Cast a Baitcaster is a type of fishing reel that has a rotating spool attached at the top of a fishing rod. The spool is rotated at high speed, to cast a lure. In short, the spool can easily cast the lure and unwinds the casting due to the ball-bearing system.
Baitcasting reels were first introduced in mid 17th and gained popularity in the 1870s. These reels are considered best for fishing larger freshwater fishing species like largemouth bass, northern pike, and muskellunge. Low profiles are used for small fishing bodies, while larger sizes are best suited for trolling in saltwater for saltwater fish like marlin and tuna. Casting any bait caster is a difficult task for first-time anglers, but they have mastered it with practice.
The Three Segments of Casting a Bait Caster
Every cast with a bait caster consists of three parts. Firstly, you have to understand the workings of the cast to understand the angler’s role in each cast. In a bait caster, once the spool is set in motion, it continuously provides a feed line to the bait while passing through the air. It’s different from a spinning reel where the bait is pulling line throughout the cast. If the angler doesn’t slow the spool while the lure is getting slow, it results in an overrun known as Backlash.
Part 1:
In the first part of the cast, you just have to launch the bait from the rod tip. As an angler, remove your thumb from the spool. Your bait takes a line and the spool starts spinning. Here the most important setting is the spool control knob setting.
Part 2:
Wind resistance and gravity start acting on the bait as it moves through the air. They slow down the baits where the braking system plays the most vital role.
Part 3:
The last part is when the bait goes down and touches the ground in the water. Now an educated thumb is needed.
The key to superb casting: manage all the changes by keeping momentum with your own instincts and timings. also with adjustable components of the baitcasting reel.
The Three Important Factors of Casting a Reel:
1- Casting a Reel
- Reel in the line:
Reel the line in until your bait is 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) away from the rod tip. Or if you have a bobber, it should be 6 to 12 inches away from the rod tip.
- Hold the reel properly:
Baitcasting rods are designed as same as spin casting rods, while using spincast most the fisher prefer to use one hand while casting. They use the same hand for retrieving if you want to hold the rod, you have to change your hand when you cast or retrieve. Just grip the rod behind the reel and put your thumb on the spool. If you want to have control of the spool, just put your thumb on it instead of pressing it.
- Turn the rod so the reel handles point up:
Use your wrist while casting if you use the opposite hand the handlers will point down.
- Press the reel spool release button:
Baitcasting reels made since the 1970s have a setting to disengage the spool during casting, so it may cause easiness during long-distance casts. The first model had a button for this, but modern bait casters introduced the feature of releasing the spool while casting by using a releasing bar.
- Bend your casting arm:
For the correct positioning of sending the line out, you have to bend your arm so that it gets the exact angle. Keep your rod vertical so it gets in the right position.
- Sweep the rod forward until it reaches eye level:
The distance is about 30 degrees above the horizontal or the “10 o’clock” position. As you reach the position just lift your thumb as much as you want. So that the bait or lure can move or pull a line of the spool when it propels.
If you are casting in saltwater with a long-handled bait caster use your opposite hand as a fulcrum.
- Press down on the reel spool with your thumb to stop the bait when it reaches the target:
In the last step just use your thumb to stop the reel as it hits the target. if you are not using enough thumb the lure will hit the ground and cause bird nests or backlash.
2- Gathering the Right Equipment
- Choosing a Baitcaster:
Choose a bait caster that suits your hand and according to your fish’s needs. There is a slight difference between older and new bait casters in their features like grip control, etc. Just visit the shop, pick a few, and check them in your hand. Check your grip if it suits you then buy it, and if you want to buy an older then just visit some antique shops.
- Choose appropriate bait:
You cannot cast every kind of bait or lure with a single rod; just take a few rods with you so you can easily cast the bait. Just carry a baitcasting reel for heavy rods.
- Get some protective waders:
They offer you protection from cold water skin rash and many more. If you accidentally get a cut, it will protect you.
3- Choosing a Location
- Practice away from water:
Try to Practice bait casting at some distance from water as well as on i. Replace your rod away from the water with snickers or rubber plugs. Avoid overhead trees and try to practice in open areas.
- Avoid heavy brushing:
While choosing the area for casting, always remember to choose an area with minimal brushes or avoid overhead. Your bait is easily caught in bushes and costs much time in retrieval. It is important to avoid heavy bushes, if your bait got stuck the whole line of spool gets destroyed.
- Choose an isolated location:
It is important to choose an isolated place where no one is around you. It decreases the risk that you get slugged by someone and a line of the spool will be destroyed because of a bird net.
