Desiring to become more proficient with the baitcasting reel forced me to compile a list of tips and tricks that have all come in handy in stopping backlash, and getting more distance and accuracy.
Don't overload yourself, just try one or two at a time. Some of these really made the difference for me as to where the baitcasting reel ended up, in the garbage or on the fishing trip. They are in no particular order so just sort through and take what you can use. Enjoy...
Make sure it is your wrist that is doing the casting. You can use a lot of different arm motions as you get better but the power must come from the wrist. To learn to do this take a small object similar to a pack of smokes, deck of cards, etc., and place it between your inner bicep and your side and practice casting without dropping the object. This will force you to use your wrist primarily and when you get better you can add different arm strokes to suit.
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When casting far side swing it from a lower position casting upward. Keep an eye on the lure, and as it reaches the fall of the arch, place very light pressure over spool with your thumb.
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Make your best long cast. It is best to do this with a heavy one ounce weight. When you make that long cast don't reel the line in yet. Take a piece of tape and place it across the line as if you were putting a Band-Aid on it. Now reel the line in. When you get your next bird's nest, the line will stop at the tape and be a lot easier to get the bird's nest out.
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Another thing you can do that might help while you are still learning is to cast side arm instead of overhead. Your bait will cast out level instead of in an overhead arch.
The worst bird's nests often happen when you throw hard. Use your wrist and let the rod do the work. It is easier to cast long when you use smooth timing to load the rod and let it do the work.
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Also, don't throw light lures into the wind. That is a gold engraved invitation to a world's class bird's nest. When the wind gets up, try a spinning reel with lighter baits.
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As soon as you release the cast, tap the spool with your thumb and then tap it again. The cast may only go 15 feet but start working on making your "taps" light touches of the spool. Ultimately, you'll get to where you can feel the line spinning freely under your thumb. You'll also learn to recognize how soon and how much contact you need to make with the spool for a given cast.
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Once you cast, follow through and turn the reel on its side; it's the way you would naturally hold the rig if you point it out straight but allow the top of your hand to face upwards. For some scientific reason, this helps alleviate backlashing.
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If you ever get hung up and pull hard on the bait or get a big fish, strip line off once you get it back to the boat and rewind. If you don't, then the next time you cast you might have problems when the spool gets to that part of the line that has dug down onto itself because of the pressure you applied.
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If you get a bird's nest, do not grab the line that is coming out of the reel and pull hard on it. That will only make the knot tighter and you will be worse off. Try to keep the tangles as loose as possible. I start by engaging the reel and grabbing the various pieces of line that are loose on the spool and pull them toward you while rotating the spool backward. After you get a few strands pulled back and loose, grab the main line coming out of the reel and slowly pull out the slack. A lot of times you will see the loop that is kinked. Grab that piece and pull it up either to the left or to the right and then pull on the main line again. Most of the time this will work and you will not have to cut out the bird's nest. This technique takes practice and patience.
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Keep a small crochet needle in your tackle box. They are great at getting a bad bird's nest out.
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Just sit in the back yard and practice, practice and practice. Aim at certain objects. Throw to a coffee can. Once you get the hang of it you will love the baitcasting reel. I know I do :)
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By Bobby Ivie
Bobby Ivie is an avid fishman and owner of Fishing-Hunting-Camping.com. He makes the biggest part of his living on the Internet, NetBizWorkshop.net
This article may be reprinted as long as this source box is added and the source box hyperlinks are kept intact.
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