16 replies to this topic

[fisherwomen10]

My boyfriend has a black max baitcaster reel and he is having these problems. He has been using a 6:2:1 baitcasting reel and he is having a problem with bringing the fish in because the amount of line the fish have been pulling out and hes been having to use his thumb to get the fish in more than reeling them in can you help and tell him what he needs to do? The reel works fine. What baitcast reel could you suggest would work better for him?

[Sfritr]

First, welcome to the site.
Second, we may be able to give you more help if you supply us with a little more detail. It sounds like you are saying that when he catches a fish the drag is too loose and the fish runs off line faster than he can reel? That would be a simple fix, tighten the drag. The drag should be a star looking piece of metal on the handle side. just turn it clockwise to tighten the drag. If I am missing something please enlighten me

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Welcome! I see you mentioned braid. If the reel you're having trouble with has braid it is likely slipping on the spool making the drag appear not to be working. Braid needs either tape or monon backing on the spool to give it some bite. To check, press down on gthe spool while cranking and watch the spool rim. If the spool is turning and no line is comong in, the braid is slipping. Also, there is a forum here dedicated to reel, lines and rods. You'll get more answers quicker if you post this type of question there.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

No he uses mono i was seeing if anyone had any that i could have

Why can't you go buy it?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

If it's not braid then either the drag is not adjusted properly or it is malfunctioning.

[Nkybassfisherman]

No he uses mono i was seeing if anyone had any that i could have

[OHIO]

If someone has some they dont need why not give it to someone who can use it?

Really?

[Bassn Blvd]

Are you sure you're not a "he" posing as a "she?" Or in simpler terms, a "heshe."

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Are you sure you're not a "he" posing as a "she?" Or in simpler terms, a "heshe."

Naw Homie its a she. I can vouch for her on that. If not its the most feminine looking dude I've ever seen in my life.

Anyway, she's definitely a she.

[new2BC4bass]

Did your boyfriend find the problem? Apparently one of your posts got deleted, but I gather from subsequent posts that your boyfriend is using mono. In that case changing lines is not going to help. The first 2 replies gave you excellent advice. First check the drag pressure. Grab hold of the line in front of the reel. Pull. Does it come off easy? If so, adjust the star drag until you get the desired tension. If that doesn't work, then something else has to be wrong with the reel.

You could send it to DVT (Delaware Valley Tackle) or get in touch with Abu and send the reel to them. Or find a local repair shop. I have zero experience with a Black Max, but it appears to be a decent reel (for the money) from reading reviews on BPS. If your boyfriend would like to try another reel on the cheap, then check out the flea market on this forum and 'for sale' forums on other sites. Look for a Shimano "Greenie". That is an older Shimano Curado with an excellent reputation.

I belong to a couple machining forums, and offer advice when I can. My biggest gripe is that the OP often fails to reply back as to what solved his problem. Or if it was resolved. I don't care whether it was my suggestion or someone else's, but knowing the solution gives myself (and others) the opportunity to learn. Being relatively new to baitcasting reels, I'd like to know what the problem was with the reel.

[fisherwomen10]

He fixed it. He drag was set to 0 and in the middle. We will see if it works better the next time we go out and i will let you know.

[fisherwomen10]

Naw Homie its a she. I can vouch for her on that. If not its the most feminine looking dude I've ever seen in my life.

Anyway, she's definitely a she.

Thanks for vouching for me buddy. Thanks for having my back.

[new2BC4bass]

He fixed it. He drag was set to 0 and in the middle. We will see if it works better the next time we go out and i will let you know.

Good. I'm sure it will be fine now. I like seeing more people trying out baitcasting reels. The 0 has nothing to do with the drag. That dial sets braking. Watch the short video here. http://www.abugarcia...s/max/black-max

Since your boyfriend is just learning to use a BC reel, then I would suggest he set the braking towards the high side at first while his thumb is becoming educated. That is one of the things that helps eliminate overruns and backlashes. Spool tension is another. Don't go too tight with spool tension, tho, because on some reels it can cause damage. The best anti-backlash mechanism is the person behind the reel. Smooth and easy does it. Load the rod on the back part of the cast. Use heavier lures at first. A light lure requires more skill to cast. Believe me!

The Black Max has a graphite frame. This may cause durability issues depending on the size of the fish he catches, and how snags are handled. If your boyfriend is like the rest of us, it won't be long before he is looking to upgrade. There is a Daiwa Fuego on another forum for $100 that looks to be in very good shape from what I can make out of the picture. This reel originally sold for $249. I've got 3 of them, 2 bought on closeout and 1 used. I can vouch that this would be a substantial upgrade to his current reel.

As I already mentioned, the older Curado is another great reel. Many feel that a Shimano is easier to learn on that some other brands. I got a couple towards the end of last season, but only got to fish the Curado 51E one time out. Another excellent option especially if your boyfriend wants to throw ligher baits.

Wish him the best of luck.

[fisherwomen10]

Hes not new to bc reels. He has used them for along time.

[fisherwomen10]

Everyone thank you so much for the help. Can anyone tell me where i could find a 5'0 spinning pole? Can't seem to find them.