Randy Blaukat weighs in...

[OkobojiEagle]

 

[Team9nine]

Here, here! 

 

I don’t expect it to change anyone’s minds on this forum, as we’ve hashed it over pretty good, but nice to have another angler on Team Backreel ?

[roadwarrior]

When dinosaurs ruled the world...

 

[Boomstick]

Well that saves you money on spinning reels if nothing else right?

[DitchPanda]

On 11/26/2020 at 12:39 PM, roadwarrior said:

When dinosaurs ruled the world...

 

Yep guys spend tons of money on top end gear and still don't trust it to do its job. To offset this we do what my grandpa did 60 years ago. I've never had a drag lock up or fail...ive caught carp up to 40lbs and paddle fish up to 65 on walleye size reels and they still worked flawlessly. And my reels in question are far from top dollar. I'm comfortable letting my drag do its job...if it can handle carp it can handle any bass.

[OkobojiEagle]

... LOL... (for team9nine)

 

 

[roadwarrior]

https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/behavior/stone-tools/early-stone-age-tools

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, OkobojiEagle said:

... LOL... (for team9nine)

 

 

 

"There's some people out there that take it personal. They get emotionally spun out about it, and it's almost like they think I'm insulting their Mom or something."

 

Ummm, yeah, that about sums it up. I think he secretly reads these forums, too. 

 

[Glenn]

31 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

I think he secretly reads these forums, too.

 

Yes, he does, as does every single pro angler on all the major circuits, along with an extensive list of fishing industry's who's who. I know of several that are quite active here under benign aliases.

 

If you only knew. 

 

[Team9nine]

14 minutes ago, Glenn said:

 I know of several that are quite active here under benign aliases.

 

If you only knew. 

 

 

Probably best that we don’t - lol ?

[FishTank]

Backreeling is how I kind of started as a kid with fishing in saltwater (for much bigger fish than large mouth).  The drag systems could be questionable on some reels back 35+ years ago or the reel I had was just not that great.  At some point you could just forget the drag and backreel.   There is no way I would do it today with how reels are made.  I don't think I have ever lost a bass because I have had issues with a drag system on a spinning reel> unless I set the drag too tight and snap the line. 

 

However, I do appreciate the video and he does state his case clearly and in a nice way.    Thanks for sharing... 

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

1 hour ago, Glenn said:

 

Yes, he does, as does every single pro angler on all the major circuits, along with an extensive list of fishing industry's who's who. I know of several that are quite active here under benign aliases.

 

If you only knew. 

 

That's just not right! You have no idea how bad my heads going to run with this incomplete knowledge.

 

Geez, I just got over thinking there was a Bass in every bush and now this! criminy!

[mcipinkie]

You know, I like Randy.  Watch almost all his videos.  Missouri boy, not too far me.  We fish some of the same lakes.  Older guy so some commonality.

 

But, whether it's Randy, or Jacob, or Edwin, or Ott, or KVD, or any other the big name pros, you need to learn from them, but fishing is different for different people.  I doubt any of the other 4 pros I named agree with Randy on this issue and several others.  Are they wrong, and Randy right?  Not necessarily.  Randy's ideas work for him, where he fishes, and how he fishes.  We should give them a try and see.  On this particular issue, I grew up back reeling (I'm 74, so didn't have much choice).  Would never consider doing it again.  I fish a lot of finesse stuff, and drags work well for me.  I snagged a carp in the tail yesterday with a Neko rig on 8 lb. test.  I guessed him at 30 lbs or more.  Just let that Abu drag do its thing.  Got him to the boat, reached down with my pliers, yanked the hook out his tail and away he went. Trying to back reel would have killed me.

 

I try almost everything I see on the Tube that makes sense.  Some of it works for me, some doesn't.  You just have to apply what you see to what works for you.  Keep in mind, assuming no sponsor conflicts, what these guys say works, does, at least for them.  What an opportunity to learn, but there must be at least 50 guys on the Tube posting the best way to fish.  Their ideas don't work for everyone.

[Paul Roberts]

Well someone's got to defend The Truth! 

 

A stack of washers are the "stone age" tools here. A stack of washers is as dum as a stack of rocks. They are simply in the way, between you -the fisherman- and your fish. You should decide how much pressure to apply and when. Drags are totally completely unnecessary; A crutch to alleviate unfounded -and untested- fears. 

