How to cast a baitcaster... not what you think

[Chris Wilson]

Ok, so i get the basics of a baitcaster. I love them and i've used them saltwater fishing. I only have one baitcaster now and here's my setup. I have a 1 piece shakepeare ugly stik 6'6" medium with a Quantum Accurist AC501PT (olderish model, probably 6 years old) and on that lefty reel i have 12 lb berkley big game clear mono. I like casting rapala lures, plastic worms, and some lighter trout lures like rooster tails and stuff. I fish off shore all the time and don't make casts much more than 20 to 30 yards out at the most, mainly around 15 yards. I know how to set the tension adjustment knob and the centrifigul brakes. On the Diawa i had, i mastered that but could only cast it 10 yards with no backlast. The quantum is really touchy and smooth and i'm not used to that. I would like to make this baitcaster my go to rod for everything and ditch the spinning reel but i don't really know how to practice... i like baitcasters for the way they perform but i just don't know. I don't want to give up yet.

[roadwarrior]

The problem is light lures vs. the range of your rod & reel.

Use your spinning tackle for the light stuff and your baitcaster

for 1/2 oz and up.

8-)

[Chris Wilson]

so no matter how hard i try i won't be able to cast the rapalas and stuff?

[Chris Wilson]

The only thing i really have trouble with is placement. I can't really get it to go anywhere. It goes left or right depending on which side i cast from.

[Uncle Leo]

With the right combination of rod, reel and line you can cast 1/4 oz weights, if properly setup. What RW is eluding to is with your setup it will be difficult. Unfortunately one outfit may not cast all type of lures at a lower weight. This is why he suggested a spinning outfit.

[J Francho]

Little original floaters? Small inline spinners < 1/4 oz.? Not likely. There are rods designed to work with those lures, but they come with a price tag. I haven't cast an Accurist with anything below 3/8 oz., but I'd wager you'd be fine with some thumb training.

As far as rods for superlight stuff, I have a St. Croix Avid AVC70MM that I pair up with a Daiwa Sol loaded with 6 or 8# Suffix for fishing tiny spoons, spinners, floaters, and float/drift rigs for browns and steelhead. It throws the light stuff well, and handles some pretty big fish, much bigger than bass I've caught, LOL. Its a great tight quarters rig for small stream fishing. For bass fishing, it serves as my light crankbait rod, throws peanut size baits a mile.

There are two other rods in the Avid series, which I think offers the biggest bang for the buck, without going truly overboard price wise, AVC66MLF and AVC69MLXF. I've use the latter, and its quite the stick.

I'm sure others will chime in about other rods, but those are the ones I know 1st hand.