Baitcasters?

I've been fishing for nearly 60 years, never been what one might call a "successful" fisherman but I've had many hours of fun with family and friends.
Well a couple years ago my wife, who loves fishing more than I, bought me a baitcaster. The first I'd ever owned or fished with, I thanked her profusely and anxiously awaited a chance to show her "this was the reel to use". Well I struck out, big birds nest on my first cast even with using my finger as a brake, embarrassing.
I put the reel aside for that trip, went home and finally read the directions which took a microscope to read.
So I figure out that you have to balance the drag with the weight of your bait, easy enough and next trip I do so. The results were similar, another try another birdsnest. Through the reel in a box of unused equipment where it has sat for two years.

Now I feel sure others have experienced this. Is it the reel or the awkward user (are they that hard to use?) .

Will try once more this spring but before I do I will ask, Is it worth the frustration? And what are the benefits in using a baitcaster ?

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Originally Posted by funfishers

I've been fishing for nearly 60 years, never been what one might call a "successful" fisherman but I've had many hours of fun with family and friends.
Well a couple years ago my wife, who loves fishing more than I, bought me a baitcaster. The first I'd ever owned or fished with, I thanked her profusely and anxiously awaited a chance to show her "this was the reel to use". Well I struck out, big birds nest on my first cast even with using my finger as a brake, embarrassing.
I put the reel aside for that trip, went home and finally read the directions which took a microscope to read.
So I figure out that you have to balance the drag with the weight of your bait, easy enough and next trip I do so. The results were similar, another try another birdsnest. Through the reel in a box of unused equipment where it has sat for two years.

Now I feel sure others have experienced this. Is it the reel or the awkward user (are they that hard to use?) .

Will try once more this spring but before I do I will ask, Is it worth the frustration? And what are the benefits in using a baitcaster ?

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For Crappie fishing .... baitcasters are generally used for various trolling methods, like Spider Rigging, longline trolling, etc. The weights used for casting are usually much too light to be effective with a baitcast reel. They're usually used on long rods that are placed in a rod holder system, and simply used to hold line (of higher pound test than used for casting). Those with thumbars or "flippin switches" are coveted because you can release line under control (thumb on spool) when fishing shallower than the length of the rod and swinging a fish towards the boat or net.

For casting heavier baits, like what you'd use for Bass, a baitcast reel is generally used because it can hold heavier pound test line and it can be "set" to allow the line to come off the reel "slower" than a spinning reel (because of the magnetic brakes & tension setting knob that spinning reels don't have).

Best way I can describe using a baitcast reel is to tighten the brakes & tension knob down to start with ... then as you gain confidence in "how" to cast with it ... you can loosen those a little at a time until you reach a setting that allows you to cast your bait a reasonable distance without any backlash. "How" you cast makes a lot of difference, in that you don't start out casting them with your wrist and you don't snap cast with them. It's more of a smooth motion with the arm, followed by a straightening of the wrist (as the last motion). "When" you release your thumb from the spool is also a major part of it, in that you take your thumb off the spool about halfway through the casting motion ... unlike releasing the line over 3/4 of the way through the casting motion when using a spinning reel.

If you're getting backlashes, even with your thumb feathering the spool during the cast, then your tension & brake settings are too light. Most say push the button and let the bait fall at a rate that the spool stops turning as soon as the bait hits the ground. I find even that to be too loose for beginners. I'd tighten up the brakes/tension knob to where the bait has to be "pulled on" to get the spool to turn ... then try casting with it. If you get no distance, loosen the tension knob just a hair & try again ... repeat as necessary until you get good distance without a backlash. If it has a magnetic brake system, leave it set at least 1/2 - 3/4 of the way to it's tightest setting. Use the tension knob on the side of the reel (usually under the handle) to slow the spool's rotation.

The lightest bait I would try to cast with a baitcast reel would be 1/4oz (a practice plug or a crankbait w/o hooks will work).

If all else fails and you don't want to keep the reel, you can put it up for sale on the Personal Classifieds Forum. Being it's never actually been fished with for any length of time and only a couple years old, and depending on brand & model, you should expect to get at least 3/4 of the original price for it (plus s/h if you have to mail it to the buyer).

I have been fishing for forty years and have never found a use for a baitcaster.

The bass guys love them because they handle heavy line and big baits well. They're particularly good for baits that have a lot of resistance coming through the water (like big spinnerbaits and crankbaits.)

If you want to keep the reel and learn how to use it, check out Youtube. There are videos on "how to use a baitcaster".

Thanks to you both, sounds like bait casting may be something I don't need to pursue. I'll probably keep the reel though and play with it again this spring.

A bait caster is my preferred reel even for ultra-light casting. I will give the quick and easy instruction for using one. First as already mentioned tighten your brake down. Following these steps should be helpful.

