cyclops2 Posted February 18, 2022 Posted February 18, 2022 Opinions wanted. Will be using Braided Line. Recommended minimums you have used with no dig ins with big fish. I do not use the reel to pull against snags. I always use anti reverse position lever. Add in any other thoughts on a comparable priced reel. Dam.... I will be casting only my modified Rapala Floater 1.5" long. Lip is removed. All trebles removed. Just a singles small # 14 ? tail hook. Any one else ever used a Lew in such a light set up or even close.  I just have the HOTS for a B C this season. If it can cast 40 to 50 '? Can it handle TIGHTLY wound on 6# Braid backing ? I will only load up 100' of line for use in a boat. Water depth of 20 feet maximum. Can it do the job? OR Bigger braided # with a 6' Mono leader of 4 # test.  Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted February 18, 2022 Super User Posted February 18, 2022 Might be a little tricky ~ Like casting a cotton ball. What rod do you plan to mount that reel onto ? A-Jay Quote
cyclops2 Posted February 18, 2022 Author Posted February 18, 2022 Some really bad news. I just weighed the lures. USPS accurate weight as a reference point. the small lures are 1/ 10 ounce. UGH I had no idea until now. Why I used 4# mono & 4# braided Cajun.  Rods are medium price 7' STIFF tips. I find they cast nothing the farthest or only with he wind. I am not at the cottage. until May 1  I checked the lures again. Still 1/10 ounce.  I forgot the most important thing I fish a lot of time with a Drop Shot rig . Simple with Lead BB sized or larger size 3' between lure and weight. Quote
Aaron_H Posted February 18, 2022 Posted February 18, 2022 I feel like a spinning combo with a softer tip that will load up better on 1/10 oz will be your best option if you're insistent on sticking with ultra light braid. But if you're only spooling ~35 yards of line then a BFS reel is the way I'd go. Plus a rod that will load deeper on light weights. Medium light/fast IMO. 1 Quote
cyclops2 Posted February 18, 2022 Author Posted February 18, 2022 I just added my split BB drop shot setup. Old guy is slow to recall it all. I troll & wind drift a lot.   BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBb  Rod now is a Shimano Stimula 72"...8 to 12#...1/4 to / 1/2 oz...med power...fast action. Quote
cyclops2 Posted February 18, 2022 Author Posted February 18, 2022 Bass Resource is great . I just realized I have been doing 36" drop shots with B & BB splits forever. Shore & boat.. The Ned Snack Pak just arrived 3" sizes. Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted February 18, 2022 Super User Posted February 18, 2022 1 hour ago, cyclops2 said: I checked the lures again. Still 1/10 ounce. Â Speechless... Quote
cyclops2 Posted February 18, 2022 Author Posted February 18, 2022 Support at Lew's said 6# Braided is no problem for this reel. Â Thanks everyone. I appreciated your help. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 18, 2022 Super User Posted February 18, 2022 This is not a good entry point to baitcasting. I'd stick with heavier line and heavier baits when learning. 3 Quote
garroyo130 Posted February 18, 2022 Posted February 18, 2022 1 hour ago, cyclops2 said: Support at Lew's said 6# Braided is no problem for this reel. Â 6# braid is BFS or spinning reel line Quote
Super User bulldog1935 Posted February 18, 2022 Super User Posted February 18, 2022 My deep spool Super Duty G (LFS) is loaded halfway with 20 yds 20-lb Ultragreen mono; good Allbright knot that will pass through the line guide; topped with 120 yds 20-lb Sufix 832. A serious casting and fishing champ, released 16 redfish this size in a few hours a year ago tomorrow. here's the line-stacking calculator: https://www.pattayafishing.net/advanced-fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/ 1 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted February 19, 2022 Super User Posted February 19, 2022 5 hours ago, cyclops2 said: Support at Lew's said 6# Braided is no problem for this reel.  Thanks everyone. I appreciated your help. Yes the reel doesn’t have problem with 6lb braid the main question is, Can you handle it? 1 Quote
cyclops2 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Posted February 19, 2022 I have done 2# mono on big trout in narrow boulder filled gorges. Long fights and ate the trout due to Lactic Acid overload would have killed them according to the guide. They laid limply for several minutes. Great for meals. I will pay my dues in bird cages. To get the brake right.    ? Thank you for the post. Quote
