Wow throwing my first bait caster is............"fun"

[jwtrader]

I just purchased three Abu Garcia Revo HX HS bait caster, my first ever bait casters. So I practiced "a bit" yesterday in my yard for about 2 hours; 20 min casting, 1hr 40 min detangling line.  Please tell me it gets better and the ratio will switch. HAHAH. I know its a learning experience but man oh man.

Jim

[Glenn]

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] Glenn.

[BassThumb]

It'll get easier after a few more hours of practice. Try very light, sidearm casts with a heavy weight. Don't even try to aim at anything, just make 30-40 foot casts and focus on stopping the spool as the "lure" is about to hit the water. I started practicing with a 1/2 oz bullet sinker and a swivel tied to the end, with a piece of red yarn tied to the swivel so I could see it in air.

One technique to stop or at least lessen the severity of the backlashes is to hold your thumb just barely off the spool when you cast, I mean like 1/32", so as soon as you feel the backlash beginning, you can just barely tap the spool while letting the cast continue. A backlash is caused when your spool is spinning faster than the lure is moving. This is meant to slow the spool down just a hair without stopping the cast. It's called "feathering" the spool, and I still do it all the time when fishing, especially when it's windy. Pretty soon you'll be feathering by muscle memory the moment you feel any line pop off the spool during a cast.

[skunked_again]

your rod will have some affect on the ease of casting. id start out with a limber rod.

[Vinny Chase]

Just like Bassthumb said, start with short and easy casts and move and progress from there. I always compare it to basketball. Start with layups until you feel more comfortable moving further out. Trust me, we have all been in your shoes it will get better.

[jwtrader]

Just like Bassthumb said, start with short and easy casts and move and progress from there. I always compare it to basketball. Start with layups until you feel more comfortable moving further out. Trust me, we have all been in your shoes it will get better.

Hoepfully before the season is out, hahaha. I want to use them this year ;D

[new2BC4bass]

Congratulations.  I just started last year with baitcasting gear.  You are correct...it's fun!  You'll be fishing with them in no time.

[grimlin]

Yep,had to take baby steps with mine as well. No shame in starting it slow.

I was so used to spinning gear it was nuts. I almost wanted to quit myself. Set your brakes a little bit higher and the cast control knob just a tad tighter. 20-30 feet cast in the back yard a few hundred times till you train that thumb.

[Fishes in trees]

I learned how to use a bait caster a couple of decades ago and I had similar issues learning how to throw baits.

A couple of suggestions - If you're learning how to use it out on the water, throw a top water, something that floats.  You don't need something getting stuck on the bottom while you are picking out back lashes.

Secondly, if I had the opportunity to learn casting all over again,  I'd learn how to pitch first.  The underhand motion is very natural, your thumb is always close to the spool and you aren't putting so much muscle into the cast.

Once I could pitch a 3/8 ounce jig 30 to 40 feet with reasonable accuracy and no backlashes,  I think that would shorten the learning curve on side arm and overhead casts.

The only issue I can think of is that you've got to stand up to pitch.  If you're learning how to pitch on ground, stand on a milk crate or something, to get you off the ground a foot or so.

You can learn how to pitch sitting down, but it is tricky and not the think you'd want to try to learn first.

The only other advice I have is to buy a bulk spool of line, 14 or 17 or 20.  That way your learning curve won't cost quite as much as buying filler spools.

Keep at it and by the end of this season, you'll be a decent caster.  Just be aware it takes a long time to get really good, like Denny Brauer good or Stan Fagerstrom good.

[JacobK]

one of my best decisions was to start using a baitcaster. use a heavy lure/casting plug if you're just starting out. 3/8oz and up and avoid the wind. 

also your settings will play a major roll in how well you do.

[HookSetDon]

on the same side as the reel handle theres a little threaded cap you can loosen it to the point it comes off and tigthen it till it can move, find the spot that will allow your bait to hit the floor with out back spooling, that helped me a lot

[Locked]

It'll get easier after a few more hours of practice. Try very light, sidearm casts with a heavy weight. Don't even try to aim at anything, just make 30-40 foot casts and focus on stopping the spool as the "lure" is about to hit the water. I started practicing with a 1/2 oz bullet sinker and a swivel tied to the end, with a piece of red yarn tied to the swivel so I could see it in air.

One technique to stop or at least lessen the severity of the backlashes is to hold your thumb just barely off the spool when you cast, I mean like 1/32", so as soon as you feel the backlash beginning, you can just barely tap the spool while letting the cast continue. A backlash is caused when your spool is spinning faster than the lure is moving. This is meant to slow the spool down just a hair without stopping the cast. It's called "feathering" the spool, and I still do it all the time when fishing, especially when it's windy. Pretty soon you'll be feathering by muscle memory the moment you feel any line pop off the spool during a cast.

I just started learning last year, and yes it gets a lot easier. I actually prefer baitcasters now, because I feel like I have a lot more control over how my bait enters the water. Also, the "feathering" technique will feel natural to do when you use a baitcaster more.

[WanderLust]

Tip to clear the occasional backlash:

[kikstand454]

the video is brilliant.

my advice for the newbie baitcaster... as i havent been doing it that long myself is... dont try for distance OR accuracy when you are practicing in the yard. just try to cast and get used to the mechanics of what you have to do. learn how a 3/8 and 1/2oz cast differently.... how they load your rod...etc.

and most importantly.... walk your lure out about 50 or 60 feet and then go back and put a peice of clear tape across your spool. this will keep your backlashes confined to the top part of your spool... and you wont have to respool all the time.

fwiw i taught myself to baitcast as stated above by pitching down the hallway in my house. this was the reason i wanted to buy a baitcaster in the first place and so thats what i started learning. i think it made the transition to casting much much easier. *shrug*

[dman]

Tip to clear the occasional backlash:

I saw this video a year or two ago and started using this technique.  It really works great and saves a lot of time....

To the threadstarter....Your almost there! stick to it,  you will be glad you did -  we have all been in your shoes when first starting.  Believe it or not, its going to get so easy for you pretty soon!  just make sure your breaks and cast control arent too "open" for now.

[wisconsin heat]

saw the video like 2 weeks ago....man thattechnique woulve saved me tons of time and line :-[

[jwtrader]

yeah, I showed it to my son after I watched it and we were like "WOW" we could've used that trick the other day

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Tip to clear the occasional backlash:

This may be obvious, but just in case: Be sure to lock down the drag for this to work.

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

the biggest thing when starting out is thumb control. Here's how I learned. I did this while watching tv sitting on my couch..The object of this exercise is to learn " thumb feathering", which is learning how much pressure to put on the spool and when to put pressure on the spool. Attatch a 3/4 or 1 oz. weight to your line, loosen the drag and disengage the breaks. Now hold the rod out straight in front of you, click the button with your thumb on the spool, And let the weight start dropping. You want it to fall at a normal fall rate, but you want to train your thumb to apply more pressure as the sinker is about to hit the floor. You basically let if fall and try to stop it 1 or 2 inches from the ground. Reel it back up and do it over and over and over. I did this for 2 weeks before I ever even casted my rod and I never had a major backlash that the "push on the spool and turn the handle "(as in the above video) method never solved.

[A-Rob]

I always positioned my boat to cast down-wind, that helped me out huge when I was starting.

set up your reel just like everyone else said.

Otherwise just practice.