do with how long it takes to learn.

6 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Hi, and welcome aboard.  Just a question. Did you learn under fishing conditions?  To this day I find it a challenge to throw into a breeze with something bulky. I'm a bit stubborn about tightening up my tension, though.

I have this problem myself.  I have a tendency to set-and-forget no matter the circumstances.  Majority of my reels are magnetic, so if I continue to have a problem I break down and add a touch more braking.

[TheReelDeal]

It really depends on what you mean by "Master the bait caster" After a couple weeks I could consistently cast with very few backlashes, about a year later I began learning how to skip, I still don't feel like I've "mastered" the bait caster though.  

[Boomstick]

I still haven't mastered it. There's still several things I could do better or be more consistent with, like skipping for example.

 

But in order to get comfortable casting? It took me a few weeks to actually figure it out. Once I figured it out, I was able to cast pretty consistently. But there are still some days where my casting is all off at first too and I need to readjust my casting and then there are days where it's spot on and I never get a bird's nest.

[Stephen B]

No one has mastered the baitcaster and I mean NOBODY. It's all about being proficient enough to utilizes its capabilities and reap the benefits it offers. Just keep practicing and you'll continue to see improvements

[DINK WHISPERER]

39 minutes ago, Stephen B said:

No one has mastered the baitcaster and I mean NOBODY. It's all about being proficient enough to utilizes its capabilities and reap the benefits it offers. Just keep practicing and you'll continue to see practice. 

Speak for yourself buddy . . . . I'm a master caster! ?

[LionHeart]

Still haven't mastered them.  I may be going against the conventional advice, but just for the sake of practicing in your yard (which you definitely should do), I'd recommend learning with a 1/4 weight, 3/8 at the heaviest.

 

Learning to be proficient with lighter weight first, will make casting a 1/2 weight effortless.  Everyone learns differently though, so what worked great for me may be terrible advice for you.  What rod specifically are you using?

[Maxximus Redneckus]

40 yrs ...still havenot figured out the limb so tiny that wasnt there for 3 hours magically appears.in a nutshell the only way to master a baitcaster is a football field..once fishing is involved each day is a new adventure 

[Djohn]

Put some cheap copolymer or mono on it with a 1/2 oz sinker and practice.

[AC870]

I learned a lot about control by standing in the den and pitching in the kitchen with a Rat-L-Trap with no hooks on it. Just little 10-15 foot pitches. It makes you appreciate getting the reel tension set just right. Some reels are easier to set than others. If the tension knob clicks, it makes it easier. You’d be amazed the difference 1 or 2 clicks will make. When I first started, thought I’d never get it. Just a few indoor pitches few nights a week can make a huge difference. I’ve got to learn to skip next. Judicious use of your thumb will save you a lot of misery. 

That said, I have been pitching and skipping docks this summer with a Lew’s Mach II Speed Spinning combo and a Hammer medium spinning rod and it’s been a lot of fun. You can toss a trick worm or a light Texas rigs in a lot of nooks and crannies with those rigs. 

[burrows]

It takes a couple of months of fishing regularly bro to really get it down. You might get the basics in a couple of times out on the water but to really get  it! Takes a little wile. 

[NYWayfarer]

Master is a strong word. I became comfortable with my baitcasting skills last year. This year I have had a few trips where I took only a baitcasting set up. That's something I would have never done years ago for fear of a bad backlash ending my day.

[Buffdaddy54]

A lot of great advice here. I've just recently (last 2 years) gotten serious about Baitcasters. 2 things that have spend up the learning curve for me big time. 1) I moved from a cheaper quality reel to a better quality reel. That right there has made my life sooo much easier! 2) And this is HUGE. Practice away from the water. I go to my local middle school play ground where there are 6 four square  courts. Each quart has 4 squares. I stand about 10 yards away from the first court and start working. I throw to a square and donot move to another until my practice plug lands in the square. By doing this I have stopped worrying about distance and more on accuracy. Accuracy comes with proper technique and I now concentrate on technique more than anything else. With my improved technique not only has my accuracy gotten much better so has my distance( without trying harder) I still get a few over runs when I'm not paying attention but they are now fewer in number. 

Make a game out of your practice and have fun. Good luck and as Jimmy V said" don't give up, don't ever give up!"

[TheReelDeal]

The fastest way to loose your line is by telling your buddy you can cast farther than him...

[new2BC4bass]

17 hours ago, LionHeart said:

Still haven't mastered them.  I may be going against the conventional advice, but just for the sake of practicing in your yard (which you definitely should do), I'd recommend learning with a 1/4 weight, 3/8 at the heaviest.

 

Learning to be proficient with lighter weight first, will make casting a 1/2 weight effortless.  Everyone learns differently though, so what worked great for me may be terrible advice for you.  What rod specifically are you using?

 

Personally I feel this is like telling someone to turn their brakes off to learn because once they have mastered that putting some brakes on will make casting effortless.

[LionHeart]

6 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

Personally I feel this is like telling someone to turn their brakes off to learn because once they have mastered that putting some brakes on will make casting effortless.

Totally a good point man.  I wouldn't recommend anyone learning a baitcaster to turn the brakes off, which is why I didn't, but I would say that turning them way up may actually increase the time it could take someone to gain proficiency.

 

Heavy lures and high setting brakes can cover up improper casting and lack of thumb control, and actually delay the learning process.  Whereas having your brakes set up to a moderate level, and using lures that are aerodynamic, but on the lighter side, will actually force you to use the fundamentals required to use casting equipment.  

 

Thumb control is 99% of learning to use a baitcaster, and I just think that the best way to develope any skill aint by not having to use it.

 

 

 

[Stephen B]

6 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

Master is a strong word

? Agreed

[Deleted account]

About 10 minutes, but that's coming from surf casting with Abu 6500s and 7000s (not to mention Penn Squidders for those who know what they are) for about 3 years.

[Ratherbfishing]

You mean where I'm not backlashing every other cast?  About 3 months.  A better reel and knowledge of how the size/weight of the lure and wind, etc. makes the process easier.  I still backlash, however.  Fewer of them, though, are "fatal."

[Hulkster]

the most important thing is to adjust your reel properly for the lure weight and wind conditions.

 

I have been using one for 20 years now so I really dont think much about casting anymore, its second nature like spinning.

 

but you always have to adjust when you switch lures. I almost never backlash anymore, and I do often go out with only my casting rod. But that comes with time and experience out on the water casting casting and more casting. 

[LCG]

Bought my first baitcaster last Oct. Spent the winter practicing pitching in the house with a rubber plug. Learned thumb control fast. Focused on accuracy above all else. This summer I mostly used baitcasting equipment with good results. A few backlashes from not paying attention, ie brakes set too low or those darn low hanging tree limbs and tall grass :). 

 

Not a master by any stretch, but it was not nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. Have started to prefer using baitcaster over spinning actually.