Clearing out a nasty backlash, big tank LM decides to hit topwater hard…..

[Steve Goldy]

Ok, what would one do in such a circumstance?

 

I just started tossing baitcasters this season, and have really been enjoying it so far! The mechanics are fun, sort of the difference between driving a manual vs a standard transmission. More user input required, but rewarded with greater overall performance when all goes according to plan. Learning thumbing wasn’t so bad, and Im already getting to that “feathering” position (as opposed to clumsily impeding the spool with my thumb too heavily and randomly applied). Starting to feel the mechanics of the various stages of the cast, as to when to start slowly applying pressure. Man, this is fun..like perfectly matching the revs on a downshift….awesome feeling!
 

After about 100 casts or so, only one backlash so far (AG Revo sx). No backlashes on the Shimano Antares DC and Scorpion DC…but I assume that is to be somewhat expected (although, I hear they backlash just fine if you push your luck too far…). 
 

During the time it took to clear out my backlash (wasn’t too bad, just takes some patience and the proper technique), it occurred to me that I was in an extremely compromised position, if a nice fish were to pick that exact moment in time to hit my lure. I’m sure this must have happened countless times, perhaps to some of you all? 
 

So, how did you handle the situation?

[JbroBass]

Caught my very first bass on a baitcaster two weeks ago when picking up the line after clearing a minor backlash! Not sure what I would have done if I noticed the fish when still picking at the tangle. 

[Darth-Baiter]

my friend and I crossed lines when we were fishing jerk baits.  It was my turn, so I reeled it all in to me and worked the problem.  his jerk bait was somewhere underneath my boat, and I assume just suspended.  I feel the line yank straight down.  I hand him the line beneath the mess and say, "start handling!".  he got a 1'lb bass.  haha.

 

I have reeled minor backlashes right up into the spool bringing in a fish.  not ideal, but the backlash is the same when you unspool to the same place in the reel.  

[LrgmouthShad]

I can’t recall ever catching a bass after having to pick out a backlash. Weird.

 

anyways, to set the hook I gotta have pressure so I can see myself engaging spool and frantically trying to reel up the slack as fast as possible. I can see it right now. I don’t make it in time ?

[Steve Goldy]

1 minute ago, Darth-Baiter said:

 

I have reeled minor backlashes right up into the spool bringing in a fish.  not ideal, but the backlash is the same when you unspool to the same place in the reel.  

I considered this was possibility, but it’s good to know it can work if absolutely necessary.

Guess it just depends on the extent of the backlash, and how badly it would affect the line retrieval.??‍♂️

[LrgmouthShad]

1 minute ago, Steve Goldy said:

Guess it just depends on the extent of the backlash, and how badly it would affect the line retrieval.??‍♂️

I ain’t gonna try and figure that out. I don’t think anyone would. We’re all gonna react the same. Reel up slack and try to get a hook in her. 

[J Francho]

This actually happened to me twice. Both times, reeled up and set the hook to get the fish, knowing full well that line was toast. 

[Steve Goldy]

13 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I ain’t gonna try and figure that out. I don’t think anyone would. We’re all gonna react the same. Reel up slack and try to get a hook in her. 

True enough…can’t say I wouldn’t instinctively react.

8 minutes ago, J Francho said:

This actually happened to me twice. Both times, reeled up and set the hook to get the fish, knowing full well that line was toast. 

So, I take it that the sacrifice of the line is a forgone conclusion? No reeling over it and trying to set it straight after dealing with the bass at hand?

[Bankc]

I've had it happen a few times.  Twice that I can remember.  I just reel in what I got out, set the hook, and do everything like normal.  Then after I've released the fish, I cast it back out with a gentle cast, and it'll itself stop once it gets near the backlash.  From there, I pick it out like normal and go back to fishing.  I use braid for most everything these days, so it doesn't really hurt my line to do this.  Using fluoro or mono, I'd assume the kinks would be permanent, and you'd want to respool afterwards.  

[WRB]

Keep in mind the difference between a severe backlash and a loose line over run that needs to have line pulled off before continuing your retrieve. 

Another factor to consider with top water lures is they float while you work on the over run or backlash. The line movement can trigger a strike that you hear more then see.

My biggest top water LMB strike happened pulling off loose line using a wooden Sammy casting into the wind. I heard a splash and instantly reeled fast to get a hook set and didn’t know if the fish was a bass or stripper because it didn’t jump.

The bass 11.2 lbs and never ran far enough to pull drag far enough to get to the loose spooled line.

Same thing has happened with worms and jigs, worked out the over run and reel in line only to feel the fish moving and set the hook. Fish long enough this happens.

Reeling over loose line doesn’t necessarily damage the FC or mono line if you don’t apply heavy force to the looped line.

Pulling hard on FC or mono backlash knot will flatten the line and damage it.

Tom 

[Steve Goldy]

8 minutes ago, Bankc said:

I use braid for most everything these days, so it doesn't really hurt my line to do this.  Using fluoro or mono, I'd assume the kinks would be permanent, and you'd want to respool afterwards.  

This may be the determinant factor.

From the many JF posts Ive read, he tends to favour FC line (at least, with spinning reels).

