Bait casting help needed

[san dimas]

Hello everyone. I'm just learning to use a bait caster. When I cast side arm the bait goes to the left, when I cast over head the bait goes down. How can I fix this? Thanks.

 

[gm280]

Re: Bait casting help needed

Hello everyone. I'm just learning to use a bait caster. When I cast side arm the bait goes to the left, when I cast over head the bait goes down. How can I fix this? Thanks.

Hello everyone. I'm just learning to use a bait caster. When I cast side arm the bait goes to the left, when I cast over head the bait goes down. How can I fix this? Thanks.

First things first. Welcome to iboats. :welcome: great to have you join us...

Sounds like you may have a release timing issue there. Not knowing what type baitcaster reel you're using. Here is a little setup of the reel to try. Put the bait you are using on the line and reel the line up to the rod tip. Then start adjusting the drag and/or the magnetic drag until that bait just starts to lower down to the ground. Stop at that setup. If when you hit the ground with the weight of the bait the reel continues to travel, it is too loose. Readjust just a little tighter and do it again until it stops unreeling line when it hits the ground. That is where you want to start with. Now practice in your yard casting and vary your release point until you make the connection at what position will give you both the direction and distance. I usually do this with a rubber practice plug, certainly without hooks. Do that standing, sitting on a chair and in every position until you can do it without thinking about it anymore... Then try the same into the wind... You may get some professional over-run (okay a total screwed up birds nest). But using some finesse, you can most of the time unreel that professional over-run and rewind it all up again. After all your practicing pays off, CHANGE that line and re-spool with new fresh line and go fishing... You'll have good days and some not so good days until you get the total control of it. Oh...and use that reel setup every time you tie on a different bait. That IS part of the key to baitcasting... :fish2:

 

[san dimas]

Re: Bait casting help needed

Thanks gm 280. I have a Abu Garcia Silver Max with 12# flourocarbon and a medium heavy Abu Garcia rod. I bought them as a combo. I've been trying to change my release point but I get the same results. I bought a casting plug so that I can practice. I set the reel up as you described, so I guess I will just have to keep practicing.

 

[gm280]

Re: Bait casting help needed

Thanks gm 280. I have a Abu Garcia Silver Max with 12# flourocarbon and a medium heavy Abu Garcia rod. I bought them as a combo. I've been trying to change my release point but I get the same results. I bought a casting plug so that I can practice. I set the reel up as you described, so I guess I will just have to keep practicing.

A few other things I remember when I was first learning. Heavier plugs work better casting them then the lighter ones, until you learn. However, You have to use bait weights that your rod is built for as well. And the rod also dictates the line size too. So I usually get something in the middle of both those limits and start from there. Check your rod for those figures and make sure you are trying to cast something that both the rod and reel are built for. And after you get the feel for the casting worked out, you'll actually start to notice that you back-load the rod when it cast the best. So it is a finely adjusted complete setup between the rod, reel, line, and bait for it all to come together. Don't give up because once you grasp the concept, you will love bait-casting for both distance and being able to spot cast and feel the fish hit the bait... It really doesn't take too long to learn... If you are having trouble casting any bait, back off (a very little at a time) the drag until you start getting any distance. But with less drag, there is a greater problem with birds nesting...

 

[oldandintheway]

Re: Bait casting help needed

A guide in FL taught me to use a side arm motion more like underhand throwing a softball.

 

[gm280]

Re: Bait casting help needed

San dimas, One other thing I also remembered learning and teaching my two adult boys to baitcast, is to try to cast your practice plug up in the air. I mean cast and release like you are trying to throw the plug in a tree (make sure there are no trees around at this point though). That will get you to the proper release point for starters and then you can adjust from there. Too many times we try casting like we would normally do with a closed-face reel like a Zebco 33 or something like that. But that is a completely different animal all together. I believe once you do get the hang of it, you will love it... :fish:

 

[san dimas]

Re: Bait casting help needed

I'm looking forward to mastering this thing. They seem to be such nice little packages. Thanks for your advice

 

[bassman284]

Re: Bait casting help needed

You also need to use a different casting motion than you would with a spinning rig. With a spinner the tendency is to whip the rod with a lot of preload. If you do that with the bait caster you will get the kind of results you're talking about. You want a smooth, easy motion without a lot of preload. Think of it like tossing a ball to a little kid. When you get the feel of that you will be able to speed things up for more distance.

I've been using bait casters for about 18 years but still use spinning rigs probably about half the time. Every now and then I pick up a bait caster and give it a whip like the spinner and end up with a kerfluffle.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Bait casting help needed

The biggest handy cap to using a bait caster/or conventional as I do, is inferior /mismatch tackle and improper technique. The sooner you learn that the rod casts the bait, not your arm, the sooner you'll start down the road to success.

I can't over emphasis the importance of a good rod and proper technique. Great technique will overcome the short coming of just about any rod and reel. A good rod,for the most part, will overcome the short comings of a mediocre reel. A good reel, without a good rod and technique, will do nothing but drain your wallet.