Super User JustJames Posted February 19, 2022 Super User Posted February 19, 2022 Not about landing the fish, that maybe why lews said 6lb braid is no problem. I’m talking about casting your 1/10oz lure. If you troll should be fine but casting is totally different story. I’m still confused why you insist to use 6lb braid. I’d rather use 6lb mono/Copolymer  any day of the week. This is from a guy using 6, 10, 15 and 30lb braid on Baitcasters quite a bit. 1 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted February 19, 2022 Super User Posted February 19, 2022 Btw I’m not a braid fan at all. I only have a few reels with braid (except spinning) but majority are Copolymer and 2 fluorocarbon. I don’t see any benefit of braid over Copolymer, I do think there are even more disadvantages using braid compare to mono, bad in the wind, less sensitivity overall and less abrasion resistance. Some might not agree with me but this is my experience using braid especially with finesse presentations (light weight lure, less movement and a lot of subtle bites) 1 Quote
cyclops2 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Posted February 19, 2022 You are right about braid & the 1/10 Rapala. BUUT  I forgot to tell you I always really use a Drop Shot setup. BB or B split shot and end of line. Lure is 36" above it. Some times I add a tiny Flicker Spinner to bring them in faster. Casting from boat with the wind. Then drift or trolling.  Always get all the facts from us old Geezers.  ? ? Even I can not remember all of what I do.  I reel in quickly if the perch stop suddenly. Means a BIG bass or pike has started eating the perch. Go to a different spot.  It is work when a HUGE SMB or pike decides to quick swallow a perch. on 4# line. Into the weeds we go for a long slow time. Quote
Super User bulldog1935 Posted February 19, 2022 Super User Posted February 19, 2022 I hope this thing is on. There are better reel choices than Lew's for light braid and light lures, simply because they either come with BFS spool, or good aftermarket BFS spool choices are made for them. You'll hear much praise for Curado BFS, etc. Good Revo options, which is essentially Lew's design. got an old Ambassadeur? - the microcast parts are out there.  The reason I went from Lew's (after 35 years) to Daiwa is this exact reason. No spool options are made for Lew's. With this spool, no problem fishing small braid, no problem casting 1/16 oz (to 130', even). I just walked a friend through a new Daiwa Tatula 100, because the Momo honeycomb SV spool to match it still has online stock. 3 1 Quote
cyclops2 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Posted February 19, 2022 Perfect timing bullgog. A talk with Cabelas Fishing department Brought out a possible major problem with many B C reels & loose reel coils getting past the spool I& into the gearing on light soft lines. Said It is more common than most believe. And can require a pull apart for a bad jam up.  Looks like a spool of new 4# test soft small diameter Braided ine is a reality. With my ruined eye sight from 2 of my Blood Pressure drugs.   Thanks everyone.  Time to post a apology. 1 Quote
Super User Mobasser Posted February 19, 2022 Super User Posted February 19, 2022 My Lew's LFS has been a great reel. I spool this one with mono line of 12 to 15 pound test. It could work well with heavier braid I think. Quote
Big Hands Posted February 19, 2022 Posted February 19, 2022 I have been using 10 lb and 12 lb braid for the main line on my Curado BFS reels. The potential (and realized) problems arise when I make a number of casts with relatively lightweight baits, reeling them in with little pressure against them, making for the line being a bit loose on the spool. Now, when I set the hook and reel in a fish, it is not unusual to have my first cast hang at the spot where I set the hook. It's definitely a thing, and I should probably make a habit of using my thumb and forefinger to keep tension on the line as I reel it in during each cast.  I think it's as much about the lack of tension that a lightweight bait has as it is about the size of the line being more susceptible to the line digging in. 2 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted February 19, 2022 Super User Posted February 19, 2022 @Big Handshow much line you have on your reel? I normally only spool halfway or 50-75yds of 10lb braid. Shallow spool doesn’t need full spool of line for casting distance and we normally don’t cast 30-40yds even though I do quite often with my 1/8oz roadrunner or 1/8 lipless. I also don’t set hook hard when using such small line, I just jerk the rod and reel in to set hook. Why I think most BFS only offer in XG or high speed, I might be wrong though. For those that know better you can correct me but please don’t quote me. 3 Quote
