I never saw but only felt the snake or snakes that bit through my waders when I was in about 3 to 3 1/2 ft of water. I felt the snakes but was not real sure it was snakes until I felt the water seeping through my waders. I love to wade fish for bass but I guess I will not fish that way any more.
That is what happened to me. Felt like a water hose around my legs. Then I felt the water seeping into my waders. Found two snake bite places in waders. Scary!! I may stick to fishing from my boat from now on.
turn that adjustment on the left side all the way to 10 or all the way up. the adjust the adjustment on the other side to where your lure just begins to fall. that is a very good starting point to help avoid backlashes.
I used the chain stringer approach once and it worked. Caught it in the bail of the spinning reel. But I knew where it was; off a dock in 10' of water.
Those Cush-It rod end cushions have saved a few rods for me.
for a beginner I suggest a spinner bait or a worm. let him start with braid so you can pull the lure out of hang ups better and save your sanity. braid will not hurt much as long as the water is not gin clear. The worm will hang up much less with a beginner.
I use 18# Power Pro on Calcutta and Ambassadeur (yes that's the way it's spelled) reels. I don't have a bait caster younger than 25 YO. Brakes on the Calcuttas but not on the Ambsssadeurs. The tension knob is much more important than brakes. It must be adjusted every time you change baits. I have very few back lashes and can cast as far as most spinning reels, I do use a lot of spinning reels too. Try this, as you cast rotate your wrist so that the handle is on top of your reel. Spool will now be vertical and for some reason I read years ago it lessens backlashes. Something about physics. Good luck and practice makes all most perfect.
I use 18# Power Pro on Calcutta and Ambassadeur (y... (show quote)
try turning the adjustment on the left side of your reel all the way. The adjust the right side to allow he lure to just barely drop. after a few casts you can then loosen the left side a little to allow more distance. just don't over loosen it or you will be back with backlashes.