Advice on baitcasting for the first time

[The Bassman]

10 hours ago, BassNJake said:

You will backlash and when that happens a crochet needle is what I found to be the best tool to use.

They are cheap and have a rounded point so it wont dig between braid and some have a pointed end.

 

Can be found in the craft section of Walmart or stores like Joanne Fabrics or Michael's and of course online.

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Bates-Silvalume-Handi-Tool/dp/B00FUN2KQE

Search videos that show how to clean up backlashes simply by thumbing and hard reeling through the tangle.  You'll never need a pick again.

[Kjruiz]

I used this tape trick when I was learning:

 

 

[NHBull]

 

 

[The Bassman]

Thanks for attaching those videos @NHBull.

[new2BC4bass]

48 minutes ago, Rahlow said:

I find it more comfortable to handle the cast with my ,right hand, switch rod to left and reel with my right, everyone I know does it this way, so to each his own I guess.

 

Sorry.  I wasn't thinking.  Your way is the way the majority had to fish for a long time because left hand reels were few and far between.  I doubt many would be willing to change after doing it that way for years.

 

It seems to me that now left hand reels are much more prevalent most guys coming from spinning...right handed, casting right hand, holding rod right hand and reeling left hand....are going with left hand casting reels because that is what they are use to.  The largest population is right handed.  I expect one day left hand reels will be the prevalent reel.  First we have to get rid of the old fogeys.  Whoa!  Hold it.  I am an old fogey. 

 

As someone that grew up that way (spinning rod/left hand reel), I am more comfortable casting with the right hand.  Reeling with either hand makes no difference to me.  Holding the rod with either hand makes little difference to me.  Casting with the off hand does make a difference.  I taught myself to cast left handed because I wanted to be a more rounded caster.  Sure I could cast right handed and switch...and sometime do depending on accuracy needed...but I enjoy casting left handed.  I'm just not that accurate yet.  However, if I am going to spend what amounts to a good sum of money to me, the reel is going to be a left hand.

 

No offense meant to you or anyone else.

 

 

[kenmitch]

40 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Sorry.  I wasn't thinking.  Your way is the way the majority had to fish for a long time because left hand reels were few and far between.  I doubt many would be willing to change after doing it that way for years.

 

It seems to me that now left hand reels are much more prevalent most guys coming from spinning...right handed, casting right hand, holding rod right hand and reeling left hand....are going with left hand casting reels because that is what they are use to.  The largest population is right handed.  I expect one day left hand reels will be the prevalent reel.  First we have to get rid of the old fogeys.  Whoa!  Hold it.  I am an old fogey. 

 

As someone that grew up that way (spinning rod/left hand reel), I am more comfortable casting with the right hand.  Reeling with either hand makes no difference to me.  Holding the rod with either hand makes little difference to me.  Casting with the off hand does make a difference.  I taught myself to cast left handed because I wanted to be a more rounded caster.  Sure I could cast right handed and switch...and sometime do depending on accuracy needed...but I enjoy casting left handed.  I'm just not that accurate yet.  However, if I am going to spend what amounts to a good sum of money to me, the reel is going to be a left hand.

 

No offense meant to you or anyone else.

 

 

I'm right handed so naturally I cast right, switch left, reel right as it feels like second nature to me. I've always done it this way. I swapped the handles on my spinning reels as left handed felt unnatural too me. The switch from right to left happens just after the lure hits the water anyways. I haven't really tried left handed casting. It could come in handy at times I guess. I kayak fish so I just reposition and cast with my right. I fish sitting down which already is somewhat of a handicap. I've caught the majority of my larger bass(4-5lbs) on longer casts that require accuracy. My left hand just aint up to that standard as I have to tell it what to do while my right hand just does it....if that make any sense.

[finatic]

Rod and reel were waiting for me when I got home. Pretty sweet looking setup. Heading to Dick's to get some line put on it, then off to practice...

