Teaching my son to cast a bait caster I had him watch a couple of beginner YouTube videos about it. They went into changing the settings on the reel and well and they both did something I have never heard of. Both videos showed the commonly used method of adjusting the spool tension to the point the bait barely lowered with the help of gravity. BUT they both they both stressed the important of turning the brakes completely off with the external dial before doing so. Have you guys ever heard of this? If so why is this important?

ive never done it that way. I leave the internal brakes as is, almost never touch them ever. Eg. with a shimano tranx i have 2 engaged and 4 off. 

 

However, when first learning your son may want to have 50% engaged. 

 

everything is done via the spool tension knob. 

Turning the external brake all the way off ensures there is no add pressure on the spool. That is how I set all my reels up with mag brakes. Internal brakes don’t need to be touched.

I imagine this may come into play with magnetic brakes where the brake is affecting the spool to some degree regardless of spool speed, but I cant see it making a difference with centrifugal brakes. 

I've heard that too.  But I never do it.  It's too much of a pain.  Plus, after you've gotten some experience with using one, as you know, you can make a few casts and tell what needs to be changed and how much.  You don't need to follow "rules" or "guidelines".  We all set up our reels slightly differently due to our own preferences and habits anyway.  

 

I think it's mainly for new comers who probably have the magnetic brakes dialed up really high to counter bad technique.  For the rest of us, we probably don't have the brakes turned up very high anyway, so I doubt it would make much of a difference.  

37 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Your centrifugal or magnetic brakes are not going to apply any pressure to the spool in the same capacity as the spool tension knob.  This is a wives tale repeated by fishermen.  

Even when adjusting the spool tension for lighter/heavier lures...I don't touch my magnetic brake settings at all - those only get adjusted between casts. This is for both my Fuegos and Pfluegers.

Do not "turn off" brakes. Not the least bit necessary with Mag or Cent. Spool is turning way to slow for any affect.

Mag does not have any "pull" unless spool is spinning. The magnet is functioning against aluminum. No static attraction. Only when in motion. Check YouTube video demonstrating this:

 

 

 

 

Karl