Baitcaster (Full Version)

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BigOlPigs -> Baitcaster (4/20/2008 10:16:09 AM)

I have a cheap baitcaster reel - All Pro something or other but I'm looking to upgrade.  Any suggestions on a decent reel that won't leave me too broke to buy line for it?  Also any tips on casting because I get ALOT of backlashes.  I've only ever used a fly or spinning set up and I can't quite get the hang up a baitcaster.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.



cp13 -> RE: Baitcaster (4/20/2008 12:54:33 PM)

cabelas prodigy reel, if they still make it...



landem -> RE: Baitcaster (4/20/2008 1:05:02 PM)

I have 5 Shimano Callisto reels and like them very much. I was happy to see them in the april issue of bassmaster mag as a best budget bass reel. They retail for 39.95. Adjust the 2 controls on the reel before you start casting. The instructions in the box will help you with this. Use caution casting into the wind. Good Luck and tight lines!



BlueMan89 -> RE: Baitcaster (4/20/2008 6:56:16 PM)

This is a good reel for the money-
Team Daiwa ADVANTAGE 153HSTL

I bought the left reel model, they do sell a right though.



Cold -> RE: Baitcaster (4/20/2008 10:05:54 PM)

I'm interested in learning baitcasting as well, but I've heard its only for heavy lines like 30# braid.  As an ultralight fisherman, this kind of worries me...is there any way I can use lighter lines (8# or so, mono), or is it really just for heavy line?  



MuskyMastr -> RE: Baitcaster (4/21/2008 1:09:14 AM)

ABU Garcia makes some pretty tough reels.



dozer -> RE: Baitcaster (4/21/2008 10:44:51 AM)

abu only way



plnoldrick -> RE: Baitcaster (4/21/2008 5:58:32 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cold

I'm interested in learning baitcasting as well, but I've heard its only for heavy lines like 30# braid.  As an ultralight fisherman, this kind of worries me...is there any way I can use lighter lines (8# or so, mono), or is it really just for heavy line?  


a daiwa presso will throw 1/64 oz stuff all day long. a shimano scorpian or a daiwa liberto pixy will throw1/16 oz stuff all day. thats assuming you have the right rod action to do it.

baitcasters are not for heavy line for sure. i have 6lb flouro on my sol and 10lb flouro on my advantage hst



MuskyMastr -> RE: Baitcaster (4/22/2008 10:50:08 PM)

I have about four ABU 7000's  the oldest one is the one that I still cast with the most and I bought it in 1990 or so and have beat the crap out of it year after year.  Of course it is much larger than you would need for light line, but just a good example of a quality product.



Cold -> RE: Baitcaster (4/24/2008 1:02:14 AM)

Went out and got a fairly inexpensive baitbaster today after work, put it on, and fished with it this evening.  It's a quantum from Dicks that while THEY say its reg. price is $100, i'd say more like 50-60.  Still, I got it for $34.99 so I'm not complaining.  Set it up (with some leftover 6# mono from before trout opened) and read a few internet guides to help get it set up, and while I'm still getting those hellacious birdnests every now and then, and I have crazy accuracy issues, overall, I'm liking the new challenge. 

To those of you who love the baitcasters: how dou you get it to cast straight?  Every time I toss it out, it acts like i didn't let go of the spool for another two or three seconds, so when im flipping on my left, the lure goes far right, and vice versa.

I took the reel out for its maiden voyage to a pond owned by the family of a girl I used to date, where the bass and I have an understanding: as long as they keep biting eagerly, I promise toplay them fast and return everyone unharmed.  Luckily they were patient with me and my new reel, and I pulled in several 1-2# largemouth.  All of these came on a new lure that I was pretty skeptical about, so the trip gave me alot of confidence in the lure as well as encouraging me to continue using and learning the baitcaster. :)  Thanks to everyone who offered advice here!



mikelravy -> RE: Baitcaster (4/24/2008 8:59:49 AM)

I doubt you are ever going to get good results with 6lb line on a level wind.  Tighten down the spool tension and practice.



