ive been having issues casting smaller cranks. like size 3 rapala countdowns and fat raps. like 1 out of 3 casts , the line gets cought up in the hooks and the bait comes back spinning and i have some serious line twist.

i can get pretty good distance with it , but i cant think of anything that would correct this. i try to get the line tight when it hits the water but its not always possible.

btw , im using a 750fb sedona on a 5' UL rod with 4lb XL.

Have you tried braid ?

You have your entire rod length plus about half a foot of line that is impossible to coil in the spool when the reel is mounted on the rod, straigthen it, no coils ---> no trapping.

havnt tried braid yet.

still a bit pricey for me at the moment.

im not sure i understand your post, raul.  :-?

i've noticed a smooth cast helps a lot.  If I whip the rod back really fast, then whip it forward all of a sudden, the lure sometimes tangles in the line.  If i reach back smoothly and transition smoothly into my forward swing instead of abruptly changing direction, then my lures dont get near as tangled up.  I hope that helps if that makes any sense at all.

i've noticed a smooth cast helps a lot. If I whip the rod back really fast, then whip it forward all of a sudden, the lure sometimes tangles in the line. If i reach back smoothly and transition smoothly into my forward swing instead of abruptly changing direction, then my lures dont get near as tangled up. I hope that helps if that makes any sense at all.

i cast kinda in between a smooth and fast cast. ill focus more on that next time im out.

havnt tried braid yet.

still a bit pricey for me at the moment.

im not sure i understand your post, raul. :-?

Ok, the line in the reel is spooled around the spool right ? when you begin pulling your line from the reel and run it through the guides the line is coiled cuz it comes out the reel that way, you run it through the guides then tie your bait to it, well that line is coiled and it remains coiled, when you make a cast the bait flies away and the second it touches the water ( something that immediately reduces the tension ) the line coils back like if were a spring, that 's the moment when the hooks trap the line.

Run your line through the guides, pull the equivalent of your rod length, put the line in between your thumb and index finger and straighten it, no you got the entire length of your rod with a line free of coils, the line is not coiled near the bait so it won 't spring back when the bait touches the water and the hooks won 't trap it.

ah , gotcha.

thanks.

I agree with Gangly. If you whip the bait or have too much of a bow in your line this could cause the tankle with the line or actually cause the hooks to tangle with each other. You don't have to be violent with your gear when you cast to make it go far. Nice and smooth from the wrists, no arm and sholder motions. Also try to keep the lure closer to the water when you cast. If I had to guess I would say you rea using spin gear and not a baitcaster. Good luck.

dump the belly hook and bump the back hook up a size.

castingwise, makes a lotta difference with the smaller rapalas.

use a longer rod 6-6.5' and up the power to light or mag light.   that will help you get some distance without having to whip the bait.   Learn to feather the line with your finger to control how hard the bait hits the water.

I make a lot of ul balsa cranks and the rod up grade helped alot with casting the tiny ul baits.   Give braid a try 10/2 or 8/1, it will last you for several seasons so it's worth the cost.  

yeah , its spinning reel. shimano sedona 750.

ill try rauls thing first , then ill see about upping the hook size if it comes down to it. theyre a size 10 thats on now but i cant see going too big as the bait is already tiny.

If you put a larger heavier back hook on the lure it will sail tail first and won't tumble on the cast or just add weight to the back part of the lure with suspend strips or that tungsten putty stuff.