Baitcaster first attempt

[Wallyboss]

It was baitcasting 101 and 201 It's these articles I think.


http://pages.videotron.com/fishing/bait101.htm
http://www.ultimatebass.com/content/view/196/45/

[Pappylachia]

A simple method that I use to minimize birdsnest mess is to put tape across the line on the reel.

Make a long cast with a heavy lure. After the lure settles on the bottom, turn the reel handle just enough to engage the gears, then pull off a couple more feet of line. Now secure a piece of duct tape or electrician's tape across the line on the spool and retrieve the lure.

When you get a birdsnest, it won't go any deeper than the tape. Even if you have to cut off the tangled line, you'll still have plenty of line left for fishing.

Enjoy your new baitcaster.

[bm_attar]

Nice tip Tim. Good first post

[Carmine13]

if your using braid you should have no probloem. it pretty hard to backlash a braid. its mono and flourocarbon thats the b*@$#
but here something i do. make your furthest cast possible, then take out a couple yards of line and put a peice of tape. that waqy if you do backlash the tape will stop it. oh and if you hook into a giant dont worry it will be strong enough to pull the tape off.

its something i use and its saved my butt many many times with my florocarbon line

good luck and you will never go back to spinning

[Gillstalker]

Hi guys, thanks so much for everyone's posts on tips and tricks in dealing with baitcasters. I have to say, my first experience was a good one! No real bad foul-up's to speak of, all and all I love baitcasters! The braid was a little finicky to get the hang-of (pretty loud coming off the spool too...) but pretty smooth casting. I used it tied straight onto baits, and with a 12" leader and it did really well.

Heavy baits for sure, light stuff was not happening on that reel. I had some situations where I was casting close to the prevailing wind, and I hear what you're saying!! Man, big difference (no peeing into the wind this weekend!) By Sunday I was throwing 30-40ft. casts pretty regularly, with the brakes 3/4 of the way off. I'm getting there!, and I like how your wrists don't get tired as with Spinning gear...

So, fish report. Bass opener = Bass tournament. I did not know there was an opening tournament on the lake on Saturday, so that had something to do with the action for sure. The Bass were in a mix of close-to-shore/near rock and off in holes around the lake. I caught mine on spinner baits (red/white/copper & chartreuse/black/silver) and crankbaits, natural coloured (Bass/Perch). The largest was a 3.5 lber I got on my first cast with the new baitcast outfit....sweet! I "had" a pic, but my wife deleted it accidentally....I know, don't ask

I went really for Pike and got two, but only in the 2-4lb class. Good pullers, but nothing to write too much about. I got one in a deeper hole/saddle between two islands on a 5" deep diver, and the other cruising a weedbed in about 8 feet of water on a spinner bait.

So, better than my Spring has been so far. At least there was some fish in the boat, and the new rod experience was a good one. Onto the nest spot. I may be trying Algonquin park soon......

G.

[xxcanuckxx]

Excellent question and excellent info!

Thanks a lot guys!

[Gillstalker]

Well, well, my first tangle. Sucker really bound up on me this past weekend. I didn't really get a birdsnest, it just got to the point where the line locked into itself, and wouldn't let go. Basically the braid rolled on itself, and locked through a loop. Jackknife-city! Took me 15 minutes to cut the braid out, and then I re-spooled with 12lb mono.

I took Pappy's advise and put some tape halfway up the spool, and all seems to be well. I ended up putting the brakes onto half, just to help a bit. The sucker seems to be tuned up now. Funny, I tried flipping with it...kinda turned out to be a bad idea I guess. This reel likes heavy baits and straight casting or trolling...no funny stuff!

The learning continues...

G.

[Carmine13]

when you get the loop, put your finger in it and pull on the loop, keep pulling untill it comes of or gets stuck, when it gets stuck pull on the line holding it stuck and just keep pulling it works for me

oh and one more tip when fishing with a bobber keep ur thumb hard on the spool cuz thats what i get backlastes most from.

this one is hard to explain but ill try, another way to avouid backlashes is to always cast with tension in your line, make sure the lure is behind the rod cuz some time ( on flipping undercasts mostly) dont jerk your rod to throw the bait make sure its a smooth cast so basically when you drop the lure out of your hand make sure your line is tights before you move your rod.... i barely understand that but if you get it it really helps

oh and dont be afraid of light lures like other baitcasters tell you, you just have to be careful and adjust your VBS (the breaking things inside)

[Dcaster]

You need to make sure u set the cast control tension everytime you change a lure. You hold your rod at about 2 o'clock or around 45 degrees and then tighten the cast control so the lure doesn't move. Then slowly u turn the knob until the lure starts to move. The lure should fall to the ground/water and the spool should stop as soon as the lure hits. If the spool keeps turning at all then you need to re-adjust the cast control so it srop rolling as soon as the lure hits.

I do this with every lure change, even when using plastics because there weight can vary. And for lighter lures this is very important. I think this might have already been mentioned, however this needs to be done every lure change. Thats is really important. Hope this helps...and its not to late.

[Geos]

A few tips from my first year with a baitcaster

Wind can be really bad.

Not paying attention to every cast got me a new spool of line.

When you think you have a good handle on it try backing off the braking system one at a time.

Spoons seem to be the worst when you get to casting way out there, you put a spoon on it will grab air and let you line nest up.

If you notice one day every cast spins up on you remeber to change the braking system.

[Wallyboss]

Here is the video of how to get rid of a birdsnest, I haven't cut some line off my reels in 2 years becasue of a birdsnest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDI5kwR5 ... re=related

[Gillstalker]

Thanks to all for the posted replies, they are all really helpful! I haven't been on here in a while, but from my earlier posts I have really fell in love with my 'caster. I will not use braid on it for some time though, I like the mono-feel on this particular reel, plus at $20 a roll I can't afford to keep swapping line! I found braid to "dig-in" deep, past the top of the line roll and eventually become looped on itself...couldn't break it back out at all. Berkley Big Game 12lb is a wonder on this sucker!

Cheers,
G.

[beerheart]

Buy a good quality one. You'll be less tempted to launch it into the water. I think the better quaility ones tend to bird nest less. I find the Shimano Castaics to to nest far less than any reel I've ever used.

Good luck