Fishing Forum - Bait Caster - Advice Needed

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vanshooter

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Hey All.

I go fishing every now and then, and was wondering if there any forums out there that you would recommend. Something like this site, only fishing, would be great.

Initial reason I ask, is that 8 years ago I gave my Dad an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur bait cast reel. He never used it, as he thinks it is too complex.

Anywho, he gave it back to me, and told me I might as well have it and go fishing with it. So, I'm going fishing next week. I've typically only used spinning reels, and have around 5-6 of them lying around with rods.

Should I get a specific type of rod for this reel? Anything else I should have a heads up on?? I hope to take it in tomorrow or the next day to the tackle shop and get it loaded up with some new line, and perhaps get a new rod based on what feedback I get here.

FYI, fishing will be northern Ontario/Quebec for pickerel and pike.

Thanks in advance.
 
Great reels but you'll need lots of practice. Casting reels have the spool itself spinning, unlike a spinning reel where the reel itself is stationary and the line peels off it. The problem with casting reels is since the spool spins, if you short cast and your lure/bait hits before you predicted the line stops traveling but the spool still spins. That means you get a horrible backlash and is a pain in the ass to untangle.
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The trick is to learn how to properly thumb them. You use your thumb to brake the spool to control distance and backlash. But it requires practice and lots of line. Be prepared to go through alot of it at first. Once you get the hang of it they work well. I have one but I hardly use it anymore. I prefer light action spinning gear myself. Lots of guys use them, just be prepared for a learning curve.
 
There is a learning curve and poster above has outlined the negative, the positive is: Heavy line does not adversely affect casting(you can use much heavier line), drag is more direct and more effective, generally they are more controllable and better for larger fish.
 
For fighting big fish level winds are a far superior reel to spinning,and Ambassadors are as good as money can buy. Go to a good tackle shop and they will show you how to set it up so that you can cast it properly.
 
yeah, you will for sure need a new rod. Casting rods are set up differently then spinning rods. The eyes on the casting rod are a lot smaller because the lines comes off the reel in fairly little movement. Also, you will need a rod with a trigger on it. Works wonders when fighting fish. Top is casting, bottom is spinning.
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Bait casters are great to fish with, casting, trolling and jigging the bottom. You will need to get a casting rod with the trigger like was mention above. Abu's are my go to reel and they stand by there products. I bought a new reel from Lebaron's first trip out monster pike crunched the plastic gears:( sent it in, turns out it was an old reel they had not made for 4-5 years (last reel I buy from Lebarons) They had no parts so they gave me a brand new record, Love it!!!! Also love jigging for eye's with my 5500C3. Get yourself a casting dummy or use some bell sinkers to get used to casting with it, do not TRY to learn while out on a fishing trip or you will not be very successful. They also have a break on them for different weighted lures, this needs to be set correctly to minimize backlashes. I also recommend running braid on it, no stretch for rock solid hook sets and lots of feel for light bites. When you take it in to get spooled up ask the guy to give you a once over with the reel, do some practice casting and I'm sure you will be a bait caster for life!!!!
Slayer
 
Takes a little practice but I have been using baitcasters for 15+ years and will never look back! I love sloggin' big bass out of heavy cover and nothing works better!! Depends on what your fishing for but I would recommend a Medium to Medium-Heavy casting rod 6 to 6.5 ft. long and put 15-25lb flourocarbon or braided line. You will be able to reel in any pike, bass or ?? from just about anywhere. I use solely shimano rods and have but them through a crap load of abuse without ever a problem.
Good Luck!
 
I hated baitcasters for years. A fishing buddy is a Shimano rep, and was bound and determined that I should be using them. Every winter he would work on me and I'd have a different baitcaster for free, or for next to nothing. By July it would be sold with the last backlash still in it.
Eventually I started likeing the levelwinds, but only for 14 test line and up, only for heavy casting, trolling and bottom bounceing. I turn the centrifugal brakes right off, and just use the tension adjstment. A trick that I found is when thumbing the spool I'll touch the metal spool instead the spooled line. That saves most of the backlashs.
Even after learning to like a baitcaster for a few applications, I never really forgave them for putting the handle on the wrong side. That left me getting left handed reels and using them right handed. That leaves some Calcuttas gathering dust, but so be it. My kid likes the left hand reels as well.
There's a lot of hotrodding you can do with bearing swaps and selective oil choices. Most good reels still only have ABEC 1 bearings. ABEC 3s are a real step up, and 5 and 7s are a different world.
 
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