'Reel' Problems

[MN Basser]

I have an Abu Garcia Revo S series baitcaster. I am having a problem, when I cast, the line will go for about 30ft then it is like it catches up with it self, stops in mid air and goes down. I am pretty sure my brake is tight enough. Can someone please help me?? Thanks.

[RobbyZ5001]

This might be a dumb question, but do you have any knots or tangles?

[z115491]

I know exactly what you're talking about.  Whats happening is the spool is spinning too fast and the line is going around 360 degrees and catching on itself.  Really annoying!! When I started using a baitcaster I lost a lot of lures this way, because of how fast it stops the line.  I found that for me, the problem was in my cast.  As opposed to spinning reels, you dont want to whip the reel really fast.  Instead, the cast should be very smooth and have any easy flow to it.  Start practicing casting with an underhand(out to the side) casting style, and use larger baits.  Once you get the hang of the (smooth cast) you can move onto smaller baits.  You might have to play with the brake setting, but I would say most importantly just concentrate on a smooth underhand cast.  

[islandbass]

Do you have braid spooled on this reel?  If you do, it sounds like you are experiencing what is known as "line dig"  Please confirm whether or not you have braid on.  The only other thing I can think of is if you have braid and you didn't use anything, be it tape of mono to prevent the braid from slipping on the spool. I am inclined to think the former is the case.

[Sam]

Have you "balanced" your reel with your bait?

Suggestion -

Rig up your bait as you are ready to go fishing.

Reel bait to the tip of rod.

Put rod tip at 11 o'clock.

Release bail on baitcaster.

Let bait fall to the floor.

Bait is to fall to floor (not carpet) slowly and when it hits the floor the baitcaster spool is to stop.

Do this until you have "balanced" your bait with your reel set up.

Do this will all of your lures while at home before going fishing, on the shore or dock or in the boat before you throw the lure.

Also, are all of your magnets in the "off" position?  Please double check your magnet settings and put them all in the "off" position.

Other suggestions -

Spray your line with KVD's Line Conditioner to soften the line.

Use Extra Smooth Trileen 10 or 14 pound line and see how that performs.

Spary your rod eyes with DVD's Line Conditioner or silicone.

Check each rod eye to see if it is nicked.

Is your line going through each eye?  Double check the rod tip eye as we all have missed the eye and placed the line through one of the side supports.

Good luck and let us know if there is any improvement.

[.RM.]

Sounds like a reel setup issue. Either the brakes aren't doing their job, or the cast control is still a little to lose. Check the free spool drop setup.

Just my .02¢

[flechero]

I experienced this in the 1980's with some regularity.  In those days they referred to it as a backlash.  There are 2 easy ways to fix it... apply more thumb or more mechanical brake(s).   ;D  Sorry, MN, it's been one of those mornings.

[MickD]

While it is impossible to really know without personally checking it out, if you are using braid, z11541 probably has the right answer.  Some braid is too soft and tends to do what he is proposing.  If you are using mono of higher test than about 12, that phenomenon is not likely.

If this is what is happening, using higher brake settings will help as will practicing a smoother, less abrupt, casting style.  If this is going on, you usually can hear it happening, too, up until it actually stops the cast.

If you are using braid and want to continue using braid, find a braid that is a little stiffer (pound test in the 35-50 is good for me in Power Pro, but if I get sloppy, what you describe is still on the borderline of occuring-can hear it).  I use only braid on bait casting-love the sensitivity/lack of stretch-but it has its downsides and you may have found one.  I use a fleuro leader of about a rod length attached with uni-uni or Albright knots.

[.RM.]

flechero, is right it's called backlash......

How many different ways can you say "it's a bad reel setup",

take the reel and reset the free spool and then set the spool brakes at about half. You will see what I mean. All this BS about braid blows me away, it doesn't matter whether it is braided or mono, or even fluorocarbon line, you still have to set up the ROD and REEL as a system. It is never just the reel and the line or just the line........

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Do what the others suggest and in no time u will be casting with accuracy/distance while holding a cig, drinking a beer, on one leg, with ur eyes closed against a 30 mph headwind

[MN Basser]

Thank you for all of your responces.

Yes, I am using braid on my baitcaster. It's 30lb test.

[MickD]

Hey Reelmech, had a bad day?  The issue of soft braid on a BC is not BS.    Yes you have to consider the whole setup as a system, but soft braid is much more susceptible to getting slung away from the spool and   then over the line as it leaves the spool, locking up the spool, or something like that.  On a borderline case of it you can hear it hitting the frame of the reel, but it doesn't stop the spool.  Stiffer mono just doesn't do it as much.  And stiffer "braid doesn't either.  If the line gets too stiff you have other problems.  There is an optimum.

You're right about a solution, but what the original writer described didn't sound like a normal backlash and tips to get him out of the problem, if he is using soft braid, would include not only resetting the reel but possibly moving to a stiffer braid or possibly mono.

The best line I ever cast on my BC's was 24 # Fusion, and I've never found any line since then that cast as well or was as insensitive to changing lure types or weights.  To almost match its performance I now use 40 # Power Pro but am going to try a few others that sound like they may be a little stiffer, and better for a BC.  

Some lines are better than others (think different diameters, different stiffness, different density) for BC and to ignore that fact is to not open the mind to all the possible fixes.  If the writer is a relative novice he could use all the information pertinent to his problem, not just part of it.

[MickD]

Just saw your post on 30# braid.  While really expert casters may find some of the softer braids at 30# OK, it is tougher to cast well than say 12-14 # mono.  The old Fusion I liked so well had a diameter of about 12 # mono, and I think was about as stiff.  It was much different than some of the 30# monos.

Your 30# braid probably has a diameter something like 8-10 # mono?  I expect I would have more trouble with that than heavier braid.

If you like braid try going to higher pound test.  The Suffix braid has words in its advertising that sounds like it may have  surface bonding that may make it better than Power Pro for a BC.  I have a spool but have not yet tried it.

[.RM.]

Nope no bad day!!!!!

I stand by what I said. It is the whole system.