Casting and fishing with a Baitcaster

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Osie

Senior Member
Ok, I bought my starting tackle at last, two setups - one spinning and one baitcaster.

While at the bundu expo the oaks from culprit showed me a few tips regarding the  baitcaster reel, however I went to a rugby field and tried to cast with it.

There we go, line going all over the place except in te right place, got a
"kraaines" that took me about an hour to sort out.

So I need help in learning to cast with this thing please, Yes I know some of you would say that I should start with the spinning setup but I desperately want to learn how to fish with a baitcaster.

Please help if you have any advise.

 
 
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Billaridoo

Senior Member
Hey there bud!

I totally feel your frustration! I was there myself and wanted to cast the baitcaster into the trashcan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDI5kwR5zjc

Check this out for the overwinds, it really works, also take it vvvvveeeeeerrrrryyyyy easy when you start casting. Turn all the brakes on, hold the spool down and cast only 5m, then lighter on the spool and after you have the basics down and you can cast a good 5m or so, start turning your braking mechs down.

YouTube is a great source of tutorials on casting with a bait caster.

Before you know it, you'll be casting like a pro, but unfortunately, like most of us, you'll still have to deal with them kraainesse!

Good luck!
 
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bekkerian

Senior Member
Jis Osie.

ek is self n novice met n baitcaster, maar wat ek geleer het is PRACTICE en geduld!

verder moet jou lure weight en magnetic drag ge-sync wees. totdat jy die gevoel gekry het en met meer vertroue kan gooi. jou duim is kern met n baitcaster, jy moet die lyn guide met jou gooi aksie. onthou die spoel hou aan draai nadat jou lure die water getref het, so JY moet dit stop met jou duim.

die vet kraaineste kom as jy te hard probeer gooi!

ek stel voor om vir jou n gewiggie op te sit, en op daai rugby veld te gaan staan en baie gooie te maak, begin met kort afstande en moenie probeer 120m gooi nie want dis dan wanneer daai kraaines sy verskyning maak! 

hoop jy kom reg!

Ian
 
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bandit365

New member
hey Osie

 

the sooner you master the baitcaster the better your fishing and you will never go back to a spinning rod.

 

i found when i started that cast with a heavier sinker and thicker line made things easy, you never going to get awya from the odd overwind when you loose concentration, but the rewards are worth it.

 

just parctise and check out the video's on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZs2vAJp0Ec

 

some more info for you:

 

Spool up your reel with monofilament line in fairly heavy test - 14 to 20 - even if you plan on fishing with lighter line. Heavier line is easier to learn to cast, and easier to pick out those unavoidable backlashes. Don't fill the spool on the reel, start with half a spool or less. The more line on the spool the heavier the spool and the faster and longer it will spin. Spinning too long is what causes backlashes, so start with less line.
The most important part of casting a bait caster is a smart thumb. Your thumb rides on the spool of line and controls it, so you must educate your thumb. You can do this while watching TV. Tie on a fairly heavy weight - a nut or 1 ounce sinker, and sit down. Loosen up the spool control until the weight drops freely, and use your thumb to stop it just before it hits the floor. Do this over and over until get the feel for feathering the spool with your thumb and stopping the weight just before it reaches the floor.

When you are ready to learn to cast, tie on a practice plug or sinker - half ounce is about right. Tighten the freespool control until the weight stops when it hits the floor and the reel stops spinning. This will be too tight for normal casting but helps you learn.

Take your outfit out and make a short lob-type cast. Swing your whole arm, don't try to snap the rod tip with your wrist. The reason for casting like this to start is you want the spool to start spinning slowly and evenly. A lob cast will do this. A snap cast will make the spool start spinning fast from the beginning, almost guaranteeing a backlash.
Keep casting like this, making longer and longer cast. Gradually loosen up the freespool control until you have to stop the spool with your thumb, just like you practiced. Once you get confident in using a heavy weight, try lighter weights and learn different ways to cast.
 
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HennieS

Senior Member
Osie

Here is some advice I always give first time baitcaster users. Load your rod with your prefered bait and weight, keep your rod horizontal to the ground about shoulder height. Click the reel and let it free spool to the ground, you will notice that you get a slight overwind. Now do the same exercise but thighten the magnetic drag you will notice the drop is slower, now thighten the drag until the lure drops to the ground and you get no overwind, must still fall freely thoug.

Once you have done this you are set to cast hard soft whatever you want. As you go along you will look for more distance and you start losening the magnetic drag and using your thumb more. Eventually your magnetic drag will be completely lose and you will use your thumb to control.

This is also a very good technique when teaching yourselve to pitch, also casting against the wind you will again thighten the magnetic drag slightly to prevent overwinds.

Hope this helps.  
 
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madporra

Senior Member
Hi Osie,
I used to battle a lot, but for a while now I haven't had a SINGLE overwind, believe it or not.

My secret you ask? The last time I got an overwind I chucked my rod AND reel at the fish - no more problems ..... hehehehehe

:SSS

No seriously, spinning reels are easier to start with, and get more distance but I prefer the ease of not having to flip the spinning reel over every time I cast. Plus I fish from a float tube so baitcasters are MUCH easier in my case.

What reel do you have, and does it have MAGNETIC or CENTRIFUGAL braking system?
 
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madporra

Senior Member
Hi I have one of the same reels actually, it was my first reel i bought with a Scimitar rod. It's not a "bad" reel but I find that it is not too smooth and I also used to get a lot of overwinds. However now that I learnt to use the braking system it's not so bad.

