kllrbee

Hey guys, Im a little confused by something and I hope you guys can clear it up for me. Ive heard that when jigging to use a MH to H-XF BC combo with heavier line and basically drag or skip it across the bottom slowly. Makes sense as I would think that it would be easier to feel everything the jig is coming in contact with. Now, when finesse fishing, Ive heard to use a M-F Spin combo with lighter line using something like a 4" french fry t-rigged with a light splitshot. I would think the best retrieval method would also be a drag or skip along the bottom. I guess what Im not understanding is why heavy gear is recomended for one and light gear is recomended for the other when your basically doing the same thing. Am I just completely off on my understanding of these methods? Can someone explain this to me? Thanks

Some baits, you still need to make a long cast. Spooks and poppers, crankbaits, etc. Never had a problem with that. Maybe you're different. The only lure that needs a long cast would be a deep running crankbait. Everything else could be a moderate cast. It doesnt really matter. I think its more of a mental thing than anything else. When Im on the yak, I dont "feel" like I have to make a super long cast. When Im on the shore, I sometimes do and the cast becomes forced and not as smooth. I really dont want to start an argument here. Im just trying to help out the OP and let him know some of the things that I am going thru with a baitcaster.

You are less likely to "snap" cast in a yak. You'll do fine. Huh? There really isn't much difference casting from a kayak as there is from a boat, dock or shore. I guess you'd actually have to fish from a fishing kayak to understand. With the right kayak, you perform any cast. Dont want to get too off topic from the OP's post. I agree that any cast can be made from a kayak. Dont know about B-dozer, but what I was trying to say is that I can get closer to my intended target with my yak just for the simple fact that I am on the water. So therefore, I dont have to make a long cast. Where if Im on the bank and want to get to a certain stump or target that might be a little out of my range, I might force it and try to really fling it out there. Thats where a backlash would occur in my situation. Of course, thats my own fault for not knowing my limitations. Basically, Im just letting the OP know, from one newbie to another, dont be afraid to take the BC with you on the kayak.

Actually, I find its easier on the yak cuz I just pitch rather than having to make a longer cast like from the shore. 2 cents.

This is 100% dead on advice. I got my first BC about 3 weeks ago and I thought I took to it pretty quickly (just like you). I set my spool tension like you did with lure barely falling, I set 2 brakes on, 4 off, and I would adjust magnetic depending on weight of lure. I felt pretty confident with myself after going out on the local pond and tossing it out with barely any wind. Once I got out on my yak and dealt with some heavy winds, it was a different ballgame. I had to adjust to the situation and naturally I didnt have the experience yet and ended up picking out some backlashes. I think the key is not to get too confident and dont force long casts. Smooth and steady is the only way to be for us newbies. There will be a learning curve and eventually your gonna backlash and wonder what you did wrong. I can almost guarantee that it will happen when your trying to "push it" and try to do more than what your prepared for. But hey....you gotta learn somehow and if your good at learning from your mistakes, then your good to go. Obviously, I am not an expert on the subject, but sometimes its easier to hear advice from another newbie who is basically going thru the same learning curve. Good luck.

Hey guys, Thanks for all the replies. Went with the 50# PP. First impression is that it feels SOOO much different than mono. Much noisier going thru the rod guides too. Wonder if its gonna eat up the recoil guides that are on the BPS JM Elite. Only cast about 5 times before I had a wicked backlash so cant say anything about how it is casting wise. Weird that I backlashed, I havent done that since the first day I picked up the BC. Ive heard the birds nest is easier to pick out with braid so Ill get on that now. Of course, I didnt catch any fish with it, so I also cant comment on the strength. Thanks for the help guys.

Thats interesting Red. Hows that working out for you? I recently started pitchin alot (still cant really get the hang of flippin, that'll come later) and I find myself trying to cover alot of water as opposed to nailing that same stump, patch, lily pads, etc.

Alright guys, thanks for replying. I think the post might have been a little misunderstood by a few of you and thats my fault. I should have phrased it differently. I wasnt really asking what slowing down meant as I have my own take on it. I was more thinking that it would be fun to see what YOU, personally, DO to slow down using examples. mk49 and hammer got what I was talking about. my mistake..... Anyways, I noticed everyone referred to slowing down in regards to the presentation or retrieval. How bout staying in a certain spot a little longer? As opposed to trying to cover alot of water or getting frustrated and moving to a different spot. Wouldnt that be considered slowing down? Just trying to create a fun topic as Im bored and stuck inside today taking care of the kids. ;D

I see alot of guys on here talk about slowing down. Im sure this can be interpreted many different ways. Give a little description on what you think "GO SLOWER" means.

