Pulled the trigger and bought my first baitcaster today!...I have no idea what I'm doing
Aug 17, 2019 17:52:46 #
Aug 17, 2019 17:52:53 #
I picked up the same combo recently. Super frustrating but I’m starting to get the hang of it.
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by Lieutenant_Kangaroo
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by Lieutenant_Kangaroo
Aug 17, 2019 17:53:02 #
Suggest you put on some
mono backing
Then 30lb braid
And buy some floro to use as leader.
Since its your first baitcaster having braid as main line will cover your top waters and such. While say if you want to use some paddle tails, senkos etc. You can tie on some floro.
It'd be your all rounder for the time being.
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by th33unsaltednutt
mono backing
Then 30lb braid
And buy some floro to use as leader.
Since its your first baitcaster having braid as main line will cover your top waters and such. While say if you want to use some paddle tails, senkos etc. You can tie on some floro.
It'd be your all rounder for the time being.
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by th33unsaltednutt
Aug 17, 2019 17:53:06 #
I second this. Definitely don't put that 10lb braid on that baitcaster, you'll make things more difficult for yourself starting out. And I would even up it from 30lbs to 50lbs starting out. You'll have less birds nests and can work on thumb control easier.
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by gmlesak
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by gmlesak
Aug 17, 2019 17:53:13 #
Personally I recommend you stick with mono while learning how to use a baitcaster. Yes, braid around 30lb will have roughly the same thickness as 12lb mono and help reduce the line digging into the spool braid is just harder to work than mono so that could lead to extra frustration when it comes to tying knots/changing lures.
Set the breaks and tension all the way down. Keep casting until you no longer nest. Dial both or one at a time back until you aren't nesting, rinse and repeat.
It will take time, I repeat it will take time to not nest. You will get frustrated, you may end up having to cut your spool due to nesting so bad, you may end up wanting to throw your pole in the water. These are all normal things to feel and go through.
I highly recommend you watch several videos on YouTube about using and casting a baitcaster before you even attempt to cast it once. Practice, practice, and practice some more.
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by lettercarrier86
Set the breaks and tension all the way down. Keep casting until you no longer nest. Dial both or one at a time back until you aren't nesting, rinse and repeat.
It will take time, I repeat it will take time to not nest. You will get frustrated, you may end up having to cut your spool due to nesting so bad, you may end up wanting to throw your pole in the water. These are all normal things to feel and go through.
I highly recommend you watch several videos on YouTube about using and casting a baitcaster before you even attempt to cast it once. Practice, practice, and practice some more.
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by lettercarrier86
Aug 17, 2019 17:53:19 #
Aug 17, 2019 18:50:49 #
NOT! Put a 1oz sinker on the end and tighten the brake and clutch to the point where you have to shake the rod tip till the spool drops the weight. At this point start casting and as you get more comfortable with the spool and casting start to loosen the clutch and tension. You should be able to hold the pole straight out and press the spool release and the weight will drop down without spool continuing to spin. No birdnests. Do that each time you have a new rig on. You'll do more fishing than untangling. Good luck
Aug 17, 2019 19:32:58 #
I started bait-casting with a very old Pfluger Supreme (I still have it) 50 years ago. I just was getting the hang of it when I enlisted. After my service I started whipping the water again. The hot line that was the then new Maxima if I remember correctly. It was called the line the fish can’t see. It did not take but a few casts to see that neither can the fisherman. We were always fishing for Salmon and Steelhead in the rivers and I found out real quickly that a bright spoon helped me to thumb the real just before it hit. If you couldn’t see the lure prior to hitting it was always a bad bird nest. That’s good advice on setting it tight to start as well. If the spool lets out the line faster than the line is traveling it’s a mess to straighten out.
Good Luck and Good fishing.
Good Luck and Good fishing.
Aug 18, 2019 00:55:02 #
I also just got my first bait caster today. Spooled it with mono till I get a little bit better. I got it in the bucket a few times but I think it was just luck. I can see many hours of practice are needed. Good luck with
your new toy.
your new toy.
Aug 18, 2019 09:50:44 #
Good luck and tight lines! I've tried bait casters but frustrated me to much so I'm spinning rods till I can't fish anymore! Lol!
Aug 18, 2019 11:32:29 #
I definitely agree with the post that tell's you to attach the wieght, lure you are using and adjust the brake so that the line drops slowly to the ground with no backlash. Put the magnetic brake on seven and you should be able to cast. It will not cast as far as you would like, but after getting used to it, you can loosen up the brakes and get farther cast. God bless Dan
Aug 18, 2019 13:46:37 #
This is just a FYI to those that use braided lines. Typically you will only ever need 1/2 your spool at any given time. After a couple years take your real in and have it taken off and spoiled backwards so the 50% of the line you never use is now on top and you get twice the life of your braided line. Some of the braided can get spendy.
Aug 18, 2019 14:31:05 #
Every body is giving great advice. The only thing I can add is, find yourself a mowed field and practice, practice, practice. Start with short casts and work your way out. Try using a plastic weight. School lots are a great place to practice and they are everywhere. Every body that uses a bait caster had had to learn how to undo birds nests. At the latter faze of my practicing I would practice at night and got to the point of being able to undo nests in the dark. I wish you luck. Once you get good at the casting, bait casters are one of the more enjoyable things about fishing.
Aug 18, 2019 14:48:37 #
For a 1st baitcaster, i would have highly recommended an abu garcia blackmax. $60 at walmart. I threw 8lb test on it, with just a heavy hook stuck in a cork. Then i went out to the yard and practiced in the grass, aiming for something. Much less embarrassing to fix backlash when you’re not on your boat driving.
Aug 18, 2019 15:57:23 #
stuco
Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City
I recommend you go to Walmart, buy the 300 yards for a dollar mono line, spool it up, and put at least a half ounce sinker on there and start with that. That way, if you get a monster birdsnest, you're out a few cents and can re-spool, rinse repeat. After a few hours of practice, you'll start to get it down.
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