I just got my baitcasting reel. What should I know before my 1st cast?

[Wizzlebiz]

I just recieved my baitcasting reel. I have spooled it with 30 lb braid. What do I need to know before I make my 1st cast with it? I have never used one before. 

 

Thanks. 

[new2BC4bass]

Set spool tension and brakes.  However, we can't give any advice until we know the model reel you bought.

[Hammer 4]

Which one did you get, i.e. make and model..?  I'd suggest if you haven't already, check out youtube for guides on how to set up, and use a baitcasting reel, will save you some time and frustration..

[Wizzlebiz]

48 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

Which one did you get, i.e. make and model..?  I'd suggest if you haven't already, check out youtube for guides on how to set up, and use a baitcasting reel, will save you some time and frustration..

This is the model I purchased.  

[islandbass]

Take off the braid... now, lol.  You're going to waste it.  Put on 10-14# mono.  That is priority #1. I am speaking from real experience. I also spooled my first baitcaster with 30# braid too. I also come from a spinning background. The time to take the thumb off the spool is much sooner than when you remove your forefinger off of a spinning reel. If you attempt an over hand cast, I can practically guarantee that you will slam your first cast into the ground in front of you and waste the braid.

 

Use at least 1/2 oz bass casting weight to learn with. 

 

Lastly, I hope you bought a baitcaster whose handle is on the same side as what your spinning reels have. If not, I'd exchange it. There is no need to reprogram yourself unless you had planned on becoming proficient fishing both ways.

 

 

[Wizzlebiz]

6 minutes ago, islandbass said:

Take off the braid... now, lol.  You're going to waste it.  Put on 10-14# mono.  That is priority #1. I am speaking from real experience. I also spooled my first baitcaster with 30# braid too. I also come from a spinning background. The time to take the thumb off the spool is much sooner than when you remove your forefinger off of a spinning reel. If you attempt an over hand cast, I can practically guarantee that you will slam your first cast into the ground in front of you and waste the braid.

 

Use at least 1/2 oz bass casting weight to learn with. 

 

Lastly, I hope you bought a baitcaster whose handle is on the same side as what your spinning reels have. If not, I'd exchange it. There is no need to reprogram yourself unless you had planned on becoming proficient fishing both ways.

 

 

Thank you for all the info. I made sure the handle is on the side I use my spinning gear. That was actually #1 priority lol. Im a lefty and enjoy reeling with my right hand. 

 

Will mono react better with backlashes than braid? How about Fluorocarbon? I want the least issues however I really like the strength of braid. 

 

Thank you once again!

[Choporoz]

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/cast-adjust-baitcast.html

[M0xxie]

Baitcasting is about training your thumb -- most backlashes occur because of improper settings for whatever size lure you're using, true, but even if you don't have reel tuned properly, you can nearly always avoid a backlash with a "smart thumb" instead of a "dumb thumb".  Use your thumb as an extra set of breaks to feather the spool during cast, and then clamp down with thumb to stop the spool completely just before the lure hits the water, which makes for a less noisy entry that's less likely to spook fish, as well as stops overrun.

 

If you can feel line coming off too fast, you can always just abort the cast with thumb pressure, reel in, readjust, and try again.

 

Also during your cast, if you hold rod so that the spool's axis is vertical, instead of horizontal, this seems to prevent a lot of backlash, too.

[new2BC4bass]

My Revos are all older models so I can't offer suggestions on how to set the brakes other than to say start high and slowly back off.  Adjust spool tension so the lure falls slowly and has no overrun when the lure hits the ground.  If this were a Magforce Z reel, then my spool tension advice would be different.

 

Braid is expensive.  30# works on a baitcast reel, but you have to keep it fairly tight on the spool.  I'd suggest starting with 40# if you want to start with braid.  As a newbie backlashes are guaranteed.  Less costly to replace mono or co-polymer.

 

Don't start with the overhead cast.  Learn with a side arm roll cast.  Baitcast reels hate jerky motions.  A roll cast keeps the rod tip loaded.  Be smooth.  I came from spinning reels.  Release timing is completely different...as already mentioned.  The roll cast will be your friend.

 

Most fluorocarbons are going to be more prone to backlashing then any of the other line types...with a couple exceptions on both sides.

