Got my first baitcaster, a Shimano SLX HG 150. Had cabelas load up some 40lb braid. It was awesome but too heavy for long casts so I bought a clamp down spool loader and threw on 15lb braid. I loaded it up till it was about a 1/4” under the button. I noticed the spool seemed like it was thicker on one side but didn’t think of it. Figured it would even out after getting some line out and wound back in. I then put on about 3-4’ of 12lb fluorocarbon. I take it out on the lake. 3 casts in the line keeps stopping. Not really bird nesting just locking up as if was wound over previously by line.
Next while trying to unstuck it I’ve got loop upon loop coming out. I cut some off to try and remove some excess line. Now it’s like I’ve got 6-8 strands of line coming off at the same time. I took it home, took a razor to it and kept removing short strands until I got down to one clean mainline (about half the spool of line is gone now). What’s the deal with this and why would line get hitched underneath and banked to one side if I wound using the reel and spooler?
Posted by Porkanddiesel
12 Comments
Thumbing
Practice and more practice
No cheap reels (not saying that to be judgy but really cheap baitcasters are harder to cast), practice, and learning that casting with as much force as you can muster doesn’t equal a longer cast.
It sounds like it wasn’t spooled tight enough and that the line cut back down into the spool causing it to grab. You have to load the braid really tight so it doesn’t cut back through. Hope that helps.
Are you properly setting your spool tension (just enough that your spool doesn’t move) and brakes (enough that you’re not bird nesting during casting)?
Only been using bait casters for 2 seasons so definitely not an expert but it sounds like maybe the line got wound too loose? 15lb braid is a very small diameter line, would be easy enough for it to dig in under itself. From what I understand, 30lb is just the right diameter to be the best all purpose line for these reels. I think cutting should be like a last resort also. I can always dig out birds nest if I work at them for a bit. There’s a trick a lot of people bring up, something to do with loosing the drag all the way and pulling until you get snagged, then backing the spool up a bit and starting over again. Someone will probably explain it in better detail. Good luck.
make sure when spooling that theres enuff tension on the line so the braid is tight on the spool
also make sure the cast control and brakes are set properly
after that it’ll be casting technique and how the rod gets loaded for the cast and properly thumbing the wheel.
its definitely not as forgiving as a spinner setup.
Get a spinning reel (and rod)
That’s a part of life and fishing- it happens less often once you get better.
But blowin a spool up is part of bass fishing fam
Videos and experience.
Learn to cast with the heaviest lures allowed for the baitcaster. Use the setting with the highest braking force. Stop the spinning of the spool during the cast and fully stop it when the lure hits the water surface.
Click more of those white thingies outwards. Click them in as you gain control and confidence. Start with 4 out and 2 in and see where that gets you.
Also adjust the spool break so that when you click the button it barely lets your bait drop in the air under its own weight.