Need help troubleshooting reel

[M870]

Hi all,

 

Ran into some issues with my carbonlite 2.0 bait caster, and since I’m still kinda of a noob, I wanted help diagnosing an issue and making sure I don’t make the same mistake again. 
 

I ran into this issue the other day when I decided to mess with the brakes so I could throw 3inch swim baits with a 1/4oz jig head. I normally have all of the centrifugal brakes on, and my magnetic brakes set pretty darn low, around 2-3. I wasn’t getting the distance I wanted (which I was expecting using this set up on a bait caster), so I turned off 2 of the centrifugal brakes so get a little more distance, which worked perfectly, and ended up getting a couple of decent fish. 
 

After awhile I decided to switch up baits, and go back to my regular settings….I wish I had never touched a thing. I kept getting constant birds nests, to the point where I had to sit down for 20 mins or so to get one out. This reel has given me absolutely zero issues until now, but I was now finding that I had to crank my magnetic brakes to the max, and if I had the spool tension set ever so slightly looser than needed, I’d get horrible back lash. 
 

so what’s going on here exactly? As I said, the reel has performed beautifully for me in the 5 or so months that I’ve owned, and used on a weekly basis. I make sure to do regular maintenance, usually spool tension is almost an afterthought and is quite forgiving if I don’t have it set perfectly.  My plan currently is to just re-spool, clean it up, and get it oiled and see if the issues persist, but I’m curious to get some insight from others. 
 

Thanks in advance. 

[MN Fisher]

Are you using your thumb on the spool while casting for fine control?

 

Even my Patriarchs - which also have dual braking - can't cast all the time without thumbing the spool. I can do it occasionally, but I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I always thumb the spool while casting.

 

Other than that - every lure is different and I always find myself tweaking the mag settings...the centrifugal pins I just leave at 3-on/3-off.

[a1712]

Make sure your brakes are on and not off. Brian.

[M870]

8 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Are you using your thumb on the spool while casting for fine control?

 

Even my Patriarchs - which also have dual braking - can't cast all the time without thumbing the spool. I can do it occasionally, but I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I always thumb the spool while casting.

 

Other than that - every lure is different and I always find myself tweaking the mag settings...the centrifugal pins I just leave at 3-on/3-off.

I hadn’t given too much thought on thumbing until you mentioned it. While I do use my thumb for fine control, admittedly the reel has made me develop a pretty relaxed method of doing so, since it had been so forgiving. I bet if I paid closer attention to my thumb control, that’d solve a lot of issues. 

[bulldog1935]

this may help you analyze where your backlash is occurring, and which brake will best dial it out

 

[LCG]

Sounds like the reel is fine. Start with full brakes and gradually lower the brakes until it's back to where you feel comfortable. Keep your cast smooth and your thumb gently riding the spool during the cast. 

[Phil77]

Oil the centrifugal brake ring or plate. Should be a bronze colored plate inside the palm side cover. Just use one drop and spread it around, hope that helps.

[Bankc]

These reels seem to change over time.  It probably needs a good tear down, cleaning, and lubrication.  I've got one, and they're not strictly consistent with their brake settings.  I'm often going through what your describing.  Like I'll be throwing 3/8 oz. T-rigs one day, and then tie go weightless wack rig and I'll have to change the brakes.  But then when I go back to the 3/8 oz. T-rigs, and the old brake settings I used last time don't work right, so I have to figure out some new settings.  The good news is, once I get it dialed in, I don't have to touch it again until something changes.  I think it's just the nature of the beast.  Perhaps not all six centrifugal brakes are identical, or some get worn with use and others don't.  

 

Over time, you'll learn how to dial it in as you get used to it.  So you'll kind of know where to set it when you make a change, and if it doesn't work like you think it should, it's usually just one quick change to get it back to doing what it's supposed to be doing.  The more you fiddle with it, the more you'll get to know it.  And the more you get to know it, the less you'll fiddle with it.  

[M870]

2 hours ago, Bankc said:

These reels seem to change over time.  It probably needs a good tear down, cleaning, and lubrication.  I've got one, and they're not strictly consistent with their brake settings.  I'm often going through what your describing.  Like I'll be throwing 3/8 oz. T-rigs one day, and then tie go weightless wack rig and I'll have to change the brakes.  But then when I go back to the 3/8 oz. T-rigs, and the old brake settings I used last time don't work right, so I have to figure out some new settings.  The good news is, once I get it dialed in, I don't have to touch it again until something changes.  I think it's just the nature of the beast.  Perhaps not all six centrifugal brakes are identical, or some get worn with use and others don't.  

 

Over time, you'll learn how to dial it in as you get used to it.  So you'll kind of know where to set it when you make a change, and if it doesn't work like you think it should, it's usually just one quick change to get it back to doing what it's supposed to be doing.  The more you fiddle with it, the more you'll get to know it.  And the more you get to know it, the less you'll fiddle with it.  

This makes me feel a lot better, as it sounds exactly what’s going on with mine. All the more reason to get more rods/reels so I can set this one and then just leave it lol 

 

I appreciate the insight.