Brakes

[vaparrothead]

I know there';s been a lot of discussion about baitcasters; but have new question (at least I think it's new) which do you guys like/prefer centrifugal or magnetic brakes or does it make any difference? I have three baitcasters; one with cent and two with mag. I prefer magnetic but is there really a difference in performance?

[Raul]

Yes and no.

Yes: The most advanced brake system in "everyday reels" is Daiwa 's Magforce "V", it 's the best overall.

No: it 's all in the wrist.

[.ghoti.]

Yes there is a difference. The force applied by the centrifugal system is propotional to spool speed. The slower the spool, the less braking force applied. At the end of the cast, when spool speed is slowest, the centrifugal brakes are basically "off". The magnetic system applies the same force at any speed. The centifugal system is better than the magnetic system at preventing over-runs at the start of the cast. At the end of the cast, the magnetic system is better.

I have reels with magnetic systems, reels with centrifugal systems and two reels with both. They all work if you take the time to adjust them to your casting style.

As far as preference goes, I prefer a reel with an externally adjustable system. Thats' my only real knock on some of the reels with centrifugal systems. I've lost a sideplate overboard, trying to adjust the brakes, and that will ruin your attitude.

Cheers,

GK

[volpster31]

thers probobally benefits to each set-up but i prefer  magnetic systems because of the external adjustment..i actually avoided the  shimano baitcasters for that specific reason..

[Lightninrod]

My one gripe with my Daiwas is their external, magnetic brake adjustment.  When palming them, the knurled knob moves inadvertently some times, changing my setting :-?.  Doesn't happen with my Shimanos.................

The Daiwa Magforce may be/is more technically advanced but sometimes an answer is created for a non-existent problem .

Dan

[.ghoti.]

I'd like to add something I should have mentioned earlier. I believe an experienced caster will get better distance with a centrifugal system. It puts less resistance at the middle and end of the cast than the magnetics. But, a magnetic system is probably easier to learn on. There is nothing particularly technologically advanced about either system.

LightingRod is right about some of the external controls. There are some that can be inadvertantly changed when palming the reel. I have one like that. Others are designed better, with recessed controls.

And now; Shimano Posse and Daiwa Gang, saddle up. Let the shootout begin.

Cheers,

GK

[Raul]

I 'm neutral, I 've got Daiwa and Shimano and love both to death.

[jacktrevally]

Yes there is a difference. The force applied by the centrifugal system is propotional to spool speed. The slower the spool, the less braking force applied. At the end of the cast, when spool speed is slowest, the centrifugal brakes are basically "off". The magnetic system applies the same force at any speed. The centifugal system is better than the magnetic system at preventing over-runs at the start of the cast. At the end of the cast, the magnetic system is better.

GK

NO, it is not proportional to the spool speed. The frictional force is proportional to the square of the spool speed! You can derive it from centripetal force.

Also not all magnetic reel applies the same force at any speed. The Shimano conquest DC is an 'intelligent' reel where the magnetic braking varies with the velocity of the spool.

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I'm for the one who likes adjustable magnetic setting and if you know what you are doing you can adjust different braking situation with different type of lures you are casting. Also you can increase the brakes when casting into a headwind and decrease the brake when having a tail wind.

[.ghoti.]

Quote "NO, it is not proportional to the spool speed. The frictional force is proportional to the square of the spool speed! You can derive it from centripetal force. "

Jack, you're absolutely right. I intended to get the idea out without getting too technical. I should know better by now, with this bunch. Sorry, won't do it again.

GK

[MALTESE FALCON]

HOLY COW!!!

IT'S GETTING TOO TECHNICAL HERE. I'M A COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR AND I HAD TO GRAB A DICTIONARY. LOL

I'M VOTING FOR THE MAGNETIC BRAKES.

[Raul]

It 's been and it always has being "all in the thumb".

Hmmmm, let 's see.........nope, I 'm testing a 4600 Abu that has neither magnetic nor centrifugal brakes and it don 't backlash.

[MyKeyBe]

Hmmmm, let 's see.........nope, I 'm testing a 4600 Abu that has neither magnetic nor centrifugal brakes and it don 't backlash.

Hey, Raul.

Yet me try that Abu, I'll show you a birds nest that would make Big Bird proud.

Then again, like Ron White's dog Sluggo, "I ain't got no thumbs!" ;D

I am slightly more partial to well placed, externally adjustable, magnetic brakes.

I like that I can turn the brake all the way down and walk up to a dock and pitch a lure along the dock and then walk onto the dock while I turn the brake up and wing the lure along the shore from the dock without pulling a side plate off.

Honestly though it is probably all in my head because I can set 3 pins in, 3 pins out on my Curado and pitch and cast just as far without ever taking the side plate off.

[jacktrevally]

Ghoti: No worries sir.

8-)

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MALTESE FALCON: what it means is that the higher the spool speed, the braking is much more. Therefore if the spool speed is rotating twice as fast you get 4 times more braking.

Ghoti pointed out an interesting fact since, if you are aware of this then you will realise that you can test your reel by spinning it at low speed and see that when adding block or removing them the running time is about the same. This is so because of that square factor it is at high speed that the effect is on.

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Let make this clear! A reel can neither have magnetic nor centrifugal brakes but it has mechanical braking. The spool tension knob is called mechanical braking

All Surfcasters using multiplier knows this and there is no big deal casting a reel without magnetic or centrifugal brakes. An on the other hand the mechanical braking can make a reel as dead as a magnetic reel. It's just that if you are casting huge distances then you can have a problem with the wear and tear in the shims/ sideplates or stresses in the spool shaft. By casting huge distances I mean 200M, for lure fishing 70m cast will not affect much the reel over a short period of time.

There is another way you can tune your reel so that you don't need magnetic or centrifugal braking. Oils, using different oil viscosities to slow down the spool. And Yes this is used in real life!

[Raul]

Exactly. The art of not birdnesting is a combination of setting the brakes properly, an educated thumb, the only way you can get an educated thumb is practice, practice, more practice and  an adequate casting technique.

Do you need to tinker with the braking everytime you change lure weight ? nope. I very seldomly have to change the settings on the brakes.

How much braking you need ? as much as you feel you can keep the beast under control, it 's a matter of "feel" and the only one that can tell you how much braking you need is you.

Don 't ask your reel to perform the way it can 't mechanically do. For example, you can cast a weightless 5" grub with a Curado 100B beacuse the mechanism and the spool allows you to do it, but don 't try to obtain the same result with an Abu 4600. Know your gear.