I am new to fishing and after reading a lot of information I decided to purchase a baitcaster for top water fishing, I spooled it with 65# izorline braided. I adjusted the ITB and Spool tension, and casted, per all recommendations I could find, it went great, I casted about 20-30 times no backlashes, I thought why is everyone saying this is difficult I just picked up a baitcaster for the first time and not one backlash. feeling really good I bought a second to replace my spinning reel, I spooled it with 12# maxum evergreen. I adjusted everything and started casting, everything was going fine then I started having this intermittent problem, I could feel the line bunching up under my thumb, it doesn't make a knot, just a few loops come loose. I tried to use more and less thumb pressure as soon as I felt this happeing but, it would still happen. Does anyone know what could be causing this? It happens when I cast side arm and overhead and only with the mono line.

Sounds to me like you need to make a couple of minor adjustments yet to your reel (drag and spool tension).  It's going to take more than just a few casts before you're really "up to snuff" with a baitcaster.  And remember, there is no substitite for an educated thumb.

The first thing that catches my eye here is the lighter line.  Lighter line takes a bit more practice with a bait caster.  Can be a bit more touchy.  Sounds like you have the basics, just work on the fine tuning of your reel and you should be screaming along in no time!

Good luck with your new reels!!!

Recon

Line memory?  The line "memorizes" its coils from being wound onto the factory line spool...

Dan

I a agree with jdw174 maybe try a little more adjustment. Even if the reels are the same model from the same manufacturer, I have found in my experiences no two adjust the same.

I also agree with Lightninrod, that the bulk spool memory was showing up.

When practicing especially on the back yard grass, or on cement. You do not have a lot of smooth resistance when reeling the practice plug back to the rod tip. This will cause the upper layers of the line to stack loosely and the bulk spool memory will show up, in the casting.

As you retrieve the practice plug/lure, pinch the line in front of the reel (give it some smooth resistance as you retrieve it, this will help that upper layers to lay tighter on the spool.

Just my .02¢

Tight Lines All!!

Thanks for the info, I will try adjusting the reel a little more, as it is, I adjust the spool so that the lure barely moves and the magnetic brake is on 10. I have been fishing with this reel 3 days a week since the beginning of this month and just started having this problem for the last 2 weeks. If that doesn't make a difference I will respool and see what happens.

I have another question. I thought my thumb should be on the spool the whole time during the cast and you adjust the pressure for control, a guy at the lake I fish told me that if the reel is adjusted right I only need to use my thumb to stop the spool when the lure hits the water. which is right?

DraftingMonkey.

He's right, and this article will back it up.

Basic Baitcast Reel Setup 101

Tight Lines!!

Another thing to watch for is thumb placement during retrieve. If you rest your thumb on the spool during retrieve that will cause the line to run on one side or the other of the spool.

Just some advice,

ReelMech,

This is one of the Articles I read that made me think I had to keep my thumb on the spool, when I read 'how to get a smart thumb' it mentioned feathering the spool then using your thumb to stop the weight from hitting the floor. I guess, instead of letting my thumb ride the spool the whole time I am suppose to keep my thumb off until I want the spool to stop, then I lightly apply pressure to stop the spool. Does this sound right.

Thanks

just remember that all baits do not cast the same. if you get you thumb trained on a practice plug  over and over you WILL backlash it when you go throw a plastic lizard or similar lures. remember this as a rule of thumb. hard heavy baits cast further than soft lightweight ones.when you throw a lighter weight lure, the spool will speed up the same but the lure will slow down at a faster rate.  the spool will require you to feather the spool more if you havent adjusted for it.wind resistance can be your enemy here. the more wind resistant a lure is the less you will backlash. also casting into the wind will require some additional thumbing of the spool if you dont adjust your reel for it