Hello, 

 

I was given a red pinnical baitcaster and 6f6 ugly stick with power pro braid. I seen in a video from a guy on here to put electrical tape on the spool to keep it from backlashing. I played with it a little last summer with a ratl trap and I am decent with it and didn't get wild backlashes just some starting too but I used my thumb to keep it down. Do you guys think I should remove to power pro and put a cheap mono on it for now? I'm also not really sure what baits to use on this? I'm stuck bank fishing too if that helps. One thing I noticed I struggle with is aim and with the line I lost a few lures because it kept slipping so I quit messing with the combo. 

I’d put thicker mono line on, most people like Trilene Big Game so use around 17# or 15# and that will help with backlashes. As for the combo, we’ll need more information to say what it’s good for.  Could you give the brand and specs of the rod and reel?

12 hours ago, TylerT123 said:

I’d put thicker mono line on, most people like Trilene Big Game so use around 17# or 15# and that will help with backlashes. As for the combo, we’ll need more information to say what it’s good for.  Could you give the brand and specs of the rod and reel?

Its a pinnical bait caster that's red and silver it doesn't have any markings on it and the ugly stick is just the standard 6ft6 one piece casting rod ugly stick with the pistol grip handle.

Have you watched the video in the sticky on "How to cast a baitcaster"?  There are also a ton of threads offering advice to guys having casting problems.  Lots of good advice can be found on this site.

 

As far as accuracy is concerned, my first question is are you coming from fishing spinning gear?  Because the release point between the two types of reels is totally different.  Practice is the only solution.  I started with a side arm cast and my lure was landing a good 30 degrees to the left (I was casting right hand).  Overhand cast put the lure into the yard in front of me.  I suggest starting out with a side arm roll cast.  This smooths out the cast and keeps the rod loaded and has the added benefit of putting the lure out in front of you instead of to the side.

 

It sucks that there are no ratings on the rod.  Makes it tougher to know what weight to learn on.  I'd suggest starting with 1/2 oz.  That normally falls within the rating for Medium and Medium Heavy power rods.  If yours is a Medium Light, Light or Ultra Light you should be able to tell right away that the lure is too heavy.  Don't use a lead weight unless you want to reel up to the lure after each cast when practicing in your yard.  Either that or I hope your reflexes are very fast. 

 

If the braid is slipping, then put mono backing (or a piece of tape) on the spool first.  Mono is cheaper.  The heavier the line, the more apt it will be to have more memory.  I like 12# mono or copolymer.  I'd suggest a soft line like Sunline Super Natural, Sufix Elite, Silver Thread AN40 or McCoy Mean Green.  Sufix Siege is pretty good too, but not quite as memory free as Elite.  I wouldn't suggest learning on 20# mono or co-polymer.  15 lb.......okay.

Multiple threads have been merged.

12 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Have you watched the video in the sticky on "How to cast a baitcaster"?  There are also a ton of threads offering advice to guys having casting problems.  Lots of good advice can be found on this site.

 

As far as accuracy is concerned, my first question is are you coming from fishing spinning gear?  Because the release point between the two types of reels is totally different.  Practice is the only solution.  I started with a side arm cast and my lure was landing a good 30 degrees to the left (I was casting right hand).  Overhand cast put the lure into the yard in front of me.  I suggest starting out with a side arm roll cast.  This smooths out the cast and keeps the rod loaded and has the added benefit of putting the lure out in front of you instead of to the side.

 

It sucks that there are no ratings on the rod.  Makes it tougher to know what weight to learn on.  I'd suggest starting with 1/2 oz.  That normally falls within the rating for Medium and Medium Heavy power rods.  If yours is a Medium Light, Light or Ultra Light you should be able to tell right away that the lure is too heavy.  Don't use a lead weight unless you want to reel up to the lure after each cast when practicing in your yard.  Either that or I hope your reflexes are very fast. 

 

If the braid is slipping, then put mono backing (or a piece of tape) on the spool first.  Mono is cheaper.  The heavier the line, the more apt it will be to have more memory.  I like 12# mono or copolymer.  I'd suggest a soft line like Sunline Super Natural, Sufix Elite, Silver Thread AN40 or McCoy Mean Green.  Sufix Siege is pretty good too, but not quite as memory free as Elite.  I wouldn't suggest learning on 20# mono or co-polymer.  15 lb.......okay.

I looked this morning and nothing listed on the rod. I started last year with a lightning rod but broke two and said never again ill just learn on this ugly stick. I had a lipless bait from a tackle package that i could get out there aways but i would get slight backlashes, just enough to have to pick out a foot or so but a few videos i recently watched said use the tape or switch to mono. I know this power pro is expensive so didn't want to take it off and use something wrong.

What you are talking about is very common.  I tend to backlash more often using an overhead cast.  I know every one will say it's all about thumb control, but some how for me the advice would go in one ear and out the other.  

 

Once I really started paying more attention to controlling my thumb than any other part of the cast, I got better, and better, till back lashes became rare.  During very little of the cast is the tip of my thumb not at least lightly touching my spool.  

 

I think my problem was after the initial swing, I would entirely remove my thumb from the spool until my lure was just above the water.  Now, when I cast, my thumb rarely leaves the spool entirely, I just loosen some of the pressure in order to send the lure on it's way.  Focusing on that helped tons.  

 

As for your woes with side arm casting, I experience that as well.  Typically if trying to cast a lighter lure with a faster action rod, or if my brakes are set a little too high.  As others have said, you will have to compensate by adjusting your 'release point.  Fact is though, some rods just don't cast certain lures well, and it takes some effort to compensate.

 

 

The easiest lures to cast are those with the least wind resistance, those that are most streamlined and affected the least by air resistance.  Like spoons, lipless cranks, practice plugs.  So do a lot of casting with them, then move on to more challenging lures.  Like long stickbaits.  Then spinnerbaits.  Even after becoming quite proficient you will most likely avoid casting spinnerbaits up wind.