| Desiring to become more proficient with the | | | | lighter baits. |
| baitcasting reel forced me to compile a list of tips and | | | | As soon as you release the cast, tap the spool with |
| tricks that have all come in handy in stopping | | | | your thumb and then tap it again. The cast may only |
| backlash, and getting more distance and accuracy. | | | | go 15 feet but start working on making your "taps" |
| Don't overload yourself, just try one or two at a | | | | light touches of the spool. Ultimately, you'll get to |
| time. Some of these really made the difference for | | | | where you can feel the line spinning freely under your |
| me as to where the baitcasting reel ended up, in the | | | | thumb. You'll also learn to recognize how soon and |
| garbage or on the fishing trip. They are in no | | | | how much contact you need to make with the spool |
| particular order so just sort through and take what | | | | for a given cast. |
| you can use. Enjoy... | | | | Once you cast, follow through and turn the reel on |
| Make sure it is your wrist that is doing the casting. | | | | its side; it's the way you would naturally hold the rig if |
| You can use a lot of different arm motions as you | | | | you point it out straight but allow the top of your |
| get better but the power must come from the wrist. | | | | hand to face upwards. For some scientific reason, |
| To learn to do this take a small object similar to a | | | | this helps alleviate backlashing. |
| pack of smokes, deck of cards, etc., and place it | | | | If you ever get hung up and pull hard on the bait or |
| between your inner bicep and your side and practice | | | | get a big fish, strip line off once you get it back to |
| casting without dropping the object. This will force | | | | the boat and rewind. If you don't, then the next time |
| you to use your wrist primarily and when you get | | | | you cast you might have problems when the spool |
| better you can add different arm strokes to suit. | | | | gets to that part of the line that has dug down onto |
| When casting far side swing it from a lower position | | | | itself because of the pressure you applied. |
| casting upward. Keep an eye on the lure, and as it | | | | If you get a bird's nest, do not grab the line that is |
| reaches the fall of the arch, place very light pressure | | | | coming out of the reel and pull hard on it. That will |
| over spool with your thumb. | | | | only make the knot tighter and you will be worse off. |
| Make your best long cast. It is best to do this with a | | | | Try to keep the tangles as loose as possible. I start |
| heavy one ounce weight. When you make that long | | | | by engaging the reel and grabbing the various pieces |
| cast don't reel the line in yet. Take a piece of tape | | | | of line that are loose on the spool and pull them |
| and place it across the line as if you were putting a | | | | toward you while rotating the spool backward. After |
| Band-Aid on it. Now reel the line in. When you get | | | | you get a few strands pulled back and loose, grab |
| your next bird's nest, the line will stop at the tape | | | | the main line coming out of the reel and slowly pull |
| and be a lot easier to get the bird's nest out. | | | | out the slack. A lot of times you will see the loop |
| Another thing you can do that might help while you | | | | that is kinked. Grab that piece and pull it up either to |
| are still learning is to cast side arm instead of | | | | the left or to the right and then pull on the main line |
| overhead. Your bait will cast out level instead of in an | | | | again. Most of the time this will work and you will not |
| overhead arch. | | | | have to cut out the bird's nest. This technique takes |
| The worst bird's nests often happen when you | | | | practice and patience. |
| throw hard. Use your wrist and let the rod do the | | | | Keep a small crochet needle in your tackle box. They |
| work. It is easier to cast long when you use smooth | | | | are great at getting a bad bird's nest out. |
| timing to load the rod and let it do the work. | | | | Just sit in the back yard and practice, practice and |
| Also, don't throw light lures into the wind. That is a | | | | practice. Aim at certain objects. Throw to a coffee |
| gold engraved invitation to a world's class bird's nest. | | | | can. Once you get the hang of it you will love the |
| When the wind gets up, try a spinning reel with | | | | baitcasting reel. |