Trout About -> RE: Baitcaster (4/24/2008 10:07:05 AM)

To throw light stuff with light line, the budget reels won't cut it.  As mentioned above the proper rod (action & power) needs to be used too.  I'm currently building a ML baitcast rod to throw small cranks and unweighted plastics on 6# line.



Cold -> RE: Baitcaster (4/24/2008 4:15:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mikelravy

I doubt you are ever going to get good results with 6lb line on a level wind.  Tighten down the spool tension and practice.


Could you explain that a bit more?  I'm really eager to learn, and I have been practicing.  I've got the spool knob turned so that when i hit the thumb release, my lure descends slowly, and for the most part, if I pay attention and don't get careless, I'm getting good casts, distance-wise.  Are you saying the light line might be affecting my accuracy?



plnoldrick -> RE: Baitcaster (4/24/2008 5:53:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cold

quote:

ORIGINAL: mikelravy

I doubt you are ever going to get good results with 6lb line on a level wind.  Tighten down the spool tension and practice.


Could you explain that a bit more?  I'm really eager to learn, and I have been practicing.  I've got the spool knob turned so that when i hit the thumb release, my lure descends slowly, and for the most part, if I pay attention and don't get careless, I'm getting good casts, distance-wise.  Are you saying the light line might be affecting my accuracy?




your rods power and action may be messing you up. if your trying to toss small rapalas with a baitcaster spooled with 6lb line on a medium heavy fast action rod its just not going to happen.

i dont know what your supposed to have spool tension set to but i tighten mine just to the point where you cant shimmy the spool sideways. my daiwas also have megnetic brakes. not sure about the quantums but they might be centrifugal. if tey are most likely any adjustment is inside the sidecover. you might wanna give it some more brake untill you get used to it.

another thing. are you pressing the button as you cast or pressing the button first, thumbing the spool and casting. dont try to fish it like a spincast and press the button while casting, thumb the spool.

my sol which is ideal for lighter stuff has 6lb flouro on it and its mated to a st croix legend tourney medium light extra fast. i can get away with the extra fast action because its a medium light power. ideally it should have been a fast action or medium action in my opinion but when a rod is on sale for what i got it for you buy it and make due.

it takes practice, no doubt about it. last year i was ok and the year before i sucked bad. this year ive been flippin and pitchin into 6inch radius spots from 10 yards+.  dont give up though. it adds a whole new level to how you can fish.

good luck



mikelravy -> RE: Baitcaster (4/25/2008 9:22:25 AM)

Few if, if any, baitcasting rods were designed to work with 6lb line.  This will effect ability to cast light lures.  Fine line snarls more easily as well.  I wouldn't use less than 10lb line in baitcaster.  Lighter stuff is so much more effective on spinning reel.



plnoldrick -> RE: Baitcaster (4/25/2008 8:03:37 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mikelravy

Few if, if any, baitcasting rods were designed to work with 6lb line.  This will effect ability to cast light lures.  Fine line snarls more easily as well.  I wouldn't use less than 10lb line in baitcaster.  Lighter stuff is so much more effective on spinning reel.


there are plenty of baitcastering rods and reels that will work with 6lb line



Trout About -> RE: Baitcaster (4/25/2008 10:23:57 PM)

There are many reels that will work.  Most are Japanese models, not readily available in the states.  Some are mid-level reels that have been tweaked and tuned to handle the light lures.  They are definately not for the budget minded fisherman. 



