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baitcaster


msm1018

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I just bought a Pflueger trion low and I was wondering since I have never used one before, what is the best way to prevent birds nests, and cast a good distance? I have been practicing in my back yard with a lead weight, but I'm looking for a "quicker" fix to this frustrating ordeal. I know that all of the work is needed on my part, but if you guys have some pointers that would be great.

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I am relatively new to the baitcasters and I have been doing the same as you. Last year out on the water I got a couple of good nests. I think that practicing is very helpful. I have been out in the back yard and over at the city park quite often and am finally starting to feel comfortable with it.

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I bought a Ambassadeur 5500 a couple years ago...I use it for trolling and going deep for big fish.

My reel can be adjusted for the weight of the lure. Your's may have the same capability. I adjust mine by holding the rod horizontal, push the release botton as though I were going to make a cast, and turn the dial until the lure is JUST ABLE to take line from the spool.

Now for the casting part. After the first two tries did you begin the wonder why you wanted a bait-caster? LOL! I tried making some long casts in the yard, but quickly realized I had a lot to learn about bait casting.

The MOST IMPORTANT issue in bait casting is thumb control of the spool...but I bet you realize that already!

So, what I did was fasten a heavy sinker to the end of the line. And make casts of only 3-4ft until I got the feel of stopping the spool with my thumb just as the sticker hit the ground.

You feel/think your stopping the cast short, which actually you are, but, you need to slow the spin of the spool just as the lure hits the water...its a thumb/eye coordination thing.

I found these 3-4ft casts gave me the opportunity to get the feel of slowing the spin of the spool without developing those monster bird nests.

Hope this helps,

Rogue Hunter

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there is no quick fix! grin.gif yes you have to adjust the tension for the weight of the lure as descibe. and the thumb control only comes with time. your reel also has a mag brake on the side opposite the handle. ( check the book, but i think you have to take the cover off to do so.) be patient!!!! soon you will have the educated thumb, and will enjoy a fine reel! PS ! a birds nest is going to happen. we all get them some times. blush.gif

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msm, everybody who has ever used a baitcaster/thumb burner has made a Hungarian cluster on the reel. Myself included. Just be sure you don't do your learning in front of your spincasting buddies. They will have a hay-day ribbing you. (speaking from experience there) Things like "How's your nice bass rig working for ya? "

Stick with it, just like everthing else, practice makes perfect.

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Stick it out and you will be happy you did! I just switched over a couple years ago and I have a hard time picking up a spinning reel. Not sure what species your fishing for but for bass'n you can cast much more accurate with a baitcaster. If you can, get on the water and practice cast. Try different lures instead of just the weight. For starters, cast with the wind until you get used to stopping the bait. Everyone gets backlashes! After a while you will figure out that most are pretty easy and fast to get out. What ever you do, don't give up. Let me know if you want to hook up in Duluth here and do a little casting from the boat launch. LSW2002 at AOL dot COM

Granny

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Rouge Hunter got it right, you need to hold the rod horizontal and click the button so the spool is free. then adjust the tension, not the drag, so when you jiggle the tip of the rod the lure starts to drop. The tensioner should be a little dial on the same side as the drag. Then once you get this far just remember not to try to cast accross the lake right away, you have to ease yourself into it. Start off with short casts (maybee 15 to 20 feet) and once you get those down then go for the long ones. You will pick up how to use your thumb along the way.

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I am new to bait casters too and have been doing ok. I have tried differnet lines on it. Seems to make a difference also. The last line I put on was Spider Wire Stealth 12lb. Seems to cast good, and alot less of the backups.... But I am not sure what is the line to use. And what type of difference it makes... Suggestions?

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1. An educated thumb (takes alot of time and alot of practice)

2. Larger diameter braided line (will help to reduce occurances and when they occur it's easier to pick them out)

3. Correctly setting the centrifugical brakes to your skill level. Start with every other one and go from there.

4. Augmenting the brakes with the tension knob under the handle.

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30lb Power Pro for bass'n. Run some mono on your reel first. This way you don't have to put on as much Power Pro and it helps prevent dig-ins when you hook into something solid other than a fish.

Granny

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I consider myself OK witha baitcaster I usually get very little birdsnests but the other night I was casting from shore and I hit an overhead branch just as I was releasing my thumb, and the lure stopped and the line peeled off the reel, I should take a PIC of this birds nest I think I just went through 15 dollars of Powerpro its ridiculous, I had to switch out reels cause I couldnt dig this thing out! and now my favorite combo is just sitting in the house waiting for me to get the patience to try again to dig this darn thing out! Man sorry for the story I just had to vent!

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I may be a little different on this but it works for me. I don't use the casting break and generally have it pretty loose. I use my thumb to control the the spool, it took a little practice but now that I have it down it sure makes casting accuracy (sp?) a lot better and I feel I can get max distance out of my casts. Granted I do get a birds nest (not to often) but I do and they tend to be something a fisherman can be VERY proud of. I use Abu 6500's and a Morrum 5600. I primarliy fish musky and the heavier baits may make it a little easy to use this method.

Good Luck and hang in there you'll get it.

BTW Super Braids are a lot easier on the baitcasters then mono. Biggest plus is no memory in the line.

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Another thing to mention is to start off by not trying to cast into the wind. For a starter into the baitcasting world, this can be very frustrating. So try to limit your casts to downwind for awhile until you get used to thumbing the spool on your casts.

Also, with braided or fused lines a good tip I learned, is before you start casting is to let line out behind your boat to re-reel the line onto your spool. This will compact the line better onto the spool, which will make it less prone to back lashes. You can do this sporatically throughout the season too, makes casting a lot better.

But all in all a lot of good info here. Practice and more practice will be to your benefit. Good luck.

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Hey guys, thatnks for all the tips but I took a good 5 hour practice session on a local lake and caught one bass (2lbs) one crappie and one sunnie, but I really wasn't there for the fishing, and at the end with a Hula-Popper, I finally nailed the proper technique. Granted I am not 100%, I am close, and I am able to whip that thing out there to about 40 yards no kidding. thanks , I am now fit for my trip to Canada. grin.gifgrin.gifgrin.gifgrin.gifgrin.gifgrin.giflaugh.gifwink.gifgrin.gifcool.gif

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