Braid on a Baitcaster

[Somd Fx4]

So I did some more research and I am starting to think it is adjustments and my inexperience more than anything. I previously had the cast control set to where the bait just starts to fall. A few things I watched and read said for a beginner to go one or two clicks tighter than that. I made the new adjustments and we will try them out this weekend. Thanks again for all the advice.

[CrankFate]

On 8/6/2018 at 10:36 PM, Glaucus said:

2-6lb diameter on a baitcaster is a nightmare waiting to happen, especially for a beginner. I would ignore this advice, OP. That's way too thin for a baitcaster. Experienced people can get away with 20lb braid (6lb diameter), but it will have it's fair share of problems, especially with digging.

Aaaaaaah! Just do it. From the beginning. Using about 3/8 or more. You’ll get it in now time, then just dial down the weight.

[Boomstick]

Braid actually knots much tigher, and is much harder to pull out a bird's nest than it is with thicker mono and flurocarbon lines. I would not recommend going to braid on a baitcaster for a beginner, and even as someone who got casting down pretty well, I still prefer going straight mono or fluoro on my baitcasters whenever possible. Obviously there are some situations that require braid -- like fishing a hollow body frog for example.

On 8/6/2018 at 10:36 PM, Glaucus said:

2-6lb diameter on a baitcaster is a nightmare waiting to happen, especially for a beginner. I would ignore this advice, OP. That's way too thin for a baitcaster. Experienced people can get away with 20lb braid (6lb diameter), but it will have it's fair share of problems, especially with digging.

I wouldn't go below 30lbs personally. 40lbs is much better at not digging into itself.

[Koz]

The first time I used a baitcaster I spooled it up with 30# braid and had no issues. That's because I set a lot of brake and made sure I had the tension set correct. As I got more comfortable with it I decreased the brakes. I didn't go out there the first time with the goal of long bomb casts.

 

I did try mono on my baitcaster and hated it. Now I only use either 30# of 50# braid.

 

I rarely get a big bird's nest, but when I get too whippy I do get some line gouging and overruns, but have only had to cut things out once or twice. I love my baitcasters and use them almost exclusively now - even though I'm a bank fisherman.

[Somd Fx4]

Update Everyone!!!!! Went out for a few hours this morning and it was a huge success. The bps reel is working great now with the new adjustments. I was worried I would lose casting distance have tighter spool tension but I think it is actually farther. I made the same adjustments on the Shimano and even better results. I spent a lot more time fishing instead of digging out bird nests. Only landed one fish but missed two nice ones due to bad hook sets.

[new2BC4bass]

5 hours ago, Somd Fx4 said:

Update Everyone!!!!! Went out for a few hours this morning and it was a huge success. The bps reel is working great now with the new adjustments. I was worried I would lose casting distance have tighter spool tension but I think it is actually farther. I made the same adjustments on the Shimano and even better results. I spent a lot more time fishing instead of digging out bird nests. Only landed one fish but missed two nice ones due to bad hook sets.

Great!  Glad to see it is coming together for you.  Won't be long before you will be lowering spool tension and brakes.  You will see an improvement in distance.  I predict you will also be owning a few more baitcast reels.

[Somd Fx4]

If I had my way I would have one for every technique but the misses and kayak storage won't allow it.

[Chris at Tech]

On 8/5/2018 at 6:37 PM, Darren. said:

Here's a great tip I learned from a Bill Dance show:

 

And with either braid or mono/fluoro. Cast a plug or weight

about what you'd use on the water - as far as you can w/o

backlashing.

 

Oh, do this at home in the yard or on the street or something

like that.

 

Once you've done this, take a piece of electrical tape cut to the

width of the spool and tape it on that point - after the cast.

 

Rub it down, then reel in your plug/weight. Next time you cast

and backlash, it'll stop at the tape. If you can't get it out, you'll

only have to cut out up to that tape.

Do this first.  Now that you have a measure in place to help mitigate the worst-case backlashes, do what others are saying to dial in the cast controls better.