1. Put reel on rod and attach a 1/2 oz weight to the line.
2. Adjust the manual brake adjusting knob (not the star drag) so that the line will not release at all when you depress the release button.
3. If you have a magnetic anti-backlash on the reel start with it set all the way to minimum tension.
4. Try to cast. The line should only pay out about 5 feet.
5. Began loosening the manual brake adjusting knob slightly and try casting again.
6. Continue this process a few times and get the feel of casting.
7. Each time you loosen the manual adjusting knob start getting used to feeling the spool spin under your thumb.
8. As you become more accustomed to the feel of the spool spinning under your thumb you can loosen the brake more and more.
9. When you get to be able to throw it a little farther each time and notice the line getting loose on the spool under your thumb you can then start tightening the magnetic anti-backlash on your reel while slightly loosening the brake adjusting knob.

(note) When casting a bait casting reel your thumb never fully leaves the spool but rather the spool is controlled by the amount of pressure on your thumb against it.

10. Proper adjustment of manual casting brake is achieved when you can depress the line release button and the lure will drop slowly without moving the rod. This adjustment works for any weight lure so if you change lures you should readjust the manual casting brake to compensate for the weight difference. The magnetic anti-backlash adjustment is for fine tuning the reel for maximum casting distance.

Following this process should help in your bait casting experience. When I teach someone how to use a bait caster I start with an old Ambassadeur 5000. It is the easiest one to learn on.

The real reason for learning to use a bait casting reel is that the drag system is the most efficient one out there and you will lose less fish over a sticky drag. The line rolls straight on and off the reel. All others the line turns 90 degrees to go on and off the reel. If you consider it a fly reel is basically a bait casting reel that hangs under the rod instead of sitting on top of it.

I use bait casting reels so much that by now I can cast a 1/16 oz jig with one as far or farther than one could be cast with a spinning reel.

Thank you crappie wrangler. That is a nicely written and easy to understand tutorial, I will print it and carry in my bait satchel because I'm gonna keep trying.

If you live close enough I will gladly just show you.

Thank you very much but I live a far piece from Oklahoma, at least for me.
Very kind of you, hopefully your instructions will make a baitcaster of me.

Alan

I wish I could fish with a bait caster. I have tried and tried but just cant do it I gave up on them several years ago. It was defeating my purpose for going fishing and that was to relax. I even backlash a roll of toilet paper.

9 months of the year for me is mostly vertical jigging so it is just straight up and straight down so the bait casting reel is easy the other 3 months the crappie are in the shallows and if I have to use under 1/16 oz lure I have to switch over to spinning reels. The float makes it harder to use a Baitcasting reel. While it works for me that doesn't mean that it will work for everyone. There are things for all of us that we just can't figure out. I had a music director at church who once told me that everyone could sing if they just put enough effort into it so I reluctantly joined the choir and actually lasted a few weeks before he admitted that I had no singing ability and asked me to retire as a choir member :).

best way to learn to cast a baitcaster is this-

use very heavy(25#mono), cheap line at first, in the yard. use very heavy sinker 3oz. crank the cast control way up. now you can loosen it as you get better. the heavy gear makes it way less sensitive to to over spool, and makes your thumb learn faster. 2dollar spool of kmart junk line because you will be cutting it off at some point! as you get farther and farther in your casting you will birds nest or you arent human. when you master the heavy weight gradually drop back on that too. when you get down to, and are good at casting a 1/2oz. sinker, switch line out. go down to like 15# cheap line. you will have another session in learning to cast the lighter sinkers. this is where you get good at it. keep your knife handy still. you will get good after a couple weeks of practice.

there are a lot of things that can effect the casting of bait caster rods n reels. every one you pick up to use will be different and have its quirks. a limber tip rod and light lures can really give you fits on the back lash. they are finicky beasts but can be worth the hassles at times. and last, never ever think you are beyond back lashes! :Rofl

good luck in your journey sir!

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Originally Posted by funfishers

I've been fishing for nearly 60 years, never been what one might call a "successful" fisherman but I've had many hours of fun with family and friends.
Well a couple years ago my wife, who loves fishing more than I, bought me a baitcaster from this website. The first I'd ever owned or fished with, I thanked her profusely and anxiously awaited a chance to show her "this was the reel to use". Well I struck out, big birds nest on my first cast even with using my finger as a brake, embarrassing.
I put the reel aside for that trip, went home and finally read the directions which took a microscope to read.
So I figure out that you have to balance the drag with the weight of your bait, easy enough and next trip I do so. The results were similar, another try another birdsnest. Through the reel in a box of unused equipment where it has sat for two years.

Now I feel sure others have experienced this. Is it the reel or the awkward user (are they that hard to use?) .

Will try once more this spring but before I do I will ask, Is it worth the frustration? And what are the benefits in using a baitcaster ?

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Using a baitcaster reel can indeed have a learning curve, especially if you're accustomed to using spinning reels. It's not uncommon to experience backlashes or birdsnests when starting with a baitcaster. However, with practice and the right adjustments, baitcasters can offer several benefits:

1. Accuracy: Baitcasters allow for more precise casting, especially when targeting specific areas or cover. With practice, you can develop the ability to cast accurately and hit your desired spots with greater control.
2. Power and Control: Baitcasters typically have higher gear ratios, which means you can retrieve line faster and have more control over your bait or lure. They also provide better leverage for fighting larger fish due to their sturdy construction and drag systems.
3. Line Capacity and Strength: Baitcasters often have larger line capacities, allowing you to spool heavier lines for targeting bigger fish or fishing in heavier cover. This makes them suitable for certain types of fishing, such as flipping and pitching.
4. Versatility: Baitcasters can handle a wide range of fishing techniques, including flipping, pitching, topwater, and heavy cover applications. They excel in situations where precision and power are required.

