Fairly new to baitcasting, having issues with keeping the line tightish on the spool. No problem putting it on tight, it’s during casting/reeling in that it gets loose, sometimes. I imagine it’s all due to being a rookie like not having the thumb action down when trying to flip and pitch, sometimes it’s just from bad casts.

 

One question is how do you keep it tight when reeling in, as opposed to mini backlashes? I cast righty and reel lefty if it matters. Is there a way other then doing long casts?
 

The other is how do you tighten up the mini backlashes? I get maybe 3 or 4 rotations that look loose, do I apply a lot of force on the spool while reeling, or do I have to stop and put out the loose line? I’ve tried the 1st with no luck, and the 2nd let’s the lure flutter down into the weeds while I screw around with it.

It’s all in the thumb. You gotta slow the spool down at the end of the cast. Tightening the brakes a little might help too. 

Thanks, I tend to stop it pretty quick, as opposed to slowing it down nicely. Something to practice.

I think my thumb is making light contact the entire time while pitching. Raising the rod tip at the end of the cast just before re-engaging the spool also helps stop that little bit of overrun. I apply those same two things to skipping also.

I don't think this will address your specific issue as I think it has more to do with practice than anything else but I like to dump the spool with a bomb cast and repack it once I'm done fishing an area.

Pitching will get the top few rounds loose after a bit if you’re reeling on slack line a lot. Every once in a while just bomb cast out the back of the boat and reel up tight. 

1 minute ago, Cbump said:

Pitching will get the top few rounds loose after a bit if you’re reeling on slack line a lot. Every once in a while just bomb cast out the back of the boat and reel up tight. 

X2

That's not a problem to me in baitcasters. But sometimes looseness/slack accumulates in the spool, creating bird nests.

Sounds like you’re over focusing on keeping a tight line wrap on your spool - don’t! Just fish - cast and wind. As @ska4fun mentions above, eventually loosening might affect your casting, and when it does, just make a bomb cast to clear it as several have suggested, or strip off the top layers by hand and wind back on…then keep on fishing 

I keep my thumb on the spool when reeling in which puts a little tension on the line as it's laid onto the spool.

Try adjusting the spool end tension. Using the lure you are using disengage the the spool then take your thumb off the spool and let the lure free fall and hit the ground. The spool should stop spinning on it’s own without creating loose line.

This can reduce casting distance slightly, but you are pitching  lures less then 50’.

I adjust my reels to cast freely over 50 yards, this requires a trained thumb and running the line over my index finger during the retrieve to maintain contact with lures and keep slight tension on the spooled line. Loose line ends up creating a backlash, you need to manage your line on both spinning and casting reels.

Tom