I've been happily fishing since childhood with spinning equipment and have no complaints, curiosity got the best of me and I recently purchased my first bait casting combo, a Daiwa procaster rojo and a cabelas rod and I am having some troubles but very much so want to stick it out. I have read the reel's manual and an online intro written by *** but I've still got my fair share of questions, perhaps better put, problems. I seem to be able to cast heavier baits without many problems, I've found setting my brake system to around 3 and relatively loose spool results in good trouble free casts, at least for the most part (im counting 1/2oz rattle traps and 11/16 oz. rapalas as heavy). If I only casted baits of this weight, 1/2oz+, I'm pretty sure I'd be happily on my way to success, but, some of my favorite baits are 1/4 oz (rapala #13, poppers, etc...). When I am casting these lighter baits I'm confused on how I should be adjusting my set up, I have found limited success by setting my brakes to a higher #5 and tightening the spool a bit, but my results are shaky. Often I see my casts tailing off to the left of the target im casting to or seemingly dying of speed in the cast. So I guess my questions are:

Can i cast lures as light as 1/4oz on my setup? Could I throw even lighter if properly adjusted?

How should I be adjusting the break system and spool tightness in regards to the weight of the lure?

Sorry for the long first post, I understand you gents probably field this question quite often but any help is appreciated.

Regards James

Welcome aboard!

The problem, I suspect, is with your rod. It is too heavy and does not load up with lighter lures. A Medium Power/ Moderate Action rod will resolve your problem. Personally, I fish baitcasting equipment with heavier line and lures; spinning equipment for lighter applications.

Bass22- welcome to the forum!

There are two parts to your question... yes, the reel can cast 1/4 oz baits- your thumb just needs some time to learn.  The other factor, as RW mentioned, is the rod.  You didn't give us the specs but I suspect you got a MH or H, fast.  A med. would cast the lighter baits easier.

With lighter baits, you need a looser spool tension and a better thumb.   It just takes time and practice, once you set the reel corectly.  

thank you for the welcome and the replies. The rod, for one reason or another, I never thought of and it is indeed a MH and a moderate fast or fast (cant recall off hand). I'm bit embarrassed I never thought of it, I guess I had myself so convinced that I was not be adjusting the reel correctly that I closed my mind to other possibilities.

As another general question that has me confused, the reel manual states that most users end up with the brake system set under 5 and users often going up a number in high winds (which I get) but do I take this to mean that I should be adjusting the spool tension to my baits more than I should be adjusting the brake? When I'm practicing the spool tension and the often stated "smart thumb" seem to have the biggest effects, that is unless I change the braking system by a large amount.

I think tonight I might practice tossing some lighter baits with the reel on a M/ML spinning rod to see if I should consider picking up a lighter bait casting rod or if I'll just stay content tossing my heavier stuff with the bait caster. Thanks again for the quick replies  

thank you for the welcome and the replies. The rod, for one reason or another, I never thought of and it is indeed a MH and a moderate fast or fast (cant recall off hand). I'm bit embarrassed I never thought of it, I guess I had myself so convinced that I was not be adjusting the reel correctly that I closed my mind to other possibilities.

As another general question that has me confused, the reel manual states that most users end up with the brake system set under 5 and users often going up a number in high winds (which I get) but do I take this to mean that I should be adjusting the spool tension to my baits more than I should be adjusting the brake? When I'm practicing the spool tension and the often stated "smart thumb" seem to have the biggest effects, that is unless I change the braking system by a large amount.

I think tonight I might practice tossing some lighter baits with the reel on a M/ML spinning rod to see if I should consider picking up a lighter bait casting rod or if I'll just stay content tossing my heavier stuff with the bait caster. Thanks again for the quick replies  

yes.  to start out, every single bait you throw should be set with the spool tension knob.  Maybe you should also read some tutorials if you aren't making progress like you think you should be.  If nothing else, it'll give you some confidence to pull through.  In the end, it'll definitely be worth it.

Even if you go for a lighter rod, I would suggest starting out on heavy lures.  It's definitely much easier to get a feel for how your rod and reel should act and feel when you throw out your line.  I would wait until you've gotten used to that before you move onto lighter baits.

Welcome aboard!

The problem, I suspect, is with your rod. It is too heavy and does not load up with lighter lures. A Medium Power/ Moderate Action rod will resolve your problem. Personally, I fish baitcasting equipment with heavier line and lures; spinning equipment for lighter applications.

BINGO! Glad I read this or I would have been accused of plagerism!

Keep in mind as well...that baitcasters are somewhat more personal than spinning equipment. The settings I use will not work for my father in law as an example. He runs his tighter than I like mine...preferring to use the brake and reel settings for control and I run my much looser amd more free.  So while people can offer you some general advice...some of it will be the "feel" you develope for your reel and rod.

that makes good sense, I have been a bit too busy to try a lighter poll with the 1/4oz lures i like to toss but I will soon enough and I think I'm on the road to finally enjoying the reel without any apprehension. Thanks for the help, it's appreciated.

i just bought my first bait caster and iam going to use it this weekend..i hope i dont throw it in the water b/c i get all tangled lol

In that article the first thing mentioned is a balance between the manufacturers line and lure ratings for the system

This is were a lot of anglers go wrong, in learning how to use a baitcasting reel and rod. Not following the manufacturers ratings. They read so much on the forums about this and that baitcasting reel throwing super light lures and using super light lines. That they tend to forget that you have to use what has been suggested by the manufactures. They are the ones that know the gear that the angler is using and how to rate it. For example if your reel is rated at 14lb. test and you place 8lb. test on it, and, place it on a rod that is rated for max 10 - 17lb. test, then place a practice plug that is lighter than the lure rating on the rod. You basically have an out of tune system.

Now if you take a reel rated for 14lb line spool that weight on it, mount that reel to a rod rated for 14lb test, then add a practice plug in the higher end of the rods lure rating. You would then have a balanced system to learn on. I know that the title of this is Basic Baitcast Reel Setup 101. But you can not setup a baitcasting reel on a system that is all over the placed on what you the angler thinks it should be. Now from this point I would hope that you have taken my advise and setup your system properly.

Want to read the whole article here's the link Basic Baitcast Reel Setup 101

Hope this helps someone..

Good Luck & Tight Lines All!!!

welcome to the board... i use baitcaster and getting better at it.. it takes time even pro gets backlashes

reading the basic baitcast reel setup 101 will help you... i read it to learn and educate my self

ask what the brake should be on like 1 or 10 i read the tension knob on the side needs to be tight

then once your use to it loosen it