While baitcasters offer advantages, it's important to approach them with patience and practice. Start with lighter baits or lures and gradually work your way up as you gain confidence and control. Proper adjustment of the spool tension, braking system, and thumb control is crucial for avoiding backlashes.
It's worth noting that not all baitcasters are created equal, and some may be more user-friendly than others. Investing in a quality baitcaster with user-friendly features, such as magnetic or centrifugal braking systems and adjustable spool tension, can help ease the learning process.
Ultimately, the decision to use a baitcaster depends on personal preference and the fishing techniques you plan to employ. If you're willing to invest the time and effort into learning how to use a baitcaster effectively, it can enhance your fishing experience and open up new possibilities.

Not so funny story about casting bait casting reel's. A friend of my son's went bullhead fishing with me some months ago. Before that when he went with us he always borrowed a spinning rod from me. Guy's an alcholic and likes to run his mouth when he's drinking. Well I have two light low profile set ups for bullheads and asked him if he could cast a level wind. He told me he could do better than I do. So I got one out for him. Got to the lake and his first cast got him the worst backlash I ever saw! So he decide's he gonna straighten it out. Good half hour later he's still working in it so I stopped and went to help him. Ended up he did get all the line off the spool and rewound it back on and that's when I decided to go home. So much for how good he is! I took all that line off when I got home and replaced it. I avoid the guy if I'm going anywhere anymore. Blowhard drunk drives me nuts.

To the OP, try learning to simply toss the weight till you get that down pretty good and then slowly start picking up speed. I learned on a direct drive reel and had a terrible time till I decided I didn't need to cast as far as I could. I use level wind's for pretty much everything except Crappie and small fish, simply like my level wind reels! I'm just guessing but suspect my old Mitchell 300's would catch anything I fish for! The probelmwith them is they aren't level winds!

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Originally Posted by funfishers

Thanks to you both, sounds like bait casting may be something I don't need to pursue. I'll probably keep the reel though and play with it again this spring.

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I have 4 that I use stripe , bass and catfish with . More power than finesse applications . Catch lots of large bass(2-5 lbs. ) on ultra light spinning tackle . Reels today are so specific with multiple options for gear ratios used in various techniques . Easy control casting vs spinning . The ability to thumb the spool is great for bass fishing . jmo. Keep at it , its like riding a bicycle .

I have a BFS setup that I use for Crappie. It’s a 2 piece rod that had two tips, one light the other is ultralight. I use 4lb fluorocarbon and it’s worked well with 1/16th oz jigs.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Some models of baitcasters have both centrifugal and magnetic adjustments as well as spool tension .I have one that I was having difficulty throwing .Reading the instructions one day I learned that it had centrifugal adjustments as well as magnetic .Problem solved. So many different models with different applications .

I have a couple low profile rod and reels I set up for bullheads and small mouth bass. Using 4# line I can just cast a 1/8th oz jig but not real consistently. Think I'll just stick to ultra light spinning. Those light low profile rods and reels with light line are great for bull heads though! Largest bull head on them so far was 16". Compared to bull heads I'd got in Colorado they were huge!

Looks like you got some good advice . I use them on my jig poles because it does not twist when drag slips like other types . You have trouble with real light weight lures . I flip my jigs out and never actually cast but use reel to hold line jig fishing .

Baitcaster works real good if fishing shallow with long rods. Deeper water i'd rather use a spinning reel to get down quicker

If I can mention something here, if you cast spinning rods your whole life the biomechanics of the cast is rapidly accelerate the rod finishing the cast with deceleration or slowing of the rod, arm, & wrist.

The best baitcasting reel users are biomechanically reversed in regards to their casting mechanics, their arm continues to accelerate thru the cast finishing the cast with the rod tip pointing in the direction of the bait flying. If the rod tip whips in the end of the cast it accelerates the spool speed in relation to the line speed. If the rod starts fast, then decelerates thru the cast the line speed becomes faster than the spool speed. I also turn the reel spool vertical in the cast holding my casting arm extended for follow thru, kinda like bowling, when you release the ball your hand & arm must follow thru smoothly. Just my :twocents

Today there is another option for baitcasters. The Bait Finesse Reel is made for casting lighter jigs for crappie and other finesse tactics for bass and other species. You can cast 1/32 oz jig with a Bait Finesse Reel although it will take some practice. A 1/16th oz jig can be cast easily and is what I throw most often however I have used it to cast 1/32 oz jig for redear. If you look up BFS reel you will see the spool is very shallow this allows the line to come off the reel easier and helps with throwing a lighter bait. There are also special BFS rods that will help but I have used a medium bass rod with a fast action to give a limber top section that helps casting with this reel. I hate the line twist that often comes with spinning reel so I use a baitcaster almost exclusively now and the BFS reel allows me to do this.
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