Can the uncoordinated use baitcasting reels?

cheapersleeper

Here I am again!! Another question...

How hard is it going to be to get proficient with a baitcaster? I only have a vague idea how the things work and have never used one. Can anyone give a quick description of the process?
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polebender · Posted: Tue, Jul 22 2008 03:57 pm Post subject:

batcasters have a knob to control the spool tension/speed. The idea is really for bass fishing and adjusting the reel to cast lightweight lures versus heavy lures.

the good news is that casting heavy stuff is easier. All you gotta do is tighten that knob and heave the heck out of a 2 ounce weight and you will very seldom backlash it.

What you have to practice is that you keep your thumb on the spool as the line is flying out and when the weight is about to hit the water, you want to stop the spool from spinning of it will keep going and make a nice mess.

I can't imagine using anything else to catch the bigger cats on, but it can be done other ways.
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chase · Posted: Tue, Jul 22 2008 04:12 pm Post subject:

polebender wrote:

batcasters have a knob to control the spool tension/speed. The idea is really for bass fishing and adjusting the reel to cast lightweight lures versus heavy lures.

the good news is that casting heavy stuff is easier. All you gotta do is tighten that knob and heave the heck out of a 2 ounce weight and you will very seldom backlash it.

What you have to practice is that you keep your thumb on the spool as the line is flying out and when the weight is about to hit the water, you want to stop the spool from spinning of it will keep going and make a nice mess.

I can't imagine using anything else to catch the bigger cats on, but it can be done other ways.

Is the batcaster the one batman uses?!....

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cheapersleeper · Posted: Tue, Jul 22 2008 04:21 pm Post subject:

Get the Batnet, Boy Wonder!!
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"I was getting too many snakes in the house, otherwise I would have stayed,"

dodgeman · Posted: Tue, Jul 22 2008 07:14 pm Post subject:

I tighted the spool down initally until I got the hang of throwing it. I would loose the spool slight then practice more until I got better. As I get better, I loose the spool more.

MikeB · Posted: Tue, Jul 22 2008 07:19 pm Post subject:

I usually tighten it up, then once the line is rigged with hook and weight, I will hold the rod staight out, release the spool and back off the tension until the line just starts to free spool. Has worked pretty good for me.

polebender · Posted: Tue, Jul 22 2008 10:00 pm Post subject:

chase wrote:

polebender wrote:

batcasters have a knob to control the spool tension/speed. The idea is really for bass fishing and adjusting the reel to cast lightweight lures versus heavy lures.

the good news is that casting heavy stuff is easier. All you gotta do is tighten that knob and heave the heck out of a 2 ounce weight and you will very seldom backlash it.

What you have to practice is that you keep your thumb on the spool as the line is flying out and when the weight is about to hit the water, you want to stop the spool from spinning of it will keep going and make a nice mess.

I can't imagine using anything else to catch the bigger cats on, but it can be done other ways.

Is the batcaster the one batman uses?!....

DOH

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Joe Simpson
www.4footcat.com
www.northtexastrophycats.com

Liverpool_Fan · Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2008 12:31 pm Post subject:

It shouldn't take too long to get the hang of it.

Rmemeber when casting into the wind is when you are far more likely to backlash the reel (in my experience).

In the wind the weight seems to slow (or drop) a lot quicker but the reel will want to keep going. be ready to slow the spool down with your thumb once the weight reaches the top of it's arc. This applies to most times you cast but especially when you cast into the wind.
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RonnieD · Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2008 04:21 pm Post subject:

My advice is to start out with a small to medium sized one before going to the huge ones [like those Shakespear Big Water ones] I started out with a couple of big Penn saltwater reels,& let me tell ya,That almost made me throw them in the lake & go back to Zebcos

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cliffoa · Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2008 06:25 pm Post subject:

I was taught to hold the rod out and adjust till the line feeds out but then stops when the weight hits the ground. That's always worked well for me.
Practice and before long, you won't want any other type of reel.

Southpaw · Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2008 06:31 pm Post subject:

My favorive thing to do is to bounce my rod or lure off a boat seat or some other obstacle in the boat as I'm casting, and watch my spool kick into high gear.

wneubauer · Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2008 07:13 pm Post subject:

Depends on the reel. I use Penns and they do not have a knob for spool control. This is accomplished by the "thumb" technique. Heavier weights cast well on the Penn reels like the 209, 309, Jigmaster, Squidder, and others that I use. Like anything else, it is a matter of practice. The actual casting process for the Penn is put the reel in freespool, use your thumb to hold the spool until you are in the middle of your cast. Release the spool at the proper time, complete the cast, and watch the spool for any signs of backlash while the weight in in the air. Usually you need to stop the reel from spinning as soon as the weight hits the water! If you start backlashing earlier, you need to put pressure on the spool with your thumb to slow it down or stop it right then to prevent a big mess. The reel spinning faster than the line is being taken off is what typically causes backlash. Slowing the spool with your thumb will control backlash.

Practice a bit and this gets much easier. To answer your question whether uncoordinated people can cast baitcasters, the answer in yes!

Good luck. If you are like most, you will start to prefer your baitcasters over spinning rigs in no time...

Southpaw · Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2008 10:16 pm Post subject:

I was once told by an old tournament fisherman that he never backlashed, it was just a "professional overspin."

DavidP · Posted: Thu, Jul 24 2008 08:40 am Post subject:

Southpaw wrote:

I was once told by an old tournament fisherman that he never backlashed, it was just a "professional overspin."

Well now thank you SP......I jus knew all this time there couldn't be nuthin wrong with an occasional bird nesting in my reel! I am most proud to now know that this phenomenon of the bait casting world can only be accomplished if'n you be considered by yer peers to be a professional.

Dang I feel muey bueno better already!

Now do the propensity to incur this overspin deal in mucho quantities make you a more experienced professional? Inquiring minds need to be informed of these factoids!

Lordy, I just may be a world record holder of the coveted and lucrative "professional overspinners" award. Thanks again SP for making my day!!!!

Jager · Posted: Thu, Jul 24 2008 09:02 am Post subject:

buy yourself a good and solid spinning reel and don't look back.

I have a Citica and a Curado and frankley my spinning reels out cast and perform both of them and not backlash either.

fishin1 · Posted: Thu, Jul 24 2008 09:37 am Post subject:

some of us just like the low profile baitcasters cause they fit in the hand better and its easier to feel the line and also through the handle
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Liverpool_Fan · Posted: Thu, Jul 24 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

Cliff,

I agree. I recently bought a non catfishing baitcaster (after Jerry's seminar) and the instructions said to do exactly what you said.

hold the rod out and with the weight/setup you will be using slowly slacken the adjuster until the weight starts to slowly fall. Then you should be spot on. For beginners you may want to tighten up just a touch until you get the hang of it.

I would rather cast 15 ft shorter than have to untangle one in every four reels!!
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Life isn't like a box of chocolates..... more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn you tomorrow !!