Zmokin

Thanks, I can report some success. I haven't tried to feather with my thumb, but I'm able to cast without creating a rat's nest. Problem is I can't cast very far, but I'm willing to live with that for the time being. I know I have the drag & brake turned up more than normal. My spool was pretty full before cutting off my first 2 disasters. I know it still has plenty of line for now, but at least now, I'm OK with working on learning the technique of this reel enough to teach my son how to use it. Again, thanks everyone for your help.

One more question. How much line should I have on the reel? Should it be close to full, or should I only fill the spool part way?

OK, checking things out, I have an Abu Garcia Black Maxx. Am I correct if I turn my magnetic brake up higher, I might be able to prevent backlash without having to feather with my thumb? It looks like my drag was set to minimum and my magnetic brake was all of the way off and I did not feather, so I'm pretty sure my reel and user technique was set up for maximum backlash which is exactly what I experienced twice in a row.

Thanks everyone for your help. This certainly is going to be a lot more work than I expected. I don't know if I can master the art of feathering with my thumb, let alone try to teach someone else how to do something that I can't. And it may be that from my own ignorance, I bought the wrong kind of reel for the intended application. I'll give it a go but I'm losing optimism, which is a rare thing for me.

Well, that helped to prove my ignorance. Please explain what this means as I have a feeling this just might be my problem, but I am at a loss as to what to do exactly. This sounds like I am supposed to disassemble the darn thing. " Setting up the baitcaster’s anti-backlash system is next. “On a general setup I would pull out at least three of the centrifugal brake pins,” says Ponds. “On the right hand side of most reels is an anti-backlash dial. I would set that up by tying my plug on and back off that dial until the lure barely starts to drop and then turn it up just a little bit from there. As you progress you can loosen it up and also mash in one of the brakes.” Even though he is a seasoned veteran with a baitcaster Ponds always keeps one brake pin engaged."

My son wants to try his luck at salmon fishing, so I knew I needed to get something heavier than the ultra lightweight spinning gear I normally use (2 lb test is my favorite line). So we bought him a longer medium weight pole, and a Abu Garcia Bait Caster reel and some 15 lb test line. I put the line on the reel and with my first cast, proceeded to end up with a rats nest on the reel. I figured with the heavier pound test, maybe it needed to rest and get used to being on the reel, so I managed to remove the rats nest and get to fresh line. Waited a few weeks, and once again, a single cast ends up with a rat nest. I've never had this kind of problem with my open bail spinning reels. I'm in desperate need of advice as it is too late for me to return the reel now. If I can't master casting with this reel to then teach my son how to, I guess I'm going to have to eat the cost and buy a reel I know how to use.