Advice on baitcasting for the first time

[Rahlow]

4 hours ago, Koz said:

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

.

Shoot, I could never cast left handed, my ol brain would never "learn" that! LOL

To me,, I related it to playing baseball, I catch with my left hand and throw with my right. When it was new to me, it all was a little awkward, but it became second nature, I cast right, thumb the spool while in my right, switch to left, reel with right, and I usually set the hook with both hands,, right usually still on the handle, sometimes under the front of the reel,,,, its all in what ya prefer and feels comfortable. I'm sure you low country boys is different anyway LOL

 

[LionHeart]

6 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

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

$108 Is a good price.  Heck, full price is a good price IMO.  If you can't tell, I'm a fan boy for this reel.  Gonna force myself to buy something different for next one

[new2BC4bass]

6 hours ago, hawgwash said:

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

Just think.  It has only begun. 

 

EDIT:  Love that grip.

[finatic]

This Tatula rocks.....and the rod is pretty awesome, too. Liking the Power Pro super slick braid - I can cast a mile and it definitely helps with backlashes. Caught several bass and a couple smallmouths and this combo just horses them in. Lovin it! Only bummer is the silent drag, again....miss that reel sound.

 

[The Bassman]

Nice looking combo. I handled that rod in Dick's and really liked it.  Just not sure about the ss guides.  Also, just a tip. Add some more backing on the reel to bring the line up a bit, maybe halfway to the edge.  It'll cast farther and retrieve faster. You'll probably need to turn your dial up a little.

[finatic]

10 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Nice looking combo. I handled that rod in Dick's and really liked it.  Just not sure about the ss guides.  Also, just a tip. Add some more backing on the reel to bring the line up a bit, maybe halfway to the edge.  It'll cast farther and retrieve faster. You'll probably need to turn your dial up a little.

 

Interesting thing about that is when the guy filled the line up at Dick's I thought he put too much on it (he used the entire 150 yds of 20lb braid) and so I took some off this morning before I went fishing. I realize now that was a mistake and I should have just left it alone. Baitcaster isn't like the spinning reel where you need an eighth inch on the lip.

[The Bassman]

Two things.  You do need a little distance (1/16-1/8") especially if you're still learning.  Second, braid isn't cheap. I always back my reels with something cheap or left over then top shot with maybe 60-70 yds. of the good stuff.

[finatic]

Lot of different fish to catch out here. It's way too much fun fishing with these baitcasters. Got to get some of that Power Pro super slick on the PresXT. That stuff is amazing.

 

 

 

 

[Further North]

Fun to follow - keep it going!

[finatic]

I put some Power Pro super slick on the Pres yesterday and wow. That line is awesome. I've made the Pres my worm/pitching setup and I can cast a worm quite a ways with no backlashes with this line. Caught my biggest bass yesterday as well - 17" 3.5lbs or more. He was pretty heavy and it was funny because I was trying to pull him up onto the grass and he just wouldn't budge. I had to look at the reel to see that the spool was spinning and quick adjust the drag, but he still wouldn't budge so I finally lipped him.

 

It's weird with these silent drags I can't tell what's going on unless I look at the spool to see if it's moving - while I'm fighting the fish. Kind of a drag.

 

[Slade House]

Daiwa reels period. 

[finatic]

3 hours ago, Slade House said:

Daiwa reels period. 

I also have a Diawa Tatula CT 100XS, but the PresXT is no slouch. 

[Boomstick]

7 hours ago, hawgwash said:

I also have a Diawa Tatula CT 100XS, but the PresXT is no slouch. 

I got my youngest son a Supreme XT casting reel and I like that reel just as much as my Tatula SV and more than my the Curado K I got my other son! It's a really nice lightweight reel and the braking system is top notch. I wasn't sure what to expect from Pflueger's casting reels when I bought it, but I got it for $110 and in retrospect, it was easily worth every penny.

 

[finatic]

On 6/24/2018 at 6:06 PM, Boomstick said:

I got my youngest son a Supreme XT casting reel and I like that reel just as much as my Tatula SV and more than my the Curado K I got my other son! It's a really nice lightweight reel and the braking system is top notch. I wasn't sure what to expect from Pflueger's casting reels when I bought it, but I got it for $110 and in retrospect, it was easily worth every penny.

