Stiffness in Nasci 500 and Nexave 1000

[Masaccio]

I've noticed an inconvenient amount of stiffness in engaging these smaller spinning reels after casting.  Actually I haven't tested the 500 yet, but the 1000 was making me crazy.  Is this just the "price of admission" for small spinning reels? he reel hasn't had all that much use.  Moderate use, at this point, I guess.  I haven't particularly abused it, nor have I done anything much to maintain it either. 

Also, the weight of the handle on the 1000 was spinning the reel beyond where I wanted to release it (shortening the line) before for casting.  What happens is I reel in the bait, I get the line length where I want it for casting, and then the handle on the reel continues to spin the reel and shortens the line beyond where I want it.  I guess this could just be me being a control freak.  But in tighter spaces, it seems like the length of line you want before casting might be important.  Thanks!

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Masaccio said:

I've noticed an inconvenient amount of stiffness in engaging these smaller spinning reels after casting. 

Are you talking getting the bail to flip back to retrieve position after casting?

Should be easy to just flip it - unless you're cranking the handle to do so...which is contra-indicated as that adds line twist. Always flip your bail back manually, don't use the reel handle to do so.

 

7 minutes ago, Masaccio said:

What happens is I reel in the bait, I get the line length where I want it for casting, and then the handle on the reel continues to spin the reel and shortens the line beyond where I want it.

My Avocet RZT-1000s and my President-25 (1000 size reel) will do this too - seems smaller reels have this problem...fix is to hook your finger in the line ready for casting before you let go of the handle.

[Masaccio]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Are you talking getting the bail to flip back to retrieve position after casting?

Should be easy to just flip it - unless you're cranking the handle to do so...which is contra-indicated as that adds line twist. Always flip your bail back manually, don't use the reel handle to do so.

My Avocet RZT-1000s and my President-25 (1000 size reel) will do this too - seems smaller reels have this problem...fix is to hook your finger in the line ready for casting before you let go of the handle.

Yep. I was cranking the handle to engage.  And by the end of the day, the rod was refusing to cast my mono efficiently.  This explains a lot.  (My grandma always did it that way.)

Thanks also for confirming the handle spinning issue. I'll suck it up and get better at the "work-around" technique. I'm happy to know that I don't need to worry about replacing the reels. "They are what they are."

 

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Masaccio said:

This explains a lot.  (My grandma always did it that way.)

Ya some older reels you had to - my old Mitchell 320 (mid 60s era) and my Pflueger 640 (early 70s) had 'positive lock' on the bails...little metal levers that engaged a hole or notch in the bail arbor...no way to flip the bail back manually - you had to turn the handle to close the bail.

 

[MN Fisher]

Here's a pic of a Mitchell 320 - the metal lever pops up into that hole...can't push it back in manually...have to turn the handle to retract it letting the bail close again.

 

 

And my Pflueger 640, which I still have, showing the lever engaging the bail lock

[mrpao]

If you use the handle to close the bail, eventually the bail will wear out and wont close properly. Like mentioned, it's best to close the bail by hand and pulling the line tight at the same time to eliminate any loose loops in the line. This will greatly reduce line twist and wind knots.

[bulldog1935]

 

The only manual-bail Mitchell was 440 Ottomatic..
Every complaint about spin fishing is solved with proper manual bail technique:

• wind knots
• line behind the spool
• loose line at the end of a cast
• runaway line in the wind.

The Shimano bail is designed so it won't randomly close during a cast.
While it has auto-bail close, it's so stiff as you noted, and you really want to use manual bail technique.

Keep your free hand close to the spool. Use your fintertips to feather the line at the end of the cast - like thumbing a baitcaster. Close the bail with that hand - do not use crank-auto-bail-close. Turn with the rod and take up the slack before you retrieve.

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The offset weight of the bail and rotor is really what keeps the reel turning on its own, though the imbalanced handle weight adds to the mass that makes it turn on its own.  You can solve it with count-balanced or double handle, which also very much improves finesse feel through the handle.