Backreeling revisited

[Team9nine]

I know we've covered the topic here a couple times, but I'm not a huge fan of digging up old threads. So, I don't believe this has been posted before, but just came across this R. Blaukat video that does a good job explaining the reasons behind backreeling vs. drag. Very similar in theory to what David Fritts has stated in regards to not liking infinite anti-reverse reels when deep cranking. Just thought I'd share.

 

 

[Hammer 4]

It's just to bad Shimano stopped making some of their spinning reels with out the anti reverse..

 

Good video. thanks for sharing.

[A-Jay]

While I understand Mr. Blaukat's explanation regarding back reeling and do respect his opinion on the subject,

I do not share it. 

Spinning gear is also a big part of my angling, has been for a minute.

I fish with and use a relatively light drag - and never back reel.

Seems to work well for me.

A-Jay

 

[Hammer 4]

Back in the 60's...I used spinning gear to fish for Bonita in the salt, these were schoolies sometimes weighing up to 12 lbs..The deal is, they Fought really hard, and I was using 10 lb stren, so back reeling was something I had to learn If I wanted to land the majority on my fish. The old timers taught me this, but I rarely do it these days. Still, I like a anti reverse on my reels. 

[OkobojiEagle]

At about 2:19 he sums it up pretty well...

 

oe

[Bluebasser86]

It's all about control for me. Like he said, I can sense that fish surging and decide how much and how quickly to give line to the fish. The drag can only give line as fast as the force applied to it allows. Drags are typically set using a new line and freshly tied knot in a controlled environment, something we never have on the water. Add in a lightly hooked fish or a frayed line, the drag may no longer be set correctly, but by backreeling I get to decide the correct amount of pressure for each situation.

 

IMO, neither is right or wrong, but that's how and why I do it.

[fishwizzard]

One of the old threads about back-reeling inspired me to try it and oh man it did not work out well.  It was like trying to drive down a very curvy road in reverse, I see how you could practice well enough to where it was second nature, I can’t see the advantages being enough to submit myself to learning process.

[OkobojiEagle]

FishWizzard... the learning curve is similar to that of fishing with a bait casting reel.  

 

oe

[Mobasser]

I started backreeling over 30 yrs ago, inspired by Charlie Brewer, and Billy Westmoreland.For years, I always thought the reason that some guys liked backreeling was because of poor drags on spinning reels. Since, I've learned that some older reels had good drags, so this was not the only reason. I have 3 spinning reels now. One is a newer Shimano with no anti reverse switch. I'll be using it this year off and on. My other reels I'll use the most, because I can still backreel with them. It's still works the best for me.

[NHBull]

If it feels good, do it.

The market will settle this in years to come and I don’t think you will see many backreeling.

If I loose a fish from an improperly set drag, it’s on me.

......and yes, I like the sound of a fish taking line and it gets my partners attention?

[Mobasser]

I also think that the trend in the future will be for companies to do away with the anti reverse switch, simply because most folks don't use it on spinning reels.

[OkobojiEagle]

This topic often becomes an adversarial discussion... either back-reel or use the drag.  To back-reel adds a method of line/fish control along with the reel's drag.  The drag is never dis-engaged when back-reeling.  Hold the reel handle in place, the drag will function.  I believe most "back-reelers" will lessen the drag setting slightly before flipping the anti-reverse switch.

 

oe

[22RangerZ520R]

11 hours ago, A-Jay said:

While I understand Mr. Blaukat's explanation regarding back reeling and do respect his opinion on the subject,

I do not share it. 

Spinning gear is also a big part of my angling, has been for a minute.

I fish with and use a relatively light drag - and never back reel.

Seems to work well for me.

A-Jay

 

+1

[Mbirdsley]

If you like back reeling  than you need to try a center pin. I’ve never used a center pin rig but, I’ve been around enough of them. Basically fly fishing with out a drag on the reel.  You palm what looks like a over sized fly reel.  your Palm pressure on the reel controls how much line comes out while fighting a fish. 

[JLewis134]

On 3/28/2020 at 9:11 PM, Hammer 4 said:

It's just to bad Shimano stopped making some of their spinning reels with out the anti reverse..

 

Good video. thanks for sharing.

It was for good reason. Having the switch is an area where water, dirt, debris can come into the reel thus degrading performance. 

 

20 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

It's all about control for me. Like he said, I can sense that fish surging and decide how much and how quickly to give line to the fish. The drag can only give line as fast as the force applied to it allows. Drags are typically set using a new line and freshly tied knot in a controlled environment, something we never have on the water. Add in a lightly hooked fish or a frayed line, the drag may no longer be set correctly, but by backreeling I get to decide the correct amount of pressure for each situation.

 

IMO, neither is right or wrong, but that's how and why I do it.

I will never understand the benefit of backreeling.

20 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

One of the old threads about back-reeling inspired me to try it and oh man it did not work out well.  It was like trying to drive down a very curvy road in reverse, I see how you could practice well enough to where it was second nature, I can’t see the advantages being enough to submit myself to learning process.

I agree 100%. Don't see the benefit. 

[Hammer 4]

1 hour ago, JLewis134 said:

It was for good reason. Having the switch is an area where water, dirt, debris can come into the reel thus degrading performance. 

 

I will never understand the benefit of backreeling.

