1st on a baitcaster

[damian2b]

Welp I went out last evening after work to practice with the baitcaster and got a bonus! Needless to say actually catching a fish the first time out with the new reel was icing on the cake. Getting use to the reel hasnt been too difficult, i did backlash one time although it wasnt serious...I forgot to tighten down on the brakes. Anyhow from what I can tell the Daiwa Viento is very smooth and casts relatively easy even for a newbie like me. I caugh the below on a strike king crankbait in sexy shad. Not toooo shabby.

[MississippiBoy]

Nicely done, damian. Nice confidence booster, there.

There is one thing I'm gonna mention gently, because it needs to be said, and since I'm the nicest guy on the forum, I'll say it first.

If you're gonna catch and release, touch the fish as little as possible. Wet your hand, lip it, get the hook out, quick picture, let him go. Many many times, the bass will die if handled too roughly or touched too much. Putting it on the ground like you have there is just as bad.

Now, if that fish is gonna be dinner, it doesn't matter. But for C&R, be gentle.




Ok, everybody else, I told him, so you don't need to.

[damian2b]

Sorry about the quality of the pic. That was taken with a camera phone which was all i had...I tried to get it some scale but my abilities as a photographer are greatly lacking..

[damian2b]

Thanks for the heads up. That is definitely food for thought. Going forward I will definitely limit my handling of the fish.

[Lilmoosecountry]

NICE FISH!!! Keep it up.

[jasonfish320]

I only see one problem with this picture...the handles are on the wrong side of that reel...

[damian2b]

Originally Posted by jasonfish320

I only see one problem with this picture...the handles are on the wrong side of that reel...

Yea...after only using spinning reels my whole life I had to get the left hand retrieve. Just a comfort thing with me.

[JB]

NIce wtg! ....

[islandbass]

Well done! Glad to see you have the handle on the "correct" side.

[Buzz Wing]

Way to go man! Be careful handling him next time though. Putting him on a hard surface like that isn't good for them.

-Buzz

[Lilmoosecountry]

Does'nt really matter if he's heading to the frying pan.

[Bender]

Nice bonus! I wish I had started out with LH retrieve reels, now I don't think I can make the change and I wish I could.

[damian2b]

I am sure if I absolutely had to I could use the right hand retrieve. It would be awkward but i would get use to it. When I made the purchase I figured heck...they make left hand retrieves and that is what I am use to so why not? Also I cast with my right hand so after the cast i do not have to switch hands to reel in. All a matter of preference i guess. That is unless someone wants to fight about it ;-) jk

[Rebbasser]

Congrats, Damian! May it be the first of many.

[damian2b]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[3dkicker]

Learn to retrieve left and right and it will reduce the wear and tear on the arms after a full day or two or three fishing.

[zooker]

i agree with kicker switch hitting keeps you from facing massive arm fatique..

welcome to the league of south paw chunkers..

zooker

[WTL]

I'm right handed but cast with the left so that I don't have to switch hands to feel comfortable reeling. One of these days I will learn to cast with the other hand just for the angles it gives me when sometimes fishing docks, but havent got around to it yet.

[bamabassman]

lefty here, and cast with the left and retrieve with the right. and a wonderful fish damian!!! now about mississippiboy being the nicest on the forum....... i really doubt that cause i am the nicest. and the most handsome!! i still my front teeth ssisssippboy!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. keep up the hooking damian, and also keep posting them pics. but you are right about the handling mississippiboy, good advise friend.

[keithdog]

Great way to break in that new casting reel damian. Once you get the casting down pat, I bet you'll be looking for the next combo. Ooohhhh, was that the bait monkey I just saw run by?

[bamabassman]

lol keith. yep that was the bait monkey you saw. he hit me today for a 100 bucks too. oh well, we gotta love that ol monkey.

[bcklash]

2b, I reel my spinning rods left handed and my baitcasters right handed, guess I'm little goofy.

[BigBassin144]

Nice fish. Good work on learning the baitcaster. The Viento is a very nice reel. I do like the Pfleugers and BPS reel with the dual brakes. Those cast like a dream, but the viento cast good too, I just have to get some lighter line for it.

BB