Turn e magnetic drag (left side, numbered 1 to 10) to 7 and leave it there for this test.
Rig up a Texas rig (hook + plastic lure + a weight).
Hold your rod about 45deg, release the reel and let the lure drop on it's own.
It should take about 1 to 1 1/2 seconds to hit the floor.
Make sure to stop the spool with your thumb when it does.
If it drops too fast, tighten the CAST CONTROL KNOB, if it drops too slowly, loosen it a bit.
Now go outside and cast a few times, and only use your CAST CONTROL to get the setting till you feel it is right.
Once you get used to this, you will be able to determine what to turn the mag brake to when fishing lighter or heavier lures.
For lighter lures (weightless flukes etc. and pitching) I turn the mag drag to maybe 5, for heavier ones I turn it up to 7 or 8 again, then I fiddle with CAST CONTROL to get it right.

For more distance, release cast control, but beware of more overwinds, so don't go from casting 5m to casting 15m, you will overwind.

Good luck, only way to learn is to practice. I did it in my street on Saturday for about 30 min ........ only got 1 overwind.
 
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IanBass

Senior Member
start with the reel on a tight setting then start loosening the cast control knob "there by you drag settings" once you feel comfortable with the settings you can move over to the magnet settings on the other side of the reel "with the numbers on" play around with that. see if that helps.
Good Luck
 
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Osie

Senior Member
Ok so yesterday I got home took my rod and laptop outside and practised a bit. Luckily I looked at the video on youtube on how to get rid of backlashes. I am starting to get the hang of it slowly but surely. Thank you very much for all the advice!::S

I want to know if you guys use swivels. What I mean by that is do you tie your leader line to a clip on swivel on to your main line or do you tie the two lines directly?

Ok I know some of you okes have 8 or 9 rods sometime even more, but I only have two. If I want to switch between lure's or bait types wont it be easier just to clip the one of and clip the next on? Will the swivels have an effect on the bait?
 
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bandit365

New member
hey Osie

 

i feel your pain i also only got a few rods so what i generally do is use my baitcaster for my pastics and then my spinning rod for cranking, i know this not alwasy best but it works just tie a clip on the spinning rod and off you got.

i know some guys when tying leader on general tie it straight on to the line. unless you fishing carolina then use a swivel.

if you fishing your spinning rod then a swivel is a must as it stops the bait spinning around :fishn
 
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IanBass

Senior Member
I dont use swvels, gives a little bit of a unnatural swin, with crank baits, use a rapala knot, this knot is brilliant and the lure swims fantastic! swvels if you lazy, rather spend a extra penny on another setup, and put a different crank on each rod.
 
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madporra

Senior Member
There is a general rule that is: the least knots you have between your line and your lure, the better - knots are weak points, hence many shy away from using clips and swivels (of course excluding Carolina rigs).

I was like you, I used to do papgooi and swivels were used a bit, but for good reasons. When bassing I tried swivels and speed clips and all other things and used it because it was easier.  But a lot of wrongs with doing this and I don't do it anymore.

Also, your clips you use are only as good as the fish you attempt to catch (i.e. there are good clips and bad clips, weak ones and strong ones, etc.).

Like IanBass correctly points out, the swim action of a lure can be hampered if not tied directly to your line.

Swivels can open up if too weak, your knot directly tied to a lure is usually stronger.

You can tie directly to the lure using the Rapala knot, but also try the Palomor knot which is quick and easy and damn strong.

And don't forget mother nature's lubricant - wet your line with saliva before tightening up that knot!

All this knowledge courtesy of things I learned an another forum similar to this one!
 
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Osie

Senior Member
So I am off to Roodeplaat next weekend but I still need advice on Line..

Do you people fill your reel with only flourocarbon or how do you guys do it. Do you perhaps use braided line first and flourocarbon or monofilament for a leader?
 
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Herman Nel

Senior Member
Hallo almal!


Osie,my raad vir baitcaster probleme...

Gewoonlik is die verkeerde stok die probleem en nie altyd die katrol nie...

Fast action stok ( Styf) 7-9 kg mono max - half ounce tot 1 ounce sinkers/spinnerbaits
Med action stok  4-6 kg mono - kwart ounce tot half ounce sinkers/spinnerbaits
Slow action stok ( slapperig ) 2,7-4,5 kg mono - kwart ounce en minder.

Onthou,langer stokke ( 6-8 ft) = meer afstand
Korter stokke  ( 4,5 - 6 ft ) =meer akkuraatheid

NOU VIR DIE GOEIE TIP VD DAG>>>

As jou "outfit" reg is en jy kom aan by die dam,sit so 1 oz sinker aan en gooi dan so 50-60m lyn "hard" uit.

Daar behoort dan so 30-60 m lyn oor te wees op jou spoel.

Neem dan 'n stukkie "insolation tape" van so 3cmx3cm. Plak dit op die spoel op die oorblywende lyn. Katrol dan die lyn wat uit is in oor dit.

DIT GAAN VERHOED DAT AS JY 'N MOONTLIKE OVERWIND KRY SAL DIT NIE DIEPER IN DIE SPOEL "INSNY" NIE EN DUS SAL NET DIE OPPERVLAKKIGE LYN GE-AFFEKTEER WEES!

Sit jou kunsaas aan en begin gooi. Meeste ouens ( insluitend Vernon Koekemoer ) kan slegs so 30-40 m gooi,so jy sal nie by die tape uitkom nie. As jy wel 'n grote haak wat jou lyn stroop sal dit mono deur die tape sny.

Hoop dit help!

Groete
Herman Nel
 
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