How long did it take you to "master" a baitcaster?

[bulldog1935]

@Deleted account you certainly know how to clear a room

[N Florida Mike]

12 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I’ve been using a baitcaster for around 50 years and I wouldn’t call myself a master at everything on your list.

^^^ Same here…

[Deleted account]

54 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

@Deleted account you certainly know how to clear a room

LOL.

Even if the only folks left in the audience are one barely conscious drunk guy at a corner table, and a way over the hill lounge lizard smoking in the back, they still get a show,

"A bear and a rabbit are taking a dump in the woods"...

 

I'll be here all week....

[scaleface]

26 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

A bear and a rabbit are taking a dump in the woods

I had to Google that .  made me LOL

[Mobasser]

I've fished with casting reels for a long time also. Im not a master at them. I learned to flip pretty well years ago, not so much now. Mostly, just plain old overhead casting works for me. I've always thought that accuracy was the most important thing.

[FrankN209]

Got my first baitcaster in 2002, it was a Abu Garcia EON. But as for a master? Not even close. But I'm decent and I can make it work for me.  

[Skunkmaster-k]

12 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

Picked up a big spool of 12lb mono and been playing around with it, kind of like a kid at the lake skipping stones, but I'm in my backyard pool. Super fun, except when neighbors look over the fence with that look ? 

Yep. I have a neighbor who likes to stop and ask me if I’ve caught anything every time he sees me in the yard practicing. 

[redmeansdistortion]

Took me a week to get the hang of it.  That was 30 years ago, still not a master lol.

[Smallies]

10 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

I am forever seeking casting consciousness grasshopper.

Where can I buy a casting consciousness grasshopper?

 

[bulldog1935]

casting consciousness grasshopper is only JDM

[roadwarrior]

 

[islandbass]

1 hour ago, Deleted account said:

LOL.

Even if the only folks left in the audience are one barely conscious drunk guy at a corner table, and a way over the hill lounge lizard smoking in the back, they still get a show,

"A bear and a rabbit are taking a dump in the woods"...

 

I'll be here all week....

If that’s the same joke Eddie Murphy told in Delirius, I still tell that joke to this day, lol. 

[EWREX]

from the first time i picked one up, it took my about a year of fishing pretty consistently to become competent and efficient with all types of casting techniques with a casting reel. i still am no master that's for sure

[new2BC4bass]

Master?  Lucky if I can call myself average.  Never tried skipping although I'd like to learn.  Using it from shore is probably moot.  I did practice pitching in my back yard, but have never used the technique on the water.

 

Took me longer than it should have.  Sent my reels to be cleaned (and a couple tuned) at the end of my first year using a baitcaster (about 7 months).  Seems my spool tension was way too tight.  Backing off to just have a bit of side-to-side play required me to learn all over again.  I own 10 brands of reels with many styles of brakes.  I can now go from one to another without backlashing.  I do try to stay out of situations that tend to cause backlashes....such as limiting my casting stroke due to trees and shrubs.  That has a tendency to make my casting stroke jerky until I've had time to acclimate to it.  Which I have to do every time I head south to fish from a canoe with a B-I-L. 

[BassNJake]

I learned to skip using a baitcaster and a horny toad.

It has enough weight to skip well and can be rigged weedless.

Dont leave too much slack an inch or two, so the rod loads up and does the work

This also allows for you to get within inches of the water at release

You leave 6 inches to a foot hanging and its a slash down in blow up city!!

[Lead Head]

Every time I start thinking I'm good I see some guy on tv/YouTube switch to his off hand and make a 50' skip. That reminds me Im just average at best. There aren't too many spots I can't hit, but I'm -FAR- from master level... if that even exists. 

[Sam]

I was fortunant about baitcasters.

 

Had a friend who was a guide teach me how to "balance it" and avoid backlashes.

 

Once that was done, using a baitcaster became a pleasure and very easy.

[PressuredFishing]

44 minutes ago, Lead Head said:

but I'm -FAR- from master level... if that even exists. 

It exists, master oogway told me!

[king fisher]

I have enjoyed fishing with a bait caster for 45 years.  During that time, the only thing I can say I have mastered is back lash removal. 

[Bankbeater]

About 44 years ago I learned how to cast out a baitcaster and get good distance with it.  About 45 years ago I learned how to dig out backlashes with a knitting needle. Now I always keep one in the tackle bag.

[RDB]

I guess it depends on how you define master.  I’ve been Fishing for 50 years and I still practice all the time.  I make up all kinds of situations to break the monotony and my wife loves, loves, loves it when I use her or the cat as targets as they walk around the house.

 

I do these types of things all the time but have never done the Wesley Strader trick in the video as clean as he did.

[cyclops2]

At age 12?  Maybe 1/2 hour with silk line back then. Yes Japanese Silk Worm silk was used.

[NYWayfarer]

On 2/10/2022 at 7:16 PM, PressuredFishing said:

So just to be 100% clear, I'm not talking about avoid backlash, but mastering these skills

Basic overhead cast

Flipping/ pitching

Sidearm cast

Roll cast

Skipping basic baits like senkos or flukes or jigs

Skipping advanced baits like cranks, spinnerbaits, and creature baits.

I've been practicing for about a few hours a week for roughly 5 years now, I would say I can do everything but Skipping effectivley, I can skip but it is a challenge. How long has it taken you to master the baitcaster?

 

I have the first three, Basic overhead cast, Flipping/pitching and Sidearm cast down. Sidearm is what I use  99% of the time bank fishing. 
 

The rest I would be a novice at.

[Darth-Baiter]

I did it as a teen.  My mom bought my brother and i both a Daiwa Magforce reel.  (I think that’s what it was called). It was immediately fun.  You know why?  As a teen I didn’t overthink anything.  Just casted.  Sure I backlashed a few times I’m sure, but I don’t remember a huge learning curve.   Fast forward a few decades, it took more to get reacquainted with them now than it did to learn back then.  It’s was in my mind.  
 

now, I can cast either hand. 
 

back in the day during a white bass feeding frenzy it was frantic cast after cast.  Never a backlash.  Haha.  Quiet time to think and perfect a perfect cast to a tiny submerged bush…briffft. I don't understand!  Backlash!

[Alex from GA]

When I started fishing there were no spinning reels and baitcasters didn't have a drag;  you used your thumb.  I'm a fair caster overhand, sidearm either way but not a master.