Experienced anglers. Do you still backlash?

[Rora]

I am just getting used to a bait caster and have several issues with backlash (expected). But I was wondering if you guys who have fished longer still deal with backlash?

On a side note do you also still deal with wind knots on spinning gear too?

[Hammer 4]

Yup, even the Pro's get em..The idea is to get as few as possible.

[Mike L]

Sure, everyone gets them from time to time. The trick is to minimize them. 
 

But it’s gonna happen. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[Russ E]

I have been using both baitcasters and spinning tackle for over 40 years.

everyone occasionally gets a backlash. It happens. Mine are usually when i get overzealous, casting into the wind or if the bait hits something right after I release the spool. If you want to learn how to fix birds nest, try learning how to skip with a baitcaster

if you use braid with spinning gear, sooner or later you get wind knots. they are usually caused by line twist. if you keep twist under control, they are rare.

[QED]

4 minutes ago, Rora said:

I am just getting used to a bait caster and have several issues with backlash (expected). But I was wondering if you guys who have fished longer still deal with backlash?

On a side note do you also still deal with wind knots on spinning gear too?

 

Experience plus better reel technology means very infrequent backlashes.  But what are "wind knots on spinning gear?"  Haven't encountered anything like that.

[jimmyjoe]

7 minutes ago, QED said:

 

Experience plus better reel technology means very infrequent backlashes.  But what are "wind knots on spinning gear?"  Haven't encountered anything like that.

 

   Spool up with braid and throw in-line spinners all morning without checking your line. You'll find out what they are.  ?    jj

[Rora]

8 minutes ago, Russ E said:

I have been using both baitcasters and spinning tackle for over 40 years.

everyone occasionally gets a backlash. It happens. Mine are usually when i get overzealous, casting into the wind or if the bait hits something right after I release the spool. If you want to learn how to fix birds nest, try learning how to skip with a baitcaster

if you use braid with spinning gear, sooner or later you get wind knots. they are usually caused by line twist. if you keep twist under control, they are rare.

shoot I get wind knots every outing at least. Maybe more than once. But I am drop shotting. Every few days I do try to get it out at home by pulling line off the spool and respooling it using a T-shirt. 

I will say. Getting out backslash is the lesser evil compared to wind knots. 

[detroit1]

 NEVER!  Well, maybe only 1 per trip....

[QED]

2 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   Spool up with braid and throw in-line spinners all morning without checking your line. You'll find out what they are.  ?    jj

 

So am I to infer that this is a problem that arises from wind plus excessive line twist?

[Bankbeater]

More experience means you will be able to get a backlash out easier, not that you won't get one.  I carry a sharp knife just in case.

[T-Billy]

Yes to both, but they happen MUCH less frequently as you gain experience. My advice, stick with mono until you really get the swing of it. It's cheap and handles well, and it REALLY sucks having to cut out a nasty birds nest of brand new braid. Don't try to cast it into the next county. Just focus on being smooth and accurate. Wind knots can be greatly reduced by closing the bail by hand and putting a little tension on the line before you begin reeling.

[huZZah]

2 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

More experience means you will be able to get a backlash out easier, not that you won't get one.  I carry a sharp knife just in case.

Also better equips you to see the conditions that will cause it before you cast. But it doesn’t prevent them. 

[Bubba 460]

 

What's a backlash?

[gim]

29 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Don't try to cast it into the next county. Just focus on being smooth and accurate. Wind knots can be greatly reduced by closing the bail by hand and putting a little tension on the line before you begin reeling.

I usually still get one when I over cast, like trying to send it a country mile. Keeping it fluid and smooth, while allowing the rod to do most of the work will prevent a lot of back lash. It’s like a golf swing. When you swing too hard, it doesn’t usually turn out well. Let the club do the work and just make solid contact.

[Columbia Craw]

Very rarely, especially when I drop shot.

[Kenny Yi]

sometimes I'll backlash the toilet paper, that's when I know I'm having a "reel" bad day...

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, QED said:

 

So am I to infer that this is a problem that arises from wind plus excessive line twist?

 

I put it down to excessive line twist. The structure of braided line is such that it is EXTREMELY tolerant of twist ....... up to a point. Once that point is reached ..... BAM! ...... you've got a mess on your hands.

 

   I always try to use small-diameter braid for the size of the spool lip. It seems to help. I also drag about 100' of line through the weeds when I notice the line twisting.  The friction seems to straighten it out sufficiently.

   On the subject of seeing twist: Take a new spool of braid and tie one end to something, then walk the supply spool back about 10-15 feet, using a pencil through the spool for an axle. Hold the supply spool level with your eye, and look down the line for a pattern. Different brands have slightly different patterns, but you'll see one no doubt.

