Talk me down off the ledge, so frustrated

[pudmunk]

I'm kinda getting frustrated

Been fishing since May every weekend, never fished before in my life

Always fished with my good buddy who has about 10 rods so I always used his spinners

Anyhow, moneys tight now and I JUST got into this awesome sport (great timing).

So another buddy of mine sells me his baitcaster (phlueger) for 15 bucks as he's getting more into saltwater. So I bought a decent field and stream and mounted it.40lb/10 Braid

Today I went out to a new lake (small)with another friend

I can't tell you the countless times I bird nested (first timer) The only bait I could toss with this set up without getting a birdsnest was a 3/8oz white strike king sninnerbait. Cranks were a close second. However 4" rage tail craws and 5" Senkos texas rigged were REALLY causing malfunctions for me.

I need to get a spinning reel/rod, even if it's a cheaper one.

I got skunked, couple taps but didn't set the hook quick enough or they just didn't want the spinner or crank. Plus I'm sure my presentation stunk as I was so frustrated and concentrating on my baitcaster. Plus my casts were PATHETIC

, my buddy caught a dink 4 hours into the journey. Another guy fishing from shore said he didn't catch a thing.

[Carrington]

for the baitcaster, dont quit on it learn it.  it works much better then a spinner reel in certain situations.  a tip to help you learn to cast it is to tighten the start spin settings on the reel if you are backlashing right off the start.  if you are backlashing after that then work on feathering your thumb better or just tighten the spool tensioning knob.  took me about 1 month to learn to cash one.

[TrippyJai]

It takes a lot of time and practice to be good at something. With fishing, you need to take it slow. I suggest you do some research on how to cast a baitcaster. There are excellent videos on youtube that explain everything you need to know.

Then as for which bait and lures to use, just keep it simple and stay with soft plastics such as t-rigged senkos and worms. Fish them slow. They will definitely catch you fish and you can get the hang of setting a hook. As you start to get the hang of things, you can expand and try new techniques.

It's okay to get skunked, especially on shore. Even when I'm on a boat, sometimes I only catch a few. Don't give it, even if you don't catch fish.

[Grey Wolf]

Hang in there , you've only got to practice and learn from your mistakes.

[fishfordollars]

We've all been through it. Stick with it. They (Backlashes) will become fewer and fewer.

You will know you have arrived when you can turn off all the brakes and just use your thumb.

Good luck

[fourbizz]

JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!

[skey44]

I'm with you dood... I will say that I have started to get into baitcasters and find they are very versatile, and definitely help me with certain presentations. Save up and get a good one (my curado is the easiest to cast got it on sale for $150) I have a few bc now and the cheaper models are still a little hard for me to dial in! The YouTube vids definitely helped a ton. The locals and stores here also helped me out with some real world tips.

We all get skunked sometimes. Especially when trying new things!

Cheers,

Scott

[zero]

;D i will never forget about using my baitcaster for the first time it took me 6 months to get it right

i use baitcaster for cranks,jig,bigger senko,heavy tex rigs and frogging

the rest is spinning

[Nibbles]

Don't feel like you have to get an expensive BC to cast well. I can cast just as well with my $40 Daiwa Procaster as with my new Revo STX. Granted, the STX goes a little bit further due to its lighter drilled wiffle spool, but overall the two are fairly similar.

I like the saying, "It's the Indian and not the arrow."

Baitcasters just require a bit more preparation before every cast. If casting overhead, try turning the reel 90 degrees so its sideways. This puts more friction on the spool and prevents a lot of potential backlashes. Try casting smoother with more wrist action instead of harder like swinging a baseball bat.

Lastly, even pros get backlashes. They just edit them out on TV. If you cast a heavy wind-resistant bait and it happens to catch a gust of wind, you WILL backlash. Doesn't matter if you're KVD, Skeet Reese, or Iaconelli.

[Boogey Man]

I got my first baitcaster when I was 13, I had the same problems and put it back in the box until I was in my early 20's. Hang in there, you'll get it.

[InLikeFinz]

Hang in there bud. It gets better, just takes time. As strange as it looked, I practiced my baitcasting skills in the yard....over...and over......and over. You'll get there. There's definitely a learning curve there but with time it will come.

J.

[OneUp]

Modern baitcasters, IMO, are not that tough to learn. If your having that hard of a time, try changing the line out and make sure its set up right (eg brakes & spool tension). Start out with the spool tension set so the bait just slowly falls when you hit the button. It will cost you a little distance, but will help keep backlashes down while your learning. As you progress, you'll use your spool tension less and your thumb more. Hang in there!!

[Catt]

Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Frustrate Him For a Lifetime. 

