decreasing the magnets on the baitcaster

[bigjim]

2nd year now using the baitcaster set-up, but still find myself fearful of keeping the magnets at any less than 10. everytime i get gutsy and say " ok, lets back this down to 5 and see what happens" i get the birdnest on the 1st throw, i say a few curse words, un-do the nest and ratch it back to 10 in disgust, but i realize im not doing myself any favors by doing this. got work twice as hard to get a decent distance cast, pitching a jig is pointless too when the mags are that high. yet still i continue to do it.
also if im making a long cast i find myself always feathering the spool w/ my thumb,although very lightly feathering it, i cant seem to completely get my thumb away and let that lure sail through the air and then stop the spool with my thumb just before contact. i know what i wanna do, just cant get myself to do it