Rookies Question? Why Am I Not Able To Cast Far?

Yes, welcome to the forum.  Lots of good advice, but sometimes a little off topic comments get made.  Some funny, some not so funny.  

Good advice from those responding to your question.  As you have already learned....casting with lures that don't load a rod is an exercise in frustration.  Might as well forego the rod, and hand cast the lure. 

Some advice:  Don't take the advice given to fill the spool to the max when using braid.  It can and will (unless a stiff braid) cause more frustration.  It will knot up as it comes from the spool...catching on the guides on its way through and causing a mess that needs to be straightened out before winding back on the spool.  Mono is ok to fill to the spools lip.  Care to know how I know?    Well, I got into the habit of filling my baitcast reels that way so when I got some new-2-me spinning reels I filled them the same way....forgetting how I did it over 25 years ago.   Tests proved it isn't a problem with mono.  I didn't need a test to determine it IS a problem with braid.