Alright, I will go with 50#. So.....with the mono on right now, I can just go make a long cast and maybe add another 10 yds, cut from there and tie on the braid? with what....blood knot? I had no idea that I could tie together different lines on a spool. I dont know why, but I just figured that the whole spool had to be one continuous line with no knots or it would weaken it somehow. :-[ I hear about needing "backing" with braid. Is that why you say to leave on some of the mono? (Besides, not having to use as much expensive braid) Also what is meant by digging in and laying down? I hear people say they have problems like that with braid. Thanks for the edumacation. ;D

Hey all, Sorry, I know I could have searched for this, but Im in kind of a hurry. Got my first BC a few weeks ago and put 14lb mono on it cuz I figured I would go thru it pretty quick practicing casts. Now that Im feeling more comfortable, Id like to go to braid. Few questions. 1. Should I go 30lb? Mostly for spinnerbaits and jigs in the weeds and lily pads. 2. Do I spool it on just the same as mono? 3. What kind of differences should I see b/w braid and mono? Thanks

Hey Kmac, thanks alot for double checking that for me. good to know that I am setting it properly. BobP, thanks to you too for your response. I didnt really put much thought into that. I knew that setups were different but I guess I thought that setting 2.5 lbs on one spinning reel would be about the same for another spinning reel. That should have been obvious, but thats why Im here to ask you guys. Thanks very much for all the help guys. Learn something new everyday on this forum. ;D

Yeah, Im overthinking it. I tend to do that sometimes. Bilgerat, thats what I was doing at first, but then i heard that it wasnt good to adjust your drag while in midfight. Forgot where I heard that, but I cant see how a few clicks here or there could hurt. Kmac, I also thought that 5 clicks from max is too tight, but when using the scale, thats where it barely pulls out at 2lbs. Thats what got me thinking I was doing something wrong. But, really, how could I be? Its not rocket science. Im holding the rod at 45deg angle and letting my buddy pull with scale. Also, I agree to be looser than tighter as I have already lost a 3lb on too tight of line. Live and learn. Im just gonna fish and set as I go. Thanks

Still a newbie, but Ill chime in. 10 words? Location, presentation. x5

Thanks guys, Sir snook, thats a good idea, but I know I am right on with the scale so Ill just keep using that. Micro, I agree with you that I will not be "properly" setting the drag every time I fish. I will be winging it and letting the fish tell me how to set it. But, being new to fishing, if I wing it, how do I know if I am playing the fish right with the drag settings if I dont know what the proper drag setting should be? I realize that just sounded like a bunch of mumbo jumbo. ;D What I mean is, Id like to set the drag properly at least once so I "know" where I need to be. Just to have a more accurate starting point. Then I can loosen when not in use, and return to roughly the same spot when I use again. A more accurate way of winging it. Does that make sense? I guess what Im asking is not "how" to set it, but if the proper setting is that close to being fully tight. Like I said, Im only 1/4 turn away from being fully tightened. Im sure there are a bunch of guys on the forum who set their drag at the 25-33%. Would you guys just let me know if when you are at that setting, whether or not you are that close to being fully tight? Im sure it changes by setup, but Id like to get an idea of if Im in the ballpark. I can be sort of obsessive with stuff like this. Comes from doing machine work on engine blocks where close clearances and perfection is a must. Thanks fellas.

Well, after reading an earlier post today about drag setting, I decided to properly set my drag instead of just winging it. I would like to go ahead and follow the rule of thumb about 25-33% of line strength. I dont want to tighten all the way down and free spool, use thumb/finger, etc. as I am not a very experienced fisherman yet and I believe that it takes some time to learn the feel for that. I was winging it by setting the drag all the way tight, then backing off 1 full turn. I dont know why or where I got this idea, I just felt like it was a good starting point. So I picked up a spring scale and tried to set my med light with 8 lb to b/w 2-2.5. This is where I am getting confused. According to the scale, the drag is letting out line at 2.5, but I am only 5 "clicks" away from fully tight (roughly 1/4 of 1 full turn). Does that sound right? It seems like that would still be awfully tight. Or was my half *** attempt at winging it WAAYYYY off and I was loose as all heck? I felt like when I caught some bass, they would run pretty good and it would take alot of line, but thought that was just normal. Im a newbie, I really wouldnt know the difference. BTW, its a Pflueger Pres spin. I want to do all my reels but I started with this one cuz it was right there and I dont want to get to the other ones until I know Im doing this right. Thanks alot. Any help is appreciated.

