baitcasting reels - drag, casting knob, brakes???

[bpm2000]

So I recently got my first casting reel - a Cardiff 301A.

I have never used one of these before, always using spinning before.  Things were pretty simple back then - adjust drag knob, flip bail, cast.  With this new reel, it has many more adjustments than I am used to.

How do the drag, the VBS brakes, and the casting knob all relate?  I am unsure where to set the various things at in relation to one another.  It is on a 8' swimbait rod BTW.

thx!

[Raul]

A grosso modo without entering into much technicism:

Drag relation to spool mechanism is none, drag is related to gearing and to spool mechanism via the gearing but does not have any relation to spool mechanism when it comes to spool rotation during the cast.

Casting knob or what we call down here mechanical brake is indeed a mechanical brake, this one is directly connected to the spool rotation mechanism, releases or stops the rotation of the spool when the thumbar is released, therefore it controls the inertia of the spool. You set it by tightening or loosening the cap which in theory should be done when setting and changing the lure weight.

VBS is the centrifugal braking system that controls the speed at which the spool is rotating while it rotates during the cast, more weights set on the slower the spool spins.

It gets tricky because you have to experiment on your own with both ( casting knob and VBS ) to control the spool rotation until you gain control over the beast and it doesn 't overrun. Braking mechanisms are an aid to control the spool rotation but in the final run Mr Thumb is the KING.

[roadwarrior]

Some guys can, but for most of us that would be a formula for disaster!

Braking systems are designed to aid the user, to make fishing easier and more fun. I doubt that there are many fisherman that would want to give back this technological enhancement.

[Raul]

thanks guys - i will practice per the article.

antoher quick question: eventually am i going to want to remove all the brakes, or is this just a preference thing?

With swimbaits I strongly advice against it, big baits are not like little baits and those make the beast run out of control in a split second, you end up with the mother lord of all backlashes plus the line can snap and your swimbait goes flying into the next country.

For other baits I use almost no braking or no braking at all, but the only reel where I have my braking on ( lightly ) at all times is my swimbait reel.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Thanks guys, the only thing that I would add is that the article was written before the use of large heavy swim baits, and that you need to have practice weight the same size, and a whole lotta open area.

Tight Lines!!!!

MAYBE I WILL ADD AN ADEDENDUM ONTO IT > RIGHT AFTER I FINISH MY TROLLING MOTOR MANUAL. I HAVE BEEN OFFERED THE CUSTOMARY $1.00 A WORD FOR IT

[the captain]

I don't have any really heavy lures the biggest I got right now is a zara spook for bass but anyway it seems that I can cast heavier things with very little brake and from what yall are sayin yall have trouble with heavy more than light I think. but I just can't throw much under 1/4 oz spinner with my abu.