Advice on Baitcaster
Hello, I'm new to the site. so far I'm finding all sorts of helpful information.
This winter I picked up my first baitcaster, been doing lots of practice casting with it using monofilament. With the season coming up, I want to switch over to braid. I've picked up some 30lb Suffix 832. What I'm interested in, is what knot do you guys recommend for attaching my braided line to my 10 lb monofilament backing? I've heard the double uni or blood knot is good. I've seen some videos on a GT knot or FG knot, they seem very small so I would think they would have little impact on the spool as well. Thanks in advance for any help. |
I use a double uni and the FG knot looks interesting although I haven't tried it. A blood knot will slip with braid.
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I know you shouldn't ever end up down in your backing but I can't help but wonder why you would use 10 lb backing for 30 lb main line. Throw on some 30 lb backing(if it is a big reel) or just load it all up with braid(I do this on all my rods except ice because they don't offer bigger spools of ice line...).
Double uni knot is the common knot for mono backing to braid. |
Thanks for the feedback.
RavYak, I heard that using all braid can cause it to slip since braid is so smooth and the backing just helps prevent that. I use all braid on my spinner reel and haven't had any issues yet, but the baitcaster is a whole new experience for me. |
Curious what you picked up for a baitcast rod and reel. I have been wanting to try one, but everyone I talk has tried it and got rid of them. Have you had success casting with it? Many backlashes I hear until you get used to it.
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This tapes the line in place and then also acts as a surface for the braid on top to grip onto better(especially if you use the hockey tape). Or you can tie a few feet of mono backing on instead but I would use 30 lb instead of 10(no reason to go light), you can get a short bit of mono for backing from fishin hole etc that sell bulk line if that is the reason you were going to go light. |
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I would use baitcasters all the time but they do have their limitations. Light lures is the biggest one, spinning reels work much better. The thing with baitcasters is that you need to buy a quality one. Too many people just buy a cheap one and then think they are horrible when they can't get them to work properly. If you buy a good one then you have much better braking systems with a lot more adjustability and once you get the technique down you will like it. I prefer Shimano and I like the Curado's. The Citica's are good too though. Some of their bit cheaper ones are probably decent too but I would step up to one of these personally. Abu Garcia has some good reels too, the Revo S is a good value reel and anything higher up is also good. That isn't to say that the cheap ones are useless though. I started with a Pflueger Echelon and it did ok. I also owned a cheaper Quantum and it was crap though. The cheaper they are the worse they will be with lighter lures so if you are chucking heavier lures you can sometimes get away with the cheaper reels. The cheaper reels will wear out on you quicker though, my Echelon was only really good for 2 years unlike my Curado which has caught a lot more fish with no issues. Learning to use a baitcaster does take a bit of learning though. You need to learn how to properly set your brakes and spool drag, there are videos on youtube that show you how to do that. Another comment about baitcasters is that I think they work better with braided line. I also prefer smoother lines too now that I started using them, power pro slick is my go to on a baitcaster now. |
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Thanks again. |
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I'll see how this year goes, I might upgrade next year if things go well. But so far I'm very impressed with the accuracy and distance. Practice seems to be the big thing. I recommend if you get one, pick up the practice weights and just cast and re-cast. |
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Thanks Rav...Next time I am in Edmonton I will have to come and have a look at them. I have a quantum smoke spinning that I really like...for lighter stuff even better than my shimano stradic ci4. It is partly the size too...I have the 15 in the smoke, so nice and lite and a good balance with the smoke rod. Not sure what the baitcaster would be like in the smoke though. Probably stick to Shimano like you suggest. |
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Some of them are probably fine, I have never really had any issues with any of my Shimano gear so it has always been my favourite. Lots of guys like the Abus too, I have a Abu Revo Toro and it is nice although barely broken in yet. My newest toy is a Shimano Metanium, still waiting for it to arrive though. |
your accurist will be a good reel. that flippin switch is a handy tool to if you bottom bounce or lindy rig for walleye. the smoke baitcaster is also a gorgeous reel. im waiting on couple smoke hds and a couple smoke speed freaks. quantum has been known to have some issues but the newer stuff and higher end stuff is unreal.
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Thanks for the Tip |
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I also love the dual break system. My buddy got his first baitcaster same time I did, he went with an Abu reel. It only has the magnetic break. I was able to get mine dialed in way faster than him. The dual break just seems to give you that little bit extra control. If I do well this year, I'm sure I will upgrade the reel next year. |
Gotta love baitcasters!!:sHa_shakeshout:
the top row here have all been used and some get used frequently. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ps94b2c890.jpg My main reel however is a late 50's vintage Abu 5000 with the freewheeling spool, these tend to get set up differently than a traditional "knuckle duster" direct drive!:sHa_sarcasticlol: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...psj4bn9t0k.jpg I also wrap my arbors, so the slippery line does not spin, some of my Pfluegars have a cork spacer arbor you can out on for light mono, they work pretty danged well.:) Cat |
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Good luck with your new tools! |
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http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/...ps98kjalx3.jpg http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/...psfxbjnvnc.jpg |
So again I'm new to this whole baitcaster thing. What is the difference between the big round baitcaster, and the low profile ones. Are there different uses for them, or is it just a different style? I always thought the big round style was for trolling not really for casting.
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Cat |
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Set it up and use it, then display it is what I do when I get one like that!:) Cat |
I love the Abu bait casters. I know there are better ones out there but that's what I grew up on and like to use.
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In recent years with braid and technological advances it has become less important to have that size. Manufacturers have now come out with low profile style reels with larger capacity and strong drag on par with the round style reels. Abus revo toro is an example as is shimanos new tranx 300 and 400 series(they also have a 500 series as an even bigger reel). There are guys that now use these reels like the revo toro to fish for musky, big lake trout, salmon, sturgeon and even bottom fish including halibut. My revo toro as an example fits almost 300 yards of 50 lb power pro with over 20 lbs of drag making it capable of catching a wide range of fish(caught salmon, ling cod, sturgeon and pike on it so far). The big advantage now to the round style is that they are easier and cheaper to produce. Some guys also prefer the way they feel(usually because they grew up using them whereas I prefer a low profile style). If you need a lot of heavy line and prefer mono you still may need to use a round style reel too but we are talking reels for white sturgeon, big halibut, sailfish, marlin, sharks etc. One other difference too is that the round style reels are usually(but not always) a lower gear ratio/retrieve which some people prefer for certain situations. |
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The only reason to get something bigger would be for sturgeon, a dedicated laker downrigging reel(which the accurist will work fine for occasionally) or a big pike lure reel(in which case you are buying for the extra cranking power not capacity). |
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I have been using a Quantum Tour PT with Superslick line for several years now and has been a great reel. I seldom use my spin cast unless it is for really small light lure casting. I use it in winter on my ice rod as well and has caught whites, walleyes, pike perch and a few trout as well. Once you get setup and then get the idea of how to cast the rest is a piece of cake.
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a few years back I would not hesitate to explain why they were junk and a waste of time.:fighting0074:
Now - well let's say I have not touched my spin reel for 3 years. Dodger. |
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