01-15-09, 02:14 AM | #1 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,928
|
Teaching my son to cast
My son has interest in learning to fish with a bait caster. Now I torn on whcih way to go about it.
I believe that he will develop confidence in his own abilites faster if I teach him with the revo, but I feel that learning on the older Bantam will force him to master thumb control a lot better. I learned on the Bantam and while it was a real (no pun intended) pain in the arse, I now know that there is not a reel out there I won't be able to cast effectively. Currently I am leaning towards the Bantam, but wondered what you all thought. He is 14 so I am not worried about destroying his young impressionable feelings.....
__________________
If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes. |
01-15-09, 02:29 AM | #2 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Caledonia, MI
Posts: 253
|
Can you teach me first? Then I can tell you which way helped or hurt my feelings the most.
|
01-15-09, 03:34 AM | #3 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Webb City, MO
Posts: 6,387
|
i learned when i was probably 4 or 5 years old. dad took me out in the yard and i learned on an old abu-garcia round reel. not sure which model of bantam you are talking about and i am not familiar with any of them. but i am sure you could tighten it down enough to start with and then loosen it up as he goes. i remember the first time i threw a low profile baitcaster that had the brakes it was a breeze because i was used to old faithful.
__________________
You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough. |
01-15-09, 03:40 AM | #4 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,928
|
It is a Bantam ProMag from the early 80's. It was the pre curado (it does have some bakes). I can tighten it down some, but even cinched down all the way it can be a problem. But I do agree that when you switch over to one with better brakes the thumbing is easy.
__________________
If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes. |
01-15-09, 06:17 AM | #5 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bath, NY
Posts: 361
|
Start him on the Bantam.It will still be working in 15-20 years.P N J
__________________
Location: Bath, NY...........Whiz-Bang junior pro staff member #OU812 |
01-15-09, 08:28 AM | #6 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ft. Bragg, NC
Posts: 270
|
Go with this one:
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...003000_100-3-1 I bought one for my little brother and he loves it. It was his first baitcaster.
__________________
In the absence of orders, find something and kill it. Unk, 82nd ABN WWII |
01-15-09, 11:41 AM | #7 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,928
|
Thanks for the idea The Doc. Unfortunately while it fits his age, I doubt it will work for his size. He is standing about 6' and weighing in at 190.
__________________
If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes. |
01-15-09, 11:59 AM | #8 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jonesville, Indiana
Posts: 3,597
|
I agree, I would start him on the Bantam, but I suspect he'll end up finishing with the Revo.
~Woody |
01-15-09, 12:01 PM | #9 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,928
|
I don't doubt that PnJ. I just picked up another one of e-bay for under $25. If it doesn't work as well I figure that I now have spare parts for mine.
__________________
If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes. |
01-15-09, 12:48 PM | #10 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ft. Bragg, NC
Posts: 270
|
Damn that's a big boy. He should be able to stare the reel into performing right!
__________________
In the absence of orders, find something and kill it. Unk, 82nd ABN WWII |
01-15-09, 03:11 PM | #11 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,134
|
|
01-15-09, 03:14 PM | #12 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,928
|
Well, the 14 year old is the small one. The 13 year old is 6'3" 205.
I call the two of them my NFL retirement fund. I can still take either one fo them when they want to wrestle and srew around, but if they ever try to double up on me I could be in trouble.
__________________
If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes. |
01-15-09, 03:56 PM | #13 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,134
|
Too much steroids in their chicken :O
|
01-15-09, 04:25 PM | #14 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: south eastern PA
Posts: 290
|
I would start them out on the bantam, I just learned this past summer on a $90 low profile reel aand learning to thumb the spool correctly is huge. In case this helps, what i did first was learn how to work the reel so i just casted side arm for a week or two and then slowly tried the overhand casting and it really helped me understand some of the fundementles, hope that made sense..
|
01-15-09, 07:23 PM | #15 |
BassFishin.Com Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 20
|
It might be a little costly, but a daiwa sol (jdm: daiwa alphas) or pixy is a very compact reel. I noticed that the more the reel cost the casting become alot easier. I think if you teach him how to fan cast first, he'll get more control over the thumb. Then teach him how to properly cast on the field, not on the lake. I think this would teach him how to properly focus on the reel instead of distance. My .02 cent
|
01-16-09, 06:51 PM | #16 |
BassFishin.Com Member
|
Calais...all im sayin
__________________
(-_-)Basskicker just wishes he could fish like me. (-_-) |
01-16-09, 11:09 PM | #17 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ft. Bragg, NC
Posts: 270
|
I know how you feel. My son is only 15 months, and he's 30 lbs and 32" tall, which apparently is big for his age. My friends daughter is 3 and weighs the same.