I am using braid almost 95% of the time, when either spinning or bait casting,…as the environment where I do almost all of my fishing dictates heavy braid. Who am I to agrue???‍♂️

[T-Billy]

Caught my PB LM, 6lb 10oz that way. Cast a jig up against a big limestone rock straight into a stiff wind and had a pretty good overrun. Pulled it out and started reeling out the slack, and reeling, and reeling, when it came tight the fish was straight under the boat. Set the hook and the fight was on. Steep bank, the boat was in 20+ feet of water. That fish swam 40' or so with my jig. Made me a believer in Megastrike Crawfish.

[Steve Goldy]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Keep in mind the difference between a severe backless and a loose line over run that needs to have line pulled off before continuing your retrieve. 

Another factor to consider with top water lures is they float while you work on the over run or backlash. The line movement can trigger a strike that you hear more then see.

My biggest top water LMB strike happened pulling off loose line using a wooden Sammy casting into the wind. I heard a splash and instantly reeled fast to get a hook set and didn’t know if the fish was a bass or stripper because it didn’t jump.

The bass 11.2 lbs and never ran far enough to pull drag far enough to get to the loose spooled line.

Same thing has happened with worms and jigs, worked out the over run and reel in line only to feel the fish moving and set the hook. Fish long enough this happens.

Reeling over loose line doesn’t necessarily damage the FC or mono line if you don’t apply heavy force to the looped line.

Pulling hard on FC or mono backlash knot will flatten the line and damage it.

Tom 

Ty…a very informative post!

1 hour ago, T-Billy said:

Caught my PB LM, 6lb 10oz that way. Cast a jig up against a big limestone rock straight into a stiff wind and had a pretty good overrun. Pulled it out and started reeling out the slack, and reeling, and reeling, when it came tight the fish was straight under the boat. Set the hook and the fight was on. Steep bank, the boat was in 20+ feet of water. That fish swam 40' or so with my jig. Made me a believer in Megastrike Crawfish.

Nice when a miscalculation somehow transitions into a nice catch! Nice recoup!

[GreenPig]

I gave up backlashing years ago. Just couldn't find the Joy that y'all must get from it. ?

[Dwight Hottle]

I was fishing a 10" worm when I tried to bomb cast ending up with a big old backlash. I messed around trying to clear it & finally did. While starting to reel in I noticed my line pulling so I set the hook and the next thing I knew I saw a 8' gator swimming under the boat with my completely engulfed worm in his mouth. He must have picked it off the bottom while I was pulling the backlash out. Needless to say he won the battle. 

[fin]

It’s funny how many people have had this happen to them. It’s happened to me more than once. It’s pretty common. The obvious lesson to learn is to slow down.

[Woody B]

Not a backlash(at first), but a couple months ago I threw out a Devils Horse (topwater propeller bait) over a submerged tree.  Right about the time it hit the water my phone rang.    I answered my phone, then a 14 inch bass hit the 'horse.  It sounded like someone threw a concrete block in the water.  I set the hook but hadn't engaged my reel.  I keep my drag kinda loose so I have my thumb on or close to the spool when I set the hook.  I got a good hookset, but got a pretty bad backlash from it.   The backlash was bad enough to keep me from reeling it in.  I horsed it away from the tree with the trolling motor, and hand lined in to the boat kinda like you do with a fly rod.   It would have made a really good video.   Had it been a bigger bass I doubt I would have gotten it in the boat.   I laughed for several minutes after I got it in the boat, and still laugh about it now.

 

[Log Catcher]

I had a bass hit a crankbait right after it landed on the water. I had an overrun and started picking it out. That fish jumped twice but I still got it in after I straightened my line out.

[FrnkNsteen]

5 hours ago, fin said:

It’s funny how many people have had this happen to them. It’s happened to me more than once. It’s pretty common. The obvious lesson to learn is to slow down.

Couldn't agree more with this. I've had a few instances where I had a slight backlash or something else that distracted me long enough that when I got my attention back on my line, there was a fish on it.

 

The answer is what others said,... Reel up slack if you can and set the hook. Worry about the line later!

[schplurg]

On 6/24/2022 at 12:54 PM, GreenPig said:

I gave up backlashing years ago. Just couldn't find the Joy that y'all must get from it. ?

 

I've tried to quit backlashing, but I just can't. Every time I try to quit they pull me back in!

[GreenPig]

11 minutes ago, schplurg said:

 

I've tried to quit backlashing, but I just can't. Every time I try to quit they pull me back in!

You're not helping yourself at all if you hang around other folks that backlash. It took me fishing alone 100% of the time to completely quit backlashing.???

[ironbjorn]

That line is in God's hands now because I'm reeling in the fish 

[TnRiver46]

My buddy threw out a pop R once and got a backlash. While he was picking it out, lure sitting dead still, a bass blew the lure up. He swings and misses, we laugh, he goes back to picking out the backlash……..

 

im sure you can guess what happens next 

 

BLAM! The fish blasts the lure again and he swings and misses again , then goes back to picking out the backlash for a third time 

[Way north bass guy]

I’ve had that happen a couple times with bass before. You want real excitement, try doing they with a 10lb chinook!                      
I was downrigging with another guy one time, and he hooked a lake trout and it immediately crossed and tangled both of our lines before I could even get my line or the riggers in and out of the way. I was untangling the line and all of a sudden it started taking off from my hands. The salmon had hit the spoon and was running, hand lining a salmon is no easy task, but I managed to get it in the boat with only slight line burns to the hands.