Hello all, question on the cardiff 300 brakes:  is there a standard way to set the brakes?  I have all the brakes engaged, with no problems with backlash....any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!!!

There is no such thing as "standard way", it depends on:

1.- How you like them

2.- How good are you in keeping the beast under control

3.- How the reel is performing under a particular scenario

I like them: the least, the best

I 'm good at keeping the beast under control

The reel performs the way I like under most circumstances.

Precciate it Raul, I can't really tell the difference with the brakes engaged OR not engaged.  Do you have any engaged on your rig?  

1 or 2 weights activated at the most, the cast control knob very loose, you can cast easily only problem is that if you do something stoopid ( like barely hanging your bait on your partner 's line when you are about to casy : ) all hell breaks loose.

And it ain 't pretty ! >

Raul, what line weight are you using?  I've had alot of luck using 17lb stren maxx......with no problems casting.  

1 or 2 weights activated at the most, the cast control knob very loose, you can cast easily only problem is that if you do something stoopid ( like barely hanging your bait on your partner 's line when you are about to casy : ) all hell breaks loose.

And it ain 't pretty ! >

No it ain't.

Happened to me a couple of weeks ago, took 30 minutes to clear that backlash.  All because the damned crank hooked on the rod about half a second before I flicked my wrist.