My new bait casting reel backlashes on every cast...Any tips to fix this.

[buzzbait4me]

I just recently bought a new baitcasting reel and on every cast it backlashes in mid air. What can i do?

[burleytog]

Read the instructions, practice and browse this forum.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=rods_reels_line

[buzzbait4me]

Ok. Thanks

[islandbass]

Do a search on your inquiry with the search function. There is a wealth of information on this forum.

Also, check out this place:

http://pages.videotron.com/fishing/bait101.htm

[garland7]

Great post on info. IslandBass!

[b.Lee]

I don't mean to sound rude or mean, but you have been posting a lot of random questions in random sections of the forum in a short period of time. I think it would be very beneficial to yourself and for the sake of the rest of the board members to maybe read some of the articles and cruise the boards around, read other threads, because you may find your answer.

After you have familiarized yourself a bit with the forum you can ask more questions.

Just understand people who are on the boards a lot come up on the same question 4-5 times a day by different people. I think if you took the time to read other peoples post you will find a lot what you are looking for. This will help in the following ways

1. Help you ask more specific questions for what you don't understand

2. Help keep the boards a little less cluttered with the same stuff.

Oh and please if you can help keep multiple questions in the same post, making one post about tackle and one about rod and reel you can have your answer in one post.

Also, welcome to the boards!

[D4u2s0t]

You can't get any kind of good answer without being much more specific... is this your first casting reel?  if not, how much experience do you have?  Is it rated for the weight of the lures your throwing?  Windy conditions?  Do you have the brakes adjusted accordingly?  Are you using your thumb to slow the spool?  What size line is on it?

[SoFlaBassAddict]

One easy thing to fix if you haven't checked, make sure you haven't over spooled the reel.  If you've got too much line on the spool it becomes very easy to backlash.  I'm assuming you've read how to properly set it up after you made the first post.

[stealthcaster]

Casting a baitcasting reel is truly an art.  There are so many factors that come into play, whether your goal is accuracy or distance.  I have been using baitcasting reels for years and I can put my lure where I want it the vast majority of the time, but it would take me forever to explain everything.  Some of it I probably would have trouble putting into words.  Practice, practice, practice.  Short casts at first with extra thumb pressure, then very gradually ease up as you begin to cast farther out.  You will pick up the basics after a while and it should become second nature.

[LAO162]

Don't try to swing for the fences. You shouldn't expect to snap cast a baitcasting rig the same way you would with spinning gear.

I keep a printout of this next to my desk as a constant reminder:

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

If you are backlashing in mid cast you probably need more of one, or all, of these:  more spool tension, more brake, more thumb early in the cast.

Leon

[Sam]

Sent PM. 

[new2BC4bass]

Don't try to swing for the fences. You shouldn't expect to snap cast a baitcasting rig the same way you would with spinning gear.

I keep a printout of this next to my desk as a constant reminder:

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

If you are backlashing in mid cast you probably need more of one, or all, of these: more spool tension, more brake, more thumb early in the cast.

Leon

Leon, the link isn't working for me.  Tried it a couple times.  Wanted to see if it is the same one I have at home.  (Not home where I could check the link.)

[LAO162]

The link is not making it past the filters here, but try Googling:

Basic Baitcast Reel Setup 101

It was the first link that came up when I tried.

[Syppy]

One easy thing to fix if you haven't checked, make sure you haven't over spooled the reel. If you've got too much line on the spool it becomes very easy to backlash. I'm assuming you've read how to properly set it up after you made the first post.

I've been looking all over the place, and i can't seem to find "how much" line to put on a reel typically.  I'm getting a load of backlashes too, but I'm also finding that a half decent cast is running me almost out of line on the spool.  How much should one put on most reels?

[BobP]

Reel companies suggest filling the reel to about 1/16" below the top of the spool.  The less line on the reel, the slower line goes out during a cast, the more braking effect there is, and the less likely it is to backlash, all other things held equal.  So if you overfill the reel, you aren't doing yourself any favors.  You aren't saving line (which is one misguided reason guys do this). One aid to avoid backlashes is to make a long cast, strip off a few more feet of line, then tape over the spool so that a backlash cannot progress beyond that amount of line, no matter how poor your casting technique.  I most often see neophytes backlashing because they whip the rod tip at high speed without enough control.  That may work with a spinning reel - never with a baitcaster.  You want more distance but what you're doing is overpowering the cast, over-speeding the spool, and inviting a rat's nest.  Ease up, develop a controlled casting motion, and you'll be able to get more distance when you learn the rig's limitations (rod + reel + line + lure) and can loosen the cast control and brake system.   

[new2BC4bass]

One easy thing to fix if you haven't checked, make sure you haven't over spooled the reel. If you've got too much line on the spool it becomes very easy to backlash. I'm assuming you've read how to properly set it up after you made the first post.

I've been looking all over the place, and i can't seem to find "how much" line to put on a reel typically. I'm getting a load of backlashes too, but I'm also finding that a half decent cast is running me almost out of line on the spool. How much should one put on most reels?

Depending on the manual you have, from 1/16 to 1/8 inch below the spool lip.

What are you throwing, its weight and how much line is on the reel and line weight? I was making what I thought were some pretty long casts today, but I am no where near out of line. I do have my reels overfilled which only causes overruns if I go too light on lure weight or the lure hits the water before I am expecting it to (and thus don't stop the spool in time with my thumb.)

I'm new to baitcasting, and what I've found so far is that I have to keep lure weight up to at least 3/8 oz. in order to make a decent length cast without overruns. And to get the lure anywhere near my desired target.

Tried a 1/8 oz. lure on a rod with 1/16 to 3/8 oz. lure rating. Was getting the same results as when I first started casting...lure way too far to the left, no distance and getting overruns. Yet with the same reel on a cheaper rod and 3/8 oz. lure, I was getting good distance with the lure going in the general desired direction and no (or very minor) overruns.

I've read that using heavier line is advised for learning purposes. I've got 8 and 12 lb. mono and 40 lb. braid spooled on various reels. So far I haven't noticed much of a difference in my ability to cast any of them as long as I keep lure weight up a bit.

As stated elsewhere, I often shoot for the moon. I am whipping the rod too hard. This requires some thumb control at the beginning of the cast. But having to slow down the spool at the beginning of the cast is defeating my intended purpose of hitting the shoreline 1/2 mile away.

I see that BobP has given you some very good advice. Some I am going to take. I'm going to remove enough line to get me down to that 1/16 inch figure.

And then I am going in my backyard with a light weight on, and practice, practice, practice.

[Bassin for Walleye]

One easy thing to fix if you haven't checked, make sure you haven't over spooled the reel. If you've got too much line on the spool it becomes very easy to backlash. I'm assuming you've read how to properly set it up after you made the first post.

Exactly. When I got my first baitcaster I could not figure it out and I told my dad that it would keep backlashing and he said I needed more practice. Well I thought if I had been practicing for 6 months I shouldn't be backlashing every cast. I pulled out probably 60-70 yards of line and BzzzzzzzzSplash No backlash!