Bought a lews speed spool, 13 fishing omen black 7'1 MH and 10lb yo zuri hybrid. it should be here soon and i get to use it next saturday. i cant wait ;D
anything i should know about first time using a bait caster?
Practice makes perfect! ~shade
lo
Best of luck with it! Be patient. Baitcasters can be frustrating, due to back lashes mostly, but once you've mastered them are a pleasure to use and a great tool to have when you really need it.
Don't get me wrong, spinning gear certainly has it's place, and there are advantages & disadvantages to both types of equipment. IMO, baitcasters give a bit more options in use than spinning gear. :)
Take your time, Set the brakes high and learn how to throw it. You will get some backlashes for a while until you get the feel of it. I would buy some cheap mono line for this until you get the hang of it. I started out with spinning gears and I have been switching to baitcasters for tournament purpose. it has alot of advantages and where I can throw. However, my Finesse approach still contains the spinning methods.
Remember to keep your thumb close to spool to prevent backlash and I would get one of those practice plug to use at the front/back yard ...
Im sure that others will chip in ...
I agree set your brakes high. Search on here and a member names "ProReel" who services and builds reels has a guide to setting brakes. Its a awesome read!
BTW that Speed Spool is magnetic brakes only. Just so you know.
Now a trick and some advice.
"Tape trick" spool you reel up. Next make a normal cast. Pull another 4-5 feet of line off. Put a piece of tape around the spool then reel up the line. This way when you bird nest its less to cut away if you can't save it.. which saves cash.
I say set the brakes high (Not the spool tension!!) Again read ProReels thing.. it causes early wear if you don't set things right. Next.. tie on a heavier weedless bait.. they tend to be more forgiving.. then cast it out. Backyards or a park and cast to a paper plate(some target) to get better. It's not a spinning rod you don't need to hulk cast.. that equals backlash. Just a flick and when the bait lands where you want stop the spool with your thumb. Then start reeling.. I don't like stopping the cast with a reel engage.. it sounds terrible and I'm sure it isn't good for the reel.
Good luck buddy and enjoy!!
Mag brakes only, do not try and whip the bait out there. Use a smooth steady cast, and start with more brake and work it down. A good tip for the spool tension is to tighten it till you can not move the spool back and forth anymore. That way its just snug enough to hold it still, adjust the brakes and let them do all the work.
~cf
Thanks for all the info, ive also read to turn your wrist so the spool is vertical when you cast. And can someone explain what "thumbing" the spool is?
Dude Congrats ~c~, you sound just like me.I bought a Lews Tournament SS and a 13 black omen 7'1" MH just yesterday.Tell us how you like them.
Sean
Quote from: zachrf on May 25, 2013, 09:08:46 PM
Bought a lews speed spool, 13 fishing omen black 7'1 MH and 10lb yo zuri hybrid. it should be here soon and i get to use it next saturday. i cant wait ;D
anything i should know about first time using a bait caster?
QuoteAnd can someone explain what "thumbing" the spool is?
It means to use your thumb to apply slight pressure on the spool when casting, mostly at the end of the cast, thus controlling it's rotation, and hopefully over-run, which will result in backlashes. Actually your thumb will be on the line, rather than the spool itself.
With more experience & practice, you'll use your thumb without even thinking about it, as it should become instinctive. Like closing the bail on some spinning reels at the end of the cast, you just do it.
I just started using bait casters predominantly this year. I had one for a while byt never used it because of the fear of back lashes. Since I've been using them I've gotten fairly good. I can now go all day without a back lash and started throwing lighter and lighter lures.
Tip. Make sure its set up correctly for each lure. Adj spool tension until the bait slowly falls. And as you get better you can back off the brakes a little. Dont be discouraged by back lashes.
Put all your spinning rods into the back bedroom and fish with the bait caster exclusively for about 6 months or until you are sure you have the hang of it.
Use 12 lb test mono that is mid cheap range, something like Berkley Big Game line, respool often.
Bring an extra spool with you, just in case.
Don't over fill the spool, make sure the line is about even with the hole in the level wind, usually 1/4 inch below the spool lip.
High brakes, low spool tension, you are actually training your thumb and reflexes more than anything else. Start out with one presentation that is heavier, like a spinner bait as an example. Distance comes in time, as you get more used to the gear and can lighten up on the brakes.
Cast that thing where ever and when ever you can, it will make the learning curve go faster.
Have fun, good luck.
thanks for all the info, i guess i should use some mono before i put on the more expensive line i bought until im ready.
