“side to side play”

[LrgmouthShad]

Hey ya’ll,

 

Ive heard a lot by now that people like to set up their baitcasters so that there is a little “side to side play” in setting the spool tension and they do not adjust it much from there. What is meant by this? 

[MN Fisher]

For me, it's setting the tension so that there's just enough 'free play' to allow the spool to move just a fraction side-to-side between the frame sides.

 

Though most times I set the tension for the 'drop-and-stop'...lure drops slowly and the spool stops spinning soon as the lure hits the deck.

[LrgmouthShad]

16 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

For me, it's setting the tension so that there's just enough 'free play' to allow the spool to move just a fraction side-to-side between the frame sides.

 

Though most times I set the tension for the 'drop-and-stop'...lure drops slowly and the spool stops spinning soon as the lure hits the deck.

I feel educated now, thank you, lol. Believe I figured out what you mean. I loosened and tightened and could notice that when I wiggled the spool between the frames with my fingers, there was a tension setting where it would just barely wiggle. Is this what you mean? 

[MN Fisher]

Yep - that's it...

[T-Billy]

4 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

. I loosened and tightened and could notice that when I wiggled the spool between the frames with my fingers, there was a tension setting where it would just barely wiggle

That's the spot. I set it and forget it.

[casts_by_fly]

If you're used to a tighter spool tension, then go slowly to this brave new world.  I was always a drop and stop spool tension, then back off the brakes most of the way.  I've largely changed to the opposite with minimal spool tension and keeping the brakes higher, just enough to stop an early overrun.  I almost always am thumb braking at the end of the cast so end of cast backlashes are rare.  The first trip or two after swapping was some learning experience.  I'll also say that I get very few backlashes but when you get one...  I had one last Tuesday that's the worst I've had since learning a baitcaster 30 years ago.  thin mono (12 lb supernatural), negligible spool tension as always.  I had turned down the brakes before I put the rod away last time and didn't turn them back up before I went to bomb a cast.  The mono mainline was touching the spool under the backing and the last wraps of backing were loose on the metal spool.  I had to cut that one out.

[Tatulatard]

37 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Hey ya’ll,

 

Ive heard a lot by now that people like to set up their baitcasters so that there is a little “side to side play” in setting the spool tension and they do not adjust it much from there. What is meant by this? 

It means you have zero spool tension. If the spool slides side to side then there is no compression of the spool tension knob on the spool shaft.  Most of my reels across many brands are set up the way.  

[LrgmouthShad]

17 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

If you're used to a tighter spool tension, then go slowly to this brave new world

I’ve been setting it for a long time so that I have a fairly loose fall with the particular bait that I am using, but I want to try this out where I just set it and forget it. I might even find that I want it looser, idk. We’ll see

[garroyo130]

Magforce Daiwa's are meant to be set with side to side play where you can hear a light click if you wiggle the spool. On all other reels I adjust as needed.

[Catt]

Never ever look at that, I set by the weight of the lure I'm using. I set it to where the lure hits the deck with 2-3 slightly loose coils & use my thumb after that.

[diehardbassfishing]

Adj spool tension for what works for you. Daiwa's recommendation is for best casting performance. Adding a bit of tension can help with spool control, without any "real" loss in casting distance.

 

 

Karl

[NorthernBasser]

If I'm pitching I like a lot of play in the spool. And if I hit a dock post while doing so, I end up calling myself some bad names. 

[LrgmouthShad]

2 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

If I'm pitching I like a lot of play in the spool. And if I hit a dock post while doing so, I end up calling myself some bad names. 

Best thing I ever did for skipping was leaving the tension where it is when casting and simply increasing the brakes as well as using vigorous thumb control. You can really sling baits up under docks like that with a loose tension.

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I’ve been setting it for a long time so that I have a fairly loose fall with the particular bait that I am using, but I want to try this out where I just set it and forget it. I might even find that I want it looser, idk. We’ll see

 

In that case, I'd say just keep backing it off from where you are now and gradually get down there.  You'll build up the thumb memory quickly with minimal risk.

 

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, garroyo130 said:

Magforce Daiwa's are meant to be set with side to side play where you can hear a light click if you wiggle the spool. On all other reels I adjust as needed.

I hear this a lot, but I set them the same as all others, which is with no perceptible play, but no resistance. I never got the tighten it until the lure falls slowly or stops spinning when it hits the deck for other reels either.

[LrgmouthShad]

1 minute ago, Deleted account said:

which is with no perceptible play, but no resistance.

Someone else may or may not have suggested the same thing to me after posting this. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, diehardbassfishing said:

Daiwa's recommendation is for best casting performance.

 

Since Diawia ain't in my boat casting for me.

1 hour ago, diehardbassfishing said:

Adj spool tension for what works for you.

 

[Deleted account]

5 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Someone else may or may not have suggested the same thing to me after posting this. 

Do you know where you left your car keys?...   

1 hour ago, diehardbassfishing said:

Adj spool tension for what works for you.

Yup.

[FrnkNsteen]

I used to tighten until it slowly dropped until I bought newer Daiwa and saw they directed to set for no or side travel.

 

I now set all my reels this way. Going from having exceasive side to side movement, I slowly tighten the cast control until slop in the spool goes away, then stop. Basically I have no tension on the spool, but no slop either.

 

I then use a little more brake, but also rely on my thumb as the lure is about to land. You do have to be quick if your lure is about to hit something like a dock or stump!! ?

 

The worst is trying to skip and having the lure hit the water right by the boat. Those are the onea that you don't need to look down because you HEAR the backlash!!

 

Vvvfffppphhhttt!!!  UGH!! ??

[GReb]

I keep most of my reels fairly loose but there’s no method to my madness. Each reel has its own identity and performs better with some combo or another of tension and brakes. I will say the Daiwa reels with magforce all perform better with looser tension than other brands

[PressuredFishing]

5 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

What is meant by this? 

It means the spool moves side to side because the tension is so loose, all reels behave differently, some like more tension less breaks, or visa versa.

[new2BC4bass]

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

If you're used to a tighter spool tension, then go slowly to this brave new world.  I was always a drop and stop spool tension, then back off the brakes most of the way.  I've largely changed to the opposite with minimal spool tension and keeping the brakes higher, just enough to stop an early overrun. 

I taught myself by using too much spool tension.  Once I changed spool tension (on a Magforce Z) to where it was supposed to be set, it was a case of learning all over again.  Probably set my brakes higher than most.

8 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Most of my reels across many brands are set up the way.  

Same here.

[RDB]

9 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Hey ya’ll,

 

Ive heard a lot by now that people like to set up their baitcasters so that there is a little “side to side play” in setting the spool tension and they do not adjust it much from there. What is meant by this? 

If you loosen the spool tension, once you get to a certain looseness the spool will pick up a side to side movement (play).  The looser the tension, the more play in the spool.  People who set in this manner will typically set and leave it alone and just make brake adjustments.  This is how I set my reels.

[Jrob78]

I keep my spool tension loose enough for some side to side play and use the brakes accordingly. Sometimes that means the brakes are turned up pretty high but that's what they were designed to do.

 

I use mostly Daiwa reels and often get some line fluff during hard casts for distance but the brakes straighten it back out before the lure hits the water and the thumb finishes it off. I feel like I get really good casting performance doing it this way but it's also what I'm used to.