GaryH Loc: Northern Pa.

Remember your thumb is your best friend when using a baitcaster.

msmllm Loc: Huntington, WV

I was using my thumb on that button when I casted and it tangled all the line in reel up. Help

Jwid Loc: Lake Killarney, Ironton, MO

I started baitcasting four years ago. I am not too bad now. 12lb fluorocarbon line helps. Brake all the way and loosen one stop only when you start getting better. Lure has to be close to the tip to make long casts. Get good at getting bird nests out. They can happen even when you think your good. A big fighting fish can pull the line into the spool and you will get messed up on the next long cast. So make a few light casts after a big fish or snag. Good luck. It is worth learning.

FatRap66 Loc: Thousand Oaks, CA

When you're starting out you probably notice the back lash starts before the lure even hits the water, which is fixed between the spool speed and break adjustment, but your thumb is your best friend. Use it a lot. Don't wait for the lure to hit the water. Feather your thumb on the spool to slow it down if needed. As you get more confident you can start feathering less and it will go farther.

Harris T. Fudpucker Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

I use braid only, I find it works best, for me. Some use as high as 65lbs, I use 40 on two of mine and 30 on the rest, (low profile). Learn to 'feather the spool' while your lure is in flight. Put more pressure when it is needed to drop the lure where you want it. Where you have overhead trees, the bait caster is of no use, but most everywhere else, it is the best to use.

airmailmiller

when u set your tension for the bait , the bait should fall slowly and when it hits the ground or water depending on what kind of bait, spinner, topwater, etc, the spool should stop, that usually helps plus smooth casting action makes the difference

Fyrchf Loc: St. Charles, Mo

Also how heavy of baits are you trying to throw? And what is the length and action on the rod? Line weight?

Typically it’s much easier to throw heavier weights when learning to use a bait caster

denature Loc: Upstate New York

It's a little pricey but the new Shimano DC series is a GREAT reel. I have been bait casting for several years and this reel helps alleviate a lot of problems and frustration even when casting into the wind.

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

And that is why all my old Penn reels are used for drop fishing on piers or boats. I have always made casts farther with a Open face Spinning reel than a bait caster. I admit I have seen people surf fishing with them and going farther than me, but that is because they, 1) have longer Poles, 2) have more eyelets on them to cut down line slap. IMO of Course.

runandgun Loc: East Texas

Well, here goes!!! I too fished when I was just a kid with a friend down the road. Started out with a cane pole and string with a gold hook with grasshoppers for bluegill, then to catfish in local creeks. Parents said "be home by sundown". Those were the days for sure!!!! Finally got a Zebco reel. How neat that was!! Then spinning reels and eventually BC reels. I have been fortunate to have fished all across the southern United States. My bucket list is to fish up North before I go home. I'm 77 going on 27.

My take on BC reels is that they are not all the same obviously; not even the same kind in the same brand. I disagree with the gentleman about the BN (bird nest) on the spool early in the cast. If the BN occurs early in the cast, the spool is going faster than the lure is going out. I use my thumb only to stop the lure entering the water. If the reel is set right with the cast control and brake, thumbing the spool during the cast will cause a BN.

I agree that light line on a BC reel is a no, no. Anything less than 10 # you are asking for trouble. Go to a spinning reel with braid and tie on mono or fluorocarbon. Here on Lake Fork, I have 15 to 20 # mono on all my reels. My wife and I fish with Shimono reels; try in the long term to find a brand you like and purchase the same kind of reels. It really makes life simpler especially when fishing with someone else.

As one gentleman indicated, the rod makes a lot of difference. The longer medium rods are good for distance while shorter rods are good for pitching The are a lot of good videos to learn about reels, rods and line and the various types of casting. Check them out.

Spinner bait fishing is my favorite type of fishing. I love to barrel roll cast into hard to get to places and softly land the bait in the water. Learn that technique and buy helicopter spinner baits to have a lot of fun.

I like to help youngsters get into fishing. You can contact me at runandgun100@yahoo.com for any other questions. I don't always check this fishing board so I might miss your inqjuiry on here.

Mister twister Loc: Foxworth,Ms.

All of the above is true and most everything previous to that. Each of us are different in our methods of casting. No 2 out of 100 are gonna be even close in their cast. All concerned in their on way at their own pace with totally different tackle will eventually conquer the beast. Confidence in yourself is 80% of the winning combination. Next time you have a problem, stop, have a snack, ride a bit, look through you tackle, call check on the family. Then go back and and fix the mess and cast and cast. Your almost there.

ripogenu Loc: norfolk, MA

you need to train your thumb...........

Mister twister Loc: Foxworth,Ms.

As best we can with what we have. Arthur has bout got mine.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Thanks y'all for the latest installment of "Trials and Tribulations of the BC World".

I was wondering if it would be "summer reruns" or "all-new episodes"...looks like a "new" episode with "flashbacks" from previous seasons including "wrist roll" and "thumb dexterity". I must say, I absolutely LOVE the introduction of the "new cast member" proclaiming NEVER CAST INTO THE WIND !! LMAO..... that's gotta put a crimp in your "good" fishin' days, huh ?

You "bassmasters wannabes" and "self-proclaimed seasoned experts" certainly can come up with some interesting rationale for putting yourself through the histrionics required to use an innately, and obviously (despite the modern innovations), flawed tool.

I would implore you to drop the unfounded pretense of superiority, but then....where would I get my morning chuckle ?.... ghaynes' hilariously lame jokes ?...... not really enough to satisfy my daily appetite ! LOL.

Thanks again, I look forward to more "fishing technique entertainment".

Mister twister Loc: Foxworth,Ms.

So you disagree with recommendations because we’re lost to trying to explain what might or might not work to solve the backlash problem. I still face the demon from time to time myself. All I can offer is what helped me. I’m not a pro a semi pro or even consider myself a good angler. Wish I was. But I work as hard as any on the water and the fish still hold a huge lead on me. I small idea might help someone else is worth a bit of our time.