   Now put a rubber band on the supply spool to keep the line captured, and start to rotate the supply spool clockwise, keeping tension on it. Twist about ten times, then relax the tension. No wind knot? That's fine ....... go another ten rotations clockwise. Relax again. Keep this routine up until you get a wind knot.

   What you'll find out is that the wind knot develops suddenly. Sometimes VERY suddenly. So rotate the spool ten times counter-clockwise, taking twist out of the braid. Relax it, and make sure you have no wind knot.

   Hold the supply spool up level with your eye and look for a pattern. You'll see one. The line will look twisted compared to the way it looked before you started to rotate the spool ten times.

 

   Remember that pattern. It's the "demon at the door". When it develops, drag your line through the weeds or on the grass, until the pattern disappears.

 

   Good luck!   ?      jj

[Dens228]

I still get a few per year, but they aren't as bad as way back when and I usually get them out quickly. 

Now that I've said that why do I get the feeling I'll be cutting line off of a reel within the next couple of day...........

[TcRoc]

29 minutes ago, Bubba 460 said:

 

What's a backlash?

I think that’s what I get when I talk back to the wife? 

[the reel ess]

Does a bear poop in the woods? Even pros get them. Just when you think you can't anymore, you will.

[JustJames]

Back lash???! all the time. 30+ years experience, casting from 1/32oz all the way up to 6-7oz, all type BC reels from simple Linear mag brake to no brake at all (Newell 250).

[QED]

14 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

I put it down to excessive line twist. The structure of braided line is such that it is EXTREMELY tolerant of twist ....... up to a point. When that point is reached ..... BAM! ...... you've got as mess on your hands.

 

   I always try to use small-diameter braid for the size of the spool lip. It seems to help. I also drag about 100' of line through the seeds when I notice the line twisting.  The friction seems to straighten it out sufficiently.

   On the subject of seeing twist: Take a new spool of braid and tie one end to something, then walk the supply spool back, using a pencil through the spool for an axle. Hold the supply spool level with your eye, and look down the line for a pattern. Different brands have slightly different patterns, but you'll see one no doubt.

   Now put a rubber band on the supply spool to keep the line captured, and start to rotate the supply spool clockwise, keeping tension on it. Twist about ten times, then relax the tension. No wind knot? That's fine ....... go another ten rotations clockwise. Relax again. Keep this routine up until you get a wind knot.

   What you'll find out is that the wind knot develops suddenly. Sometimes VERY suddenly. So rotate the spool ten times counter-clockwise, taking twist out of the braid. Relax it, and make sure you have no wind knot.

   Hold the supply spool up level with your eye and look for a pattern. You'll see one. The line will look twisted compared to the way it looked before you started to rotate the spool ten times.

 

   Remember that pattern. It's the "demon at the door". When it develops, drag your line through the weeds or on the grass, until the pattern disappears.

 

   Good luck!   ?      jj

 

Thanks for the info.  I've been using ultralight (UL) spinning gear for decades, but have never run into this problem.  I use 2-6 lb mono and most of the lures I use such as UL spinnerbaits, (lipless and lipped) crankbaits, ned rigs, t-rigs, swim baits, etc. don't cause a lot of line twist.  Plus I use a mix of casting types, e.g., roll casts, backhand casts, overhead casts, so I don't systemically introduce line twist based upon casting technique.  So I guess I should be thankful to never have encountered this issue.

[Boomstick]

I do, but it usually takes a few seconds to pull it out and back to fishing instead of cutting line off the reel and respooling.

[cyclops2]

A few does. For spinning & any non braided lines.

 

NEVER cast into the wind.  That was simple.  Use VERY STIFF LINE.  Not so obvious to do.  AVOID well used line. It can become softer.  PRE STRETCH ALL THE LINE on a HOT SUNNY DAY.  Caution only the first MAXIMUM length of lines needs to be stretched. WEAR GLOVES !!.......Cut the line FREE from the spool and lay both ends on the ground !! Start winding and walking backwards to allow the spinning reel twist to keep untwisting. Then Let out the line in moving water. Wind in. Put a tiny small GOLD swivel with S S snap on the end. I can go weeks with out major twists. I fish about 4 hours 4 to 6 days a week. Gold is a definite attractor to all fish.

 

Almost forgot.........NEVER NEVER cast any OLD or new braid.  It  will twist And become a larger looking white line. Into wind ?   ?

[Lead Head]

YES!

Though I haven't had to cut one out in years, ill still end up with one that needs to be "picked" out nearly every trip (depending on what I'm focusing on).