06-19-2009, 03:37 PM
I've wanted to check out bait casting reels for some time, so I picked up a reasonably priced Quantum Tenacity AP rod/reel combo (Quantum ten300CX reel) yesterday. Before I even got a chance to practice in my driveway, my brother comes by, wanting me to check out a new fishing hole he had just heard about. Fine, I grab my new gear and off we go. I should add that I also brought along my ultralight rig - I'm no fool. [:p]
Anyway, I had done some research on bait casting reel technique, so I have a decent grasp on the mechanics involved. I knew it was going to be a matter of practice and gaining a familiarity with the process.
I was bound and determined for my first cast with my new rig to be tangle free. Well, so much for best laid plans and all. It wasn't *terrible*, but it did tangle a bit. I was able to pull it out, so I wasn't too discouraged. As the evening wore on, I continued to practice while actually trying to get some fishing done, to varying degrees of success. I believe I was able to get one cast out with no tangle at all, but the distance was pretty short.
One thing I noticed was that when casting, while the bait was in the air, I tried to only apply the slightest pressure on the spool - just keeping contact, really, so as to be able to monitor by feel until the bait neared the water - and could actually feel the line spinning loose from the spool. My first thought, naturally, was "Ok, I need to increase the brake." However, even with the braking system cranked up all the way, the line still felt loose on the spool during casts.
My next tactic was to apply a little more pressure to the spool during the cast. That helped, but my cast distance suffered dramatically. As a matter of fact, I would say that all my mostly tangle-free casts were very short.
One other note, even with the breaking system set to max, my hook/nightcrawler/sinker/slip-bobber dropped to the ground pretty quickly when I released the spool. As all of what I had read indicated that it should fall slowly with no further spinning of the spool once it hits the ground, I'm thinking that maybe I had too much weight (2x1/2 oz. sinkers on 14lb. test mono, btw.)
I'd like to get a grasp on what I might be missing or what I should concentrate on improving if possible. Any feedback (good or bad) would be appreciated.
Q
[signature]
Anyway, I had done some research on bait casting reel technique, so I have a decent grasp on the mechanics involved. I knew it was going to be a matter of practice and gaining a familiarity with the process.
I was bound and determined for my first cast with my new rig to be tangle free. Well, so much for best laid plans and all. It wasn't *terrible*, but it did tangle a bit. I was able to pull it out, so I wasn't too discouraged. As the evening wore on, I continued to practice while actually trying to get some fishing done, to varying degrees of success. I believe I was able to get one cast out with no tangle at all, but the distance was pretty short.
One thing I noticed was that when casting, while the bait was in the air, I tried to only apply the slightest pressure on the spool - just keeping contact, really, so as to be able to monitor by feel until the bait neared the water - and could actually feel the line spinning loose from the spool. My first thought, naturally, was "Ok, I need to increase the brake." However, even with the braking system cranked up all the way, the line still felt loose on the spool during casts.
My next tactic was to apply a little more pressure to the spool during the cast. That helped, but my cast distance suffered dramatically. As a matter of fact, I would say that all my mostly tangle-free casts were very short.
One other note, even with the breaking system set to max, my hook/nightcrawler/sinker/slip-bobber dropped to the ground pretty quickly when I released the spool. As all of what I had read indicated that it should fall slowly with no further spinning of the spool once it hits the ground, I'm thinking that maybe I had too much weight (2x1/2 oz. sinkers on 14lb. test mono, btw.)
I'd like to get a grasp on what I might be missing or what I should concentrate on improving if possible. Any feedback (good or bad) would be appreciated.
Q
[signature]
