I’ve seen this in some videos. Sometimes it’s before closing the bail, sometimes after. If it’s before, is it just to get more line to let the bait fall, and after closing the bail it’s to test drag OR get more line for the bait it fall? Or is there something else I’m missing?

 

I do it to let a sinking bait fall in a straight line. If you close the bail right after the bait hits the water without pulling extra line out, it'll sink in a curve like it's on a pendulum.

if im fishing a sinking bait i usually let out some line before i close the bail so it falls more naturally. I also do it if im fishing deep water so my bait will reach the fish

I do that a lot, mostly because i fish real slow and like having slack in my line so the bait can move naturally. I line watch. 

I associate "pulling line off" with casting reels more so than spinning reels. Casting gear really pendulums the lure back in a semi-circle until it grounds out.

 

What I do is just leave my bail open, maybe lift my rod tip to pull off a bit of line that way as the lure hits the water.

 

I suppose it also depends on the weight of what I have thrown. If it is a Senko or something like that, it'll generally pull line off an open bail; if it is something really light, it might need some help.

 

Brad

  I do it, and I probably do it unconsciously. I do it on shorter casts to take twist out of the line. On longer casts  it's of no importance.   jj

A little pull after closing the bail prevents wind knots

I do it mostly when fishing jerk baits and some wind resistant lures. It ensures that the line is snugged up, and that no loose windings, loops, or that annoying overlay in front of the spool remain. As others have mentioned, it also allows for a pause in the start of working the lure, but that's just a plus. 

Letting the bait fall straight down makes a lot of sense. I haven't had any issues with wind knots in the past from what I can recall. Now that I think about it, I usually lift the rod tip up a bit after the bait hits the water, to pull a little more line out, so it can fall. I've never really thought to pull it out by hand since I can just flick the rod and pull a little more line off the spool. Most baits are heavy enough to just pull more line off so I wait until they sink enough, then I close the bail. For light baits though I do give them a little help and twitch the rod to get some slack. Thanks for the answers everyone!

Sometimes, it might just be a little 'professional overrun' housekeeping....or, so I've heard

I do it with finesse baits, wacky rigs, Flick Shakes, Ned Rigs, but it's done to allow the bait to fall vertically rather than to pendulum back towards me.

19 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I do it to let a sinking bait fall in a straight line. If you close the bail right after the bait hits the water without pulling extra line out, it'll sink in a curve like it's on a pendulum.

X2

Spinning reel after closing the bail is either snug up the spooled line and check the drag.

Don't do it before closing the bail, just lift the rod tip to create extra line.

Tom

I do it all the time, even with a baitcaster. @MN Fisher has it right — pendulum effect and to get slack in the line. With jigs it’s important to keep slack, because the jig skirt opens, no slack it can stay closed.

I do it out of habit with a spinning reel because I am most likely fishing a finesse application and I want the Bait to fall where I cast it.

I let a bit of line out also, But I'm at the ready with my finger on the line just in case I get bit while the bait is on the fall..? 

To allow the bait fall straight down on slack line and to ensure that your line isn't fouled. That's why I do it, both casting and spinning depending on what I'm throwing. It's subconscious for me.