Baitcaster Brakes How , What, And Why ?

[Brian Needham]

I am a new fisherman that enjoys buying quality gear and using it to its fullest.

I have questions on the braking systems, and what each one of them actually do. I hear lots of.... "can throw a 1/4oz crank 50 yds..."......much of which I think might be BS, but I have no clue.

1. what other than rod tip, line size, and lure weight determines cast distance?

2. the tabs on the inside? what do they do, and how they do it?

3. brake knob on outside , behind the handle? what does it do?

4. dial on "palm side" ? what does it do?

what do each one of these do and the effect on distance??

I am using lews tournament speed spools and they have all 3 brakes. though I just ordered 2 tournament pro speed spools.... point is I don't think gear is the issue, but I ready to be corrected if needed, just want to make sure I get all I can get out of my gear.

thanks

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The cast control cap on the side is not technically a brake but does affect casting. Tightening puts light pressure on the spool shaft ends. A centifugal brake (tabs on the inside)are activated when the spool starts spinning, the centrifugal force deploys the brake pads that rub on a brake drum. This style of brake prevents backlash by keeping the spool from feeding line faster than the bait pulls it out. The magnetic brake applies constant resistance on the spool. This helps prevent over run as the bait looses momemtum. This is adjusted by the palm side dial which moves the magnets closer to or further from the spool. Of the two, I prefer that my reels have cent brakes and I can take or leave the mag brake. Casting distance is affected by rod length, action and power, line choice, weight and profile of the bait and the freespool and setup of the reel. FWIW casting distance is way over rated as opposed to accuracy. Kinda like the drive for show, putt for dough saying in golf.

[Shinyboy]

Good post ^^^^^

[NCLifetimer]

+2 to what what DVT. Centrifugal provides breaking at the beginning of the cast, magnetic affects evenly thoughout the entire cast. I have a lews tournament pro and like the fact that it has both magnetic and centrifugal breaks, if i could only have one of the two i would have the centrifugal. I doubt I'll ever buy another reel that only has a magnetic break. Casting distance is nice, but accuracy is key as DVT also said.

[Brian Needham]

+2 to what what DVT. Centrifugal provides breaking at the beginning of the cast, magnetic affects evenly thoughout the entire cast. I have a lews tournament pro and like the fact that it has both magnetic and centrifugal breaks, if i could only have one of the two i would have the centrifugal. I doubt I'll ever buy another reel that only has a magnetic break. Casting distance is nice, but accuracy is key as DVT also said.

on the lews, they are shipped with all the Centriugal turned off right?

meaning you have to click/push them in to turn on?

[aavery2]

Pushing the tabs on the centrifugal brakes inward toward the spool shaft turns them off, so to speak. To turn them on you will need to pull them out, away from the center of the spool.