How do u use a BAITCASTER

bubba bass bigfoot · 04-21-06, 01:04 PM

how do u use a baitcaster without backlash. or just properly i have tryed but i think the reel sucked anyways. but i have always used spinning or spincast reels. so can you help.
thanks

JB · 04-21-06, 01:29 PM

bigfoot,
take that baitcaster, and first take the brake(left side usually on reel ) and set it to zero, tie on a bait of any weight, and raise your rod tip to a 45 degree angle up towards the sky, and push in on the thumb bar, see how far the bait drops. AFter you have that adjusted, you can put the brake back up to about the 1/2 way mark 5 out of a 10 setting..
If it drops to fast, you'll probably get backlash. I like my lure to drop about 10 inches and then STOP on its own...you can adjust the line drop (usually on the right side of the reel) till your lure drops about 10 inches..others may tell you that they don't let the lure drop at all, its a matter of personnal preference and conditions.
Once you cast, make sure your thumb is ever so lightly riding in the spool of line, that way you can control the speed also

IL.bassin36 · 04-21-06, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB

bigfoot,
take that baitcaster, and first take the brake(left side usually on reel ) and set it to zero, tie on a bait of any weight, and raise your rod tip to a 45 degree angle up towards the sky, and push in on the thumb bar, see how far the bait drops. AFter you have that adjusted, you can put the brake back up to about the 1/2 way mark 5 out of a 10 setting..
If it drops to fast, you'll probably get backlash. I like my lure to drop about 10 inches and then STOP on its own...you can adjust the line drop (usually on the right side of the reel) till your lure drops about 10 inches..others may tell you that they don't let the lure drop at all, its a matter of personnal preference and conditions.
Once you cast, make sure your thumb is ever so lightly riding in the spool of line, that way you can control the speed also

I do pretty much the same thing except I set 2 brakes on (Shimano) then adjust the tension knob to where the spool stops when the bait hits the ground. Thats setting is pretty loose and I wouldn't recommend it for somebody just starting out.

The best advice I can give is don't try and cast very hard. Start easy and work your way up. If you try and really throw it out there the spool will overrun and backlash.

bubba bass bigfoot · 04-21-06, 02:12 PM

ok thanks yeah the baitcaster i have is a Shimano.

flamez · 04-21-06, 02:40 PM

lol people always try and throw the baitcaster a country mile their first try and it always ruins all the line i use il bassins way

flamez · 04-21-06, 02:42 PM

atleast if its windy i do that if its not all that windy that reels setting is on 1 and the tension nob loosened a lil

never really backlash with practice if u thumb the spool ofcourse if you are like me when in a boat u tend to hook into anything behind you and really have a bad time after you try and cast xD

bubba bass bigfoot · 04-21-06, 02:50 PM

my baitcaster has a percition center spool thing and a magnetic control thing. no matter what i mess with, it drops to the ground very slowly. so whats up

KenDammit · 04-21-06, 04:12 PM

theres a knob on the side where the reel handle is. You just turn it like you would a screw..left loosens it, right tightens it. Turn it to the left and your spool will spin a lot more freely. Turn it to the right to tighten things back up.

The way I learned(with ease) is put the brakes all the way on, then loosen the spool tension until the bait slowly falls down to the ground and the spool stops right there. Use a heavy bait..like a 3/8oz jig or a spinnerbait or something and just practice casting. The big part is the thumb control. You have to pay attention to the way you're lure is travelling and adjust the speed of the spool accordingly..and lastly, you should get used to stopping the spool just before your bait hits the water. Don't try throwing hard or far, just use a smooth motion and whip the bait out.

Bass Ackwards · 04-21-06, 05:51 PM

Also when throwing anything, if the nest occurs at the beginning of the cast adjust the spool tension (tighter) if it nests at the end of the cast adjust the magnetic break (more). That is assuming that you can throw it.

Rebbasser · 04-21-06, 07:19 PM

Take a look here:

http://pages.infinit.net/fishing/bait101.htm

Best site I have seen for properly setting up a baitcaster.

bubba bass bigfoot · 04-21-06, 08:06 PM

thanks for the help everyone i can't beleave i learned how to use it in one day.
now im casting with it like its a spinning reel lol. thanks alot

FlyRod · 04-21-06, 08:15 PM

Three words of advice, buddy...

PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE!

It'll be worth it!

Good Luck!

FR

JB · 04-21-06, 08:27 PM

bigfoot,
also, don't forget that a heavy lure is easy to throw on a baitcaster, if you ever put on a super light weight lure, adjust your line drop and don't be suprised if you can't throw it as far, and its easier to backlash..its just part of the game, you have adjustments to make all day in fishing

bubba bass bigfoot · 04-21-06, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB

bigfoot,
also, don't forget that a heavy lure is easy to throw on a baitcaster, if you ever put on a super light weight lure, adjust your line drop and don't be suprised if you can't throw it as far, and its easier to backlash..its just part of the game, you have adjustments to make all day in fishing

lol well i thought i had it down lol untill the light lure.... and no matter what i do with the drop it still dont cast right. then i t backlashed and i got POed and gave up lol.
i need to get a better reel lol the one i have is pretty old so yeah.. and just now trying to use it.

IL.bassin36 · 04-21-06, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba bass bigfoot

lol well i thought i had it down lol untill the light lure.... and no matter what i do with the drop it still dont cast right. then i t backlashed and i got POed and gave up lol.
i need to get a better reel lol the one i have is pretty old so yeah.. and just now trying to use it.

