I have always used lighter weight spinning gear for pan fish or maybe an in-line spinner (Mepps 3). Wanting something heavier, I got a Symetre 2500 on a Bionix 6' MH (I like shorter rods). Playing with it in the back yard, I think I'm going to really like it. If and when it ever warms up again I'll give it a try on the water.

 Question: I understand controlled fall or semi-taught fall on a bait caster (Senko type, Ika or Flukes) because of an "educated thumb". How do you accomplish this with spinning gear? Just moved out of HTB or Home for the Terminally Bewildered, so cut me some slack.....

                                             As Ever,

                                              Skillet

If you are right-handed, you can control your cast with your left hand by touching and sometimes grabbing the line. For fine tuning you may want to lift the tip of your rod to modify the trajectory of the cast and in some instances, create a "soft landing." Most of the time these maneuvers come into to play to prevent your lure from crashing onto the shore, rocks, bushes and logs!

With a little practice, this technique will become second nature.

The best way is to stop every cast with your index finger. This accomplishes 2 things stops the loop and keeps you in position for the controled fall.

Garnet

Garnet,

Feathering, right?

That's the way to go, but I never have been able to master that technique. I suppose that's due to either a lack of coordination or a dumb index finger, I don't know.

(Next topic for a new thread...Backreeling...I don't do that either. Do you?)

Garnet,

Feathering, right?

That's the way to go, but I never have been able to master that technique. I suppose that's due to either a lack of coordination or a dumb index finger, I don't know.

(Next topic for a new thread...Backreeling...I don't do that either. Do you?)

you know..I never understood backreeling....isn't that what the drag is for?  Allows the fish to take line out without creating slack.  I guess if you're using super low pound tests it could make sense..but I don't see a need, otherwise.

As for controlling the fall..its all about the feathering.  There are a few ways to do it..using the index finger near the spool, webbing the line directly, raising the rod tip....but most times with spinning gear, the fall will take care of itself if you don't close the bail.

Spinning tackle is really all that I ever use. For the most part, casting with spinning gear is a mere flick of the wrist.

When the boat is positioned far away from the target area, the casting distance is generally built-in to the thrust of the cast itself

without any external tweaking.

      However, when the boat is positioned tight to the target (pitching range), I end up feathering about half of my casts

using my "reel hand" (not the rod hand). To feather the casting range, I open my left hand

and hold it about 5" in front of the reel-spool. In this manner, I can feather the outgoing line in the web of my left-hand

between the thumb and forefinger. Using such a large area and a separate hand gives me greater flexibility and latitude

to fine-tune the friction.

      When I blatantly overcast my target (lure headed for the willows), I'll brake the cast in mid-flight,

but for braking I use the index finger of my "right" hand (rod hand).

Roger

                 you know..I never understood backreeling....isn't that what the drag is for?  Allows the fish to take line out without creating slack.  I guess if you're using super low pound tests it could make sense..but I don't see a need, otherwise                                      

I agree I have never understood it either.

Backreeling the second dumest bassmaster thing.............so whats the dumest sticking your rod in the water to land fish..............makes tv but just a great way to lose fish.

Garnet