I just bought my first baitcaster and I'm trying to learn how to use it. I've some YouTube videos on how to properly cast it but they haven't helped that much. Whenever I try to make a long cast, I get massive backlash while my lure is still in the air. I'm using the appropriately sized line and lure, as specified on the rod. It's 7' MH 7:1:1. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Even with every adjustment set correctly you can still backlash because of line. How you check this is to press your thumb bar to release your spool, with your other hand slowly and steadily pull line off the spool. If you watch your line at the spool and you see that rather than come of the spool your line wants to wrap around the spool, chances are your line is digging in.

1 hour ago, Ben Ludwig said:

I just bought my first baitcaster and I'm trying to learn how to use it. I've some YouTube videos on how to properly cast it but they haven't helped that much. Whenever I try to make a long cast, I get massive backlash while my lure is still in the air. I'm using the appropriately sized line and lure, as specified on the rod. It's 7' MH 7:1:1. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Probably your technique. Ease into it. Practice your technique and get that down first then worry about long casts

More details would be helpful like the line you’re using, type of reel as in Daiwa, Shimano, Lews, etc. Reason being so that any advice we give could be fined tuned and more precise. If I tell you that the centrifugal brakes are what you need to adjust as my best guess, it’s of no use to you if your reel has magnetic brakes. 

 

I’d also recommend using at least a 1/2 oz weight as opposed to a lure. 

 

Certain lure types, because of their aerodynamics, are not ideal for the newbie. You’ll have enough worry about in finding where the error lies without this being a factor. 

 

Therefore:

1) use a 1/2 oz weight like a bass casting weight 

2) use mono of at least 10# strength and NO BRAID. 

If you come from spinning rods, i would bet $100 that you’re snapping your wrist when you cast. Works great with spinning rods, especially in tight quarters. But it’s a guaranteed backlash with a baitcaster. It was the hardest habit for me to break, but virtually eliminated backlashes for me. 

12 hours ago, Ben Ludwig said:

I just bought my first baitcaster and I'm trying to learn how to use it. I've some YouTube videos on how to properly cast it but they haven't helped that much. Whenever I try to make a long cast, I get massive backlash while my lure is still in the air. I'm using the appropriately sized line and lure, as specified on the rod. It's 7' MH 7:1:1. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

What brand of reel?  That can make a difference.  I'm short on experience too, but long on reading the articles on this forum about baitcasting.  I've learned from reading and watching videos here that different models and brands have different ways of setting them up to find a starting point.  Casting technique is also important.  I have had no significant problems with backlashes, even though I started this year in May without having touched a baitcaster for more than 50 years.

Don't be concerned about distance for now.  Distance comes as you learn the proper casting technique, not before.  Here's how:

 

 

My piece of advice is to cast sidearm, leave about 12 - 18" of line at the end of the rod and when you cast, bring it back and as it's going back, cast it forward hard. Basically draw a Nike symbol with it, and as you get into it pick up speed and once you're going forward throw it quick and hard.  If you use a thicker line with the proper reel setup, you can pretty much throw it forward hard and be good with the proper reel setup, but with thinner line is much more fussy, and this trick keeps me from birds' nesting.

 

I watched tons of videos when I first learned too, but I never really figured it out until I figured out this trick. Once I figured this out, the next day I had the brake and tension knob way down and was casting very far.

 

Hope that helps.

Curious to know what kind of rod, reel, line and lure ur using. It will take some time, start off with the breaks at the highest setting.

Good stuff so far, I'll add one thing: make sure the spool isn't too full.

I wouldn't try a long cast just yet.  Ease into it.  Learn a little thumb control and how to properly set up the reel before trying for distance.  It takes a little time...longer for some of us ... but it will all come together with a bit more practice.

 

As already mentioned, knowing a few more details would help.  Agree that if you come from a spinning reel background, that could be some of the problem.  You have to be much smoother with a baitcast reel.  They absolutely hate a jerky casting motion.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I went out to our farm pond and was able to catch some on a chatterbait with the baitcaster. I'm starting to get the hang of it