You can only go so light. The stifness of the rod has alot to do with lure weight too.

rrw4258 · 04-21-06, 10:52 PM

hey bigfoot...

where ya livin in ohio? I live in ohio too!

Ryan

bubba bass bigfoot · 04-21-06, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrw4258

hey bigfoot...

where ya livin in ohio? I live in ohio too!

Ryan

i live Columbus

bassguy2004 · 04-22-06, 09:43 AM

I agree with Flyrod, practice, just practice. I was the hardest thing for me to do was learn how to use a baitcaster. I started with a Penn reel back in the day, only because I didn't know better. Just keep chuckin' it. Once you under stand the dynamics of the reel, it will become second nature to you to make the minor adjustments to make the casts longer and more true.

04-21-06, 01:04 PM	#1
bubba bass bigfoot BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 206	How do u use a BAITCASTER how do u use a baitcaster without backlash. or just properly i have tryed but i think the reel sucked anyways. but i have always used spinning or spincast reels. so can you help. thanks

04-21-06, 02:40 PM	#5
flamez BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: St.Cloud Central Florida Posts: 910	lol people always try and throw the baitcaster a country mile their first try and it always ruins all the line i use il bassins way __________________ "You got that right flamez, only one other bait more fun to throw than a buzzbait, and thats a sand minnow!" - Trap

04-21-06, 02:42 PM	#6
flamez BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: St.Cloud Central Florida Posts: 910	atleast if its windy i do that if its not all that windy that reels setting is on 1 and the tension nob loosened a lil never really backlash with practice if u thumb the spool ofcourse if you are like me when in a boat u tend to hook into anything behind you and really have a bad time after you try and cast xD __________________ "You got that right flamez, only one other bait more fun to throw than a buzzbait, and thats a sand minnow!" - Trap

04-21-06, 07:19 PM	#10
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,141	Take a look here: http://pages.infinit.net/fishing/bait101.htm Best site I have seen for properly setting up a baitcaster. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

04-21-06, 10:52 PM	#16
rrw4258 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bellevue, Ohio Posts: 2,338	hey bigfoot... where ya livin in ohio? I live in ohio too! Ryan __________________ Never Give Up!

04-21-06, 01:29 PM	#2
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	bigfoot, take that baitcaster, and first take the brake(left side usually on reel ) and set it to zero, tie on a bait of any weight, and raise your rod tip to a 45 degree angle up towards the sky, and push in on the thumb bar, see how far the bait drops. AFter you have that adjusted, you can put the brake back up to about the 1/2 way mark 5 out of a 10 setting.. If it drops to fast, you'll probably get backlash. I like my lure to drop about 10 inches and then STOP on its own...you can adjust the line drop (usually on the right side of the reel) till your lure drops about 10 inches..others may tell you that they don't let the lure drop at all, its a matter of personnal preference and conditions. Once you cast, make sure your thumb is ever so lightly riding in the spool of line, that way you can control the speed also

04-21-06, 02:12 PM	#4
bubba bass bigfoot BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 206	ok thanks yeah the baitcaster i have is a Shimano.

04-21-06, 02:50 PM	#7
bubba bass bigfoot BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 206	my baitcaster has a percition center spool thing and a magnetic control thing. no matter what i mess with, it drops to the ground very slowly. so whats up

04-21-06, 04:12 PM	#8
KenDammit BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Richmond, KY Posts: 691	theres a knob on the side where the reel handle is. You just turn it like you would a screw..left loosens it, right tightens it. Turn it to the left and your spool will spin a lot more freely. Turn it to the right to tighten things back up. The way I learned(with ease) is put the brakes all the way on, then loosen the spool tension until the bait slowly falls down to the ground and the spool stops right there. Use a heavy bait..like a 3/8oz jig or a spinnerbait or something and just practice casting. The big part is the thumb control. You have to pay attention to the way you're lure is travelling and adjust the speed of the spool accordingly..and lastly, you should get used to stopping the spool just before your bait hits the water. Don't try throwing hard or far, just use a smooth motion and whip the bait out.

04-21-06, 05:51 PM	#9
Bass Ackwards BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 181	Also when throwing anything, if the nest occurs at the beginning of the cast adjust the spool tension (tighter) if it nests at the end of the cast adjust the magnetic break (more). That is assuming that you can throw it.

04-21-06, 08:06 PM	#11
bubba bass bigfoot BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 206	thanks for the help everyone i can't beleave i learned how to use it in one day. now im casting with it like its a spinning reel lol. thanks alot

04-21-06, 08:15 PM	#12
FlyRod BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,270	Three words of advice, buddy... PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE! It'll be worth it! Good Luck! FR

04-21-06, 08:27 PM	#13
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	bigfoot, also, don't forget that a heavy lure is easy to throw on a baitcaster, if you ever put on a super light weight lure, adjust your line drop and don't be suprised if you can't throw it as far, and its easier to backlash..its just part of the game, you have adjustments to make all day in fishing

04-22-06, 09:43 AM	#18
bassguy2004 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 317	I agree with Flyrod, practice, just practice. I was the hardest thing for me to do was learn how to use a baitcaster. I started with a Penn reel back in the day, only because I didn't know better. Just keep chuckin' it. Once you under stand the dynamics of the reel, it will become second nature to you to make the minor adjustments to make the casts longer and more true. __________________ Show me the water, I will fish. Redwood Empire Bass Club

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