I just used a baitcaster for the first time and of course got a huge bird's nest. After much struggle, I decide, like an idiot, that it would be a good idea to try to cut it out. Well now i have an even worse situation with strips of loose bird's nest everywhere stuck under tangled line.

keep cutting.and pulling.and cutting.

You just have to keep cutting each loop and pulling off little pieces of line until you get the the spool. I would bet money that everyone on this forum that uses a baitcaster has done it at least once. It sucks, but it happens. I blew one up a couple weeks ago because I was casting from the bank and my plastic worm caught up on a small bush behind me. Didn't notice until it was too late and POOF, had line wrapped around my head, birds landing on me; it was terrible.

Quit whining... That's just the way you have to do it now.... It's already cut.. Just continue to pull out the line and get it off... Respool... Study more how to set up a baitcaster... If you do you're homework it will come so much easier... Study how to use the Tool and spend less time cutting out birds nest

Quit whining... That's just the way you have to do it now.... It's already cut.. Just continue to pull out the line and get it off... Respool... Study more how to set up a baitcaster... If you do you're homework it will come so much easier... Study how to use the Tool and spend less time cutting out birds nest

LOL you call that whining? Good luck when you grow up and start life when you meet people who actually whine. And I studied baicasters for weeks before this but it wouldn't cast properly.

LOL you call that whining? Good luck when you grow up and start life when you meet people who actually whine. And I studied baicasters for weeks before this but it wouldn't cast properly.

I didn't think you were whining. Anyway, this is not a big deal. It happens to everyone. I had to cut and strip out all my line at least once when I was learning. Respool, make sure you're setting it up correctly, and then practice practice practice. You'll get it down.

And I studied baicasters for weeks before this but it wouldn't cast properly.

LMAO

When you cut the line out, be careful not to scratch up your spool!

LMAO

When you cut the line out, be careful not to scratch up your spool!

Why is this amusing? This forum is starting to seem toxic

Why is this amusing? This forum is starting to seem toxic

While I agree some of the folks can get off-topic when posting on topics, it doesn't change the fact that there are plenty of nice and helpful people here. Next time if you get a birdnest, why don't you try this method: 

 

It can take a while and patience is certainly required but it does work! Best of luck!

If you've already started to cut, just pull the pieces that are already cut and a loose end.  If you pull to a certain point and it stops, try pulling a different piece that is a loose end.  Often times, after you pull a few short pieces out, you can pull the entire backlash out and start over. 
Once you get everything handled with this first step in the learning process, re-spool with some new line.  Put a lure on with the hook bent in if you're at home.  Go out in the street or if you have a big backyard go out back.  Hit your free spool and walk backwards away from your bait...  Once you're a good I dunno 40 yards away or however far your ultimate goal as far as casting distance is...  Take some electrical tape and tape under the spool.  This will let you practice your casting without as much risk to backlashing your whole spool up again.  Should save you some time and money while you learn.  Hope this helps.

Yes, you have no choice right now. Keep cutting. Then re-spool with fresh line. There is a way out before you start to cut however. Tighten the drag down tight. Put your thumb on the tangled spool hard and with your other hand start REELING as best you can. After a turn or two, pull any slack out and repeat. This works pretty well and I've used this technique to save the day for me on several occasions. Good Luck!

Why is this amusing? This forum is starting to seem toxic

I am amused because your posts reads like you are blaming the reel and it can't be your fault because you studied for weeks before attempting to use it.

I am amused because your posts reads like you are blaming the reel and it can't be your fault because you studied for weeks before attempting to use it.

Oh well no I know it has to be something I did, it was my first time using it

No new advice here other than I have used a razor blade to do this when i had to a few years ago.

 

Also, what difference does it make if you nick the spool slightly when cutting?  I don't see that causing any impacts to performance or structural integrity of the spool unless of course you took a huge chunk out of it but i doubt that would happen.

 

and for the record, I didn't see him as whining at all, just asking a question as a newbie to baitcasters like everyone else has been one time or another.

If you can get the spool out of the reel, I find it easier to take the line off it this way.  You might also wan to read up on taping your spool so your backlashes do not go so deep.

What reel do you have?

What reel do you have?

Right sorry, it's a silver max 

First turn off your magnets, then tghten your friction knob to adjust it for the weight of your lure. So it falls to the ground and the spool stops, no back last. Then put the magnets have way on. Try a cast. I use a thumb brake sometimes.

Oh well no I know it has to be something I did, it was my first time using it

I apologize for coming off as finding your situation amusing. As others have already posted, you just got keep cutting line and pulling it out......sometimes little piece by little piece.

The best advice that I can someone who is new to casting baitcasters is start off with a heavier weight, like at least 1/2oz heavy. That would also depend on how well your rod loads with a 1/2oz. You may need more. I am not familiar with your reel but in the beginning, adjust your brakes or magnets and your cast control knob to slow your spool down considerably. In the beginning, you need to concern yourself more with your rod motion and release point instead of distance.

FishChaser you didn't say what type of line you are using and trying to pick out a backlash with.

Braid is very difficult to work with, mono and FC easy to cut out.

The trick shown in the video is well known and works good. My suggestion is don't pull the backlash out, just apply thumb pressure to the spool and wind all the line back on the reel, then slowly pull the line back off the spool (line going in the water if possible) until you get pass the problem area.

Learning to cast a bait caster takes practice and I wouldn't try this with braid. Here is another trick; pull off 50 yards of line (braid or mono/FC) tape over the remaining spooled line with plumbers Teflon tape 1 to 2 wraps, then wind the 50 yards of line back on the reel while applying light to the line between your index finger and thumb tip. No more severe backlashes.

Good luck.

Tom

Been using baitcasters essentially my whole life and have never seen the trick in the video...  Might come in handy so thanks.

 

I was catfishing the other day with a baitcaster that has bait clicker.... forgot to engage the reel when I went to set the hook.  Probably the most impressive backlash ever.

Using 12 lb mono... I was trying the trick in the video for awhile before I cut it out, it worked the first time I backlashed but this one was too bad

I started using baitcasters for the first time last summer.

 

I can definitively say now I'm a bit of an expert at picking out backlashes. The worst is when I'm throwing a soft plastic and for one reason or another it comes off mid-cast. Boy, that reel pops like a clock spring. Ha!

 

Just keep cutting, you'll eventually cut it all off and be able to re-spool. If you haven't already, it might be a good time to check out the Boomerang Tool - a handy braid cutter (works for all types of line), but the cutter jaws are more exposed than some multi-tools to enable you to get down in the spool to cut the line a bit better.

 

Welcome to baitcasters, although I would encourage you that it truly DOES get better. Your thumb and mechanics will improve and soon backlashing will be less frequent. Hang in there!

While I agree some of the folks can get off-topic when posting on topics, it doesn't change the fact that there are plenty of nice and helpful people here. Next time if you get a birdnest, why don't you try this method: 

 

It can take a while and patience is certainly required but it does work! Best of luck!

 

Doing it this way with Fluorocarbon, take your time, Fluoro cuts into itself. Just take caution and after you successfully got it out inspect your line for a nick, next cast could snap and off goes 100ft of line.

You need a razor blade, a pair of pliers and a beer. Good Luck, I've been there myself!