Okay help me spool my baitcasters...

[Atticus]

Well the last two trips out on the pond I have put two birdsnests on two different baitcasters that were so bad the reels were retired for the day and had to be surgically repaired at the house.

Same line both times Ande Pink 12lb. I had been using 15lb Ande but I had some 12lb around so thats what I spooled up with when I got new reel #1 (Shimano Calcutta).

First incident was with new reel #1 so I blamed it on the reel. I had put the 12lb on the new reel just because its what I had around. Fixing the birdsnest later at the house I snapped off a sideplate screw flush with the reel frame and the reel had to be taken to Kevin's to sit unil September to fix. I had already sold one trusty Abu when the new Shimano came in so I hopped on Bass Pro and bought a replacement Abu to hold me over until Kevin's guy got done with the Shimano.

So I get new reel #2 (Abu), again spool it with 12lb Ande Pink. Again a birdsnest that would choke a goat on about the 25th cast into the first morning. Again had to take her home and take off the sideplate to fix it. This time I was REAL careful with the sideplate screws and new reel #2 is still in commission. I loaded her up with 15lb Ande pink.

So the Ande 12 is out and 15lb is back in the boat. One friend told me I needed more tension on the line when I spooled-up the reels as the line was peeling off the spool too easily and causing loops. Another buddy told me I had too much tension on the line when I was spooling up and it was causing line twist which was leading to backlash.

What gives? Any advice. I put the brakes on the Abu full bore and I went back to the heavier line. I think there has to be something I am doing because these aren't your normal birds nests - these are from hades. The line is burrying so far into the spool (to the arbor almost) that when you pull the spool off the frame the spool looks like two different spools on the same arbor. Any help would be apperciated. I have gone through about 1000 yards of Ande in a month with a couple short trout to show for it.

[Chalk]

It's not the equipment it's you...too much tempo in your stroke (I have been analyzing casting strokes )...slow your cast down, you don't have to kill it...I am a compulsive power caster....when I keep the power to a minimum I have a good day..if I get behind on the catch ratio or see a fish...I throw all knowledge to the side and power one out, sometimes it works, sometimes I have to retire the reel and cut the line off the spool.

Watch your thumb as well....I sometimes move my thumb away from the spool...you can't feather or stop the spool if your thumb is away from the spool.

It's not line tension...after you make a cast or three, the reel and lure will set the line tension.

It can be equipment, but you said two completely different reels...that's why I singled you out....on variable braking systems (VBS) sometimes oil from the bearings will get on the surface the brakes use and that will cause a nasty bird's nest. I have used my shirt to clean the race while fishing and it stopped my problem.

[What a mess]

Hold the rod in front of you at chest height, press the release if the lure hits the ground and the spool backlashes it will when you cast.

Tighten up the brake and do it again till it stops when the lure hits the ground.

Turn your wrist so the side plate is facing the ground during the cast.

Don't pee or cast into the wind either can make a mess.

Put line on with the line coming off the spool and not off the side leave it in the box.

[bman]

Good advice from these guys-
When I spool mine I make sure is is coming off the top of the spool and then winding on the same way it come off the spool.

Then if I think or feel any twist I will run the line out into the yard and reel it back in pitched between my fingers to force the twist out.

Thumbing the spool is an art- When I'm casting long distance I frequently thumb the side of the spool and not the line. Not your typical technique but it works for me.

Also seems like after the line gets wet on the first cast or two it is easier to control.
I have several of the same brand and style of reel- an old Shimano- if I switch between casting a big top water and an unweighted plastic I have to force myself to slow down and remember what I doing.

[jsuber]

Just like hitting a golf ball, you ain't gotta kill it to make it go far.

[CROCKER]

I ALWAYS TRY TO GET AS MUCH LINE ON THE REAL AS I CAN, AND THIS ALWAYS CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH A SPINCASTER OR BAITCASTER. I USUALLY HAVE TO (DURING MY FISHING TIME ) REMOVE SOME LINE.

STARTING OUT WITH NEW LINE, LIKE CHALK SAID THROW EASY. TIGHTEN THE CAST CONTROL KNOB AND AFTER A COUPLE OF DOZEN CASTS WITH A HEAVY PLUG YOU CAN LIGHTEN IT UP.

[ab7bear]

I always get a backlash when i'm not paying attention to where the levelwind is. a cast with the levelwind not near the middle creates sharp angles for the line coming off the spool from the opposite side of the levelwind and seems to make for pretty consistent backlashes. just gotta pay attention.