Quote from: zachrf on May 27, 2013, 06:04:52 AM
thanks for all the info, i guess i should use some mono before i put on the more expensive line i bought until im ready.
That would be wise - Thats how I learned it. Started out with a cheap 10lbs line from Walmart and just spool it until I get the hang of it. Now i am using Sunline FC line.
i have a 1500yd spool of big game 10lbs, guess that'l work til im confident in learning the release points and type of casting. thanks everyone ill post again on my experience after a few trips.
Quote from: zachrf on May 27, 2013, 08:58:01 PM
i have a 1500yd spool of big game 10lbs, guess that'l work til im confident in learning the release points and type of casting. thanks everyone ill post again on my experience after a few trips.
Using the Big Game stuff I would recommend keeping a bottle of KVD L&L handy. Spray the spool with it the night before you plan on using it, and then again right before using. It will help to keep the line more limp for better casting because it can be a little stiff.
~cf
ah.. i didnt buy that in my order, ive read just to stretch the line out and its fine, plus with that line on my spinning reel, its limp after a few casts so a bait caster should be fine, after i pratice im switching to the yozuri though which i also read just stretch it and good to go.
Let us know how it goes ...
got my combo today, put it together and went to the neighborhood pond with a 3/8 storm chug bug. ive never used a bait caster and i did not get one backlash that wasnt intentional (i put the tape on the spool after a cast and some line) i turned the brakes low and thumbed it and it really flew. the rod is amazing and i cant wait to get some fish on it. and for the reel, im very impressed. silent, smooth (for the most part, felt some gears but it needs to be broken in) and sweet looking on my black rod.
Good deal man. Glad your enjoying it. You'll only get better with time. I took my uncle out a few weeks ago and he said. "How do you constantly throw to specific spots?" To which I replied "Time on the water". I am in no means a pro, but I can atleast say I'm not bad either. Soon you'll have to many baitcasters lol
Got my first fish on it today, little dink but it was fun. i have a question though if anyone sees this, the reel, when i reel in, it clicks or like a tapping sound, do the gears need grease? plus it doesnt happen every cast. sometimes its smooth and quiet.
Probably have some line kinked from a backlash. Sometimes it will make that sound. When you hear it look and see if there is any line that'a sticking up on the spool.
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Congrats they are fun and help you build your vocabulary. I practice in my yard with a small weight, or tease the cats with a craw when the weather is bad and I'm stuck inside. I would lube it up and see if that helps, my pflueger or what ever it isclicks when running heavier baits?
no it isnt line i think its each gear tooth clicking or something. ill put a drop of 3-1 oil and see if that fixes it.
My Lew's Speed Spools are little louder than my Lew's Tourney Pro however my BPS Pro Qualifiers are the loudest. Mine don't make a clicking noise and all have braid on them. Maybe you got a rough one?? I doubt but you never know, all reeIs make some type of sound.. its mechanical. Speed Spools are magnetic braking only so it shouldn't be that. What is the release button doing? Not jumping or anything crazy I hope? Also make sure you stop the bait with your thumb.. you can engage but do it and you will hear why I don't.. kinda like dumping a car into drive while gassing. I'm kinda puzzled but I'm gonna assume your not use to it yet.
I have found most noise is normally the line though.. I do get what the other guy was saying and he's right how line gets caught and makes noise. If you get a lure caught up and pull it loose it binds the line down and you can normally see it. It doesn't look uniform on the spool. That also causes line to not go as far on the first cast.
i stop it with my thumb, and the line is fine and no weird movement from the release button. its smooth and quiet sometimes, and sometimes it clicks. its brand new so maybe its just gotta be broken in. one at the store didnt do that. if it continues ill email lews.
Sounds like a good plan.
The last speed spool I bought did that too. The screws on the handle side of the reel were lose. I tightened them up, and she's smooth and quiet now. I used to be a die hard Diawa gut, but the new Lews are awesome. Thats all I buy these days. Good luck with yours.
Believe it or not you may have the spool tension set to loose and it is causing the clicking noise. I had a Lews Speed Spool I was fishing with the other day that I had set the tension just enough to stop the side-to-side movement on the spool. I started to notice a clicking noise when reeling in. I checked the thumb bar to make sure it was engaged. I checked the mag brakes, I checked the drag. Nothing changed. I have been using these reels for over a year and have never had any issues at all.
So I then tightened the spool tension to where I used to keep it at a fast fall with a little over-run at the end of the drop. Reel casts like a dream and no noise of any kind.
thanks ill check the screws! but my tension is set to where it slowly falls. if the screws are fine ill email lews or something.