How To Remove A Backlash

[Glenn]

Hey folks! We get this question every now and then, and it's difficult to explain how to do it. So I made this video to help. Bookmark it for future reference so you can use it to help others in the future.

Enjoy!

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

I’ll try that next time. I usually release the spool and thumb hard on it so it barely moves as I pull the line out slowly. But I’ll freely admit that most of my backlashes seem to me minor lol. Of course, now I just jinxed myself! 

[Choporoz]

Of the half dozen or so times that I tried this, it worked exactly zero times.  I must be doing something wrong.

[roadwarrior]

Doesn't work for me either, but I attribute that to my 10 thumbs. All of my more memorable 

events required surgery and respooling.

[Hulkster]

the best way to avoid a backlash is to get used to your reels. I haven't had a backlash in years. the odd loose loop yes, backlash no. 

[JustJames]

Yes it works for me oftentimes with light-medium backlash and pretty helpful at night time, but I wouldnt use this method with light line or FC. 

[Choporoz]

3 hours ago, Hulkster said:

the best way to avoid a backlash is to get used to your reels. I haven't had a backlash in years. the odd loose loop yes, backlash no. 

I applaud you!  

I'm quite used to my reels, but I had to cut out two this fall.   First time in years.   Funny....both times were first cast with the reel well into heavy downpours.   I don't know if it is because my attention was lacking in the rain...or if the brakes or line were affected in such a way as to make professional over-runs more likely

[TcRoc]

Learning to remove backlash.. 

Backlash a zillion times and 

u get pretty darn good at removing them. I am now and have been quite proficient at removing them. 

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, TcRoc said:

Learning to remove backlash.. 

Backlash a zillion times and 

u get pretty darn good at removing them. I am now and have been quite proficient at removing them. 

It's a learning curve either way

 

The more proficient I've gotten at removing backlashes - the less backlashes I've had to deal with.

 

Go figure.

[TcRoc]

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

It's a learning curve either way

 

The more proficient I've gotten at removing backlashes - the less backlashes I've had to deal with.

 

Go figure.

Yep.. spot on. Most of the time if I backlash I know it’s about to happen on release with a whoopsie of the thumb  if that makes sense .. unless there is a dig in I obviously didn’t know snuck in there . 

[GReb]

If ya ain’t backlashing ya ain’t tryin hard enough

[Kyle S]

Like many, I've backlashed my fare share. I've tried undoing it like @Glenn suggests in the video and have had a moderate amount of success. A key part to this technique actually working for me is repeating the step where you crank the reel handle while holding your thumb firmly on the spool, multiple times. Rarely have I had the backlash come out during my first attempt of this technique. After a few attempts, it usually proves successful. When none of my undoing a backlash attempts work....The Gollum in me comes out

 

[BigAngus752]

6 hours ago, Hulkster said:

the best way to avoid a backlash is to get used to your reels. I haven't had a backlash in years. the odd loose loop yes, backlash no. 

It's not lack of familiarity that causes my birds nests.  It's because I'm trying to cast backwards/off-hand/upside down/over my shoulder into a tiny spot the size of a quarter in between 14 trees, under a bush, in a culvert, next to a waterfall, with the sun in my face, in 40mph wind because:

1.  I'm absolutely certain there is a fish there (no I'm not, I'm just guessing) and

2.  No other idiot has been stupid enough to try to put a lure in there (except the 78 other guys that hung something up in there before I did) and

3.  I want very desperately to get my casting skills into the upper echelons of the greatest casters ever, which requires me to practice stupid things with my lure.  

 

If you are one of the greatest casters ever then I applaud and worship you, but your assumption that most backlashes are caused by inexperience or lack of skill is incorrect IMHO.  I would estimate that most of them are caused by people taking risks because...well, because we just aren't very bright I guess.  

 

Oh, and I never have to cut off Yo-Zuri Hybrid that costs almost nothing for 600 yards.  It's my frog rod with 50lb Sufix 832 that costs my first born child for 150 yards.  

[Kyle S]

1 minute ago, BigAngus752 said:

It's not lack of familiarity that causes my birds nests.  It's because I'm trying to cast backwards/off-hand/upside down/over my shoulder into a tiny spot the size of a quarter in between 14 trees, under a bush, in a culvert, next to a waterfall, with the sun in my face, in 40mph wind because:

1.  I'm absolutely certain there is a fish there (no I'm not, I'm just guessing) and

2.  No other idiot has been stupid enough to try to put a lure in there (except the 78 other guys that hung something up in there before I did) and

3.  I want very desperately to get my casting skills into the upper echelons of the greatest casters ever, which requires me to practice stupid things with my lure.  

