First day with a baitcaster

[MN Bass Man]

So I finally got the Curado I bought off eBay, after 3 weeks.  Today was the first day I got to use it, aside from putting line on it.  It's a Bantam CU-201, spooled with 30# Rapala stretch braid, paired with a 6'6" MHF Falcon Cara.

I have never thrown a baitcaster in my life before today, but some of the horror stories I've heard made me nervous.

Well, I won't lie.  I had two "overruns," but that was it.  I actually got decent distance, though my accuracy isn't great, but I'm sure that will come in time.  

One question.  A few times when I threw, the line had buried into the spool, and just stopped dead.  I assume it was after I had snags I put too much tension on the line.  Does this happen with mono as well, or is that a characteristic of braid?

[The Rooster]

I've had mono bury into the reel before but it was only after I had a snag and pulled way too much on it to get it loose.   It didn't dig in really bad though.  Just enough to cause me a problem on my next cast and have to fix the line again.  

Incidentally, my brother in law showed me a neat trick for getting a snag loose if it's snagged out of water, not below the surface.  He pulls some of the line out to the side just in front of the reel and uses the rod to hold the line pulled somewhat tight from rod to lure, but not extremely tight, but enough to bend the tip of the rod some.  Then he "snaps" the line by letting go of what he pulled out and drops the rod tip at the same time.  Sometimes the lure will pop free of what it's snagged on.  More often than not though you'll have to retrieve it the old fashioned way.  But even if it works just once, then that's once you don't have to troll over to it to get it out.  I thought I'd tell you that since you mentioned a snag in your post.

[siiilent]

Both lines get buried into the spool dependong on how much pressure was applied.  If you're now starting off with a BC I suggest mono as its alot easier to take out (untangle) when you have a birds nest or the line buries.

[islandbass]

For the time being took off the braid (save it) and put on the mono of your choice.

What you experienced is what is commonly called line dig. It can be minimized by stepping up to a braid in a higher pound test, but for the sake of your learning and sanity, stick to mono for learning.

Every time you get snagged and use the rod and reel to "free" it, this causes the line to "dig" into itself. The simple solution to minimize this is to remove the line and reel from the removal equation. Also, pulling off line with a tightly set drag can also do this.

Simply pull off some line to work with to tug the snag free. Be careful. Braid can easily cut into your fingers.

Based on my experience, it has only happened with braid. This is why I recommend mono for your learning period.

[Raul]

I have never thrown a baitcaster in my life before today, but some of the horror stories I've heard made me nervous.

The horror stories are true. Just remember, the beast can never be tamed, it can only be controled; it 's there waiting patiently for you to do something wrong ready to pounce on you.

[guitarkid]

I have never thrown a baitcaster in my life before today, but some of the horror stories I've heard made me nervous.

The horror stories are true. Just remember, the beast can never be tamed, it can only be controled; it 's there waiting patiently for you to do something wrong ready to pounce on you.

It is the only thing that can even come close to the bait monkey.

                        -tumnus

[kikstand454]

YEAH... wait till you accidently hitt something you didnt see mid-cast. like a motor behinnd you or a tree branch above you.

man...........  that is fun.

[OK Bass Hunter]

YEAH... wait till you accidently hitt something you didnt see mid-cast. like a motor behinnd you or a tree branch above you.

man........... that is fun.

He's telling the truth. When that happens I come prepared with a spare spool and some sharp scissors and a small plastic bag to make sure I don't litter the ground with my mono clippings. ;D

[grimlin]

YEAH... wait till you accidently hitt something you didnt see mid-cast. like a motor behinnd you or a tree branch above you.

man........... that is fun.

He's telling the truth. When that happens I come prepared with a spare spool and some sharp scissors and a small plastic bag to make sure I don't litter the ground with my mono clippings. ;D

Not me....I'll put that reel out of commission for the day.I'm known to carry an extra reel ready to go.

However i have a curado 100D and i baby that reel...that reel is probably the smoothest and easiest casting reel for me to work with.If i set the brakes and spool tension just right i don't even need to thumb the spool... ;D

[Raul]

When you have achieved the level of skill honed after decades of baitcaster use plus hundreds of dollars in line and you 've got your reel with the brakes set at near zero cuz you are so good at it and

YEAH... wait till you accidently hitt something you didnt see mid-cast. like a motor behinnd you or a tree branch above you.

the result ain 't prutty to say the least.  :-X

[The Rooster]

Man I have been there!!!  It ain't purty even with the brakes nearly all the way up either!!!  I smacked a tree limb in the middle of trying to fling a 3/8 oz. spinnerbait out into the lake from the shore.  Had a Garcia 5600C4 and it was a royal mess inside it.  Took 20 minutes of picking to get the line straightened out again and it was hopelessly kinked so it had to be changed.  Fortunately that reel held so much line due to the overly large spool (205 yrd/12 lb.) that I cut off a bunch and was still able to finish fishing that day.