Switching to a baitcast

[Tomhusker]

My dad gave me some of my grandpa's old rods...and they are for ocean fishing. Nevermind trying to fit them in the car...you can't feel nibbles worth anything and when yank on it the fish goes flying. #sizemattersinreverse

Wanna sell it?

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

So it was 60 today and I spent a good hour in the yard casting my new reel.....boy it that hard to get used to but I'm enjoying the challenge. From what I can gather, you aren't using the rod tip to flip the lure like you would on a spinning reel. It's more like a fluid sweeping motion that you have to make in order to prevent a backlash. I definitely like the control of the cast better than a spinning reel. Everything is right there in your hands. Can't wait for the lakes to truly open up so I can try it with live baits and not just a weight.

 

[Carnzo]

 

[potzer25]

any pics of your bird nests?

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

any pics of your bird nests?

Nope. I practiced a lot off my deck before going out the first time and I had all the brakes at 100%. So when I eased off the brakes it wasn't too bad. My first time out actually fishing with it I had some consistent backlashes but only one that I couldn't get out and had to cut things. But the reel in and pull on the line trick works well to remove most of them.

 

[potzer25]

Yea, that works in most cases unless it's severe (like you snag something behind you or other nonsense...)

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Yea, that works in most cases unless it's severe (like you snag something behind you or other nonsense...)

I had one horrible one where I flung it into the water like a foot in front of me and damn near half the spool emptied out. But that fix above took care of it pretty well.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

So it's official, I'm a baitcast fisher. Brought both to my week long Canadian fishing trip and never had a catastrophic birds nest. Though, I had one strange issue with the fireline I had on -- it birdsnested and the lure just snapped right off and flew into oblivion. I switched to the braid I brought and had no further issues like it. We were casting at huge massive rocks, without the baitcaster I wouldn't have been able to cast accurately enough not to bash the shit out of my lures all week.

 

[Bridgeburner]

it birdsnested and the lure just snapped right off and flew into oblivion.

Weak knot? I lost a couple of expensive muskie lures about ten years ago with the baitcaster getting nested up and the lures flying off the line. That's when I learned some different knots and haven't had any issues since.

I have always used a baitcaster for muskie but usually a spinner for everything else. I have a cheapo South Bend Muskie Rod (7' MH Fast action 1 piece) that is still going strong after 15 years. Can't bring myself to replace it even though I'm a St. Croix guy. Bought it to try out and never had reason to replace it. I pair it with an Abu Garcia Ambassador something or other. Has an anti-backlash setting thing that I never use.

Been actually thinking of re-lining that rod and using it for bass. I don't think a 7' medium heavy fast action would be overkill for bass/walleye/cats. I mainly fish bass and I mainly use soft plastics (texas rig).

 

[Bridgeburner]

BTW St. Croix is unreal with their customer service. I closed the tip of a rod in my car door and snapped it off. Called them and they never even asked what happened. The rod broke and that's all they needed to know. Didn't seem to matter how it happened. They replaced it inside of two weeks.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Weak knot? I lost a couple of expensive muskie lures about ten years ago with the baitcaster getting nested up and the lures flying off the line. That's when I learned some different knots and haven't had any issues since.

I have always used a baitcaster for muskie but usually a spinner for everything else. I have a cheapo South Bend Muskie Rod (7' MH Fast action 1 piece) that is still going strong after 15 years. Can't bring myself to replace it even though I'm a St. Croix guy. Bought it to try out and never had reason to replace it. I pair it with an Abu Garcia Ambassador something or other. Has an anti-backlash setting thing that I never use.

Been actually thinking of re-lining that rod and using it for bass. I don't think a 7' medium heavy fast action would be overkill for bass/walleye/cats. I mainly fish bass and I mainly use soft plastics (texas rig).

All of my bass rods are 7 footers and vary from medium action to medium heavy depending on what I'm fishing with or how I'm fishing.

 

[Bridgeburner]

All of my bass rods are 7 footers and vary from medium action to medium heavy depending on what I'm fishing with or how I'm fishing.

You're talking me into using it for bass haha. I do tend to knot up the line at least once a trip though. Which can be a pain in the ass. If I'm paying attention I'm good but I'll inevitably fall asleep at the wheel at least once and get me a good nest.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Weak knot? I lost a couple of expensive muskie lures about ten years ago with the baitcaster getting nested up and the lures flying off the line. That's when I learned some different knots and haven't had any issues since.

I have always used a baitcaster for muskie but usually a spinner for everything else. I have a cheapo South Bend Muskie Rod (7' MH Fast action 1 piece) that is still going strong after 15 years. Can't bring myself to replace it even though I'm a St. Croix guy. Bought it to try out and never had reason to replace it. I pair it with an Abu Garcia Ambassador something or other. Has an anti-backlash setting thing that I never use.

Been actually thinking of re-lining that rod and using it for bass. I don't think a 7' medium heavy fast action would be overkill for bass/walleye/cats. I mainly fish bass and I mainly use soft plastics (texas rig).