I agree 100%. Don't see the benefit. 

I had Shimano reels some years ago with the anti reverse. I fished them 4 to 6 times a week, and usually 2 of those days were in Salt water, over a 4 year period. Never had any issues, I did have them serviced when needed. I don't see the problem, as Diawa has them..

[JLewis134]

22 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

I had Shimano reels some years ago with the anti reverse. I fished them 4 to 6 times a week, and usually 2 of those days were in Salt water, over a 4 year period. Never had any issues, I did have them serviced when needed. I don't see the problem, as Diawa has them..

Everyone had them. However that doesn't mean the design wasn't flawed. All people use to drive without seat belts as well haha. Spoke with Shimano and they said it was an area for intrusion of water, dirt, debris. Sealing off any area will always be better to keep the internals oiled and greased without intrusion of outside elements. In addition, I know a couple different people have broken the switch and had to call Shimano to repair as the switch broke (no idea how).

 

I think Daiwa kept them as they saw Shimano got a small kickback but who knows. Personally, I think Shimano got it right. But that's just me.

[JediAmoeba]

The biggest problems with drags, and I see this all the time on youtube videos, is people still reeling while a fish is pulling drag.  This may be why people using drag have break-offs - they are twisting their line and causing weak points.

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, JLewis134 said:

It was for good reason. Having the switch is an area where water, dirt, debris can come into the reel thus degrading performance. 

 

I will never understand the benefit of backreeling.

I agree 100%. Don't see the benefit. 

Say you set your drag to 75% the breaking strain of your line in your garage with a fresh knot. You make a cast, hook a big fish, fish drags your line across some kind of cover, abrading it and reducing it's strength by 40%, fish surges at the boat and your drag doesn't give because it doesn't know your line is weakened, and your weakened line breaks. Backreeling, I'll feel my line rubbing or know the possibility of it being damaged if I cast into a bad area, and can play the fish lightly once it's in open water. I can do the same when I visually see that a fish is hooked poorly to attempt to keep the hooks from pulling out.

 

Conversely, If I hook a fish near heavy cover and it surges for the cover, I can instantly apply extra pressure to attempt to keep it from getting to the cover when a drag might have given line and allowed it to get to the cover.

 

Like I said though, I don't believe either is wrong or universally better than the other, but for me personally, I can control a fish way better by backreeling than any drag will allow me to.

[JLewis134]

12 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Say you set your drag to 75% the breaking strain of your line in your garage with a fresh knot. You make a cast, hook a big fish, fish drags your line across some kind of cover, abrading it and reducing it's strength by 40%, fish surges at the boat and your drag doesn't give because it doesn't know your line is weakened, and your weakened line breaks. Backreeling, I'll feel my line rubbing or know the possibility of it being damaged if I cast into a bad area, and can play the fish lightly once it's in open water. I can do the same when I visually see that a fish is hooked poorly to attempt to keep the hooks from pulling out.

 

Conversely, If I hook a fish near heavy cover and it surges for the cover, I can instantly apply extra pressure to attempt to keep it from getting to the cover when a drag might have given line and allowed it to get to the cover.

 

Like I said though, I don't believe either is wrong or universally better than the other, but for me personally, I can control a fish way better by backreeling than any drag will allow me to.

If I felt my line was compromised, then I could just reduce my drag during the fight. It's quick and simple. Its extremely quick and easy to do. 

If you see a fish taking you into cover, you can also apply more drag by holding the spool or adjusting the drag on the reel thus applying more drag both ways. 

 

Still have yet to see/hear an advantage for backreeling.

[OkobojiEagle]

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.  It's just a b*tch when the dehydrated horse tells you later, he should have had a drink.",  anonymous

 

oe

[MickD]

Sometimes the fish is just too quick/fast to respond by back-reeling.  But I use the switch often to get my lure to the keeper without using the drag, which if used creates too much tension to do the job easily.

 

I do both back reeling and drag fishing, depending on many factors.  I challenge someone who thinks he can back-reel for all situations to try it on bonefish, barracuda, and most other salt water fish.

[Revival]

11 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

The biggest problems with drags, and I see this all the time on youtube videos, is people still reeling while a fish is pulling drag.  This may be why people using drag have break-offs - they are twisting their line and causing weak points.

I see this all the time too.  You rarely see people play the fish.  It’s all about overpowering and horsing it in these days.  
 

As far as back reeling, I have never done it and probably never will but interesting learning about it.

[Alex from GA]

As Hammer 4 said I also learned how to play fish by catching bonito with light line on the west coast.  I used a Mitchell 300 or 308 and the drags were very jerky so back reeling took the jerk out.  I usually fished for small, 1 to 3 lb, fish with 4 or 6 lb line and could land most of the fish if they didn't tangle with the anchor.  With the good drags today I never do it.

[Guitarfish]

It is a viable method.  If you notice in the video though, when he waves the reel around without his hand on the handle, the rotor spins.  I got some real rats nests before I started paying attention to the weight of the handle making the rotor spin backward.

 

I use it fishing salt water with a Penn Squidder too.  Light line and a surging fish close to the boat will show you why.  You can get in the habit of backing the drag way off when the fish gets alongside too.  Then you have to remember to reset the drag again, or it leads to an oops hookset miss.