cyclops2 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Posted February 19, 2022 Big Hands . I Know where The fish are / should be so I can always get in close without spooking them. That can allow 30 to 60' casts on weed edges or weed mats over large bottom areas. I was getting soft build ups on the reel spool of friends BC and even my spin reel with light lures. So I added the 2 finger routine. Several of my old fishing people adapted the 2 finger drag way as a simple cure for what you are describing accurately. Old people just do not finesse instinctively light rigs as well as younger people. Great post. 1 Quote
Big Hands Posted February 20, 2022 Posted February 20, 2022 7 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said: @Big Handshow much line you have on your reel? I normally only spool halfway or 50-75yds of 10lb braid. Shallow spool doesn’t need full spool of line for casting distance and we normally don’t cast 30-40yds even though I do quite often with my 1/8oz roadrunner or 1/8 lipless. I wish I could remember exactly how much line I spooled onto them, but I don't. I do tend to fill my spools as much as possible so theoretically the spool doesn't need to spin up as fast when casting. One of the things that attracted me to the Curado BFS was the very shallow spool it comes with. I'm not a fan of having way more line than I need, but I do prefer to have a full spool. I can tell you that I can cast far enough to see the holes in the spool.  7 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said: I also don’t set hook hard when using such small line, I just jerk the rod and reel in to set hook. As for the hookset, that depends on what type of rig I am fishing. If I am wacky rigging aa weightless Senko, I will reel up into them. With a Texas rig, I still give a pretty firm hookset to the point where the drag slips a bit of the hookset. . . . maybe a little more than 'a bit', LOL. That probably goes back to my days of fishing 6 lb monofilament on a baitcaster where I almost had to run to the back of the boat before setting the hook to get sufficient penetration.  5 hours ago, cyclops2 said: So I added the 2 finger routine. Several of my old fishing people adapted the 2 finger drag way as a simple cure for what you are describing accurately. Old people just do not finesse instinctively light rigs as well as younger people. I think it's probably going to be the way to go for me going forward with the BFS baitcasters. It usually happens on one the first couple of Texas rig fish I catch, and then I remember to make a small cast to open water, pull the line out of itself, reel in under tension, and go back to fishing. Remembering to simply reel in under tension would probably save me this extra step. 1 Quote
Super User bulldog1935 Posted February 20, 2022 Super User Posted February 20, 2022 @Big Hands @Bass_Fishing_Socal I'm too, let's call it empirical, to not know, and to settle for "about" anything.  I love those multi-colored X-braids, because you can count off every 10-m while you're loading them (plus they have black marks every 1-m). They're also neat that you can look at the color of your spool and read your cast distance. or how much line you have out  One reason you want to be careful topping spools is being able to remove them. I swap spools around (a couple of Daiwa 34 mm reels with even more spools). But you also need to get inside for maintenance, especially if you're oiling unshielded spool bearings. 1 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted February 20, 2022 Super User Posted February 20, 2022 @Big HandsI might be wrong then. I never use light line and a soft rod that require such a hook set. I mostly use light line for open hook application or the most light wire #2 and #4 ewg hook. I can break 15lb braid no leader easily with weightless Fatika when set hook at close counter 25-30 feet. (even though I use regular not super line 4/0 hook). I choose the line size and type that match my style of fishing which might be different from you guys. Quote
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