| I cut my teeth on a spincast reel. The | | | | nightmare. It can easily resemble Phyllis |
| spincast reel is closed face, resulting in | | | | Diller's hair-do. |
| trouble free casting. They are so trouble | | | | |
| free, in fact, that I've often wondered why | | | | This is because of what makes the reel so |
| anyone would use anything else. | | | | great; virtually nothing stopping the line |
| | | | from coming off of the reel. The down side |
| Then I got my first baitcasting reel. | | | | is, when it comes off, it comes off like |
| | | | nobody's business. |
| I did not do this not knowing the | | | | |
| consequences. I knew they were difficult to | | | | The secret, or rather one of the many |
| master, but I had a hunch they were worth | | | | secrets, is thumb control. You control the |
| learning. After all, how many pros do you see | | | | output of the line with your thumb. Don't |
| using closed face reels? | | | | worry, if you are determined to use this fine |
| | | | piece of equipment, you will eventually get a |
| The great thing about a baitcasting reel is | | | | feel for it. That is, providing you don't |
| the ability to cast a country mile. | | | | throw it in the garbage first. |
| Additionally, when you get that heavy weight | | | | |
| fish on the line, this reel gives you plenty | | | | In fact, if you are used to using another |
| of confidence to 'play' the fish. No need to | | | | reel, don't go fishing without it until you |
| muscle it in, just set the drag so that the | | | | have the baitcaster mastered. Take it even |
| fish can pull some line out when it runs, and | | | | when you do have it mastered because even the |
| you will have the time of your life... | | | | pros backlash, and if it happens when the |
| | | | shad are jumping and the bass are swirling, |
| I knew that the quality of the rod was an | | | | well, again, your new baitcasting reel will |
| important factor in 'feeling' the fish and | | | | probably end up in the garbage. Or the lake. |
| the terrain, but I never imagined that a reel | | | | Broken. Into pieces. Very small pieces. And |
| could be just as sensitive and just as | | | | on fire. And still in a bird's nest. An |
| important in feeling what's going on in the | | | | eternal bird's nest. Just remember, I warned |
| invisible underworld of the prey. | | | | you. Which brings up another thought, don't |
| | | | mortgage the house to buy your first |
| Even more so, when you get the fish on, you | | | | baitcasting reel. |
| can feel its every play. I guess one reason | | | | |
| why I notice this, and why I like the | | | | One more thing, you may not want to use a |
| baitcasting reel so much, is because I like | | | | baitcasting reel when casting into heavy |
| to cup my hand over the reel and even dangle | | | | wind. It will backlash for even the most |
| my finger on the outgoing line a bit to feel | | | | experienced angler. There are brakes and |
| what's going on. | | | | other features to help alleviate this, but I |
| | | | would recommend a spinning reel in these |
| There is more than one type of baitcasting | | | | conditions (or closed face). |
| reel; round and flat. The one I am going to | | | | |
| discuss is flat. I'm sure you can apply any | | | | Baitcasting reels are good for most, if not |
| of these tips to the round one. I'm not | | | | all, types of fishing. I use mine with |
| prejudice against round, but like I said, I | | | | crankbaits, spinners, plastics, top waters, |
| like to cup the reel so that I can feel every | | | | or whatever. I use it for bass and I love it |
| detail. | | | | for catfish because it is so strong. |
| | | | |
| The problem with baitcasting reels is | | | | I say, it is the ultimate reel and worth |
| backlash, or, bird's nest. This is a | | | | learning how to use. For more information and |
| nightmare when you are first learning to use | | | | tips on how to use this wonderful reel, see |
| a baitcasting reel. I repeat, it's a | | | | Baitcasting Reels - Worth Learning, Pt. |