Hello, starting to get into more serious serious fishing (mainly bass, but I wanna try some other things since I live on Lake Michigan). Recently got a baitcaster (7’1 medium/heavy st croix bass X, DaiwA fuego ct) and realized it might not be that great for some bait I use alot, mainly weightless wacky and lighter Texas rigs. Do you guys think the better I get with it the more I’ll be able to use it for these lighter applications? Or should I trade it in for a medium and try to max out the medium?  Or does anyone know any rod brands whose MH rods have more of a light feel? 

Your rod is fine.

That is fine for an all around set up.  I would start specializing if I were thinking about getting another setup.  

I think that will make a decent all-around setup. I looked it up and its rated 3/8 - 1 oz, which means you can throw 1/4oz texas rigs + the plastic. Senkos usually run about 3/8oz, so they are at the bottom of its range, but should work. You could also use it for jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits,...  pretty universal.

 

My suggestion is to keep it and consider a medium action spinning rig next you can use for lighter stuff.

1 hour ago, Ekman231 said:

Do you guys think the better I get with it the more I’ll be able to use it for these lighter applications?

Are you brand new to a bait caster? Which  pound test line and type are you spooled up with? Tell us how the Fuego is set up. Spool tension and brake setting.

 

If you're comfortable and tuned in with this setup, you should be able to consistently throw a weightless 5" senko '100-'120 ft. Really comfortable, then a bit farther. If you're struggling with over runs and backlashes with a common bait like this, then you simply need time to get your legs under you.

4 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

I think that will make a decent all-around setup. I looked it up and its rated 3/8 - 1 oz, which means you can throw 1/4oz texas rigs + the plastic. Senkos usually run about 3/8oz, so they are at the bottom of its range, but should work. You could also use it for jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits,...  pretty universal.

 

My suggestion is to keep it and consider a medium action spinning rig next you can use for lighter stuff.

Appreciate the input a lot! I have a much cheaper medium spinning reel that I’ve used for a few months. Was hoping that spending the money I did I would use this one much more lol.  Probably just need to give the baitcaster some more practice and get better at casting rigs in the bottom of the weight range. 

3 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Are you brand new to a bait caster? Which  pound test line and type are you spooled up with? Tell us how the Fuego is set up. Spool tension and brake setting.

 

If you're comfortable and tuned in with this setup, you should be able to consistently throw a weightless 5" senko '100-'120 ft. Really comfortable, then a bit farther. If you're struggling with over runs and backlashes with a common bait like this, then you simply need time to get your legs under you.

I have a little experience with a much cheaper baitcaster, as well as as much experience as YouTube and forums cams give you on them lol. I only have 8lb mono on it right now as it’s all I had from my spinning combo. Ordered some 12 lb mono as I’ve read in these forums is a good start. Also I’ve started with the brakes a little less than halfway and adjusted if I felt the bait wasn’t casting as far as it should. The tension I was adjusting as I’ve read by loosening until it hits the ground without backlash. Is the test of the line a big factor? I guess it’s not something I’ve looked into as much as everything else. 

1 hour ago, Ekman231 said:

I have a little experience with a much cheaper baitcaster, as well as as much experience as YouTube and forums cams give you on them lol.

Ok. So keep watching and pick up what you can. You can observe good casting mechanics and compare them to your own. Make changes as necessary. Just have patience and you'll develop a feel. It takes some time.

1 hour ago, Ekman231 said:

Ordered some 12 lb mono as I’ve read in these forums is a good start.

Good.

 

1 hour ago, Ekman231 said:

Also I’ve started with the brakes a little less than halfway and adjusted if I felt the bait wasn’t casting as far as it should. The tension I was adjusting as I’ve read by loosening until it hits the ground without backlash.

