As everyone has said...it's all about practice.  From my personal experience it is easier to learn with a round reel.  The heavier spool allows for easier casting.  but regardless, you're gonna waste line when you first start so use some cheap line at first.  As for the practice, my friend always used a hookless jigging spoon to test out new reels in the backyard or parking lot.  you can use a hookless crankbait but personally I would want to ruin one unless you buy a cheap one to practice with.  

I may have read over this but what weight of crankbait were you casting?

I HATED my BPS extreme reel! I have 3 other BPS reels that I love. One is a Pro Qualifier, and 2 of the cheap LTD reels, both cast a mile with very little thumbing, but I tried 2 different BPS extreme reels and HATED the braking. BUT.... their are a lot of people that love them just not me. I would keep practicing but I have used bait casters for years, with no trouble until I bought that extreme.  JMO

I've been baitcasting for over 60 years and still haven't found a reel I can't backlash. Read Reelmechanics post on setting up a baitcaster and the other previosly posted info. Then practice, practice practice.

Did you have to cut the line off the reel? If not you were pretty successful.

when practicing, is it ok to use a 3/8 or 1/2oz sinker? or is better to use a crankbait?

The heavier, the better for a beginner. Just use a bass casting weight of at least 1/2 oz. Save your lures for fishing.

I fish from shore.  It wasn't until the end of my first season that I could get the same distance with the baitcaster that I could with my spinning outfits.  I still have one spinning rod/reel combo that gives me the most distance.

You're better off using a 1/2 oz weight for practice, but cranks are more fun  Buy a bulk spool of mono for practice (& cranking).  I think I spent <$7 for 1000 yards of BPS #12.

Cheers!

There is another trick you can try as well and something I have seen or heard mentioned. Spool off 15-20yards and then apply a piece of tape to the spool and that way if you do backlash it won't go any further than the tape and continue to practice

Never heard that one before.  Great idea for beginners, so your not picking out nests while your trying to practice.

Everyone gets backlashes from time to time

unless you're fishing a dual brake reel like the Pflueger Patriarch

As for picking out a backlash? It'll come from experience. I can usually tell when one is beyond the effort or at least not worth it time wise. I would suggest throwing an extra spool of line in your tackle bag for those situations.

When I was younger and saved up enough money to buy a baitcaster, I had no idea what the breaks were for or what a tension knob was. I took the baitcaster out for about a year and I had no issues at all casting anything I wanted.

It's all thumb control... I had backlash after backlash until I learned how to control the spool with my thumb properly.

When I was younger and saved up enough money to buy a baitcaster, I had no idea what the breaks were for or what a tension knob was. I took the baitcaster out for about a year and I had no issues at all casting anything I wanted.

It's all thumb control... I had backlash after backlash until I learned how to control the spool with my thumb properly.

Bingo!  

When I was a kid, the ONLY control option was spool tension and there were no brakes on my first few casting reels I owned.  Too much blame gets put on brake performance and not enough on the errant thumb these days. Like Catt said, "educate your thumb" and everything gets easier.

reds_21,

What reel, rod length, line weight, lure weight are you using on your new rod/reel?

In my opinion, one reel or another is not better or worse in a boat or on the shore.  Don't even worry about that.  Just use what you have effectively and you'll be fine.  However, if you're just beginning and you want to chunk a lure as far as possible and not have to worry about backlashes, get a closed face reel and throw whatever lure you are using.  Heavy bait and long rod will get you distance.

here are my rod/reel specifics that im using:

reel - extreme baitcaster ETX10HD (Bass Pro Shop)

rod - extreme 60 Million XPS (XTR66MHT), 6'-6" MH, fast action, lure weight 3/8-1oz (Bass Pro Shop)

i am using the Yo-Zuri hybrid line, 12lb test, clear

as for my lures, i am using 3/8 and 1/2. i have a variety of some but the 3/8 and 1/2 are the ones iv'e tried so far.

There is another trick you can try as well and something I have seen or heard mentioned. Spool off 15-20yards and then apply a piece of tape to the spool and that way if you do backlash it won't go any further than the tape and continue to practice

Thats some good advice. Id say that saved my $100 dollars in line

You can also pick up some "practice plugs" in various weights from just about any tackle shop.  They're shaped like tall skinny pyramids with a loop on top.  You can throw them in the yard or on the water.

Well.  today i had a great day fishing!!

the weather was 60 degrees and sunny.

2nd time that i used my baitcaster.  i used some lipless cranks, football heads and plastic worms.

i casted my line out about 100 times (easily)

here is the outcome

3 hour boat rental - $35

bottle of fuel - $1.50 (pepsi)

100 casts with NO BACKLASH and a few fish bites - PRICELESS

although i did not catch anything, i did have a few bites, which i can honestly say is a lot better than what i had in the past.  for not ever having caught a fish, i will take a bite over nothing at all.

thanks to all that have helped me in learning how to fish a baitcaster.  it has definitely paid off.

thanks guys, i will try again next weekend, weather permitting

;D

That's great, there is nothing better!!

Now even when you can't make it to the lake side. Take yourself and a small bucket as a target and practice short cast (10' to 20') into the bucket. The more practice you get the better the hand eye coordination gets...

Your gonna be catching soon....

Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!