Thumbing baitcaster

[New to Bass]

Hello, I am new to bait casting and I was wondering something. Do most thumb the spool just as plug hits water or do most have braking adjusted to the point where thumb is not needed? Thanks 

[Jig Man]

I keep mine loose so I always have to use my thumb during part of the cast.

[MickD]

I don't think there are many reels that will allow good long casts with no thumbing.  When I have mine adjusted so that I don't think I am losing distance they will require thumbing through most of the cast.  The thumbing at the end of the cast prevents over-run but also tends to straighten the line and flip the lure out so it doesn't tend to tangle as much as if you just let it fall.

 

It depends on the lures (their wind resistance-how fast they lose speed), the wind, the rod action to some degree , and the line.  Mono is easiest, then braid, then FC, which I won't even use on a baitcaster.  I've never been able to make it work without requiring a lot of concentration, then one backlash and I'll probably break the line getting it out.

 

 

I'm sure you are going to get a lot of very interesting and varied replies to this one.

[New to Bass]

Does anyone believe that magnetic or centrifuge brakes are better than the other? Or is it individual preference? Does one braking 

system allow for longer casting?

[Steve1357]

I've used centrifugal brakes for over 50 years. Magnetic brakes just ends up ruining a lot of good line...lol

 

The thumb is more important than some may give it credit.

 

But have me try to explain what my thumb is doing during each moment in the cast, is impossible. But the thumb only has one job - prevent the spool from spinning faster than the line is coming off of it. Nothing else imho.

 

You'll just have to stick with it, it will get better every day as long as you maintain a positive attitude.

[TylerT123]

23 minutes ago, New to Bass said:

Does anyone believe that magnetic or centrifuge brakes are better than the other? Or is it individual preference? Does one braking 

system allow for longer casting?

I think that centrifugal brakes are better than magnetic, with the exception of Daiwa’s Magforce which is similar to centrifugal braking(from what I understand), but that’s my opinion. Magnetic brakes are applied throughout the whole cast and centrifugal brakes slow the spool down when it reaches a certain RPM. I’ve also noticed that there are fewer magnetic braked reels in the mid to higher end reels.

[LionHeart]

At least the tip of my thumb is always on the spool.  The most pressure is applied at the beginning of the cast and I gradually lessen thumb pressure to not much more than just a tiny bit of my finger tip resting on the spool.

 

This will allow you to really loosen your spool tension knob and turn your brakes down quite a bit.  

[islandbass]

Always stop the spool from spinning right before the lure hits the water. No ifs, ands, or buts. Period, lol. If you see a couple of overrun loops after the lure hits, it means your thumb didn’t stop the spool in time. It is minor and highly manageable, since you practically have to just pull on the line to lose the overrun, but the thumb was late. 

 

For a lure to land on the water and the brakes come to a stop at the same time is possible but is probably a very rare thing. 

 

 

[puddlepuncher]

4 hours ago, TylerT123 said:

I think that centrifugal brakes are better than magnetic, with the exception of Daiwa’s Magforce which is similar to centrifugal braking(from what I understand), but that’s my opinion. Magnetic brakes are applied throughout the whole cast and centrifugal brakes slow the spool down when it reaches a certain RPM. I’ve also noticed that there are fewer magnetic braked reels in the mid to higher end reels.

 

Seconded with caveats. 

 

The first Lew Childres round reels were centrifugal brakes that couldn't be adjusted, just spool tension.  It couldn't throw light stuff like today's gear but 3/8 and up they are solid.  I throw a 1/2 lipless without ever needing thumbing even after it hit the water, although I still do just to be on the safe side. 

 

I now use primarily Shimano's with the MGL spool.  I can say for sure with them that I can throw a texas rigged 5 3/8 inch and up senko without ever thumbing, nearly no spool tension and minimal brakes even after splash down as well as long as 2 variables are met and only with braid.  One is no wind in the face, and two is a higher loft cast rather than a line drive.  A correctly weight rated rod is necessary to get a bit more loft on casts IMO.  Any lure 1/4 and above that is aerodynamic I can say the same.  I don't suggest it until you've had some experience but it is possible, and once again I find myself thumbing the spool when it hits the water 95% of the time out of habit.

 

Lures where thumbing is always necessary is anything skirted (jigs, spinners, chatterbaits), creature or bulky baits, and wacky rigged senkos.  And of course if I have significant wind in the face. 

 

 

[Catt]

My thumb is used when fishing in less than ideal weather conditions & when the idiot casting makes an error in judgement.

[Mike L]

As I got better with a casting reel I sold all of my magnetic only reels. Won't use another. 

 

Mag brakes do nothing for you when casting which is where most people have the most trouble. 

Thumb muscle memory will come with extensive practice where you won't lose much distance if the reel is adjusted to your casting style from the beginning. 

 

 

Mike

[looking45]

If you want to get a bait caster with the least chance of getting a backlash, get one of the new Shimano Curado DC's. Once you get it adjusted, you can cast it without your thumb on the spool. Of course, you will pay a price for this, they are $250

[Mobasser]

2 hours ago, Mike L said:

As I got better with a casting reel I sold all of my magnetic only reels. Won't use another. 

 

Mag brakes do nothing for you when casting which is where most people have the most trouble. 

Thumb muscle memory will come with extensive practice where you won't lose much distance if the reel is adjusted to your casting style from the beginning. 

 

 

Mike

My favorites are ABU 4600c. No mag control. I've practiced with these reels a lot, and I have very few issues. Still good distance too. I don't care for mag brakes either

[Hulkster]

once you get good with a baitcaster, you won't put your thumb on the spool at all until the end of the cast.

 

see the 'advanced baitcasting' thread from a week or so ago.

 

its just comes with time on the water. you will get there don't worry.

 

[Steve1357]

Just don't tell Glenn the spool tension adjust knob is not the centrifugal brake adjust ok?

[Log Catcher]

I adjust mine so that I don't have backlashes and use my thumb mostly at the end of the cast. Also another vote for centrifugal brakes. I have two reels with magnetic and centrifugal brakes on them. I keep the magnetic brakes turned off and only use the centrifugal brakes and spool tension adjustment.