[pudmunk]

set 2 brakes out on the reel. then everytime you switch to a different lure adjust the cast control knob/spool tension on the right.

after you tie on whatever lure, to set the cast control right. hit the spool release and let the bait fall to the ground. when it hits the ground, the spool should stop without backlashing. if it does backlash a little, then tighten the cast control knob in very small increments til it stops cleanly.

thats the basics right there for a beginner.

thanks, I was screwing with that all day along with keeping the drag tight not exactly sure how it should be "tuned" your info is very helpfull

It could be just the reel and not me :

[RAMBLER]

Lots of good advice.  Practicing in the yard is some of the best advice.  But, a baitcaster has it's limitations.  For light weight lures, you need a spinning reel.  No matter how good you get, trying to cast a lure/worm that is quite light will be next to impossible. 

I started out with a baitcaster that had no drag or brake adjustments, 55 years ago.  Back then my thumb was the only adjustment I had.  Took a little while to be able to cast without a backlash but it can be done and is one of the best pieces of tackle you can use.

Now, I'm going to light a fuze.  You can get a good spinning outfit at Wal-Mart.  Get a Mitchell 300 and a 6'6" medium or mediumlight Ugly Stick and put 8 or 10 lb mono on it.  I've caught everything from little bluegill to muskie on that rig.  One of the most versatile rigs you will ever use and it is affordable. 

I said I lit a fuze.  Well, that is because an awful lot of people, on this forum, are going to tell you how bad the rig I described is.  It isn't the best there is, but remember the word affordable and disregard the people that are so proud of their $150-$250 outfits.

Good luck and tight lines.

[pudmunk]

Lots of good advice. Practicing in the yard is some of the best advice. But, a baitcaster has it's limitations. For light weight lures, you need a spinning reel. No matter how good you get, trying to cast a lure/worm that is quite light will be next to impossible.

I started out with a baitcaster that had no drag or brake adjustments, 55 years ago. Back then my thumb was the only adjustment I had. Took a little while to be able to cast without a backlash but it can be done and is one of the best pieces of tackle you can use.

Now, I'm going to light a fuze. You can get a good spinning outfit at Wal-Mart. Get a Mitchell 300 and a 6'6" medium or mediumlight Ugly Stick and put 8 or 10 lb mono on it. I've caught everything from little bluegill to muskie on that rig. One of the most versatile rigs you will ever use and it is affordable.

I said I lit a fuze. Well, that is because an awful lot of people, on this forum, are going to tell you how bad the rig I described is. It isn't the best there is, but remember the word affordable and disregard the people that are so proud of their $150-$250 outfits.

Good luck and tight lines.

awesome sir

great wisdom and info

thanks

[cart7t]

If you decide to jump, I've got dibs on the rod and reel. 

[Sam]

Check your PMs.

[pad slammer]

This Video helped me clear the pesky nests

[rubba bubba]

Reel Mechanic has a good baitcasting for beginners article but this site is filtering out his url when I try to post it.

Google "reel mechanic baitcasting 101" and you'll find the article.

[Drug Coder]

+1 for practicing in the yard.  Best advice I can give for that is don't go for expensive line at first.  During the learning process (and even after you think you have the hang of it) you will have plenty of nests...  I just found it a lot less frustrating when I wasn't worried about losing a spool of expensive line.

[Triton21]

"No matter how good you get, trying to cast a lure/worm that is quite light will be next to impossible."

Just depends on if you can cast or not.  I throw a wacky zoom centipede on a bait caster with 8lb fluorocarbon quite some distance with accuracy, no problem.  It is all about setting your reel right and experience.

I also started with an old Bronson casting reel in 1954 when I was 11.  Bought my first Ambassador Red 5000 in 1958 and thought I had died an gone to heaven when I learned how to adjust it.

Kelley

[senko_77]

I didn't read any of the replies so this may have been said, but you need to get that braid off of there asap.  It's the WORST thing to learn a baitcaster with.  Go to Wal-Mart and get yourself one of those big spools of Renegade Monofilament for like $4.  Spool it up and backlash your heart out.  If you can't pick out the backlash, cut it out, and respool with your new 2000yd roll of line that cost $4 rather than $20+ for the braid. 

Also try turning your hand to the side as you cast.  It will help you learn to "feather" the spool as the bait is traveling through the air. 

Other than that, just practice a lot.

Good luck my friend

[DeanFishesNY]

Braid is the worst to learn with??? Hmm, I never heard that before. I started using a baitcaster last year and I got the hang of it pretty quick, a few backlashes early on but now I am very accurate and rarely get even a small backlash. I have braid on my baitcaster and I have less backlashes with it and they are easier to get out for me. I don't see how braid can be worse to start with??

[Grey Wolf]

Braid is the worst to learn with??? Hmm, I never heard that before. I started using a baitcaster last year and I got the hang of it pretty quick, a few backlashes early on but now I am very accurate and rarely get even a small backlash. I have braid on my baitcaster and I have less backlashes with it and they are easier to get out for me. I don't see how braid can be worse to start with??

Cost effective , it doesn't hurt so much if you have got to cut a back lash out , that's why he reccomended mono.