Anti-reverse off - Back reeling

[Davis]

Okay one question here. I always have my anti-reverse in the "on" position.

What is the purpose to turning it off? I know what the anti-reverse feature is and how it works. I just don't know anything about backreeling.

What does the technique of backreeling really mean? I have seen some people talk about it but I can't for the life of me think of what it could be used for in a situation. Especially with a drag.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[dbass]

Davis,

Back reeling is an art IMPO.

Anglers use to use it instead of the drag systems that reels from the past were using , because it was smoother than the drag systems on the reels then.

I do know a few anglers here that back reel now instead of using the drag system on their newer reels, especially when the fish is up close to the boat.

Tight Lines!!!

[Davis]

Davis,

Back reeling is an art IMPO.

Anglers use to use it instead of the drag systems that reels from the past were using , because it was smoother than the drag systems on the reels then.

I do know a few anglers here that back reel now instead of using the drag system on their newer reels, especially when the fish is up close to the boat.

Tight Lines!!!

Thanks David. I always appreciate your thoughts.

I guess I should try it. Especially with my crappier reels.

Isn't it harder to keep tight lines though?

That could be why you say its an artform.

[smallfry]

Oooh, one of my favorite things to discuss.

Yep, back reeling is a tradition started when drags were not so good.  Some people even put bait casters in free spool and using their thumb to apply tension.  

I've had many discussions with backreel-ers about the topic, and mostly for them it comes down to a feeling of "I'm not going to lose a fish and $XXX because of the drag.  I want the extra control."  I understand their point, I just don't personally agree.  I've been fishing tournaments for several years and I use spinning reels a lot (maybe 50-75% of the time).  In those tournaments I've only lost two fish on spinning reels, and I never back reel.  One I was over muscle-ing in because I knew it wasn't going to help me cull, so when he pulled off it was OK by me.  The other was because I didn't retie after I'd been wrapped around some dock pilings and the line was very badly frayed.   I even rigged up a force guage to test this when a back reeling friend and I got into a discussion.  We agreed on a level of tension that would result in a lost fish, and then proceeded to fight eachother.  With all his work back reeling, he just couldn't control the tension as well as I could.  All back reeling can accomplish is letting a fish play longer.  A back reeler will still apply as much tension (maybe more), only it won't be as consistent a tension.  In my mind, that increases the odds of the hook pulling loose.  By varying rod angle, pressure, etc. I can still have plenty of control over how much pressure I put on a fish and a good drag is there to set the "max" pressure.   The human reaction time simply isn't as fast as a good drag (and even among good drags some are better than others).  

Most top notch drags today will apply a much more consistent force and a faster reaction time than is possible by back reeling.  They can perform flawlessly in far more demanding (ex. inshore/SW fishing) circumstances than freshwater bass fishing.  Try back reeling with a lot of those fish and you'll break your knuckles.  

That's just my opinion.  Your results may vary.  Bottom line, try it and do what you feel most confident in.

[Raul]

David gave it the perfect description, backreeling is a form of art cuz if you don 't do it good like Smallfry explained you 'll end up with line going to places where line has never gone before .... kinda like Star Trek and Mr.Spok ain 't gonna be there to help you.  

[Davis]

Thanks guys.

Putting my trust in the drag then.  ;D