 

If you are one of the greatest casters ever then I applaud and worship you, but your assumption that most backlashes are caused by inexperience or lack of skill is incorrect IMHO.  I would estimate that most of them are caused by people taking risks because...well, because we just aren't very bright I guess.  

 

Oh, and I never have to cut off Yo-Zuri Hybrid that costs almost nothing for 600 yards.  It's my frog rod with 50lb Sufix 832 that costs my first born child for 150 yards.  

Oh how true this is?‍♂️

[roadwarrior]

The solution:

https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/crafting-and-sewing/products/scissors-and-shears/all-purpose-scissors-8-142493-1004

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

The solution:

https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/crafting-and-sewing/products/scissors-and-shears/all-purpose-scissors-8-142493-1004

For getting into tight places like a reel - I prefer these.

https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/crafting-and-sewing/products/scissors-and-shears/micro-tip-softgrip-scissors-no-5-98887097j

[Glenn]

2 hours ago, Kyle S said:

A key part to this technique actually working for me is repeating the step where you crank the reel handle while holding your thumb firmly on the spool, multiple times.

Yup, this^^  Do this, pull out line a bit until you feel resistance (don't pull hard!), then do this again, repeat.  Heckofalotfaster than picking out your line.

2 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

It's not lack of familiarity that causes my birds nests.  It's because I'm trying to cast backwards/off-hand/upside down/over my shoulder into a tiny spot the size of a quarter in between 14 trees, under a bush, in a culvert, next to a waterfall, with the sun in my face, in 40mph wind because:

1.  I'm absolutely certain there is a fish there (no I'm not, I'm just guessing) and

2.  No other idiot has been stupid enough to try to put a lure in there (except the 78 other guys that hung something up in there before I did) and

3.  I want very desperately to get my casting skills into the upper echelons of the greatest casters ever, which requires me to practice stupid things with my lure.  

Yup, this^^  Plus I like to get my lure really low to the water, which means occasionally I hit the cowling or trolling motor with my lure, which is followed by an instant "woof!" LOL

[BigAngus752]

1 hour ago, Glenn said:

Yup, this^^  Plus I like to get my lure really low to the water, which means occasionally I hit the cowling or trolling motor with my lure, which is followed by an instant "woof!" LOL

 

I want to at least get my lure out of the boat before I birds nest...

[Lead Head]

A while back, I was turning braid around on my frog rod. After I get everything respooled, I lay the rod down in the floor (just for a second while I grab a drink from nearby) while still holding the line in my other hand. At that perfect moment, my wife comes home and our 90lb lab goes flying by me to meet her at the door.

 

After a few minutes of untangling the dog, I looked over to my reel and the mother of all backlashes. Apparently I still didn't have the spool engaged when my dog was power sliding through. And her tail somehow got involved too!

 

Thats the story of the only braid backlash I have ever had that required "surgical" removal. 

[king fisher]

My friend always gets backlashes.  I only get professional over runs.

[Hulkster]

Quote

If you are one of the greatest casters ever then I applaud and worship you, but your assumption that most backlashes are caused by inexperience or lack of skill is incorrect IMHO.  I would estimate that most of them are caused by people taking risks because...well, because we just aren't very bright I guess.  

 To be fair, i don't own a boat so most of my fishing is casting from shore where its an easy overhand long distance cast. Im not flipping and pitching or throwing under docks etc. So thats probably why i never backlash, if I was doing other things I'm sure i would be. But open water casting is very easy never to backlash. 

[WRB]

Having used this method of reeling over a backlash with the drag tightened and thumb pressed down on the spool clearly shown in Glenn’s video works for me.

The trick being gently pull off the loose line without pulling the loops tight, stop and clamp your thumb down and slowly reel all the line back onto the reel. Next I clamp the thumb back down and pull off the line until you get passed the original backlash loops. If you hit a tight loop stop and repeat, works about 90% of the time.

I have taught this technique to several partners over the years and posted this explanation on BR several times. Works on mono and FC, not good for braid.

Tom  

[NoShoes]

On 11/30/2020 at 7:14 PM, BigAngus752 said:

 

1.  I'm absolutely certain there is a fish there (no I'm not, I'm just guessing) and

2.  No other idiot has been stupid enough to try to put a lure in there (except the 78 other guys that hung something up in there before I did) and

3.  I want very desperately to get my casting skills into the upper echelons of the greatest casters ever, which requires me to practice stupid things with my lure.  

Keep chuckin!  You miss all the shots you don’t take!