baitcastors...

Hello everyone.
I have been using spinning reels forever and at the end of last years season
I decided to get a baitcaster. I bought a Shimano Bantam Curado 200BSF. I
was wondering what tips you might have for someone who is learning how to
use a baitcaster.
Thanks in advance.
Shawn

I just trained someone on baitcasting using (for me) a new methodology, but
it worked out extremely well.

I gave them a Curado 200, in which I backed off all the brakes and losen the
friction knob to put the reel in a free spool mode. I then tied on a
1/2-ounce lead sinker. Then I told my student to apply heavy thumb pressure
on the spool (spooled with mono line), and to keep that pressure consistent
throughout the cast. Because baitcasting is all about thumb pressure and
learning not to over-power the reel. For you need no more power than you
can generate with a snap of your wrist

Of course he death gripped the spool on his first cast, and the weight
barely moved. So I instructed him to ease up a little and try again. His
next cast actually went about 30-feet. After encouraging him, I instructed
him to relax his thumb a little more. After a half dozen casts, he was
casting 100-feet consistently and no backlashes. After about 15-20-minutes
he was coming comfortable.

Then I encouraged him to relax his thumb once the weight was airbourne and
then to reapply pressure as just before the weight hit the ground. On his
first few casts he got minor over runs, but nothing a couple pulls of the
line didn't straighten out. We practiced during lunch for the next couple
of days and now he is pretty good at it.

Hope all this makes sense, since I am dying with a tooth ache and I am
having a hard time concentrating.

--
Craig Baugher

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 04:48:15 -0500, "Craig" wrote:

I just trained someone on baitcasting using (for me) a new methodology, but
it worked out extremely well.

Hi Shawn, Craig and the group. I find this interesting and a lot
different then how I learned to use the baitcaster. Perhaps because it
is so different it may be a good way for some to learn. Maybe some
people should try your technique if some of the other ways don't work
for them. I had a lot of bad habits from using spinning gear too long
before trying the baitcaster. I had to unlearn these bad habits before
I could get anyplace with the baitcaster. This is what worked for me:
set all six of the brake weights on. Adjust the friction knob so the
bait would just fall. Use a heavy easy to see bait like a 3/4 Oz
spinner and then start with side casts. Concentrate on making smooth
casts. After getting a feel for things start working on the overhead
casts and start backing off the brake weights and friction knob.

Next, go fishing and let things fall into place over time. I found
lighter baits to be quite a challenge at first. Casting a light bait
into the wind is a special challenge. It took me quite a long time but
I'm now down to as little as a 5 inch weightless finesse worm when
using my Curado 101.

Keep working on it and I think you will come to really like the
baitcaster. The lack of line twist is a big + on the baitcaster.

Hope this helps, DC

I gave them a Curado 200, in which I backed off all the brakes and losen the
friction knob to put the reel in a free spool mode. I then tied on a
1/2-ounce lead sinker. Then I told my student to apply heavy thumb pressure
on the spool (spooled with mono line), and to keep that pressure consistent
throughout the cast. Because baitcasting is all about thumb pressure and
learning not to over-power the reel. For you need no more power than you
can generate with a snap of your wrist

Of course he death gripped the spool on his first cast, and the weight
barely moved. So I instructed him to ease up a little and try again. His
next cast actually went about 30-feet. After encouraging him, I instructed
him to relax his thumb a little more. After a half dozen casts, he was
casting 100-feet consistently and no backlashes. After about 15-20-minutes
he was coming comfortable.

Then I encouraged him to relax his thumb once the weight was airbourne and
then to reapply pressure as just before the weight hit the ground. On his
first few casts he got minor over runs, but nothing a couple pulls of the
line didn't straighten out. We practiced during lunch for the next couple
of days and now he is pretty good at it.

Hope all this makes sense, since I am dying with a tooth ache and I am
having a hard time concentrating.

--
Dale Colemam

The secrets:
1. Be patient.
2. Forget muscle.
3. Force nothing.
4. Smooth & easy only!
5. Be patient.
6. Forget muscle.
7. Force nothing.
8. Smooth & easy only!
9. Etc, etc, etc ....

Get the drift?

--
Bob Rickard
www.secretweaponlures.com
--------------------------=x O')))


"ales" wrote in message
...
Hello everyone.
I have been using spinning reels forever and at the end of last years
season
I decided to get a baitcaster. I bought a Shimano Bantam Curado 200BSF.
I
was wondering what tips you might have for someone who is learning how to
use a baitcaster.
Thanks in advance.
Shawn

Oh yeah... and no overhand casts. Start out with the side arm.