Daiwas are different. Loosen the spool tension until you're able to see side to side movement. Now depress the thumbar. Place a thumbnail in the center of the line and move the spool side to side. You'll hear it click when you do this. Slowly tighten the spool tension knob until there's no side to side movement, then stop. This is neutral spool tension. Your lure will hit the ground like a rock, but it's supposed to with this reel. Use the brakes, your thumb, and a controlled casting stroke to manage the spool. Up the brakes a bit until you "get it", then start backing them down. 10, or halfway, on this reel is a very safe setting. If you backlash on that setting with lighter baits, then you're whipping your casts. If the rod is overloaded by too heavy a weight, which will slingshot the bait with too hard of a cast, you'll backlash. Either way, resist the urge to overpower the cast to get distance in the beginning. You won't need to once you understand what your stroke needs to be, especially with a Daiwa. This takes a bit of practice.

1 hour ago, Ekman231 said:

Is the test of the line a big factor?

Not knowing what test you had spooled on beforehand, I could see anyone having an issue throwing a weightless 5" senko on typical 25lb mono. 8lb isn't ideal, but isn't really that problematic, and now we know your spool tension was far too tight. Adjust it as outlined and you'll be fine with 12 lb.

 

Once you get more comfortable using your thumb to stop the spool, you'll be able to loosen up those breaks to get more distance and flexibility with different lures.

I'm only repeating what I've read.  A few have said that the Fuego CT makes a good finesse reel with a spool from DIY.  Only problem is from the pics I've seen the spools are so shallow that light line is all you could use.  Would not make for an all around reel.

 

There are quite a few guys on here with much more knowledge about spools than I.  Maybe a few of them could give you better information on an all around aftermarket spool.

 

However, I think you just need to get the reel set up correctly and get some practice in.  BTW, I use 8# on many Medium power rods and 12# on MH rods....as a general rule.

 

Falcons, Phenix, Dobyns (and I think Hammer) rods fish a bit light.

On 8/4/2022 at 2:55 AM, PhishLI said:

Ok. So keep watching and pick up what you can. You can observe good casting mechanics and compare them to your own. Make changes as necessary. Just have patience and you'll develop a feel. It takes some time.

Good.

 

Daiwas are different. Loosen the spool tension until you're able to see side to side movement. Now depress the thumbar. Place a thumbnail in the center of the line and move the spool side to side. You'll hear it click when you do this. Slowly tighten the spool tension knob until there's no side to side movement, then stop. This is neutral spool tension. Your lure will hit the ground like a rock, but it's supposed to with this reel. Use the brakes, your thumb, and a controlled casting stroke to manage the spool. Up the brakes a bit until you "get it", then start backing them down. 10, or halfway, on this reel is a very safe setting. If you backlash on that setting with lighter baits, then you're whipping your casts. If the rod is overloaded by too heavy a weight, which will slingshot the bait with too hard of a cast, you'll backlash. Either way, resist the urge to overpower the cast to get distance in the beginning. You won't need to once you understand what your stroke needs to be, especially with a Daiwa. This takes a bit of practice.

Not knowing what test you had spooled on beforehand, I could see anyone having an issue throwing a weightless 5" senko on typical 25lb mono. 8lb isn't ideal, but isn't really that problematic, and now we know your spool tension was far too tight. Adjust it as outlined and you'll be fine with 12 lb.

 

I appreciate the advice, when trying to set spool tension I’m not sure what you mean by side to side movement? Or what should be moving side to side? 

I tighten it a tad more than he does, just until the clicking stops, but no more than that.

The reel that continues to surprise me most for its versatility is Lew's Super Duty G - looking for One reel, that would be the One. 

I agree with others who say specialize toward the lighter end. 

Might consider a CT-size like Daiwa Alphas 800, especially JDM price is under $200. 

Start off with 10-lb mono, and it would later make a great platform if you want a swap-in BFS spool. 

 

@Ekman231

You can only check for unloaded spool tension after you depress the casting button and are in freespool. 

If you own a Daiwa, you should tighten (or loosen) the spindle end cap until there's just noticeable side-to-side movement of the spool in freespool.   With skills, you'll probably do the same with all your reels.

 

What you described about free-fall to set tension is the way you did it on an old Ambassadeur - newer reels have better brakes, and that's costing you distance. 

 

Set properly, only your thumb can stop the spool at the end of your cast.