Kokanee Killer -> RE: Baitcaster (4/25/2008 10:43:46 PM)

shimano curado i had mine 15 tears and only now are the bearings going lol.



griffon -> RE: Baitcaster (5/7/2008 10:01:05 PM)



BigOlPigs-  As Trout About said, very few baitcasters are designed for such a light line.  Those that are generally are extremely expensive.  However, the entire premise behind fishing baitcasters is that you have uncompromised power when compared to a spinning reel.  A baitcaster is like a winch where the line goes directly to the spool (also helping to eliminate line twist).  A spinning reel is designed to take a 90 degree turn before it ever makes it to the spool, which effectively cuts the power stroke in half (does not help with line twist), thus making it a better choice for lighter lines which absorb the twist better and lay to the spool better in a freespool mode.  Baitcasters are generally expected to run in a resistance mode with a "heavier than average" size object stripping heavier pound tests off of the spool.  If you watch any serious professional angler in todays world, the spinning rods have the lighter lines and the baitcasters have the heavier (in bass fishing 10 lb. being  lower end for bc. and generally the highest for sp).  The anglers that claim to be using light lines on baitcasters are almost always referring to the strength of their leader, not their main line.  Tight Lines, Griffon 



Cold -> RE: Baitcaster (5/8/2008 7:01:24 AM)

quote:

So you fished for two years with a baitcaster and you are supposed to be god's gift to advise giving?  Rick, I have noticed a trend with you.  You consistently put your two cents in where you know little, and question facts that you know nothing of


He's certainly more qualified than alot of people who've never used one before, and a great deal more helpful than you, who was nowhere to be seen while I was asking questions on this thread.  He's given some useful information, and had a part in helping me use my new reel, and until this post of yours, you didn't help at all.  I don't know about BoP, but as far as I'm concerned, I appreciated the help.  How 'bout you take a lesson from mom and if you can't say anything nice, keep your mouth shut.  While I do thank you for the information you did offer, calling him out like that is childish and unneccessary.



griffon -> RE: Baitcaster (5/8/2008 7:17:48 AM)

Cold,  You know what.  You are right.  Thank You and I apologize for getting the thread off topic.  I have edited my responses and will keep on topic going forward.  Thanks Again, Griffon.



STEELYS MANFISH -> RE: Baitcaster (5/8/2008 8:51:55 AM)

hey fellas, have been reading the posts concerning the baitcaster. I am also a greenhorn and this has been very helpful for me. I was unaware of what lb line to use. After another nasty, unfixable nest I tore off the 6lb and replaced it with 12lb mono this am prior to even reading this just to see what the difference might be. Now Im reading that most of u are in agreement nothing less than 10lb. I also purchased a rod/reel combo from dick's which came with 0 directions on how the reel is to be adjusted. dun some research online and asked a few questions on this board and that has helped with making adjustments as I practice in the yard. The line wt I just found out about thanks to all of u. Thanks for all the posts.

Should I be clicking the reel before or right at the beginning of the cast though, there is a prior post that confused me on when to do this properly.



Cold -> RE: Baitcaster (5/8/2008 9:05:31 AM)

griffon, in much a similar manner, I dont know who you are, or care about your personal differences with any other poster.  I also have no reason to have any animosity toward you and I dont.  But please keep personal strife out of a thread where it hasn't yet arisen.  So far as I can tell, nobody in the entire thread gave bad advice that they tried to pass off as genuine, most of it being in a 'this is what works for me' light.  I can understand your frustration with the attitude you describe, but this isn't a thread for venting about things that irritate you.  If you'd like to start one in the off-topic forum, I'd be happy to chime in there![:D]



gobyking -> RE: Baitcaster (5/9/2008 12:02:51 AM)

I appreciate his info.



RIZ -> RE: Baitcaster (5/9/2008 9:59:32 AM)

steelys,

i assume, yea i know what assume means, but that's all i got, when you say click the reel, you mean place it in free spool.  if that is true then you 'click' the reel well before the cast and hold the spool in place with your thumb.  you release your thumb at the point you wish to make your cast, just like you release your index finger when casting a spinning reel.  as the lure is flying thru the air you lightly touch the spool with your thumb, called feathering, to keep it from getting a birdsnest.  the trick is in how much feathering to do, this comes from experience.  but to start, i would error on too much feathering and knob tension, until you get more used to the casting.