 

 

 

[finatic]

Went to Dick's and got some Berkley Trilene Big Game (15ib). The sales guy was very knowledgeable about baitcasters and gave me all kinds of pointers. He even gave me a hands on lesson in using it. Of course I needed some more lures so I got some Strike King spinnerbaits and a couple of their squarebills. Went out and did some practicing and this thing is freakin awesome! A lot more finesse and adjustments can be made on the baitcaster as opposed to my spinning reel. I only got one backlash, but it wasn't that bad and I pulled it right out (remembering what you guys said about backlashes).

 

Overall this is going to be an awesome setup and I can't wait to really spend a day with it.

 

 

Thanks everyone for your tips and suggestions!

[NYWayfarer]

If the Big Game gives you any issues some line conditioner (KVD line and lure, Reel Snot, etc.) will help.

 

Awesome combo, those Cherrywood HD casting rods are unbeatable for the price.

[bagofdonuts]

strip out what would be a very long cash, put a piece of electrical tap over the line, then reel in the line on top of the tape. you will only get a backlash down to the tape, which will come out very easily. then practice away. 

once you gain confidence you can remove the tape. 

[Rahlow]

16 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

 

No offense meant to you or anyone else.

 

None taken, as an old fogey myself, I have begun to cast 2 handed, easier on my arthritic wrist, got away from the "pistol" grip rods so I could 2 hand it.

 

[new2BC4bass]

44 minutes ago, Rahlow said:

None taken, as an old fogey myself, I have begun to cast 2 handed, easier on my arthritic wrist, got away from the "pistol" grip rods so I could 2 hand it.

I never mentioned 2-handed, but the vast majority of my casts are done that way.  Nor did I mention that being able to switch to a reel with the handle on the other side can sometimes be very beneficial because it gives the other hand a rest.  After a winter of not fishing, cranking a spinnerbait over and through weeds can take a toll on the rod hand.

[Choporoz]

18 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Search videos that show how to clean up backlashes simply by thumbing and hard reeling through the tangle.  You'll never need a pick again.

I've read it many times....tried it numerous times and have never been successful...not sure if I don't stick with it long enough, or what....I always get to a point where I feel I'm tightening knots or just digging in

[The Bassman]

1 minute ago, Choporoz said:

I've read it many times....tried it numerous times and have never been successful...not sure if I don't stick with it long enough, or what....I always get to a point where I feel I'm tightening knots or just digging in

I was skeptical at first but it works great for me.  Make sure your drag is tight so the spool turns when you're pressing down with your thumb.  I have noticed that it's more difficult when the tangle is near the edge of the spool. Sometimes it takes a few tries to work.

[finatic]

This reel is so awesome now I'm starting to look at other baitcasters and drooling, lol. I know it's kind of picky, but I'm bummed about the silent drag on the XT. I was kind of hoping for that drag sound when I caught a fish.

[finatic]

So guys what's the best gear ratio? There's different kinds and I'm not clear what the best purposes for each one. I like this XT so much I'm thinking of getting a second one so I'm looking at Lew's Fishing Tournament MB.

 

Gets a lot of good reviews but I am a bit confused on the different gear ratios - 6.8 , 7.5, 8.3 etc. What would be a good gear ratio for bass fishing and what exactly does a different ratios mean?

[LionHeart]

Best advice I can give other than always keep a tiny bit of your thumb on the spool is, do not go for distance.  Go for a smooth cast.  What I mean is, don't whip the rod forward, smoothly cast it forward.  Also, don't start with spinner baits.  It would actually do you well to start with a 1/4 ounce sinker and a decent sized Texas rig.

 

This is light enough to teach you thumb control but aerodynamic enough to not lead to frustration.

[CroakHunter]

1 hour ago, hawgwash said:

So guys what's the best gear ratio? There's different kinds and I'm not clear what the best purposes for each one. I like this XT so much I'm thinking of getting a second one so I'm looking at Lew's Fishing Tournament MB.

 

Gets a lot of good reviews but I am a bit confused on the different gear ratios - 6.8 , 7.5, 8.3 etc. What would be a good gear ratio for bass fishing and what exactly does a different ratios mean?

Higher the ratio, faster the retrieve rate. For an all around reel I like 6.8 to 7.3

[Further North]

On 6/12/2018 at 11:39 PM, hunterPRO1 said:

cheap mono 

pair of scissors

and alot of practice 

Nailed it.

