Number of bearings in a baitcaster question?

[lvfshn7]

Does more bearings mean more chance of a backlash? I'm looking to buy a new baitcaster. My first go round was a flop but I want to give it another shot. My first baitcaster had 9 bearings  but i only paid 35 bucks for it. I was wondering if fewer bearings would be better for a beginner.

[Uncle Leo]

Amount of bearings has little to do with backlash. It is a function of brake adjustment, spool tension and a trained thumb. As long and both ends of the spools are suppported by bearings with proper adjustment and a trained thumb backlashes will be minimal. You need at least 2 bearings.

[WanderLust]

Does more bearings mean more chance of a backlash? I'm looking to buy a new baitcaster. My first go round was a flop but I want to give it another shot. My first baitcaster had 9 bearings but i only paid 35 bucks for it. I was wondering if fewer bearings would be better for a beginner.

No, more bearing will not increase your chances for a backlash...

Just buy the highest quality you can afford and research how the braking system works.

www * com/education/baitcaster-setup-101.html

^^^

Something like that is a good start. Someone showing the basics is also a good start.

[dwtaylor]

First of all, a baitcaster less than 50 bucks is going to be really hard to handle, at least in most situations.  More bearings typically mean a smoother, better quality reel.

[Jigfishn10]

Uncle Leo is dead on (assuming you're referring to a baitcaster).

Bearings are used to reduce friction between moving parts and decreases the chances from becoming worn.

Depending on the reel manufacturer, a basic reel will have 2 bearings (maybe more) will be used for the spool shaft, 2 sometimes 3 for the crank shaft (1 would be the one-way bearing), and 2 for levelwind system.

Any reel would overurn without all the components Uncle Leo mentioned.

[Nibbles]

Believe it or not, higher quality bearings may increase your chances of backlashing if you are a beginner.

My Zillion became noticeably easier to backlash after I had ABEC-9 ceramic bearings installed in it. The same happened to my CVZ-103. The tradeoff is that they are now noticeably smoother on both the retrieve and cast, and I've noticed some gains in distance. It gets some taking used to now because I can no longer just sling baits as hard as I can because the spools are now so slick and fast that unless I turn up the tension a whole bunch they will backlash within the first 0.5 seconds when I swing the rod that hard. Then again, I no longer have to sling baits hard to get them to go far.

So my advice to you is to stick to your current baitcaster, because sometimes higher quality ones have smoother freer spools, which may not always work out in your favor when you haven't yet gotten your muscle memory dialed in for how hard to cast baits, how hard to thumb the spool, etc.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The bearing count is much less important than quality bearings in the right places where casting is concerned.

Keys to successful baitcasting:

Decent Quality Reel

Proper Adjustment

A weight of 3/4 oz or better

A rod matched to the weight you are throwing

Smooth, Easy technique

Practice

You'll get plenty of good answers to specific questions regarding any of these points

[Raul]

The number of bearings will not affect the odds of backlashing, but the quality of the spool supporting bearings and the lubrication will. Better bearings and low viscosity oils will spin more freely and at a faster rate so until you can control the spool better start with tighter tension & more powerful brake settings.

[NBR]

I have aged into the geezer class and can tell you that today's reels from top to bottom dollar are far superior to those I from my history. First we had no free spool so the crank windmilled all during the cast, second there was no drag, your thumb on the line provided drag and the backlash control was only the spool tension. If you put spool tension tight enough to prevent backlash you might be able to cast out of the boat but not much farther. Bearings? What's a bearing?

You learned to bait cast by practice at home and time on the water. Nothing has changed. You learn to bait cast with practice. The good news is that todays reels when properly adjusted make the learning curve so much shorter but all the controls in the world don't eliminate the need for practice.

[tholmes]

I have aged into the geezer class and can tell you that today's reels from top to bottom dollar are far superior to those I from my history. First we had no free spool so the crank windmilled all during the cast, second there was no drag, your thumb on the line provided drag and the backlash control was only the spool tension. If you put spool tension tight enough to prevent backlash you might be able to cast out of the boat but not much farther. Bearings? What's a bearing?

You learned to bait cast by practice at home and time on the water. Nothing has changed. You learn to bait cast with practice. The good news is that todays reels when properly adjusted make the learning curve so much shorter but all the controls in the world don't eliminate the need for practice.

This is so true. AS another geezer who learned baitcasting on a non-free spool reel, I think I can safely say that practice is THE MOST inportant element in learning to control backlash.

As far as bearings, as long as the reel has at least two quality bearings, you'll be alright. I think a lot of people, especially beginners, think that a high bearing count = a high quality reel. It ain't necessarily so. A crap reel with a dozen crap bearings stuffed in it is still crap.

Tom

[OK Bass Hunter]

My Shimano Calcutta TE GT has 10 bearings and my Calcutta B has 3 bearings. Neither one is easier to backlash than the other as long as I set the brakes and spool tension correctly. With the spool tension set correctly the bait should slowly fall to the floor on free spool without any overrun.

These quote  below is what I used to learn to use a baitcaster about 3 years ago

"Let whatever you are going to throw hang about 10" below your rod tip and shake it a little bit until it hits the floor. If it does't backlash that is a good place to start. After a while you can loosen things up as your thumb gets educated."

[bear7625]

I have aged into the geezer class and can tell you that today's reels from top to bottom dollar are far superior to those I from my history. First we had no free spool so the crank windmilled all during the cast, second there was no drag, your thumb on the line provided drag and the backlash control was only the spool tension. If you put spool tension tight enough to prevent backlash you might be able to cast out of the boat but not much farther. Bearings? What's a bearing?

You learned to bait cast by practice at home and time on the water. Nothing has changed. You learn to bait cast with practice. The good news is that todays reels when properly adjusted make the learning curve so much shorter but all the controls in the world don't eliminate the need for practice.

Thanks NBR, You took me back to my 1st casting reel. I had a Pfluger on a steel rod. Can still picture the handles spinning.

NBR is right on. Learn the settings on your reel, and practice...practice...practice!!!

[MickD]

Some reels just cast well with little adjustment and some don't. I probably will be kicking over the hornets' nest in saying this, but here is a reel that is very easy to learn on, very easy to cast without backlashes, and requires little adjustment between lures of different weights and styles. IMHO, it is bullet proof for moderate duty fresh water fishing: Shimano Curado CU200E-7. (or the left hand version if you prefer-I think the RH retrieve is better ergonomically than the LH for right handed casters)

I'm not saying there are not others that do it as well or better, but I've not casted one. I do know this reel is a wonderful, easy casting, reel.

Spool it with 12 # Yozuri hybrid ultra soft or mono and it will work. Until you learn to cast well, stay away from flouro or braid or mono over about 15 pound test. Start learning with an easy casting lure like a 3/8 oz spoon, then move to cranks or other type lures. Leave spinnerbaits til you get confident with others. Spinnerbaits catch the wind and make casting more difficult.

Initially set it up with 3 of the centrifugal weights engaged, set the spool knob so that your lure moves slowly down when you let off the "trigger" with the rod held horizontally.

Don't get discouraged, and don't try for max distance at first-just try to get a moderate distance, smooth, cast. As you progress you will tune the adjustments to better suit what you are doing.

I have had many other reels, and none is as easy to cast as this one.

As for your original question, this reel has 6 bearings + the one way bearing that keeps the handle from going backwards. My second best casting reel is an old Shimano Calcutta 100 with 2 bearings + the one way bearing. You need at least the 3 bearings of the Calcutta, but after that there are a lot of things in reels that affect casting other than bearing count. I don't pretend to understand them all.