"Bob Rickard" wrote in message
y.com...
The secrets:
1. Be patient.
2. Forget muscle.
3. Force nothing.
4. Smooth & easy only!
5. Be patient.
6. Forget muscle.
7. Force nothing.
8. Smooth & easy only!
9. Etc, etc, etc ....

Get the drift?

--
Bob Rickard
www.secretweaponlures.com
--------------------------=x O')))


"ales" wrote in message
...
Hello everyone.
I have been using spinning reels forever and at the end of last years
season
I decided to get a baitcaster. I bought a Shimano Bantam Curado 200BSF.
I
was wondering what tips you might have for someone who is learning how
to
use a baitcaster.
Thanks in advance.
Shawn

"Charles B. Summers" (Comcast) wrote in
message ...
Oh yeah... and no overhand casts. Start out with the side arm.

I disagree with that statement Charles. I teach dozens each year to use a
baitcast rig and I always teach the overhand cast. It's safer for other
occupants in the boat and done properly results in longer casts.

I've had clients in the boat that could only cast side arm and either my
boat console, windshield, outboard cover or myself took a beating.

Casting overhand is no more difficult than sidearm. It's a matter of timing
the release. If the lure is crashing in front of you, release earlier. If
you're casting lobshots to the moon, then a little later in the cast is when
you should be releasing.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

I find that the more I try to overpower the outfit the worst the results
are.[ backlash - on the bank].
Ken
"Charles B. Summers" (Comcast) wrote in
message ...
Oh yeah... and no overhand casts. Start out with the side arm.


"Bob Rickard" wrote in message
y.com...
The secrets:
1. Be patient.
2. Forget muscle.
3. Force nothing.
4. Smooth & easy only!
5. Be patient.
6. Forget muscle.
7. Force nothing.
8. Smooth & easy only!
9. Etc, etc, etc ....

Get the drift?

--
Bob Rickard
www.secretweaponlures.com
--------------------------=x O')))


"ales" wrote in message
...
Hello everyone.
I have been using spinning reels forever and at the end of last years
season
I decided to get a baitcaster. I bought a Shimano Bantam Curado
200BSF.
I
was wondering what tips you might have for someone who is learning how
to
use a baitcaster.
Thanks in advance.
Shawn

"ales" wrote in message
...
Hello everyone.
I have been using spinning reels forever and at the end of last years
season
I decided to get a baitcaster. I bought a Shimano Bantam Curado 200BSF.
I
was wondering what tips you might have for someone who is learning how to
use a baitcaster.

You have a great reel there, now you just need to properly use it. First of
all, remove the left sideplate. See the little spokes sticking out with the
little plastic doo-jobbies? Those doo-jobbies are the spool centrifical
brakes. Make sure that they are set alternating, one in, one out. Replace
the cover.

Tie on a 1/2 oz. weight or practice plug. Underneath the reel handle/drag
is a small knob. That's the spool tension control. Place the rod in a
horizontal position with the reel upright. Put the reel in freespool and
take your thumb off the spool. Does the weight plummet to the ground? If
it does, tighten up the spool tension control until the lure just barely
falls. You want the lure to slowly fall, with the spool taking a half
revolution when the lure touches the ground. Now the reel is adjusted for
that particular weight. You'll have to do this process with different
weight lures, until you get your thumb educated.

Now, go out and cast. When I cast (I use my left arm), I rotate my wrist so
the reel handles are straight down. With one hand by the reel (I palm my
reel), thumb on the spool, and the other hand on the butt of the rear grip,
bring the rod back sharply over your shoulder. Stop the rod when your reel
hand is by your ear. This loads the rod, letting it do the work and you
won't have to "muscle" the lure out there. Without stopping, simply push
the rod forward and release your thumb. The lure should now be sailing out
there. Now, when the lure is about three feet above the water/ground (if
you're practicing in your backyard), stop the lure by placing your thumb on
the spool. If all is done correctly, the lure should be out a fair distance
and your reel should be tangle free.

If the reel does tangle up, pay attention to when it's becoming tangled
during the cast cycle. If it's getting snarled immediately, you're snapping
the rod too fast, trying to power the lure out. If it tangles at the end,
the lure is stopping before the spool stops rotating. For the first
problem, work on making your casting motion smoother, for the latter, clamp
your thumb down before the lure stops.

Now, practice, practice, practice. As you become proficient, and can cast
for extended periods of time without snarling, you can back off the spool
tension and gain longer casts. The thing to remember is that it's better to
have short, tangle-free casts than it is to launch one a country mile, only
to backlash every time. Work on consistency, distance will come with
experience.

I hope this helps.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service
http://www.herefishyfishy.com