It wasn't the knot because the line was actually snapped probably a foot off the tip of the rod, not untied from the lure (where I would have had a bunch of excess line off the front). I'm actually a lazy knot person I just do simple knots but like 15 of them attached to a swivel so I don't have to keep retying. The only time I cut the swivel off is if I'm doing something like bottom bouncing or drop shotting.

All my rods are medium with a fast action. That's been plenty for every kind of fishing I do or have tried but my next purchase I want to get a really heavy rod and (old fashioned) bait caster like the Abu Garcia Ambassador that you referenced for big musky lures and trolling. The line counter would be a huge help when doing bottom bouncing or trying to troll at a specific depth. I always have to guess. Trying to guess with a simple bass baitcaster is pretty hard.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

You're talking me into using it for bass haha. I do tend to knot up the line at least once a trip though. Which can be a pain in the ass. If I'm paying attention I'm good but I'll inevitably fall asleep at the wheel at least once and get me a good nest.

Normally i do pretty good with them. I adjust the magnetic drag system according to the lure I'm throwing, which helps tremendously. The only time I get into trouble is when it's fairly windy outside and I'm casting into the wind. Kills me every time. Oh the other thing that gets me in trouble is snagging something during my backswing or coming forward with my cast, like a cleat on the boat or a seat or an outboard motor or another rod or the trolling motor head or the net, or .... you get the picture. BTW I have snagged all the those things listed above at least once. Always makes for a mess.

 

[Bridgeburner]

It wasn't the knot because the line was actually snapped probably a foot off the tip of the rod, not untied from the lure (where I would have had a bunch of excess line off the front). I'm actually a lazy knot person I just do simple knots but like 15 of them attached to a swivel so I don't have to keep retying. The only time I cut the swivel off is if I'm doing something like bottom bouncing or drop shotting.

All my rods are medium with a fast action. That's been plenty for every kind of fishing I do or have tried but my next purchase I want to get a really heavy rod and (old fashioned) bait caster like the Abu Garcia Ambassador that you referenced for big musky lures and trolling. The line counter would be a huge help when doing bottom bouncing or trying to troll at a specific depth. I always have to guess. Trying to guess with a simple bass baitcaster is pretty hard.

I'm not sure what knot I use. I pull the line through the hook/lure about 4-5 inches and then fold it up and pinch it with the other end of the line. Then I spin the lure/hook 10-12 times which creates a loop at the base of the hook/lure. I feed the free end of the line back through that loop and pull it tight. Never have any issues and it's about the quickest/easiest knots there is.
The Ambassador is a good reel. Again, mine if about 4-5 generations ago. I don't know what they are like now but mine is still going strong. I think I paid like $100 for it too. Not too bad. My rod was only like $40 too lol. A lot cheaper than a St. Croix.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Normally i do pretty good with them. I adjust the magnetic drag system according to the lure I'm throwing, which helps tremendously. The only time I get into trouble is when it's fairly windy outside and I'm casting into the wind. Kills me every time. Oh the other thing that gets me in trouble is snagging something during my backswing or coming forward with my cast, like a cleat on the boat or a seat or an outboard motor or another rod or the trolling motor head or the net, or .... you get the picture. BTW I have snagged all the those things listed above at least once. Always makes for a mess.

Into the wind sucks. And yeah... I've caught most of those things too. I'll even add people to the list. Very. Unhappy. People.

 

[Bridgeburner]

I adjust the magnetic drag system according to the lure I'm throwing, which helps tremendously.

I never do this BTW. Maybe that would help. I've got everything just basically set to free fall. It's all pretty loose and I ride the spool with my thumb. Not even sure my Ambassador has magnetics to be honest?

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Normally i do pretty good with them. I adjust the magnetic drag system according to the lure I'm throwing, which helps tremendously. The only time I get into trouble is when it's fairly windy outside and I'm casting into the wind. Kills me every time. Oh the other thing that gets me in trouble is snagging something during my backswing or coming forward with my cast, like a cleat on the boat or a seat or an outboard motor or another rod or the trolling motor head or the net, or .... you get the picture. BTW I have snagged all the those things listed above at least once. Always makes for a mess.

I've actually been learning pretty much free-spool. Mine uses the centrifugal breaks and I keep 1 on. Other than that, I adjust my spool tension just so the spool doesn't wobble left and right. It's harder to learn, but doing so allows you to cast basically as far as possible with any lure. The only time I've added more brake is casting into heavy wind (as you mention).

 

[Bridgeburner]

I've actually been learning pretty much free-spool. Mine uses the centrifugal breaks and I keep 1 on. Other than that, I adjust my spool tension just so the spool doesn't wobble left and right. It's harder to learn, but doing so allows you to cast basically as far as possible with any lure. The only time I've added more brake is casting into heavy wind (as you mention).

I think this is what I do. I know surprisingly little about baitcasters which is odd seeing how many years I've been using one (for muskie anyway). But the terms are lost on me haha. And I really don't play around with settings etc. I probably need to study up a little. Been a couple years since I played with mine. Might have to break it out tonight.

 

[Bridgeburner]

I also think I have to use a left handed model? I'm right handed. Cast with my right and reel with my left hand. I think (if I remember correctly) to get that setup I had to buy a left handed model.