My favorite are the guys that take a running start when they cast. At that point, you just have to shake you head.:facepalm:

 

[san dimas]

Re: Bait casting help needed

Thanks guys. I have another question. I just won a used Shimano CU-200 Curado. Now I need a rod to match this reel. What do you guys recommend, brand, weight, length, anything you can help me with. Thanks.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Bait casting help needed

You match rod to casting weight and technique.

A reel is simply a drag system with a place to store line.

 

[gm280]

Re: Bait casting help needed

Thanks guys. I have another question. I just won a used Shimano CU-200 Curado. Now I need a rod to match this reel. What do you guys recommend, brand, weight, length, anything you can help me with. Thanks.

Thanks guys. I have another question. I just won a used Shimano CU-200 Curado. Now I need a rod to match this reel. What do you guys recommend, brand, weight, length, anything you can help me with. Thanks.

Ha there, nice reel and great win. Here is my thoughts on such a setup.

Since you're presently learning to fish (cast) with a bait caster reel now, I'd go for a medium price rod that will handle the line size and weight of the bait you're want to use with those limitation of the reel in mind. Then as you become more familiar with how it all works together, then you can appreciate the finer offerings and select an appropriate rod to suit your needs.

It is kind of like buying a very expensive set of golf clubs but hacking the ground with every stroke. I'd wait to buy the setup YOU want but only after understand the difference between Graphite, Boron, Carbon fiber and all the other high dollar offerings from the better manufacturers.

It took me about a good year of fishing before I could tell the difference between simple cheap fiberglass rods and nicer graphite rods. So buying something in the expensive range now will not be worth the money until you get to that point...

So buy something nice, but not too pricey yet. Get the feel for what you presently have before laying out lots of money on the more expensive high dollar equipment and probably won't be able to feel the difference...yet!

That is my opinion on this issue and my 1 1/2 cents worth.

Oh, how is your bait casting coming alone presently? :watermelon:

 

[san dimas]

Re: Bait casting help needed

Thanks gm280. My casting is coming along pretty well. Not too many bird nests. Still working on accuracy though.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Bait casting help needed

That Shimano is a fine reel and would match well with a medium action rod. Suggest a 6.5' rod. Would also suggest looking at Bass Pro Shops Extreme or the Tourney Special rods. They are very nice rods for the money. Not really expensive yet not cheap. And I do own a number of these rods in both casting and spinning models.

 

[midcarolina]

Re: Bait casting help needed

I recommend practice casting using different techniques like overhand, sidearm, backhand and pitching.... different situations require different techniques... also it may be frustrating, but try and rely more on thumb pressure than on spool tension...using your thumb to control accuracy is the key.

 

[san dimas]

Re: Bait casting help needed

There's a Bass Pro not too far from me so I'll check out their rods. I've heard that the Curado's are good reels so I found one on e-bay for $60. I'm continuing to practice and show small signs of improvement. They are a lot of fun to use.:happy:

 

[gm280]

Re: Bait casting help needed

There's a Bass Pro not too far from me so I'll check out their rods. I've heard that the Curado's are good reels so I found one on e-bay for $60. I'm continuing to practice and show small signs of improvement. They are a lot of fun to use.:happy:

Ha, great to hear you're getting the hang of it. Stay with it and keep posting your results. How I look at things is like this, if others can do it then so can I... That statement hasn't failed me yet! I love fishing with bait caster reels while worm fishing (artificial that is). The amount of feel I can receive with a good rod and bait cast type reel is beyond great. And once you do grasp the concept, the bait cast reels are wide open for your selection...

 

[bassman284]

Re: Bait casting help needed

There's a Bass Pro not too far from me so I'll check out their rods. I've heard that the Curado's are good reels so I found one on e-bay for $60. I'm continuing to practice and show small signs of improvement. They are a lot of fun to use.:happy:

The Curado is a great reel. That's the one that got me started bait casting. I pulled it out of a nearby lake in 1995. It was on a Cabela CLC602 rod (6'0", 5-17 lb line, 1/4 - 5/8 oz lure). I was going toss it in the trash until I realized the algae coating was very thin and it hadn't been there very long. I wiped it off, took a couple of short practice casts and I was hooked. I finally wore out the Curado but still use the rod on a regular basis, especially casting 1/4 oz crank baits.

I agree with the recommendation of a medium action rod. I would even suggest going with a 6 footer like I described above. It's not as powerful as a longer, stiffer rod, but very easy to use which will help the learning process and perfecting your technique.

 

[san dimas]

Re: Bait casting help needed

I go to the Eastern Sierras' 3 or 4 times a year, would these bait casting reels work for trout? I just use artificial lures, no bait.

 

[gm280]

Re: Bait casting help needed

Okay san dimas, You got me on that question. The only time I ever fished for trout was way way back when I was in my very early teens. And I don't remember what I used then. So others will have to help you with that question. Off the top of my head, I'd say no, because trout usually need some light sneaky presentations and a bait caster reel and rod is designed for heavier species... But mind you that is just my uneducated guess...