Bass Pro Extreme Overuns

[ValkyrieRider]

I'm a relatively new baitcaster student, in that I've been using a BP Extreme reel for crankbaits with 12 lb Bass Pro Mono for a little while. I was previously using a Browning Aggresor and couldn't get rid of the overruns no matter how much I practiced.

I read several of the "tutorials" posted on how to setup the reel and have got the BP reel casting well with heavier crankbaits.

My problem is I can't seem to cast lighter (1/4 oz) baits with it without regular overruns. I keep the brake relatively tight and the magnet on max.

Should I be loosening the magnet for the lighter baits, or do I just need to practice more?

I'd really like to get to where I can cast finesse baits with a baitcaster, but I am tentative seeing as how I've having so much trouble with lighter crankbaits.

[K_Mac]

I have, and use regularly, three of the Extreme baitcasters. Here are my thoughts: (1)They are good reels, but are not well suited to casting light lures. 1/4 oz. is about as low as you can go without problems. Finding the right adjustment for light lures is too much trouble in my opinion. If you have any wind, forget about it. (2)The right rod is a must. (3) Basspro XPS mono is less user friendly than some other lines. I have tried it in various sizes and don't like it. I have had 10, 12 or14 lb. put on all my baitcasters when I purchased them (including 2 Pro Qualifiers purchased 2 months ago) and on 4 spinning reels. I have gone back to Trilene XL on all my reels.

I now use spinning gear to throw light cranks, and I am much happier.

Good luck.

[cart7t]

What type of rod are you using?  With 1/4oz cranks you really need a softer tip rod that will load up easier in order to get the bait moving fast enough to prevent overuns at the beginning of the cast.  If your rod is too stiff, you wind up whipping the rod too hard getting a quick spool start up but the lure itself isn't really traveling fast enough to prevent an overun before the mag braking on those extremes can take effect.  

[The Rooster]

That last comment is dead on correct. I could not agree more.

Also I use only the Bass Pro Extreme reels, 5 in all and have no problems casting light weight baits, even lighter than 1/4 ounce such as a Rapala Original floating minnow #9, and even though that cast is not as far as with a 1/4 oz. bait it will throw just fine still. I have the reels on medium and medium heavy rods, both. 6' and 6'6".

For medium rods I have one of each, one is a 6' Quest rod, previously sold at Dick's and they no longer sell it, the closest thing you'll find to it now is the Field and Stream rod they have, the IM-7 model that's blue in color. It's basically the same rod with a different name and color though. I use this rod to cast 1/4 oz. cranks and have done so straight into the wind with it blowing so severely that the water was choppy and the bait was only hitting 40 feet in cast distance. I did not backlash at all, however the magnetic brakes were set on 9 out of 10 but the cast control knob was only moderately tight. But if you press the cast button the bait would freely drop still. Normally with no wind I can loosen this knob even more and back the brakes off to about 6 or even 5 and cast as much as 70+ feet with a 1/4 oz. cranks (Bandit 100 series). That's with a 6' rod. You definitely have to keep your thumb on it for that though or it will backlash.

I also have one of those reels on a 6'6" Shimano Compre medium rod with a fast tip and cast the same cranks on it and also throw Rapala X-rap jerkbaits with it too, and this rod will send them 80+ feet in cast length. That's with just a roll of the wrist, no serious whipping of the rod at all. Longer rods = longer casts.

The other rod I use them with is a medium heavy Shimano Compre with fast tip, also 6'6" and I use it for heavier baits of 3/8 and up. It casts virtually identically to the medium with ease but on baits of 1/2 oz. and more I can hit over 100 feet in cast. I can use this rod for 1/4 oz. baits but not as well as the medium does. 3/8 oz. is where it's lure range starts at, and I guess they mean it.

Basically though, match the lure with the correct rod and the reel problems will likely disappear.