 

[Wizzlebiz]

23 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/cast-adjust-baitcast.html

Yep I watched it actually 3 times lol. I like to be able to ask questions.  Unfortunately the videos dont reply. 

[haggard]

- cast downwind, not upwind or sidewind

- set brakes half way

- put on a 1/4 to 1/2 oz weight lure

- set spool tension to when you press the thumb bar (freespool) the lure just starts to drop

- start with a gentle side arm cast and keep your thumb gently on the line on the spool while casting

- as soon as lure hits ground/water, fully stop the spool with your thumb

 

Backlashes are likely. To untangle them:

- press thumb bar to release spool

- pick a random bunch of line at top of spool and pull up

- pinch line coming out of the line guide and pull it forward (while putting pressure on spool with thumb)

- engage reel

- pinch line coming out of the line guide and pull line out

go to step 1, repeat....

 

It's not as bad as it sounds. 

 

Someone mentioned trying with mono for starters, not braid. I'm thinking good advice. Much cheaper, and mono is probably a little more forgiving for removing backlashes. Certainly cheaper if you have to cut the line.

 

Baitcaster is pretty awesome; don't let the backlashes scare you. Take the time to get to know it, and enjoy.

 

[new2BC4bass]

There is one terrible downside to your first baitcast reel.  It won't be your last. 

[diehardbassfishing]

Roll cast might not be such a great "early to try" exercise. It's very rod sensitive - if have a broomstick, OhOh.

 

Just good even swing side-arm is best way to start out.

 

Karl

 

[Fishes in trees]

I agree with losing the braid until you learn more about how to use the reel.  If you can put it back on the spool it come on using an electric drill that would be best.   Now - step A - go get some cheap but decent mono.   Stay away from big game or p-line.  I'd start out with 14 lb.

There are lots of opinions on how to learn.  Me, if I had to do it all over again, I'd learn how to pitch first.  There are many videos on u-tube that will give you the general idea - then just practice.  It is worth the money to get a pick to help you untangle backlashes.  Good luck.

 

You make no mention about what rod you got to go with the reel - for a learner I'd recommend one with a medium action and a forgiving tip.  A 6'6" Medium Berkley Lightning Rod, something like that.  Your classic pitching stick 7' to 7 1/2, MH to Heavy, extra fast tip, isn't the kind of stick you learn on.   It is the kind that you graduate to once you understand the basics of how to coordinate your thumb, wrist, arm & elbow.

[Wizzlebiz]

2 hours ago, diehardbassfishing said:

Roll cast might not be such a great "early to try" exercise. It's very rod sensitive - if have a broomstick, OhOh.

 

Just good even swing side-arm is best way to start out.

 

Karl

 

From all the videos I have watched and the limited bit I did in my back yard I am seeing it needs to be a smooth motion. So far any type of snapping causes a backlash lol. Thats ok though. I will get out to the water and learn my lessons like the rest and master this beast!

[F14A-B]

Mono is much cheaper and perfect for the learning curve you will go thru..

 

If you backlash severely, you can cut it out and respool..

 

Use heavier lead weights as in a bank sinker etc.

 

I noticed you didn't state the rod, length, action etc. 

 

The rod is a critical component here as well. 

Good luck and best wishes. 

[PhishLI]

 

[islandbass]

5 hours ago, Wizzlebiz said:

Thank you for all the info. I made sure the handle is on the side I use my spinning gear. That was actually #1 priority lol. Im a lefty and enjoy reeling with my right hand. 

 

Will mono react better with backlashes than braid? How about Fluorocarbon? I want the least issues however I really like the strength of braid. 

 

Thank you once again!

Unfortunately, no line is immune from potential backlash. However, it’s less painful to the wallet, lol.

 

mono is just the economic choice even if money is not an object. Why waste good line. That’s all. You could probably have enough line even on a filler spool to fill your reel twice. 

 

So for the learning process, stay away from fc or braid. It’s just not worth wasting more expensive line when cheap mono is more than adequate. 

