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Baitcasting
Hello. I'm very new to fishing so please excuse me if this is a dumb
question.I bought a Shakespeare Alpha 310B baitcaster recently. It was on sale
at Walmart and I thought "what the hell I'll try it". It only cost $20.
I have been told baitcasters take a little getting used to, but I
can't seem to get this one to cast very well. I realize that it's very
cheap for a baitcaster. My question is this: After I release the spool,
shouldn't the lure just drop easily? How heavy does it need to be? I'm thinking that a higher quality baitcaster would do this a lot
better. OR maybe I just don't know what I'm doing? thanks in advance Max |
brymerrick
Aug 22
2005
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| There should be a spool tension knob on one side of the reel. You can
loosen or tighten this based on the weight of the lure you are casting and
your style of casting. For heavy baits I like to set spool tension so that
it needs a little shake to start dropping, but then slowly drops all the way
to the floor. For lighter lures I like to set spool tension so it drops
quickly to the floor, but doesn't spin more than a single loop of line off
the spool when the lure hits the floor. For really light stuff I pick up a
spinning rod. Is there any kind of backlash control on this reel? A magnetic brake or a
centrifical brake? If magnetic set it at about 3/4s of max and then adjust
as needed to reduce backlash. If centrifical then set for brakes out to
start. Some guys say set six brakes while learning, but I think four is
enough. If no backlash control then you will have to educate yor thumb to stop the
slow and stop the spool to reduce backlash or overruns. Yes, $20 for a baitcaster is cheap. |
Bob
Aug 22
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| I have seen guys buy cheap baitcasters then give them away claiming they
were broke, stupid and/or just not worth the hassle, $20.00 is super cheap.
If you want to learn how to use a baitcaster do yourself a favor. Buy a
decent one, most would agree that a shimano curado is a great baitcaster to
start with, but again at around 100.00 - 120.00, make sure you will get the
use out of it. Tie on a practice plug, search the internet for tips( There's
tons) and get to casting. If you like to fish a baitcasting reel is the way
to go, better accuracy just being one of the reasons for me. |
alwaysfishking
Aug 22
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| Thanks. I couldn't find the tension control knob before. I think I was
adjusting the anti-backlash control. What's a practice plug? max |
brymerrick
Aug 22
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| Big piece of plastic shaped like a cast sinker that you can practice casting
with. |
Bob
Aug 22
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| Or, do what my brother does... rummage around the work bench, find a
1/2-ounce steel nut, and tie it on. Then go out in the back yard and start
casting. It's cheaper than a practice plug.... wind-resistant.... weighs
approximately the same as many lures you'll be using... and when it hangs up
repeatedly in the grass on the, you get to practice your "fishing" words. As an added benefit, when you tug real hard and the nut finally breaks loose
from the clump of crabgrass, it will come shooting straight back at your
head with a force of several hundred foot pounds per second. Dodging it will
help you develop the essential skill to avoid bullet-shaped slip sinkers
that attack you when your partner breaks them loose from underwater
obstructions.
Big piece of plastic shaped like a cast sinker that you can practice casting
with. |
Joe
Aug 23
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| And you will really need to practice the head duck thing for the flying
bullet weights. They hurt real bad. A good fishing buddy will yell the
words..."Incoming" when it does pop free |
alwaysfishking
Aug 24
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| >bullet weights. They hurt real bad. A good fishing buddy will yell the
>words..."Incoming" when it does pop free
> I always yell "incoming"...
Sometimes before it hits Randy in the chest/back/leg/etc...
Sometimes after. ;) Harry J aka Thundercat
Brooklyn Bill's Tackle Shop Fishing Team
http://www.brooklynbillstackleshop.com
Share the knowledge, compete on execution. |
Thundercat
Aug 24
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