4. Tuning Your Bait Caster
- Spool control:
if your spool is too loose, you have to suffer backlash in early casting. Before starting casting or doing anything else tightens your spool control knob by turning in the anti-clockwise direction. Now hold your bait, depress the clutch lever, and if your spool has tightened to maximum it should dangle in the water before going to the ground.
No matter how smoothly it is going it will backlash, so try to thumb the spool before it reaches the ground; this is called active braking. The next step is to release mention on the spool control knob unless the bait falls freely. But in such a manner that you can easily control the backlash with minimal active brake. If your spool is too loose, it will cause difficulty in casting. But if it is too tight, it will not be able to cast at a long distance. So you just have to choose a middle field for bait casting·
- Braking system:
after setting the spool knob, the next step is to adjust the braking system. Start by maximizing the setting as it will help you to develop and understand how the braking system works and affects the cast. It helps to control spool rotation.
Select a target in your backyard, such as a tub or bucket about 10 to 15 feet away. Your first try would be easy and gentle flips, using a pendulum vibratory motion and a simple drop of the line of the spool. Remember, your braking system is supposed to be at maximum speed.
If you are facing difficulty in getting your target, it is due to your braking system being set to maximum. slowing the forward movement of the bait during the second part of your cast. If you are facing difficulty in reaching your target, you might be supposed to add more force to the cast. Which can cause a lot of forwarding movement in the “early part”. That your braking system faces or fights in the second part of your cast, causing a backlash or birdnest.
- Educated Thumb is an important factor:
If you are facing trouble with backlash after landing the lure, it is due to a late in the thumbing process during the third part of your cast. Focus on the path of the lure. There is a time when the bait reaches its highest position. At this moment, thumbing is too important; just thumb your spool to slow down its movement.
If you thumb too fast, you will lose distance, but if you thumb too late you will backlash.
- Battling the Bird’s Nest is important:
The easiest way to battle with bird nests is to keep an eye on the spool. Look for all irregularities and difficulties in the line on the spool and solve them on the spot. Clear that the line is always around neatly and tightly. The line should be neat and untangled and not wounded loosely on the external edges or middle of the spool, and there should not be many ups and downs.
When a backlash happens, do not panic, just be calm and do not allow frustration to spoil your casting. Trap the spool with your thumb and pull the line towards yourself. Usually, the backlash will solve as you pull out the line.
Baitcasting Reel Tips
Baitcasting reels are also better suited to handling heavier lines and baits. A good general rule of thumb is to use baitcasters for larger fish. In freshwater: is best to use at least 10 pounds of weight or heavier in a fishing line with a rod. If you want to cast your lure or fish waterways with heavy cover or bushes. Start learning how to use a bait caster reel because it will have the force. Also, it gives you the power you need to pull fish out of thick vegetative cover.
Learning how to cast a bait caster or how-to is not tough. It just takes a little practice and application of the knowledge you have. These are simple tips on how to cast a lure or how to fish with a bait caster. Try to know why a bait caster is better for certain bass fishing techniques, and then try out those fishing with a baitcasting reel on your own.
How to Cast a Baitcaster: Step-By-Step
Take some easy steps in learning how to cast a lure with a bait caster reel by following these simple step-by-step tips.
1. Confirm the bat casting reel you are using is combined with the right rod. Use a rod between a 6-foot, 6-inch medium heavy rod to a 6-foot, 10-inch medium heavy rod.
2. Use heavy spool line to learn the bait casting generals. A 14 to the 17-pound fishing line will be the simplest for you to cast a lure in, and it will help you prevent backlashes.
3. Read the owner’s manual and guidelines for the reel to start the proper star drag and spool tension.
4. Hold your rod out horizontally in your hand and bend your arm. Press the thumb bar to make sure your lure falls slowly and smoothly and gradually to the ground. The above is a great way to confirm your spool tension before casting or fishing.
5. Bring the rod back over your shoulder for your cast.
6. Press the thumb bar while checking the pressure on the line spool with your thumb. Remember that your line will release just after depressing the thumb bar below your thumb.
7. Aim for the target you want to fish.
8. To prevent the spool from over-winding, just apply strong pressure on the spool with your thumb as you start your cast. (especially knowing how this part will help you avoid a backlash), and then slowly back off on the pressure to feather your line out during the remaining cast.
9. Reel once, twice, or thrice to engage the anti-reverse and now you are all ready for fishing
These step-by-step guidelines should make it simplest for you to learn how to cast a lure or how to fish using a bait caster reel.