 

 

In have to agree wholeheartedly. Recently I went to Cabela's and was just planning to get some tackle, but I wandered over by the reels and poles. I wasn't planning on getting anything, until I asked to see a Diawa Tatula SV TW. The guy pulled one out and as soon as I held it that was it. He recommended I get the 6.3.1 because I wanted a setup just for cranking, then he recommended a rod - a Lew's Mach Speed 7' 6". Now this setup was $300 so yah - I had to try for a Cabela's card, and I got one. Ca-ching!

 

I spent that day fishing with the new setup using the line the guy recommended - 12lb Seaguar InvizX. Now this was a very beautiful setup and I caught a few good size fish with it, but by the end of the day I wasn't wowed - I mean, not like $300 type of wowed. In the end I was liking my Tatula CT almost more, which cost half as much and is matched on a Lew's Speed Stick, which is a great rod.

 

So finally I took the SV TW and the rod back to Cabela's and just made the PresXT my cranking setup. The whole thing only cost me $100 and it's caught dozens of fish and handles cranks and big swimbaits with ease. In fact, just today the XT hauled in several nice bass including this one - my biggest bass this year at 18.5" 4.2lbs

 

 

So yah, the Pres is pretty awesome

 

Oh yeah, and the InvizX line sucks. It tangles, loops, and I had it break several times. I wasted a whole $25 spool and I won't buy that line again.

[Boomstick]

57 minutes ago, hawgwash said:

 

In have to agree wholeheartedly. Recently I went to Cabela's and was just planning to get some tackle, but I wandered over by the reels and poles. I wasn't planning on getting anything, until I asked to see a Diawa Tatula SV TW. The guy pulled one out and as soon as I held it that was it. He recommended I get the 6.3.1 because I wanted a setup just for cranking, then he recommended a rod - a Lew's Mach Speed 7' 6". Now this setup was $300 so yah - I had to try for a Cabela's card, and I got one. Ca-ching!

 

I spent that day fishing with the new setup using the line the guy recommended - 12lb Seaguar InvizX. Now this was a very beautiful setup and I caught a few good size fish with it, but by the end of the day I wasn't wowed - I mean, not like $300 type of wowed. In the end I was liking my Tatula CT almost more, which cost half as much and is matched on a Lew's Speed Stick, which is a great rod.

 

So finally I took the SV TW and the rod back to Cabela's and just made the PresXT my cranking setup. The whole thing only cost me $100 and it's caught dozens of fish and handles cranks and big swimbaits with ease. In fact, just today the XT hauled in several nice bass including this one - my biggest bass this year at 18.5" 4.2lbs

 

 

So yah, the Pres is pretty awesome

 

Oh yeah, and the InvizX line sucks. It tangles, loops, and I had it break several times. I wasted a whole $25 spool and I won't buy that line again.

Nice fish!

 

I also like my Tatula SV's though. My biggest complaint is that one of them is just about as smooth as the Supreme XT -- the other isn't.

[finatic]

19 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

Nice fish!

 

I also like my Tatula SV's though. My biggest complaint is that one of them is just about as smooth as the Supreme XT -- the other isn't.

 

I was about to quit fishing this morning when I decided to try under the small one lane bridge, thinking the sun is getting hot and perhaps the fish are under there in the shade. I cast a KVD squarebill along the side and suddenly this huge bass swiped at it and then spit it out. I was so shocked I almost dropped my rig in the water. On a second cast he struck at it again but no hook up. I often wonder how these fish can grab a lure with two treble hooks and not get caught. So finally after trying several different colors of squarebills he smashed one (this time on the opposite side of the bridge) and I slid down almost into the water I was so hyped, then it took me several minutes to grab him because he was too heavy to line lift. It was very exciting. Around here a four pound bass is almost equal to a ten pounder elsewhere.

 

What I didn't like about the SV TW that I had was the tension knob was very difficult to turn and after using it for about a day I really couldn't see much difference from the CT that I already had. I don't know, maybe I had a dud.