 

 

[Wizzlebiz]

4 hours ago, haggard said:

- cast downwind, not upwind or sidewind

- set brakes half way

- put on a 1/4 to 1/2 oz weight lure

- set spool tension to when you press the thumb bar (freespool) the lure just starts to drop

- start with a gentle side arm cast and keep your thumb gently on the line on the spool while casting

- as soon as lure hits ground/water, fully stop the spool with your thumb

 

Backlashes are likely. To untangle them:

- press thumb bar to release spool

- pick a random bunch of line at top of spool and pull up

- pinch line coming out of the line guide and pull it forward (while putting pressure on spool with thumb)

- engage reel

- pinch line coming out of the line guide and pull line out

go to step 1, repeat....

 

It's not as bad as it sounds. 

 

Someone mentioned trying with mono for starters, not braid. I'm thinking good advice. Much cheaper, and mono is probably a little more forgiving for removing backlashes. Certainly cheaper if you have to cut the line.

 

Baitcaster is pretty awesome; don't let the backlashes scare you. Take the time to get to know it, and enjoy.

 

I took a screen shot of this post so when I dont have service while fishing I can pull this up. 

 

Thank you. 

[Sam]

Suggestions:

Balance rod, line test, bait weight with the reel. Stay within the rod's parameters. Use the "average line test" by adding up the high and low line test limits and divide by two. You now have the optimum line test for your rod.

 

Set up baitcaster ready to fish while at home and go outside. Point rod tip to 11 o'clock and using the spool tension knob to slow or speed up the line coming off the spool, release the line on the spool. You want the bait to fall slowly to the ground (not carpet) and have the spool stop when the bait hits the ground.  You do this a few times and use the spool tension knob and your drag to set this up. You do this every time you change baits while fishing.

 

Then cast your lure as far as you can and pull out three arm-lengths of line off spool. Place Scotch tape or some electrical tape over the remaining line on the spool. This will stop backlashes from going deeper into your line. You don't need much tape. Just enough to cover a  section of the line on the spool.

 

The 11 o'clock trick will have your bait stop as it approaches or hits the water. When throwing your baits you can start your retrieve as the bait gets ready to hit the water on each cast. No worries about backlashes unless you hit a tree, bush, or the boat's windshield while casting.

 

Always look up and all around yourself when bank fishing to avoid overhanging trees that can snag your bait and create the Backlash from the Devil.

 

Adjust the bait's fall rate so you will maximize your casts and avoid backlashes. You will get the hang of it and never have a backlash.

 

Good luck.

 

 

[The Bassman]

What I see as I follow this thread is a very good student who is going to excel at this. My bit of advice is to understand that no matter how much one studies technique there's no substitute for experience. It's like learning to drive a straight stick. You develop a natural feel for it. The "educated thumb" comes with time.

[Mike L]

You got some Excellent advise. 

The only thing I will add is don't get discouraged when you backlash, your first cast's go straight down, or you don't get the distance you want. 

 

As as you learn, in time all that will come. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[haggard]

7 hours ago, Wizzlebiz said:

I took a screen shot of this post so when I dont have service while fishing I can pull this up. 

 

Thank you. 

Also note you don't have to follow those steps absolutely in order. I mix them around a bit randomly. For excample, you might try two or three sets of "pick up and pull" before engaging the reel. It depends on what the backlash is telling you. You'll just learn to "feel" the backlash. When things loosen up a bit, that's a good time to engage the reel and pull some line out. For me the process is fast and somewhat random, not slow and deliberate. Don't ever pull too tight or you'll make things worse. Maybe I'll do a video on it this weekend (there are probably plenty out there).

[jr231]

Your spool tension is much more important than your brakes. Set the spool tension so that your lure will fall to the ground and not "over run" when you engage the reel. Set your brakes half way up and you'll be fine. Work the spool tension a little looser as you get more comfortable. The braid is fine, and preferred on my reels. Again, THE SPOOL TENSION KNOB is most important. If your spool tension is tight then you will not have any nasty back lashes. 

 

When you do backlash, they can be hard to pick out but use a thin needle to dig the loops out.  I use a pick set I bought at harbor freight very cheaply and it works nicely. I've picked many out... I don't backlash much anymore unless I make a bad cast and hit an overhead limb while bank fishing.  

 

Also, thumb (or "feather" ) the spool especially if you think you've casted farther than you intended. The backlash comes from the spool continuing to rotate when the lure has losr momentum.. a trained thumb will prevent this.

 

Definitely fun to use, you'll have a few before you know it. 

[NHBull]

This works for me 90% of the time