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Birdsnest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(Backlash)

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hey guys i have got a serious birdsnest any tips on how 2 gt it out

Scissors. (And carry a spare reel, that's how I end up dealing with the truly bad ones).

  • Super User

Good advice from Cowgirl.

If the backlash is deep you may damage the line by tugging it to untangle the line.

You will not know you have cut or damaged the line until you make a cast and bait flies into the wild blue yonder or you hook a nice lady and the line fails.

I concur with Cowgirl: Cut out the backlash.

Respool by running line through a wet spot consisting of Kevin Van Dam's Lure and LIne Conditioner or pure silicone on a wash cloth

Spool fresh line slowly onto the reel by running it through the wet spot on the wash cloth. Make sure the line is balanced as best you can onto the baitcaster.

After spooling new line, set up your rig with your bait as per the rod's and reel's paramaters for line test and bait weight.

Balance the baitcaster as posted on this site and I believe is one of the featured articles or videos. Find them and make sure to balance your set up after changing each bait.

Then use this secret: Go outside and cast the bait as far as you can. Pull two arm lenghts of line off the spool after the cast. Take either Scotch Tape or electrical tape and tape over the remaining line on the baitcaster spool. You may need to have two or three levels of tape to cover the entire spool. Reel in bait and you are ready to fish with the knowledge that any backlash can go only so deep.

This is not my idea. Learned it from one of the pros at the old Bassmaster University classes. And it works until you get your baitcasters balanced and do not have to worry about backlashes any more.

If you throw a buzzbait and the reel stops spinning when the buzzbait hits the water then your rig is perfect.

And carry one or two extra baitcasters ready to go.

I have used a crochet needle to remedy a backlash but it was not a deep backlash.

Good luck!

  • Super User

For clarification: Place the tape from left side to right side of line on spool.

You may have to put two or three levels of tape on the spool.

Usually one or two levels will suffice.

Reel in the line and you are ready to hit the water.

  • Author

thnks i just had to end up cutting all the line off and restring but thts ok i love baitcasters either way

  • Super User

Tools to have handy for backlash removal:

Toothpicks

Crocheted latch hook tool

Ice pick

Prayers if it's a bad one

Scissors

Use all of the above with some patience. If you're using mono or fluoro and have to start using those, you're better off trashing the line and respooling.

This can work at times

Thanks good video

When it happens to me :cut: , I just pick up the spinning rod. :laugh5:

  • Author

first i pray :pray: then if i cnt get it out i just start cuttin :cut:

I haven't had to cut a line since learning the tip from this video. Don't give up, just look to see where what I call the "loop-lock" is (that's where the line is hitting the spool, and there is usually a loop crossed over the line and under other winds) put your thumb there and press down and wind. Like he says in the vid "it may take several try's" but you'll get it. Just ask anyone that has fished with me, I'm like Bill Dance stripping line off his reel in that BPS commercial.

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