fwiw i learned to baitcast by flipping in my living room. i think it was a good idea, short accurate casts learning to feather my spool.

that being said.... i was a much more proficient backlash picker before i was a baitcast caster. lol. i still get them time to time... even the elite pros do. itll happen. just take your time and itll all come to ya. sounds like youre taking to it just fine.

Finally took out my baitcaster out on my 'yak. It was pretty windy. Had no to little problems casting with, into and across the wind. 2 brakes on, 4 off.

I also got the mother of all backlashes today. The rattle-trap got caught up with the other rod that was in a rod holder on a backcast. But other than that, all went quite smoothly.

those are the worst backlashes.