 

I was going to say "...a sharp knife", but scissors will do.

 

either buy a practice plug, or take the hooks off a lure and practice around the yard...even in the house (I practice pitching inside off and on all winter.)

 

I have a drill I do for my fly casting, every night the weather is decent: I cast my my way around the house.  At least one rod, and often two or three in different weights.  This makes me deal with the wind from every direction, trees, shrubs, whatever I can make get in my way.  I cast under branches, around bushes (you can do that with a fly rod, to a point) and right next to branches where I imagine a monster pike lurking next to that gopher mound...

 

Shoot for targets, don't just go for distance, as accuracy is 10x more more important.  Tighten up your "short game" with pitching, and learn flipping.  Plastic buckets, hula hoops, weeds, darker/lighter spots on the lawn, gopher mounds, leaves in in fall, and around here the occasional Brittany* have all served as targets at one time or another.

 

*This kind of Brittany:

 

...not this kind:

[Further North]

6 hours ago, hawgwash said:

So guys what's the best gear ratio? There's different kinds and I'm not clear what the best purposes for each one. I like this XT so much I'm thinking of getting a second one so I'm looking at Lew's Fishing Tournament MB.

 

Gets a lot of good reviews but I am a bit confused on the different gear ratios - 6.8 , 7.5, 8.3 etc. What would be a good gear ratio for bass fishing and what exactly does a different ratios mean?

There ain't no "best".

 

There's what you like, and there's what is sorta intended for various presentations.

 

I tend to like right around 7.0, then up or down depending on what I'm doing.

 

I've a couple of 9.0 Revo Rockets for pitching (I want the bait back fast so I can pitch again)

 

I've got an LTX that about 8:1 for Senkos.

 

I go as low as 6.3:1 for cranks, in-line spinners, big musky baits, etc.

 

What you really want to look at is how much line each turn of the handle picks up, then think about that in terms of the presentation you want to make.

 

Generally speaking, if moving the rod provides the action, or the presentation is all on the fall, you want a fast ratio.  If running the lure through the water (spoons, spinners, stuff like that), you're gonna want to slow it down.

 

That said, you can always slow down a fast reel, at the expense of torque.  You can't always crank a slow one fast enough...

 

Example of that last point: I have an Abu Garcia Revo Toro Winch 60 on my 9 ft. musky rod.  It's primary job is to run big in-line spinners...think double 8s, double 10s and bigger.  You don't want to run those too fast, because they'll run too high in the water column...and you'll kill yourself trying to do that all day...so it came with a 4.6:1 retrieve ratio (this is a BAMF reel, it still picks up plenty of line per turn)...

 

But...I also often throw 3 ounce Doctor Spoons with the same rig, and at 4.6:1, you cannot crank fast enough to keep them out of the weeds, even if you are 21 years old and it's 7:00 AM and you've had 6 cans of He-Man-Voodoo-Jack-Me-Up Juice.

 

Pop a set of 6.4:1 gears in there, and...BINGO...turn slow for double-cowgirls, normal for the Doctor Spoons and you're in business.  Crank baits and jerk baits fall in there just fine, also.

[LionHeart]

13 hours ago, hawgwash said:

So guys what's the best gear ratio? There's different kinds and I'm not clear what the best purposes for each one. I like this XT so much I'm thinking of getting a second one so I'm looking at Lew's Fishing Tournament MB.

 

Gets a lot of good reviews but I am a bit confused on the different gear ratios - 6.8 , 7.5, 8.3 etc. What would be a good gear ratio for bass fishing and what exactly does a different ratios mean?

I own 3 Tournament MB reels.  Solid choice and are only $99 from Sportsman Outfitters on EBay.  If you are looking for versatility, I recommend 7.5 speed (31 inch per turn) or 6.8 speed (28 inch per turn). 

 

Either of those will take you far.  7.5 is better for jigs, Texas Rigs, and lures that don't produce massive drag while retrieving.  6.8 IMO isn't quite as versatile for the lures I fish, but still a phenomenal choice.