 

What you'll find when you backreel is that you almost never need to give more than a half-turn, or two, to a fish. The rod, your arm, and line stretch, do the majority of the give and take. If you haven't felt your line stretch, well... maybe your stack of washers has and isn't telling you. I've never understood watching a mindless stack of washers give line to fish that... frankly, don't deserve it! Lock em down, and discover The Truth about fighting fish; The rod does the vast majority of the work; The reel simply holds line. Those fish aren't as bad ass as your stack of washers would have you believe. And if one happens to be, a few turns of the rotor takes care of it.

 

Want cheaper reels? Dump that stack of washers, springs, lubes, and whatever other unwarranted garbage is in there.

 

Put that in your stack of washers and smoke it.  

 

There, I said it. I feel much better now. 

[roadwarrior]

      Need a drink?

[mcipinkie]

 

Well, Hawg,

 

Where are you going to finish your season?  Grand Lake of the Cherokees, or Lake Ray Roberts?

 

Why don't see how many people at those events back reel?  I'll bet not many. 

 

Individual preference, of course.  That's the point I was trying to make.  Just because it works for Randy, or some other pro doesn't meant it will work for you. 

 

Maybe you could say the same thing about free spools, or graphite rods, or silent anti-reverse (Oops,sorry, you don't use those), fluorocarbon line, or any of the modern tackle we have now.  Knuckle busters worked a long time ago, but they were improved. 

 

Individual preference, of course.  That's the point I was trying to make.  Just because it works for Randy, or some other pro doesn't meant it will work for you or me.  I was probably back reeling when you were born, but I ain't now. 

[TimTheGearNerd]

I have a Shimano ultegra and a stratic. I’m SOL ?can’t backreel if I wanted to. 

[OkobojiEagle]

1 minute ago, Tim Hu said:

I have a Shimano ultegra and a stratic. I’m SOL ?can’t backreel if I wanted to. 

 

Full circle... this discussion started several threads ago because several of the new spinning reels were no longer offering back reel switches...

 

oe

[DitchPanda]

Randy is an interesting guy and I like him alot. But he seems to be stuck in the past. He backreels and fights electronics at every step...kinda like my grandpa talking about new fangled computer machines. That's why its interesting to watch the yin/yang between him and Johnny on fish the moment. Johnny is the new generation and Randy is the good old days...nothing wrong with either.

 

 

Would like to add that basically every time he goes head to head with Johnny he gets beat down. Probably just "bad luck" and nothing to do with the other stuff.

[Paul Roberts]

On 11/27/2020 at 4:23 PM, Team9nine said:

 

"There's some people out there that take it personal. They get emotionally spun out about it, and it's almost like they think I'm insulting their Mom or something."

 

Ummm, yeah, that about sums it up. I think he secretly reads these forums, too. 

 

Yeah, this topic sure presses some kind of button. A button I have a hard time being sympathetic to. I think it's that unfounded, and untested, fear. OMG I've lost my washers!!!! You mean I have to do it myself??!!! How will I ever get that fish in?? It'll break my line!! Maybe my arm!!!

 

Backreelers know no fear. And discover they needn't have worried. Even wimps can backreel.

 

54 minutes ago, Tim Hu said:

I have a Shimano ultegra and a stratic. I’m SOL ?can’t backreel if I wanted to. 

No! What is this world coming to!! Blasphemy!!! :))

[DitchPanda]

11 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said:

Yeah, this topic sure presses some kind of button. A button I have a hard time being sympathetic to. I think it's that unfounded, and untested, fear. OMG I've lost my washers!!!! You mean I have to do it myself??!!! How will I ever get that fish in?? It'll break my line!! Maybe my arm!!!

 

Backreelers know no fear. And discover they needn't have worried. Even wimps can backreel.

 

No! What is this world coming to!! Blasphemy!!! :))

Ha lost my washers...that's great. I choose to use my drag because I have no fear...that's what real no fear is putting trust in something else and giving up your control. I ain't never scared.

[NorthernBasser]

On 11/27/2020 at 5:58 PM, Glenn said:

 

Yes, he does, as does every single pro angler on all the major circuits, along with an extensive list of fishing industry's who's who. I know of several that are quite active here under benign aliases.

 

If you only knew. 

 

I'm Jimmy Houston, in case anybody was wondering. 

[Michigander]

I have to put faith in my gear, so I will let that extend to all parts of it. I've never lost a fish due to faulty drag. Though, I do lots of preventative maintenance to my reels and polish my metal drag washers to a mirror finish. 

[12poundbass]

20 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

I'm Jimmy Houston, in case anybody was wondering. 

I need to hear you laugh before I believe it. Lol

[Paul Roberts]

Just shoveling it back. I have no real investment in whether anyone chooses to use a safety net, I mean drag. ?