FS Digest

Hi I have been bass fishing for about a year now and I still use a push button and a spinning reel I have tried a bait caster but can’t for the life of me not back lash any tips?

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by bveryx

FS Digest

I personally cant use them either but that said watch lots of videos on correct tension setup and tuning and correct casting technique. There are many videos out there.

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by Researchanddevelop

FS Digest

Don’t put too much line on the reel it will make it backlash more. When you first start set the tension knob tight so you can just get the motion down without having to worry about a backlash. You won’t really be able to cast all that far but it will be a good first step. Try really hard not to get frustrated and put it down you’ll appreciate it in the long run!

Good luck

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by Cjviens

FS Digest

Practice casting into a five gallon bucket in the yard with a dummy lure.

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by djjesushchrist

FS Digest

Make sure the tension is set so the lure barely falls after pressing the button. Also, enable more braking until you get better at slowing the spool with your thumb. Everyone gets a backlash sometimes. They just won’t be as often or as bad once you get comfortable.

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by canoe5710

FS Digest

Put the brakes on 10 or max. Tighten the tension knob down so the bait won’t fall when you release the spool. Now slowly come off the tension knob so the bait just starts to creep down. Practice. Keep decreasing the tension knob. Now, knock down the brake setting a bit. Don’t worry about the brake so much. As a beginner you will probably be floating in the 7 or 8 range while being “good” at casting. You make your money with the tension knob when learning a baitcaster.

Also, make sure your efficient with casting. This plays a big part in it as well. If you properly load your rod up before sending that bait down range it’s going to make a big difference.

Always, always, always have your thumb over the spool. Trying to learn, maybe even always ON the spool. Light touch, if things seem like they are getting out of hand, thumb it.

I get cocky and still backlash all the time. Learn how to get yourself out of one. It’s not that hard once you’ve done it a few times, but it’s kind of hard to explain. Check out a few videos.

Also, no shame in spinning reel. Everyone on here has caught multiple great fish with a spinning reel. So don’t rush to learn the baitcaster. Take your time. Good luck!

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by Linelife84

FS Digest

I cast with the reel sideways . If that makes sense lol. Also make sure to stop lite before it hits the water

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by blueit0

FS Digest

Don't cast as hard while you're figuring it out. Start out just lobbing it.

While practicing you can pull out more line than you anticipate casting and put a piece of tape over the line on the spool. This will prevent backlashes from going deeper into the spool.

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by gotmynose

FS Digest

Maybe start with a side arm style cast with a nice heavy bait that’ll do most of the work for you. Don’t try loading the rod to cast at first. Others have mentioned the tension knob and brakes already.

Don’t forget; even the pros get backlash they just call it “professional over spin” lol

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by pjread

FS Digest

Going back to the very basics, just to be sure: You are stopping the spool with your thumb before/as the lure hits the water, right?

Before you cast, hold your rod at about 45 degrees with the lure reeled up near the tip. Open the bail and let the lure fall. When it hits the ground, if the spool keeps spinning, you need to tighten the drag/brake. If it's on the tightest setting and still does that, you probably need to use a lighter lure.

I used spinning reels forever and switched to baitcaster last year. Generally with non-baitcasters, you "whip" your wrist a bit as you cast. This causes backlashes on a BC reel, don't do it. Cast more with your arm/elbow.

Go out in your yard with a weight a practice casting smooth and easy. Gradually lessen the brake as you get more comfortable. With BC reels, it's better to be smooth than strong.

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by uivandal52

FS Digest

One thing I don't see mentioned very often that I have experienced moving from spinning to baitcasting gear is to avoid whipping your rod on the cast. I have to remember to keep my casts smooth and more of a throw.

I believe that when I whip the rod, it gets the spool moving faster than it should for the bait and when the lure slows down the spool doesn't as much and line comes off the spool without the lure pulling it out of the reel. This is when I get a backlash.

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by PeaboBryson

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

Be glad your using one with a break it was really backlash time when I was a kid starting out, all about the thumb then.

MadMac Loc: Marion (in Grant County) Indiana

Peabo makes a dern good point. Whip that rod and you'd better have a reel with good centrifugal brakes AND you need a well educated thumb too. A few weeks ago I put a little too much into a cast and could feel the braid under my thumb beginning to coil. The brake kicked in and that along with my thumb got me out of trouble. Yeah. Whipping yer rod can git cha inta trouble in a hurry.

mitzy123

mitzy123

arm motion has lot to do with backlash or no backlash