Does that thumb pressure trick of clearing a backlash from a casting reel work with braid?  Thanks

I have NEVER gotten that to work.  Thankfully my backlashes have decreased over the years and when I do they aren't as bad.  Of course now I jinxed myself. 

Do you mean applying a little pressure with your thumb when pulling on the line? I usually do until it stops coming out, then I'll pull gently on the line on the spool to untangle it, then pull on the line from the line guide again with gentle thumb pressure. But I do it on and off. It's easy to tell if it's working or not. And I only do this with braid; I've not found it to with with copoly or fluoro.

When you get a backlash slowly pull off more line until you hit the 1st loop then put your thumb on the spool, apply pressure firm while winding line back onto the reel until the lure is a few feet from the rod tip. Now slowly pull off the into the water until you are past all the loops, do not pull hard on the line when a loop approaches. Gently pull the line past any loops, you may need to wind on a few yards and repeat whrn hitting a loop but it should pull out easily. Keep pulling out line until the spooled line is free of loops.

Now wing the line back onto the reel spool keeping slight pressure on the line between your thumb and index finger. Back is now gone and the line is smootly back on the reel without cutting any line.

Tom

3 hours ago, 2tall79 said:

Does that thumb pressure trick of clearing a backlash from a casting reel work with braid?  Thanks

It’s debatable whether it works with braid - but I would never try do that with fluorocarbon.  That kind of pressure on fluoro microfractures the line. You might eventually get the rats nest out, but your chances of a break off later on go way up.  

2 hours ago, WRB said:

When you get a backlash slowly pull off more line until you hit the 1st loop then put your thumb on the spool, apply pressure firm while winding line back onto the reel until the lure is a few feet from the rod tip. Now slowly pull off the into the water until you are past all the loops, do not pull hard on the line when a loop approaches. Gently pull the line past any loops, you may need to wind on a few yards and repeat whrn hitting a loop but it should pull out easily. Keep pulling out line until the spooled line is free of loops.

Now wing the line back onto the reel spool keeping slight pressure on the line between your thumb and index finger. Back is now gone and the line is smootly back on the reel without cutting any line.

Tom

I may have to print this out and try it next time I get a backlash. 

When I learned to use a knuckle buster bait casting reel with braid in the 50's my brothers boss Red at the boat landing who taught me how cast and bass fish showed me how to remove a backlash using the wind over technique. I thought everyone knew how to do this until I started bass fishing with the Pieces bass club in San Diego in the late 60's. I removed a partners backlash and he was amazed. My partner told the members at a weekly meeting and I was shocked it new to them. It wasn't new to the old timers in the 50's!

Like everything today you can find a utube video showing this technique.

Tom

 

 

4 hours ago, WRB said:

When you get a backlash slowly pull off more line until you hit the 1st loop then put your thumb on the spool, apply pressure firm while winding line back onto the reel until the lure is a few feet from the rod tip. Now slowly pull off the into the water until you are past all the loops, do not pull hard on the line when a loop approaches. Gently pull the line past any loops, you may need to wind on a few yards and repeat whrn hitting a loop but it should pull out easily. Keep pulling out line until the spooled line is free of loops.

Now wing the line back onto the reel spool keeping slight pressure on the line between your thumb and index finger. Back is now gone and the line is smootly back on the reel without cutting any line.

Tom

I can vouch that this works! I used this method almost constantly during the first year I had a baitcaster. 

Here's a video I made that shows how to do it:

 

 

With Braid, it is very questionable, but often time, it doesn’t work at least for me. Most of the time the knot bury deep under spool, pressure and reel back can’t untangle the knot. 

I use the method initially until it doesn't work, then use a round toothpick or a long slim finishing finishing nail to pull out the loops under loops.  My wife says keep my hands off her crochet needles which work very well.  

12 hours ago, 2tall79 said:

Does that thumb pressure trick of clearing a backlash from a casting reel work with braid?  Thanks

I use it all the time!

It ALWAYS works with braid.Braid is easier to undo backlash than mono or flouro.

11 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

It’s debatable whether it works with braid - but I would never try do that with fluorocarbon.  That kind of pressure on fluoro microfractures the line. You might eventually get the rats nest out, but your chances of a break off later on go way up.  

This is true for any line, and I agree with you 100%. When I know I freed up a pretty bad nest and know I’ve kinked the line in a few spots despite being careful, I know I’m not only fishing but also gambling at the same time until I can replace the line, lol. 

You guys obviously aren't the great caster I am if you can remove all your backlashes.    Been a few times I've had to cut my line out and re-spool.

34 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

You guys obviously aren't the great caster I am if you can remove all your backlashes.    Been a few times I've had to cut my line out and re-spool.

my kinda guy. Nothing like blowing a reel up when your DT-6 bill seperates from the plug

Being a pro I don't get backlashes mine are professional overruns.

 

Allen

There are the backlashes you get from casting and the backlashes you get from hitting something behind you when casting.  Sometimes they come out and sometimes you cut line. 

15 hours ago, livin2fish said:

 My wife says keep my hands off her crochet needles which work very well.  

I chanced someone seeing and bought a couple at wally word, thank God for self check!

 

Hands down one of my best fishing related purchases.

On 2/27/2020 at 6:31 PM, 2tall79 said:

Does that thumb pressure trick of clearing a backlash from a casting reel work with braid?  Thanks

And tighten the drag first before you begin.  I hate braid back lashes, which is why it is only on my frog rod and does not go out with gusto, but controlled lobs.

21 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

backlashes you get from hitting something behind you when casting.  Sometimes they come out and sometimes you cut line. 

those are usually terminal for me

On 2/28/2020 at 4:38 AM, livin2fish said:

I use the method initially until it doesn't work, then use a round toothpick or a long slim finishing finishing nail to pull out the loops under loops.  My wife says keep my hands off her crochet needles which work very well.  

I always keep a couple of different dental type picks in my tackle bags. You know the ones with a different crook or bend on each end. Best I've found for picking bird's nests and I am not particularly boasting when I say that I am pretty much an expert on the subject.

On 2/28/2020 at 12:24 AM, Glenn said:

Here's a video I made that shows how to do it:

 

 

Absolutely works almost 100% of the time.