Learn Proper Way to Use Fishing Reel
Fishing Reel
Learning to master your Fishing Reel may be a little daunting at first if like most of us you got your start in fishing with the easy to use Spincast Reels and they are a good way to get started but a Fishing Reel offers you so many more options that lead to more enjoyable fishing trips. Most all professional fishers prefer Fishing Reels; this tells you there must be a good reason.
Right off you will discover a major advantage to be the longer casts you can make with a fishing reel, after you master it of course. Another good feature is how well a fishing reel allows you to handle a large fish with confidence because of its added strength and drag. You will also want to mount your fishing reel on a good rod to make all this happen but you will find the reel to be most important.
Generally casting reels are described as round and flat or low profile, both are good and your choice becomes a personal preference. I believe the low profile gives me a better feel but has a little less capacity than the rounds. I find it is much easier for me to kind of cup one hand over the low profile reel and finger the line for a better feel of what is happening on the bait end of my line.
Fishing Reel and Backlash
If there is a major problem in learning to use a fishing reel it would have to be the possibility of a back lash, also called a Bird’s Nest or Professional Overrun. This is kind of coupled with the much longer casts you can make with a fishing reel. Once the line starts unrolling off the reel there is nothing interfering so it really unrolls at an extremely fast rate. When the bait hits that sudden stop and the reel keeps turning it builds that famous Bird’s Nest.
Reels come with an adjustable brake to help prevent backlash but as you gain experience your thumb becomes the most accurate and reliable part of this operation. Do a lot of backyard fishing with a practice lure and take your old reel with you on your fishing trips until you have it fully mastered, all experienced anglers recommend you always have a backup rig handy at all times.
Generally it is not too good of an idea to use fishing reels when casting into a strong wind, another good reason for that backup rig. Some may tell you to tighten the brakes on a windy day but I believe the best way to go on windy days is a Spincast or Spinning Reel.
There is no limit to the types of fishing you can enjoy with your casting reels, Top Water, Jigging, Plastic Worms, Spinner Baits, Crankbaits, Bass Fishing, Carp Fishing, Catfish, Crappie and all other types. If you want to become a serious angler you will want to learn the proper use of all of your Fishing Reels.
One of the first things to learn about a casting reel is how to adjust the brake to help prevent as many of those backlashes as possible and this is more easily mastered if you start with a little heavier bait like a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce. Start with a tight drag and practice holding the rod straight out, release the brake tension just enough to let the bait fall to the ground and have the reel stop turning as soon as the bait touches the ground. This will usually be your best adjustment as you begin to learn to use your fishing reel.
Now go to the back yard and practice a lot of casts and as you begin to get the feel for it you can start to loosen the drag just a little remembering to keep your thumb positioned to the spool. As you loosen the brake your casting distance will increase while you are getting more comfortable with less brake tension and you will be able to cast much farther.
At the start do not Overspool (putting the maximum line on the spool), this will allow for less line coming off the reel as you cast and will help you learn how to stop backlashing. You will also want to match your rod to the weight of bait you use. Shorter for lighter and longer for heavier with something around 7 feet as a starter for 1/2 ounce baits.
The most important thing to master is the use of your thumb as you apply and release pressure on the reel to brake the turning reel, it will take practice but is the real secret and you do need to get it down right. Do this by holding your thumb against the reel as you release the reel for casting and back off on the pressure but keep the thumb lightly touching the line as you cast and then apply more pressure as the bait nears the target or end of the cast. The goal is enough practice to be able to slow the reel to a complete stop just as the bait hits the water.
To get a good feel will take lots of practice and you must remember that no one starts off as an immediate pro so don’t try maximum long casts in the beginning. Work on consistent accuracy and backlash prevention at the start and when you can cast over and over with the bait landing close to your target without a backlash you can start easing off on the brake.
There are many tips and other things to try and learn as you practice your casting skills to stop backlashes, casting for longer distances and better accuracy. Always better to take it slow, master one technique at a time, never overload yourself and keep it fun.
Wrist action is the driving force behind mastering the art of casting however there are many variations of arm motion you can use, whichever one is more comfortable for you is the correct one but remember the power and control must come from your wrist.
When casting for good accuracy you can try casting from a lower position swinging the rod in an upward motion and keep your eye on the bait, as it begins to reach its maximum height it is time to apply light pressure with the thumb to slow the reel and prevent backlash.
When you are practicing to make your longest cast a heavy one ounce weight is best. Tip: After making that really long cast do not reel the line in yet, instead place a piece of tape over the remaining line on your reel and then reel in the line. The tape will help to remove your next backlash because it will tend to stop the back lash before it goes all the way to the end.
Always remember that you worst backlashes will usually come when you are really trying to throw hard for that extra-long cast, use your wrist, let the rod do the work and remember thumb pressure.
Some anglers are more comfortable with a side arm cast believing a level cast is better than one that has a high arch that is achieved with an overhand cast.
When fishing in wind try not to cast light lures into the wind, this is a sure bet to get a good backlash, you might even want to switch to a Spinning or Spincast reel for those windy days.
As you practice your thumb pressure try applying off and on pressure strong enough to stop the cast short and kind of work your way out to the longer distances. Eventually you will get the feel of the line unrolling gently under your thumb and learn to know how quick and how much pressure you need to apply to prevent backlash and drop your bait on target.
When you make the cast you should follow through and I like to turn my reel on its side because it seems like the natural way to hold the rig and for some reason it seems to help me prevent backlash.
With a fishing reel after you have to do a hard pull from a big fish or getting hung up you should unroll all or most all of the line from the reel and rewind with light pressure to be sure the line is not dug deep into itself.
We hope you have enjoyed this article and get a lot of enjoyment out of using your Fishing Reel.