New Baitcaster Troubles.

[hatrix]

Hi I am new here and this seemed like a good place to find some help so here goes. Well i just purchased a new baitcaster. I have never actually owned one I always used spinning gear since i was a little kid. Any ways i got the Rick Clunn from BPS and i hear its a really nice reel for the $ but im not all that impressed really. First off it dosent really cast far at all even throwing a jig n pig thats a fairly heavy bait. I can throw baits farther with even junkie $30 combos from k-mart and with less effort. I bought it mainly because im really into jigs top water and frogs and I just purchased a home with a 10 acre pond and it has lots of heavy cover. I need atleast 2 fingers in front of the trigger cause when i cast it wants to rip out of my hand. My accuracy is horrible with it unless i cast overhand and then its still not so hot. I can cast a spinning rod and hit a dime with my bait i been doing it so long. I even use it with no spool tension and just stop it with my thumb still it dosent seem to cast very far or accurate. Also when i cast it makes whirring noise and I only have 2 of the brakes enabled. Backlashes are not a issue the only ones i really had i gave my self on purpose to see if i can fix them. The rod i use is a BPS graphite series trigger rod 7'. I only have 10lb mono on it right now cause its all i had when the reel was delivered but i cant imagine that being such a huge problem. I know accuracy and stuff take practice but I always seem to release the spool to late and hook my lure way to the side. Its just the casting distance is so unbelievably bad. As for pitching baits thats a laugh i can spit farther. Maybe they sent me a bad reel i dont know. I am just so unimpressed with it right now any help or pointers whatever would be much appreciated. :-/

[Under the Radar]

Have you loosened the spool tension knob?

[.RM.]

Hi I am new here and this seemed like a good place to find some help so here goes. Well i just purchased a new baitcaster. I have never actually owned one I always used spinning gear since i was a little kid. Any ways i got the Rick Clunn from BPS and i hear its a really nice reel for the $ but im not all that impressed really. First off it dosent really cast far at all even throwing a jig n pig thats a fairly heavy bait. I can throw baits farther with even junkie $30 combos from k-mart and with less effort. I bought it mainly because im really into jigs top water and frogs and I just purchased a home with a 10 acre pond and it has lots of heavy cover. I need atleast 2 fingers in front of the trigger cause when i cast it wants to rip out of my hand. My accuracy is horrible with it unless i cast overhand and then its still not so hot. I can cast a spinning rod and hit a dime with my bait i been doing it so long. I even use it with no spool tension and just stop it with my thumb still it dosent seem to cast very far or accurate. Also when i cast it makes whirring noise and I only have 2 of the brakes enabled. Backlashes are not a issue the only ones i really had i gave my self on purpose to see if i can fix them. The rod i use is a BPS graphite series trigger rod 7'. I only have 10lb mono on it right now cause its all i had when the reel was delivered but i cant imagine that being such a huge problem. I know accuracy and stuff take practice but I always seem to release the spool to late and hook my lure way to the side. Its just the casting distance is so unbelievably bad. As for pitching baits thats a laugh i can spit farther. Maybe they sent me a bad reel i dont know. I am just so unimpressed with it right now any help or pointers whatever would be much appreciated. :-/

Try a little more reading on how to setup a baitcast system.....

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1151590913

http://www.***/education/baitcaster-setup-101.html

Good luck & Tight Lines!!

[Raul]

It 's not the reel.

[hatrix]

Yes I loosened the tension knob to how it should be for the weight of the lure. I even tried backing it all the way off to see what kinda of distance i can get. I just cant seem to get it out there. The only way i can get any significant distance is if i use 2 hands and really chuck it pretty hard. Even then its nothing to write home about and that seems to cause the spool to over run while in mid air cause i throw it so hard. I am not about to give up on it though. I am determined to master it and will keep trying. Just from how it seems at the moment i cant ever see it casting to much farther then i do now. As for my pflueger spinning outfit its not even a fair match. I know the reel is rated for 12lb and up and the rod is 10lb and up. I only have 10lb currently on it and hopefully heavier line will make all difference.

[islandbass]

Don't worry. It is clearly a sign that the reel is not properly set. I too would check the cast control knob first.

I would like to know how heavy the object is that you're trying to practice.  I'll fill you in that you should not be learning with anything less than 1/2 oz and something that is not very aerodynamic, like spinnerbaits, light cranks or poppers. These will only make your learning more difficult. Get a 1/2 oz bass casting weight, set the reel to it, and start practicing.

Lastly, the release time is a little earlier than you are accustomed to with spinning gear. Imagine a clock with 12 directly above you and 9 directly in front of you. The approximate release point of your thumb off of the spool is somewhere between 12 and 1 o'clock (not 11 and 12).  This will feel very awkward to anyone (including myself initially) who comes from an exclusively spinning background.  It will feel weird and unnatural and seem too early but with time you will get accustomed to it. Just turn the clock sideways to guarantee straight side arm casts.

Yeah, I'm a geek, but I analyzed all of this from my own time learning. ;D

[tholmes]

Lastly, the release time is a little earlier than you are accustomed to with spinning gear. Imagine a clock with 12 directly above you and 9 directly in front of you. The approximate release point of your thumb off of the spool is somewhere between 12 and 1 o'clock (not 11 and 12). This will feel very awkward to anyone (including myself initially) who comes from an exclusively spinning background. It will feel weird and unnatural and seem too early but with time you will get accustomed to it. Just turn the clock sideways to guarantee straight side arm casts.

Yeah, I'm a geek, but I analyzed all of this from my own time learning. ;D

+1,000^

The release point was the toughest thing for me to adjust to when I first picked up a baitcaster. There's a learning curve there, for sure. If you release a BC at the same point as a spinning rig, you won't get much distance.

Like islandbass said, it'll come with practice

Tom

[Hammer 4]

Is it possible that the reel, being that it is new, was packed with to much grease..? We know some makers do that on purpose..If that the case, a pro can clean and relube it properly to give you more performance.

Just curious, what is the power, and action on your BPS rod..?

I have a BPS Rick Clunn worm rod, 7' MF witha BPS Extrem BC reel, and I can toss a 1/2 oz anything a decent distance, as I'm most others here could too. Also, I find I get better distance IF I don't try to Whip it out there, but let the rod do the work, i.e. loading it up, and let it go..I get my best distance casting sorta sidearm..about 1/2 way between a overhead, and sidearm..

[Hammer 4]

I just got to thinking about this again..I know this sounds goofy, but in your line correctly threaded through the guides..?  You wouldn't be the first one to accidently get the line wrapped around the rod..

[Boogey Man]

When you say you have 2 brakes set, you mean 2 of the centrifugal brakes, right? What have you got the mag brake set at? Also, you may want to put a drop of oil on a Q-tip and put a light coat of oil on the brake drum the centrifugal brakes make contact with. Hang in there, you'll get it!