Stopped in at the mall with the GF so she could do some shopping. Yeah, I know, I can hear the whip crackin noises already. Anyways, while shes in some chick store blabbin about some shirt, I decide to sneak off to the Bass Pro. Needless to say, I ended up leaving with 6'6" MF Pro Qual BC rod/6.4-1 reel combo. Did I need it? Nope. Did I get it? Hell Yup! Just thought I would share. ;D

Im using 6'8" MH-XF w/ 14lb mono for that size spinner/buzzbaits out of my kayak in fairly heavy cover (will be going to braid soon). Im not tryin to throw it a mile though, so you probly want somethin a little longer. Good luck.

I got a 3 lb bass on a med lite BPS bionic rated 4-10lb and 1/16-3/8 lures. I was using 6lb mono and a smaller floating rapala. He went right under the lily pads into the weeds. I got him out but it took awhile. No doubt that you can do it, but do you want to do it all the time? Even though your selection seems more suitable, I agree with the other guys about going to a medium. It just seems like you would be able to do more with it. 2 cents.

FWIW, I take pics with my cell phone out of my kayak. Not much room for error. If your afraid of dropping it, why even have it? Just pay the $5 a month for insurance on it (which you should probly have anyways) and if you drop it in the water or break it, they replace it. I think Ive busted or lost about 5 phones in the last 2 years and they always replace them. Not trying to be a jerk, just giving you a simple solution. ;D

Alright, took off the side plate and no problems with the washer. After listening real close, the noise is more of an intermittent whine. Its not high pitched or a squeeling, more of a "Whirr", then nothing, "whirr", nothing, you get the point. I did it with side plate on and off (so no spool tension) and while reeling or letting the line out by dropping the lure. The noise happens in all situations. It doesnt feel like its affecting casting. Everything feels smooth, but this is my first BC so I have nothing to compare it to. Im gonna take it back to BPS and get a new one. If it happens again, Ill trade in for a different one. Ill get opinions on that when the time comes. Thanks

Well since my post has been hijacked, I guess I will reply. I popped off the side cover and there is no anti theft device or a warning on the label. I have no idea what georges, freds, or jacks are, but I realize you guys are just messin with me. Anyways, I think I will assume that the noise Im hearing is normal and not bad bearings. Like I said there is no screeching, its more of a rub.

Oh yeah, sorry, 14 lb mono. will probly be going to braid, but wanted to start out with mono cuz I figured I would go thru a spool pretty quick while practicing casting. going better than I thought tho. Its probly just the line going thru the guides and Im just being paranoid. You know how it is, new toy and all.

Just got first baitcasting reel last week. BPS JM signature. I like it alot. Didnt take much to get used to. Still need practice, but so far, so good. I am starting to get a noise though when reeling. It only happens when lure is lifted out of water and putting weight on rod/reel. Its hard to explain the noise except that it sounds like a rubbing. I tried to pinpoint it by ear, but its not working. Is it just the noise that wet line makes going thru the line guide? Thanks for the help guys. Just trying to possibly head off a problem before it gets worse.

Thanks guys, Only reason I ask is cuz the water is so much lower than the bank and the bank is on an incline. Im trying not to put a nasty bend in the rod, but I also dont want to drag them onto the grass cuz I thought that was bad for the protective slime. I figure Ill just hold the rod at about a 45 deg angle and leave just enough line out (should be about 4-5') so that she can stay in the water and Ill just get down on my knees and lip her while shes in the water. Sorry for what might seem to be a dumb question. But I just started fishing this year and Ive been fishing out a kayak since day one. I just recently started walking over to the little pond by my house to fish from the bank. Seems easier to land from a kayak cuz Im sitting right next to the water. ;D Thanks again.