 

Gear ratio just means for every full turn of the reel handle, the spool will turn that many times.  7.5 will turn 7.5 revolutions with each full handle turn, and so on.  Higher numbers will generally have higher retrieve speed, while lower numbers will give you more torque or leverage while retrieving a lure, or if you're lucky, a fish.

 

 

[finatic]

9 hours ago, LionHeart said:

I own 3 Tournament MB reels.  Solid choice and are only $99 from Sportsman Outfitters on EBay.  If you are looking for versatility, I recommend 7.5 speed (31 inch per turn) or 6.8 speed (28 inch per turn). 

 

Either of those will take you far.  7.5 is better for jigs, Texas Rigs, and lures that don't produce massive drag while retrieving.  6.8 IMO isn't quite as versatile for the lures I fish, but still a phenomenal choice.

 

Gear ratio just means for every full turn of the reel handle, the spool will turn that many times.  7.5 will turn 7.5 revolutions with each full handle turn, and so on.  Higher numbers will generally have higher retrieve speed, while lower numbers will give you more torque or leverage while retrieving a lure, or if you're lucky, a fish.

 

 

 

There's a lot to learn in this baitcast world. I was looking at the Lew's MB reel (which I'm still comsidering) then I spotted a Daiwa Tatula SV TW - wow, what a beautiful reel. There's a few different models and I haven't a clue which one would work for me. It was a lot easier choosing a spinning reel, lol.

 

So far practicing with the XT has been a blast. Finally got it dialed in and making longer and more precise casts. Caught a few fish, too.

[new2BC4bass]

10 hours ago, LionHeart said:

I own 3 Tournament MB reels.  Solid choice and are only $99 from Sportsman Outfitters on EBay.

 

Now that is a very good price.  Got mine for $108 and thought I was making out like a bandit. 

[Koz]

On 6/14/2018 at 7:01 PM, Rahlow said:

I find it more comfortable to handle the cast with my ,right hand, switch rod to left and reel with my right, everyone I know does it this way, so to each his own I guess.

 

 

I do the same thing. Sometimes I keep the rod in my right hand and stop the spool with my right thumb and sometimes I'll make the transfer mid cast and stop the spool with my left thumb. Last year was my first time using a baitcaster, and honestly after the first one or two outings I don't think twice about it.

 

I probably should learn to cast left handed or at least cross handed, but I'm old and stubborn.

 

The RH retrieve did seem a little awkward at first, mainly getting a steady cranking rhythm. But for me the weirdest part was landing a fish with my non-dominant hand holding the rod. That first five pounder seemed even heavier trying to muscle it with my left hand.

 

I still get backlashes now and then, but it's because I either forgot to set the tension properly or I try to muscle a cast out there like I'm still holding a spinning rod. I need to remember to cast further I can adjust the brakes and still throw easy and smooth.

 

On 6/14/2018 at 7:01 PM, Rahlow said:

I find it more comfortable to handle the cast with my ,right hand, switch rod to left and reel with my right, everyone I know does it this way, so to each his own I guess.

 

 

I do the same thing. Sometimes I keep the rod in my right hand and stop the spool with my right thumb and sometimes I'll make the transfer mid cast and stop the spool with my left thumb. Last year was my first time using a baitcaster, and honestly after the first one or two outings I don't think twice about it.

 

I probably should learn to cast left handed or at least cross handed, but I'm old and stubborn.

 

The RH retrieve did seem a little awkward at first, mainly getting a steady cranking rhythm. But for me the weirdest part was landing a fish with my non-dominant hand holding the rod. That first five pounder seemed even heavier trying to muscle it with my left hand.

 

I still get backlashes now and then, but it's because I either forgot to set the tension properly or I try to muscle a cast out there like I'm still holding a spinning rod. I need to remember to cast further I can adjust the brakes and still throw easy and smooth.

 

[finatic]

Well I'm having so much fun with this XT baitcasting reel that I decided to get a second one. Picked up the Daiwa tatula CT 100 XS matched on a Lew's 6 foot 10 in speed stick with some 20 lb Power Pro super slick. Got a great deal on the set up at Dick's. Super excited can't wait to take it out on the water