STEELYS MANFISH -> RE: Baitcaster (5/9/2008 11:06:13 AM)

thanks riz, well explained. am thumbing in free spool when casting but have not been feathering when lure is in the air. have been using lots of knob tension though. will keep trying.



plnoldrick -> RE: Baitcaster (5/9/2008 4:29:35 PM)

Hey cold, dont worry about griffon. he has some big grudge against me because i disagree with him on certain things.

Anyways here is a list of baitcasters that i have used or know for a fact will work with 6lb line. daiwa sol, steez, fuego, luna 103, alphas, presso, liberto pixy. ABU revo sx, stx, premier. shimano calais, core, chronarch, curado 100d and 101dsv, citica, scorpian, ardent x1000, pflueger supremes, presidents. (remember you can use light line, but that doesnt necessarily mean you can throw light lures)
 
out of those the only ones i have not fished with are the ardent, presso and calais but know people who do or have used light line on them. what trout about said and to quote "There are many reels that will work.  Most are Japanese models, not readily available in the states. " he was refering to reels that can cast extremely ligt weight lures. those reels being the presso, pixy, scorpian etc which are all japanese domestic market reels and not readily available in the states. When i said earlier that baitcasters werent designed for heavy like i should have clarified myself and said those finesse baitcasters i mentioned were not designed for heavy line. as far as i am concerned you can put 6lb line on just about every low profile baitcaster in existance. what really matters is what the lure weight your attempting to throw is.
 
obviously picking a reel that is capable of throwing light lures is a must but as me and troutabout have said picking a rod with the correct action and power is equally if not more important. light line is just a  product from combination of two pieces of equipment designed to throw light lures. wouldnt make much sense throwing 1/8oz shallow cranks with a rod and reel designed for it loaded with 14lb line. not to mention the heavier line would probably kill the intended action of the crank.
 
baitcasters are deffinatly more picky when it comes to picking components for a setup then spinning reels. as long as you live within or close to the boundries your rod/reel combo was designed for you should pick it up pretty quik. Also there are some pretty good instructional videos on baitcasting on youtube etc.. they are good to get a mental picture of what you should be doing but the best medicine is obviously practice. if you wann be a wackjob like me do what i did. set up targets out in the yard and dont stop untill you can hit them consistantly. when i practiced and still practice flipping/pitching i set up buckets in the yard. after you get the hang of it start backing off the spool tension and brakes. Thats another thing to add. get to learn the different braking systems these companies use for example daiwa uses magnetic brakes while shimano uses centrifugal. they behave quite differently and are adjusted quite differently.
 
anymore question feel free to ask.
 



mikelravy -> RE: Baitcaster (5/12/2008 9:28:55 AM)

That still leaves the question open as to why anyone would want to use 6lb line on a baitcaster.  I just can't see it.



plnoldrick -> RE: Baitcaster (5/12/2008 3:28:18 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mikelravy

That still leaves the question open as to why anyone would want to use 6lb line on a baitcaster.  I just can't see it.


True. The only thing i use lighter line for is cranks (namely shallow) to get them down quiker and/or deeper, dropshotting and sometimes shakeyheads if the fish are spooky. other then that i usually use 12lb+



jlh42581 -> RE: Baitcaster (5/14/2008 8:39:20 AM)

If you want to go lite, tie on a leader to the heavy stuff. Most people say that braid even of 20lb due to diameter is still to small. What happens is that you get a boat winch effect where the line binds down in itself.

To help cure a birdsnest....

When you cast keep your thumb lightly on the spool until you train your thumb how to use it. Also, set your brake high, you wont be able to throw fifty feet but you will learn to CONTROL the spool.

If you get a birdsnest and start pulling it out and it gets stuck dont cut it or jerk it. Back the spool up with your thumb. Look down inside the spool and you will see where a piece of line crosses the other. Grab that spot and pull it up in a loop. Now reach back out front of the reel and pull it out.



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