101 of Casting w/ a Baitcasting Reel – A Beginners Guide
Many fear starting to fish with a baitcasting reel due to the difficulty of casting or adjusting the reel. I have also struggled with this fear, but gradually the fear fades as you learn to understand the operation of your own reel during different phases of the cast.
The fear of creating "bird's nests" during casting was unnecessary once I understood that "quick flicks" at close range were often what caused the messes. Additionally, the quick "whipping" style casts possible with spinning reels should be avoided at least initially. When casting longer distances, I didn't encounter this problem because my thumb was naturally braking the spool as soon as the cast started.
Below is a list of questions that concerned me when switching from spinning reel to baitcasting reel, and their answers.
How to adjust the spool shaft brake on a baitcasting reel?
The spool shaft brake adjusts the horizontal movement of the reel's spool. The brake is adjusted so that there is just barely any "play" in the spool. This can be easily felt with the fingertip when the horizontal movement of the spool ceases while the spool is released. Once the shaft brake is set, there is little need to adjust it further while using the reel.
What does adjusting the spool shaft brake affect?
Adjusting the spool shaft brake impacts the rotation of the spool. Without excess horizontal movement, the line is released evenly from the spool at every stage of the cast, and the spool does not spin excessively fast. By adjusting both the spool shaft brake and the magnetic or centrifugal brake, you control how "tight" the spool is and how easily the line is dispensed during casts. Start with a tighter setting and adjust to a more sensitive setting as your skills improve.
Adjusting the casting brake on a baitcasting reel
Adjusting the casting brake involves either turning on or off the brake pads located on the side of the reel or adjusting the dial on reels equipped with a magnetic brake. A good rule of thumb initially is to set half of the brake pads on or the dial to the midpoint. This is a good starting point for adjusting the casting brake to suit lures of different weights and as your casting skills improve, you can make it significantly more sensitive.
Which way do you turn to tighten the drag on a baitcasting reel?
On baitcasting reels, the drag used for fighting fish tightens when turned towards the fish. If you want to loosen the drag, such as when a larger fish is pulling on the line, this is done by turning the drag towards yourself.
The impact of gear ratio on a baitcasting reel, what do the numbers mean?
In baitcasting reels, as in spinning reels, the gear ratio indicates how much line the spool winds in with one turn of the handle. The higher the gear ratio, the more line is wound in per handle turn, and the lower the gear ratio, the less line is gathered per handle turn. For example, a 6:1 gear ratio means that with one turn of the handle, the spool rotates six times. The smaller the first number, the less line is reeled in per handle turn. For instance, a 5.3:1 gear ratio is relatively slow, suitable for pike fishing with larger shads and spinnerbaits. Conversely, a reel with a 7:1 gear ratio is faster and better suited for fishing styles that require quicker retrieval, such as jigging or perch fishing.
Spooling line on a baitcasting reel
Spooling line onto a baitcasting reel is like other reels, but with the exception that the spool can be removed horizontally from the side of the reel. This is done by detaching the reel’s side plate, which allows for easy attachment of the line to the spool. Making a spool knot is usually also possible without removing the spool. It’s important to load enough line on the baitcasting reel spool, as this facilitates casting and maintains the reel’s gear ratio as designed.
If desired, the line pack can be increased by adding an appropriate amount of monofilament line as backing. This also prevents the line pack from spinning around the spool axis, which is the most common reason for issues with the "baitcasting reel brake not working." The brake on a baitcasting reel is mechanically reliable, and it is very rare for there to be a fault in the brake itself. The same assurance can be achieved with a small piece of tape. The correct total amount of line is when there is just a small rim visible from the top edge of the spool, often there is a fold or a mark at this point.
How to hold a baitcasting reel setup?
Holding a baitcasting reel is a matter of personal preference; some people hold the entire reel against their palm, while others prefer to hold more of the rod than the reel. I personally favor the style of holding the entire reel in the palm, as it feels much more stable when the fingers press the reel against the palm.
Casting w/ a baitcasting reel
Start casting calmly and keep your thumb braking the spool. This reduces the occurrence of bird's nests or line tangles, as it prevents the spool from spinning too quickly during the cast or when the lure hits the water. Additionally, the thumb prevents the line from rising off the spool if it happens to gain a bit too much speed.
In premium-priced reels, technology has been invested to make casting easier, and with these, casting is more "carefree" compared to the less expensive reels, but even with them, line tangles can occur, for example, if casting too light a lure against the wind.
Setting up a baitcasting reel for fishing, casting, and adjusting is part of my project "Finland's Worst Pike Angler – A Learning Journey into the Secrets of Pike Fishing." Read more about the project on my blog (in Finnish).
Eventually, I realized my fear of fishing with a baitcasting reel was unnecessary. Casting requires a bit of effort and is not as "carefree" as with a spinning reel, but over time, as the feel and skills develop, it becomes more liberating. It's advisable to start using a baitcasting reel with slightly heavier lures, such as jerkbaits, spoons, or heavier jig heads. It's unrealistic to dream of smoothly casting lures under 10 grams right away.
Text and photos: Juha Salonen, fishing blogger
