baitcasters

[tycomps]

what I'm looking to do is use this primarily on a frog setup. I'm hoping to throw the frog on a frozen rope to the strike zone which where I fish is within 3 feet of the grass line. It usually gets hit immediately and with a trailer hook on the frog I'm hoping that not having to switch hands after the cast will make me all the more ready and increase the hookup ratio.

[Ol Pedro]

Originally Posted by tycomps

what I'm looking to do is use this primarily on a frog setup. I'm hoping to throw the frog on a frozen rope to the strike zone which where I fish is within 3 feet of the grass line. It usually gets hit immediately and with a trailer hook on the frog I'm hoping that not having to switch hands after the cast will make me all the more ready and increase the hookup ratio.

I get it . The only hold up is the leftie's are more expensive .

[njbassman]

wierd never really thought about it but yeah spinning i crank with the left but bait cast crank with the right?... not sure why..... left thumb on the spool to stop baack nest... you will probably go back to spinning... i prefer bait caster for vertical jiggin....

[tycomps]

I know but I look at it as a new challenge, unfortunately it does mean lugging two rods around with me cause there's no way I'm losing fishing time for some thing new. first backlash while the bass are biting and I pickup the spinning rod!

[danyeo]

I bought a baitcaster and all it did was get me to use 4 letter words in new and creative ways. I would have given you the one I had.

[Wilson]

After debating whether to chime in on this thread or keep quiet...well.

I bought a lefty Shimano bait caster a long time ago.
After trying to master it for like 1 year I gave up.
I can do anything with a spinning rod and reel that anybody else can do with a bait caster.
The problem I was trying to eliminate with the bait caster was line twist.
Twisted line on a spinning reel is certain death.
What I sort of concluded was this.
Do not reel against your drag when snagged or fighting a fish.
Buy a good spinning reel with a quality line roller. Use Spro # 12 or 14 barrel swivels, especially if fishing live shiners or herring as they spin like a top on the retreive.
Change line sooner rather then later.
My baitcaster is free to a good home if anybody wants it

[FASTEDDIE29]

Originally Posted by Wilson

After debating whether to chime in on this thread or keep quiet...well.

I bought a lefty Shimano bait caster a long time ago.
After trying to master it for like 1 year I gave up.
I can do anything with a spinning rod and reel that anybody else can do with a bait caster.
The problem I was trying to eliminate with the bait caster was line twist.
Twisted line on a spinning reel is certain death.
What I sort of concluded was this.
Do not reel against your drag when snagged or fighting a fish.
Buy a good spinning reel with a quality line roller. Use Spro # 12 or 14 barrel swivels, especially if fishing live shiners or herring as they spin like a top on the retreive.
Change line sooner rather then later.
My baitcaster is free to a good home if anybody wants it

How much for the bait caster??? Ill take it.

[Lard Almighty]

Baitcasters are a totally different animal from spinning gear. If you have used spinning reels your whole life you will find baitcasters to be a challenge. Having used baitcasters for many years, here are a few things I have learned:

1. DON'T GO CHEAP: You can get away with a $50 spinning reel. A $50 baitcast reel will break faster than you can get it out of the package (I learned this the hard way). I do not buy baitcast reels that have a retail price of less than $100 (sales notwithstanding). With baitcasters you get what you pay for. That being said, most people do not need a $300+ model unless they use it almost every day.

2. ADJUST BRAKES AND TENSION: The magnetic brakes and the spool tension knob require constant attention. When switching to different lures, changing casting motions, or even if the wind shifts, you MUST adjust the brakes and tension accordingly. Always start with the settings higher than you might need, then gradually back off until you find the right balance between casting distance and not getting backlashes. A good rule for the tension knob is to hold the rod perpendicular to you with a few inches of line out, put the reel in free-spool, then back off on the tension until the lure just starts to fall with its own weight.

3. BACKLASHES WILL HAPPEN: Even with the tension and brakes properly calibrated, you will still get a backlash here and there. If it happens, don't get frustrated; it's all a part of the game. When you first are learning how to cast (this is when backlashes will likely be most frequent for you), also take the time to learn how to pick out a backlash. You'll find that, with a little practice, you'll be able to untangle all but the nastiest of backlashes with not much effort.

4. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE: You will NOT learn how to throw a baitcaster overnight! It takes practice and patience to learn how to use one, and even more practice and patience to learn how to use one well. This is something you might consider learning over the winter, practicing in the backyard for a few weeks before hitting the water.

5. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE PROS: Yes, Kevin Van Dam can throw a spinnerbait 200 yards with a baitcaster just by wiggling his pinkie. Do not expect to be able to do the same. The reason pros can do crazy things with baitcasters is because they use them every single day. Focus on learning how to use your baitcaster for situations you may encounter, and don't try to become the next casting champion. As long as you get the lure where you want it to go, you are using the baitcaster right.

[AndrewT]

Heavy lures is the key. I only use mine for spinnerbaits and cranksbaits. Just takes practice. I could never understand how pros are able to throw plastic worms with a baitcaster. Guess that's why they're the pros

[ScowardNJ]

I'm a righty, but I go with the left hand retrieve on my baitcasters. When i got my first baitcaster, i found my self casting with my right arm, then having to switch the rod to my left arm for the right hand retrieve. I brought the reel (Curado) back to Davis the next day and the let me exchange it for a lefty retrieve. It felt way more natural for me.

Weird thing is, all my salt water chunking/trolling/fluking stuff are right hand hand retrieves. I guess for casting lefty is better for me, but for dropping, it probably doesn't make a difference.