got my first baitcast combo :)

[crankybait]

WEll folks, I finally did it got a baitcaster. Now lets see if it lives up to the hype. Huckfinn, over in Ledgewood hooked me up with a falcon rod and a Shimano Callisto Thanks so much Huck I really appreciate it. I just aced 2 tests and my mom let me go... an hour drive but well worth it. Pics:



I got some trilene 10lb to go with it... just to get used to it, as there was no Cajun Redcast
Thanks again Huck!

[texasbasser]

looks good cranky! Hope it serves you well.

[HOG Ranger]

Once you get used to that baitcaster you will really like. I wouldn't put very good line on it until you have mastered the art of casting it.

[Christopherkeene9]

Watch that reel, I have the same one and line will get behind the spool making a big mess or totally breaking it. I did that about a month or two ago and still haven't fixed (that big of a pain in the butt and been busy).

Christopher

GOOD LUCK!

[keithdog]

I agree with HOG, don't spool up with expensive line untill you have casting it down. You WILL get your share of birdnests learning, but once you get the hang of it, you'll love it. Looks like a really nice outfit. Here is a bit of advice incase you havn't heard this before. Get a practice plug if you don't have one already. Tie it to you line and press the free spool button and watch it fall to the ground keeping your thumb at the spool incase the reel starts to overspin once the practice plug hits the floor. Adjust your anti backlash control untill you can let the plug fall freely to the floor and stop without causing a backlash. then your ready to start practicing.

[crankybait]

Yeah I just got my first backlash... quite a pain
-not to self: do not practice baitcasting when it it pitch dark. Do not attempt to unpick backlash in dark
i was using a buzzbait. I do not really understand the whole idea of the free fall though... it always overspins no matter what

[JB]

cranky, a tip for ya since its brand new to ya

tie on a heavy bolt or washer from the house, or anything heavier than a normal lure.
Then set the line drop so that the heavy object just drops a inch of so and stops , then set your brake on the other side of the reel to about 5-6.
Practise with that setting and you'll get a feel for the action and how to release your thumb, but hit the thumb on the reel again to feather the lure to a stop.
A heavy object is super easy to learn on, then as you get better and learn lighter objects, like a 1/2 jig, you'll learn to feather the spool with your thumb to avoid backlashes..
we all experience backlashes , its usually when you throw to hard and are not thinking of the feathering of the thumb to the spool to regulate the spin of the spool.
You can get it down in a day or so I am sure.

[jooleyen]

Awesome Cranky. I have the same carpet as you

I saw that same reel on a combo at Sportsman's.

I agree that it overspins no matter what. When I got my first baitcaster, (a not high quality pflueger purist) it would overspin. That's how I learned to not use the tension knob on any baitcaster.
But...
If you get a high quality baitcaster with clicking adjustment on the tension knob, you will easily be able to adjust it, and it will work. I tried to use the other tension thingy on the left side of the reel. It seems pointless.

[Bender]

You should screw the spool tension in if it is overrunning on a free fall. It is the knob just behind the handle. Just be glad you got a good reel first. I bought a cheap one to try baitcasters out a couple years ago and it made me really mad, that made me not like casting reels. Only later to pick up some Calcutta reels and to find I had a bum Quantum* reel to start with. Just keep at it, at some time it will just "click" and then you will love it.
*not to start any fight, it was a really cheap one at $40 or so.
Edit, set the brake (on the left) pretty heavy and then start to cast. Let it of as you go until you get a backlash at the end of the cast (which I found the thumb works best to avoid) and then turn it back on a little.

[crankybait]

bolt tied on... drops about 3 inches or so, magnets at 8.
This reel is 40 bucks too though. It was all that was left of the low profiles on sale. It seems to be decent, and someone on another forum said it works well.

tomorrow morning first thing I do after showering eating and brushing is practicing I plan on being able to hit my bastekball hoop from as far as possible. Feathering the spool I sort of understand... I was doing fine until I casted a tad too far and couldn't see the lure (its night here). Hopefully I get it down before i drop by FL...
Thanks for the tips

jool- great carpet, isn't it?

[jooleyen]

Yes Cranky. The carpet takes nice pictures

Now that I have my Revo STX, I can pitch about 25 yards.

[ToPwAt'R GuY]

Nice combo Cranky.

[Vabass22]

Congrats Cranky!!
You oughta really enjoy that Falcon.

[adamchasejones]

Id start off with braid or some big mono cause its easier to pick out the backlashes.

[crankybait]

haha thanks. Right now I'm just using 10 lb trilene.

[JB]

you can always take about 30 yards of line off the spool, put a piece of black electrical tape around the spool to halt any more line comming off, then reel back those 30 yards of line back on, that way if you do backlash, it will only go so far into the spool...or just decide how far back you want to put the tape...
I've never done it but fish with some guys that have it on thier baitcasters.
Alot of the technique is just learning to lower the rodtip, the swing up and let the lure out of your hand to practise a underhand pitch. Try a paper plate target in the house if its no nasty to try outside.

[bassintxlady]

congrats cranky.....i'm sure your going to get the hang of that baitcaster in no time .....it's one thing just practicing....but when you have the heart full of the desire ...then it just seems to come in the long run.....that's a nice combo.....glad to see the "shimano".....that's all i fish with....anyway.....good luck and good fishin buddy........

[crankybait]

Thanks, I seem to be getting it. JB thanks VERY much for the electrical tape tip. that would help tons... I've spent a total of like an hour picking out backlashes...

[JB]

yer welcome cranky, i may be caged up here in the northern snow, but still like to hand out tips to baitcasternewbies rofl

[Vabass22]

rofl at jb!

[everettvet]

Originally Posted by JB

Try a paper plate target in the house if its no nasty to try outside.

watch out for that ceiling with the rod tip. Hit it to hard and you won't be happy and neither will be the rod tip . I know from experience.

[HOG Ranger]

As others have posted, the most important setting on a baitcaster is the tension screw and not the brake control.

And Everettvet is right, you will snap that tip off if you hit the ceiling with it. Ceiling fans won't do you much good either.

[Christopherkeene9]

Originally Posted by HOG Ranger

As others have posted, the most important setting on a baitcaster is the tension screw and not the brake control.

And Everettvet is right, you will snap that tip off if you hit the ceiling with it. Ceiling fans won't do you much good either.

Or doors and door jams

[HOG Ranger]

The rod lockers have got me twice, now I have nylon covers on all my rods. You can buy them at Gander for $3.99 and they keep your rods from tangling.

My wife shut my Shimano in the hatch of my car back in 1984 and I have almost forgave her for it.

[angelus40]

nice outfit cranky... it's hard to learn at first i'm still learing
i get backlashs but as bad a trick i got in one of my fidhing mags
turn the reel on the side then cast will eliminate most of the backlash
i tried it and it does work.... make sure your thumb is lightly on the line
and stop it at the target