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Help with baitcasting rod/reel
Hi all, first of all I would like to say I really enjoy the newsgroup. Your
tips, stories, etc. make the days at work go by a little faster and the
fishing a little easier each time so thanks for that. Anyways, to the
question...My buddy recently gave me a baitcasting rod and reel and I've been having
quite a hard time learning to use it. It currently has 12 lb Trilene XL
Smooth Casting line in there. The way I set the spool is lets say I have a
tube on, I will set it so that when I press the release button, it will
slowly take line, not drop freely to the floor. I also keep a steady
pressure on the spool when casting but almost every time, the line gets
loose on the spool and eventually tangled. I was wondering if I'm simply
using the wrong line for this type of reel or if I just need more practice.
Honestly I prefer using braided line (fireline) because of lower memory and
better sensitivity but my buddy wasn't sure if I should use it in a
baitcasting reel. We fish mainly for Smallmouth and for the occasional Pike
around here so I don't really need a heavy line. I currently use a light rod
with spinning reel spooled with 8 lb fireline and I find it does an awesome
job. Anyways, any help on which line would be best and any tips on casting
and best setup for the reel would be appreciated as I really would like to
learn to fish with this type of rod/reel combo. I know I'm asking a lot here but go easy on me guys I'm new to fishing and
still learning day by day! Thanks! Dre |
Dre
Sep 22
2004
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| Brand & model of reel would be helpful. Same for the rod. |
Dan
Sep 22
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| The 12lb Trilene should be just fine..Fireline is not a braided line, I
find Fireline doesn't work well on a bait casting reel, some guys like
it..I think more practice will help.. Git-R-Done |
uscgret
Sep 22
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| I think your trying to cast to far and not letting the rod do the work for
you. Practice casting only 25 to 30ft to begin with. Then build up from
there. |
Illinois
Sep 22
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| The reel is a Shimano Crestfire but it's one or two years old. I'm not
sure about the rod, I'm at work so I'll have to check tonight. It's a
Berkley medium-heavy rob but I'm not sure what lenght and model
exactly. On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 06:04:34 -0500, "Dan, danl, danny boy, Redbeard, |
Dre
Sep 22
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| Well, I find that it will not cast very far even if I don't over do
it. I may get 20 feet at best. How tight should I set the cast
control button on there? Should I loosen it right up instead and just
put more pressure on the spool when I cast? On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 12:20:24 GMT, "Illinois Fisherman" |
Dre
Sep 22
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| I think the Crestfire has a magnetic backlash control, set it at about
3/4 and go from there.. Git-R-Done |
uscgret
Sep 22
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| Something I haven't seen mentioned yet is this; try casting sidearm at first
until you get the "feel" of feathering the spool with your thumb.
Eventually, you'll begin to sense when the line is beginning to over-run and
instinctively apply a little pressure to slow the spool. Also, stay with
something in the range of 3/8 to 3/4 oz. Heavier lures tend to make you over
confident and lighter is a real pain to throw at first. If you're trying to
throw 1/8 oz jigs or unweighted tubes, range is never going to be very great
with a MH rod. Pitchin' is about the best you can do with the setup. Mark ---
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Mark
Sep 22
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| Thanks, I'll give it a try with a heavier bait. On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 15:03:53 GMT, "Mark W. Oots" <mark_ctc@(delete |
Dre
Sep 22
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| With a medium heavy rod look and see the amount of weight it can cast. Use a
weight about in the middle of the range anywhere from say 1/2 to 3/4 oz to
begin with. Make sure that the handle on the reel points straight up in the
air as you cast out. This will have the top of your hand to the sky, palm
facing to ground. Your tension on the spool brake sounds right. The weight
should slowly drop to the ground as you press the freespool button to cast. As you making the cast, if the birdsnest starts before the weight hits the
ground increase the reel brake pressure slightly. If it occurs after the
weight hits the ground you need to use your thumb to slow the cast a couple
of feet before the weight hits the ground or water. |
Illinois
Sep 23
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| Aaah, if I'm understanding correctly, I shouldn't have to put ANY
pressure at all on the spool until a couple feet before the bait hits
the water? I was keeping some pressure on it through the whole cast.
That explains why it wouldn't cast very far. I thought without the
pressure it would get tangled but I never thought of increasing the
reel brake pressure because I didn't know what it was for. Makes
perfect sense now. So I probably just need to set the reel brake slightly tighter and not
put pressure when I cast until about 2 feet before the bait hits the
water. I know practice helps but practicing with the wrong setup just makes
it frustrating for nothing. Thank you very much for the help!! I'll
let you know how it goes. Dre On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 13:02:52 GMT, "Illinois Fisherman" |
Dre
Sep 23
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| Hey, I just found this article with pictures to explain the technique.
Now I understand what you mean by the handle needing to point straight
up. It will actually be down for me cause I'm a lefty hehehe. Wow, now
I can't wait to get back on the water lol! http://www.marinews.com/fishing/fishing/Tackle%20Tests/tt_basicbaitcasting.html Dre On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 14:09:50 GMT, Dre <iamplr@NOSPAMhotmail.com> |
Dre
Sep 23
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| Maintain light pressure on the reel spool to detect a backlash. If it starts
press down with your thumb to stop it. |
Illinois
Sep 23
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