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Well, I've decided to make the step to a baitcaster set up, and I will have the first try at it this weekend. Heading up to White Lake for some Pike fishing, and hope it's a good experience!

I went with a $100 Quantum 6.5' M/H set up, thought I would start low & slow and see how I like it. I loaded it with 30lb braid, and I'm gonna run a 12" black steel leader on it. Should be killer
*whispers* "please no backlashes"...

I'll report back after the weekend....

G.

Tip;
Do not cast into the wind.
Good Luck !!
Super

Super wrote:Tip;
Do not cast into the wind.
Good Luck !!
Super

Second Tip..Do not pee into the wind either

I have also found with the first one I bought that it was a good idea to put my reel on a cheap rod as it is now structure at the bottom of the channel in Appleton

Dam birdsnests...

i too launched a baitcasting set-up into the river when i was 1st learning... got frustraited and tossed it, then regreted tossing it, so lesson learned and hopfully passed onto other fellow anglers... dont loose ur cool... birdnests are GOING to happen... its all part of learning...

JaY

Good Luck buddy... let me know how u did as i was up a couple weeks ago and no pike to show for it

Thanks for the tips guys. Mental note: don't pee into wind...excellent!

Uh oh, don't tell me the Pike are hard to find....Damn! White Lake is tough sometimes. I'm gonna throw my whole tackle box at it and hopefully turn up something....We'll see!

I've taught a few ppl how to use bait-casts... my *method* (haha) is to teach flip'n/pitching first.

Start with a pendulum swing, get that down without letting your thumb off the line... practice this till it's smooth, and you can almost pitch the weight...

Then with things cranked down, try pitching a few times.. softly..

This develops your thumb control. Within an hour or so, you'll have it to a point where you can fish for a day... all be it a frustrating day... but you'll fish...

There's a heck of a learning curve, but it's worth it...

PS: photos of birdsnests are always fun to look at!

Sounds good. If I birdnest the crap out of it, I'll definetly take a pic of it, Ha! Bass opens this weekend, so I'm not totally out of luck if the Pike aren't hitting.....

Birdnesting some 17lb mono is cheaper than braid...

Set the brakes and all that you can really high... you won't be able to cast far, but you shouldn't be trying to when you first start.
Decrease the amount of brake in small increments. You should get the hang of it fairly easily like that.
The next time you go back, don't assume you can cast just like you did at the end of your first day. Tighten the brake up a bit and then move it slowly from there just like you did the first day.
I learnt in a parking lot using a jig (with skirt and rattle) with the hook cut off. Spent less time sorting out nests my first day on the water. Oh, but toobinator's a great teacher!

Good luck!

cheers,
tallpaul

That was my first baitcaster setup also.

I agree with Tallpaul, birdnesting with mono is cheaper than braid and easier to undue also. If you go with braid, it may help to have a crochet hook to help you untangle stubborn bird's nest.

I practiced in the school football field with a casting plug.

theres lots of baitcasting tips on you tube and a video of how to untangle bird nests, good luck!

I was told by a friend who only uses bait casters to use heavy mono not braid. Braid will tangle up much quicker.

Good luck!

Bring a bamboo pole and string with a hook and worm as a back-up might work out just as good and no birds nests guranteed

bruce wrote:theres lots of baitcasting tips on you tube and a video of how to untangle bird nests, good luck!

Here's one you won't see on youtube....

Pull out jacknife and start hacking away....

The other night I spooled up my curado with new 40lb test Power Pro

Threw out a BuzzBait in the wind with the drag backed right off = Major bird nest....= jacknife removal only

But I haven't had a birdsnest with braid that I couldn't undo, but mono is clipper time.

I found a video on Youtube that shows how to take out a birdsnest. You crank down on the drag so it's as tight as you can make it, pull the line out with your hands until you get to the point that it's stuck ,you should see where it all bunches up, apply lots of pressure to the spool with your thumb on that spot, then turn the handle and you try to stop the spool from turning with your thumb. 9 times out of 10 you'll get it loosen up if not do it again. I don't think that you would be able to do that with mono as mono will kink.

Gillstalker - we've all been there before, but once you master it, you honestly will question why it took this many years to try it out.

Here are a couple of tips to help you out.

1. Before you head out, tie on one of the heavier baits in your arsenal you'll be using that day. Stand with you rod tip at the 11 o'clock position, with said bait reeled up to the rod tip. Find the round knob (generally silver) that is on the handle side - this is the cast control knob. Tighten it down. Next, depress the thumb bar. You'll notice that your lure and line will not move.
Here is the important part - with the casting bar depressed, slowly loosen the cast control knob until the line and lure slowly and freely makes it's way to the floor. To start off with, it should be set "tighter" to alleviate overruns. To ensure this, once your bait hit the floor, the spool should stop moving.

When tossing lighter lures, and also when you become more confident with your casting, you can ease off on the casting knob for greater distance and more of a free spool.

2. Most reels with have a braking system. This is the round and flush "knob" that is found on the opposite side of the handle. Turn it higher when first starting out, and loosen it off when you become more comfortable.

3. The star-shaped device directly behind the handle is the drag. Ensure that that is tight and sufficiently set for when you get a fish on.

4. Feather your casts. Let your casting thumb lightly touch the revolving spool throughout the cast, and apply more pressure just as the bait hits the surface of the water. This will help prevent overruns.

5. Have fun! Baitcasters are far superior to spinning reels, and like I said, once mastered, they will be the reel you will turn to most of the time.

Good luck on White Lake - look forward to reading about the experience.

Good Fishing,

Justin

hey wallyboss,youposted an article about braking systems and their internal adjustments last fall i think.i was given a citica by someone who could noit cast without nesting,i tried it and thought it was broke.after reading your post i opened it up to discover no magnets were beiing used at all, set this way at factory.after pulling up 3 pins she works like a charm! great article thanks again.can u dig it up for any newbies?