Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I am not skilled in the way of the all illusive bait casting reel I refer to as the birds nest! But they are advertising a lot of antibacklash ones do they really work? Or are they still a pain? Any recommendations?

We recently purchased an "enigma" reel from BassPro Shop for my wife's use. She has used it with almost no backlash with great success. Setting everything as the instructions describe really helps. The reel is pricey($99) , but the time and frustration saved ...not to mention many yards of line...seem worth it.

They do work but are not 100% foolproof. I always set the tension so that whet I'm casting will SLOWLY fall with the spool engaged, and I always feather the spool with my thumb.

buddy of mine has used them for years.. in fact he bought a brand new bait casting reel earlier today... he brought it with him when we went fishing earlier this evening... he had nothing but trouble... one backlash after another.. he finally got tired of it and started using one of my old fashion closed face reels.....

Bass Pro's Enigma recently went on sale for $49 ....wish I'd waited.

I'm no expert but I prefer Abu-Garcia 5500c3 reels. To me easier to use. Bigger spools don't spin as fast and having a large thumb easier to get thumb on spool.

When starting it's easier to make a sidearm cast (for lack of a better term) than throwing straight overhead. I have found the easiest cast is if throwing like a backhand motion in a tennis swing. Also much easier when using heavier lures, weights.

I know it make a BIG difference how the line is wound onto the reel from the spool it was manufactured on. You can get it on upside down and if you do it will cause nothing but Backlash. I had to learn this the hard way so don’t ask

"hey my spool turned into a cotton ball" takes time and practice. been throwing bc's for lil over a year and i know guys that are pros and still fudge em up now an again

Daiwa makes a reel with microchip to minimize/prevent backlash. The cost: $649!!!
Here's a tip from one of my sons who mostly fishes with bait casters (Abu Garcia mostly, but it doesn't make much difference which manufacturer). Put the lure you're going to use on the line. Release the bail with your thumb on the line. Release the pressure on the line and watch the lure drop into the water. If the lure moves too quickly you'll see a bit of backlash. Tighten up the drag a bit at at time until the lure hits the water and there is no piling up of the line on the reel.
When you cast (don't care if you are casting, flipping or pitching) make sure your thumb feathers the line on the reel as the lure hits the water. Yep, it takes concentration and some practice. If you have a magnetic drag, you'll have to play with that at well. I've got my Shimano Chronarch reels adjusted for medium drag.
I'm right handed, but if retrieve left handed and cast with the right hand. That way I don't have to switch hands after I cast. Took a bit of practice to get it down. Drives the boys crazy because they can't use my bait casters. It's funny, because their spinning reels are all left hand retrieve and they don't give it a second thought.
I like spinners for buzz baits and spinner baits, but I like the bait casters for jigs, plastics, jerkbaits and Zara Spooks. Anybody out there use Spooks?
Any body out there who still doesn't grasp the concept, all you have to do is pay my expenses (including non-resident fishing license) and I'll be happy to come give lessons on bait caster techniques!!

Thanks for everyone's help!

I had a little problem and here is what someone told me to do that seemed to work. Hold the rod at about a 45 degree angle and loosen the adjustment till the lure hits the dock with out over running. From there you should be pretty close and need just a small adjustment one way or the other. I have two but still prefer the spinners like the mitchell 300. Just bought the baitcasters so I would like like I knew what I was doing

doc

A good reel is important and it takes a lot of practice , I've been using a baitcaster for almost 30 years and I still get a backlash some times. I've found that using the right line helps alot this stuff works great, I still get a few birds nests but they pull out very easy. I usualy use 12 to 20 lb. test

Well with all the people that have used one for sometime still getting birds nests I am going to stick with spinning reels. Thanks for clarifying to me that the issue never totally goes away. Now just have to figure out if I can justify the ardent or shimono I really want to by MIA reel but at 3 times the cost its a tough pill to swallow.

I have a Shimano spinning reel that is 25 years old and still works like the day I bought it. I am a true die hard Shimano fan I own 10 rod's, all but 2 are Shimano and thoes were given to me as gifts.

Here's a pretty decent video on baitcasting. But, he doesn't mention the one thing that helped me more than anything when I started using baitcasters about 35 years ago. And that is....if you are casting overhand, make sure the reel handle is pointed UP. If casting sidearm, make sure the reel handle is pointed to the side. That way the line is pulling the spool sideways, and doesn't freespool as much. I started with the old Ambassadeur 4500, and 5000's. No magnets in these.

So, notice how the guy in the video has the reel turned sideways when casting overhand. Reel handle facing up. If he were to cast sidearm, he would have the the reel turned with the handle to the side. Hard to explain, but hope that helps. And, practice practice practice.

http://youtu.be/bBtuWFSJVyw