Wind has never been a problem either as long as the reel is on the proper rod. When I first got one of these reels I had it on a Quantum Torsion rod from Walmart, a 6' medium model but it was overly stiff for a medium and casting 1/4 oz. baits was nearly impossible. Backlash city!!! It was also a very windy day as I described earlier and I got so frustrated that I took the Extreme off that Torsion rod and swapped out an old Quantum reel off of that Dick's rod that I had on it and put my Extreme on on that rod instead and it was like magic then (I already knew that Dick's Quest rod was better than the Torsion was, should have used it to start with)!!! Simply switching the rods made a dramatic difference. Ultimately I think it was more matching the bait I throw with that rod that made the difference though. With the Extreme on the Quantum rod and a 1/4 oz. bait, it was not the right combination. I was trying to throw a 1/4 oz. bait on a rod made for heavier baits (even though it says it can cast 1/4 oz. it was not good at it). I use the Quantum rod with an Extreme on it for spinnerbaits now, when I use it at all that is, and it does fine on 3/8 baits, just not 1/4. But the Dick's rod is wonderful with 1/4 oz.

In short, try the reel on a different rod, preferably a medium rod with a fast tip that compares to the Compre in action, or that Field and Stream rod, either one, a Shimano Clarus would be another decent one to put it on too. With the right rod, you can make that Extreme reel really come alive on 1/4 oz. baits!! Also keep the spool bearings oiled well enough so they freely spin. This requires less effort to cast then and therefore you won't whip the rod so hard and cause a backlast.

I can tell you from experience when you get that Extreme reel paired up with the right rod, on a calm day you'll be able to set your brakes on 9, loosen the cast control knob to only a medium tightness and then cast that 1/4 oz. bait and not hardly even touch the spool with your thumb until it spashes down in the water. Not saying that's a good practice to not use your thumb, but I've done it numerous times with no trouble, I've always said that this reel virtually casts itself with 1/4 oz. Bandit cranks and the proper settings. I've spoiled myself with not having to really try to cast this reel so that I now have to practice to make myself get used to thumbing the spool better in order to use less brakes and try to gain yet more distance. I don't need it but I just want it. And just as an FYI.....the longest cast I ever measured was 125 feet, in my back yard, and that day I actually was only using the 6' medium rod but had a 1/2 oz. (actually measured 7/8 oz.) spinnerbait on. These reels are really good reels and when paired with the right rod I really think they will perform well above the $100 price range of reels, even though they only cost $80 and I only paid $50 - $65 for each of mine since I always bought on sale.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you what line I'm using. All this doesn't even matter if you can't get that little detail. If I use mono then it's Berkley Trilene XL, 12 lb. test, or Stren original, either one. Then I also use Berkley Vanish Transitions fluorocarbon in 12 and 14 lb. test. Never had any casting problems with any of these lines, and I've never used any line conditioner yet either. Just spooled up straight out of the box and go. I'm planning on trying some Yozuri Hybrid and some KVD conditioner this coming spring though when I spool up again cause I've heard a lot of good things but I have no complaints with the lines I've used so far on these reels.

And another thing, you know it's funny that we'd be talking about 1/4 oz. cranks on the Extreme reel.  My avatar pic is me holding up a nice one, about 2 1/2 pounds, caught on a 1/4 oz. Bandit 100 crank, casted off the Extreme reel in the pic, and it's on that 6' Quest rod I told you about.  That rod does sooooo well for those cranks that I nearly exclusively use it for just that purpose.

[ValkyrieRider]

Awesome info guys!

As chance has it, I'm using my reel on a Quantum Elite Medium Rod. I'm gonna go rod shoppin today and see if I can't find a better casting rod.

Thanks!

[rubba bubba]

I agree with what Cart says but would also add line diameter to the equation for lighter baits.  You'll need a narrower diameter line to go along with the lighter action rod when casting lighter baits.  Your 12lbs mono can work but it'll require more skill.

Lastly, a better baitcaster will always help close the skill gap, as they make everything easier.  Don't read it as that I am implying the Extreme is bad, I'm just saying even better reels will make it that much easier.