__________________
In the absence of orders, find something and kill it. Unk, 82nd ABN WWII |
01-16-09, 11:48 PM | #18 | |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kernersville, NC
Posts: 430
|
Quote:
If your talking about other reel then I feel retarded.
__________________
Rest in peace Zooker |
|
01-17-09, 12:31 AM | #19 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,928
|
The pre curado. The bantam Pro was gold in color and made in the early 80's.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...Name=WDVW&rd=1
__________________
If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes. |
01-17-09, 10:52 AM | #20 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: cedar bluff, alabama
Posts: 15,292
|
cassidyta, i gave 1fastlaser a reel JUST like that. bantatam pro, gold. great reel.
|
01-17-09, 12:24 PM | #21 |
BassFishin.Com Active Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 490
|
I have the opposite opinion. Get him whatever reel you think has the best braking system, screw the brake and/or magnets down tight so he won't backlash, tie on a heavy, wind resistent bait like a big jig and let him fish with that until he gets confident and gets the feel of a baitcaster then teach him the finer points of thumbing the spool and fishing with lighter, non-wind resitent baits like a light crankbait. Whether you're training a pup or teaching a child to fish, set him up to succeed or he'll soon be discouraged. He may not be as motivated in the beginning as you were.
|
01-17-09, 12:46 PM | #22 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: cedar bluff, alabama
Posts: 15,292
|
ok, here is an idea cassidyta. how about taking him to get his OWN rod and reel. let hime pick it out, as long as it is in YOUR budget. ya know what? you do 2 things at once. you feed da monkey and you get him interested at the same time. if he picks out the set up, he is commited, right?
ooops, just saw that jigger says this as well. anyway, let him pick out a set up and do what jigger says...tie on a heavy bait. show him ALL the features and ow tos. then let him sling it a few times. say nothing when he birdnests, that'll make him feel uncomfortable and not wanting to keep on trying. never yell at him either. take it slow and keep saying that it is ok to mess up. tell him I said that i mess up a thousand times every time i cast mine each day. it is a part of fishing to me. yes i get mad at myself, or the reel, but it mostly cause i ain't paying attention to what i am doing really. get in a hurry to often. but tell him to go easy, slow and he'll get it soon enough. |
01-17-09, 03:33 PM | #23 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,928
|
I am going to take him with me on my BPS run on Monday. He has some money stored up (just under $100) and I told him he can pick what he wants and I will match his money.
I appreciate the advice on how to show him. I am good at not saying anything to discourage him as he trys things. I also really want him to develop a love for fishing. As he is progressing through high school, I know that there are not a whole lot of things that we will see eye to eye on. So finding something where he and I can spend time together is a big deal to me. The good news is that even if the boys never get into fishing. I do have one fishing partner here. She hasn't caught a fish yet, but hopefully that will change this week. She loves to get out there and be near the water.
__________________
If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes. |
01-17-09, 06:47 PM | #24 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: cedar bluff, alabama
Posts: 15,292
|
if SHE is like mine........LOOK OUT BUDDY! she'll start catching fish and you won't, then she'll start telling you where, when, and how to fish. but if you are like me, you won't mind it one bit. yes, i am smiling now thinking about watching her catch some biguns.
|
01-18-09, 10:02 AM | #25 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: aiken, SC
Posts: 2,051
|
Make him use the bantam. the only way he is going to learn though is to throw it for an extended amount of time... like 4 hours. you might also like to take another older reel in case its a "cutter" when he backlashes. i learned to throw one at the age of eight and for eight hours i threw it and i backlashed maybe couple hundreed times. make sure you will help him take a backlash out though because thats a skill within itself. when we started taking a 24 year old kid last year fishing, he backlashed a lot and always just wanted to cut it so i would go back there and show him how to take it out. HAVE FUN.
|
Disclosure / Disclaimer
Before acting on the content posted, you should know that BassFishin.Com may benefit financially and otherwise from content, advertising, links or otherwise from anything you click on, read, or look at on our website. Click here to read our Disclosure Policy and Disclaimer. |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|