Eagle Rock - 3/5, 3/6

[Bill Babler]

Blind, to become a much more complete bass angler, you need to move into the baitcasting world.  My clients and myself use a spinning reel perhaps 60 percent of the time, but you need to be proficient with a casting rod and reel for many applications.

Perhaps the best  reel to get started with on the market is the Lew's Tournament MB Speed Spool, LFS series.  This extreme low profile reel comes in at only 6.7 oz. and fits the hand like a glove.

To make casting perfect, it comes with a dual braking system with magnetic casting control and centrifugal braking  The reel has a10 baring platform with very good matched ball barings and you can find it from $119.00 to $139.00  Pair this with a Medium to Medium Heavy 6'10" to 7' dual handed casting rod and you have a piece of equipment that will serve you for years and years, and fit most any application that may arise on the Rock

Spool the pair with 12 pound Carbon line and you got a really good start.  Tighten the Centrifugal brake to 10 on the side scale and tighten the round magnetic brake till it is finger tight.  put a 1/2 oz bait on the line after you run it thru the rod guides and depress the reel spool.  The line should stay on the reel.  Turn the round magnetic brake one click at a time to the left or counter clockwise until the line starts to unspool,  Let the bait drop to the floor.  If no back lash is inside the reel you are ready to go.  When casting place your thumb on the spool release with the very tip of your thumb resting on the spool  be in a position to be able to make a full cast.  Place your left hand on the butt of the rod in a two hand grip and throw it in a lob, WITH FORCE.  Your bait should go higher than it does far.  Repeat this procedure lowing you heights and extending your distance.  One good tip, is to never cast to the water, cast to the shore or trees behind the water so the bait sails and falls.  You will get many other tips.  Come to the tournament this weekend and you can throw any of mine for practice.  Good Luck

[edyer]

Great Tutorial Bill! I taught my son when he was five just about the same way you described in our big back yard, with a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce crankbait with the hooks removed. Blind, you will love it for throwing 1/2 or 3/4 ounce spinner baits. Good luck!

[roy_eros]

4 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Blind, to become a much more complete bass angler, you need to move into the baitcasting world.  My clients and myself use a spinning reel perhaps 60 percent of the time, but you need to be proficient with a casting rod and reel for many applications.

Perhaps the best  reel to get started with on the market is the Lew's Tournament MB Speed Spool, LFS series.  This extreme low profile reel comes in at only 6.7 oz. and fits the hand like a glove.

To make casting perfect, it comes with a dual braking system with magnetic casting control and centrifugal braking  The reel has a10 baring platform with very good matched ball barings and you can find it from $119.00 to $139.00  Pair this with a Medium to Medium Heavy 6'10" to 7' dual handed casting rod and you have a piece of equipment that will serve you for years and years, and fit most any application that may arise on the Rock

Spool the pair with 12 pound Carbon line and you got a really good start.  Tighten the Centrifugal brake to 10 on the side scale and tighten the round magnetic brake till it is finger tight.  put a 1/2 oz bait on the line after you run it thru the rod guides and depress the reel spool.  The line should stay on the reel.  Turn the round magnetic brake one click at a time to the left or counter clockwise until the line starts to unspool,  Let the bait drop to the floor.  If no back lash is inside the reel you are ready to go.  When casting place your thumb on the spool release with the very tip of your thumb resting on the spool  be in a position to be able to make a full cast.  Place your left hand on the butt of the rod in a two hand grip and throw it in a lob, WITH FORCE.  Your bait should go higher than it does far.  Repeat this procedure lowing you heights and extending your distance.  One good tip, is to never cast to the water, cast to the shore or trees behind the water so the bait sails and falls.  You will get many other tips.  Come to the tournament this weekend and you can throw any of mine for practice.  Good Luck

Splitting hairs here but... The round knob you tighten or loosen to watch the bait drop is actually the spool tension knob. Has nothing to do with the braking system. The round dial on the opposite side of your reel handle is the magnetic brake. The farther you turn it the more magnets are exposed to engage the spool. And the centrifugal brakes on all reels I have (shimano and Abu) you must remove the palm plate to access. These centrifugal breaks are basically small plastic pieces that the faster they spin, the more they cause resistance. These guys are much stronger than the magnets in my experience. All that to say if you get all of these aspects (some reels don't have all these options) in check you are ready to chunk that plopper, crawler, or 3 arm buzz bait a great distance!

 

somebody fact check me this is just my opinion!

[Muddy Water]

21 minutes ago, roy_eros said:

Splitting hairs here but... The round knob you tighten or loosen to watch the bait drop is actually the spool tension knob. Has nothing to do with the braking system. The round dial on the opposite side of your reel handle is the magnetic brake. The farther you turn it the more magnets are exposed to engage the spool. And the centrifugal brakes on all reels I have (shimano and Abu) you must remove the palm plate to access. These centrifugal breaks are basically small plastic pieces that the faster they spin, the more they cause resistance. These guys are much stronger than the magnets in my experience. All that to say if you get all of these aspects (some reels don't have all these options) in check you are ready to chunk that plopper, crawler, or 3 arm buzz bait a great distance!

 

somebody fact check me this is just my opinion!

That's what I thought, and the magnetic or centrifugal brake doesn't come into play until the cast is made.  ?? 

[Steve McBasser]

Good job...good fish...and good report. It will be late next week before I can go again. You really got my fishin' fever up now!!!

[BassBlind]

Thanks Bill! (and everyone else). If somehow I figure out a way to get down to the Lake this weekend ( Live in Kansas City) we will definitely swing by the tourney. I think I am going to buy the Bass Pro reel that ABK suggested simply bc I have a $100 gift card. 

 

Once again I have to say that this board has been such a gold mine for me. Can't believe how responsive you guys all are and how willing you all are to help. Thanks so much and hopefully a few years down the road I can be a significant contributor.

 

 

[abkeenan]

Blind,

Bass Pro now carries Lew's reels so your $100 BPS Gift Card could go towards one of your choosing. They have the Lew's Speed Spool LFS for $99.99 which is a great little reel ( I have a couple) but doesn't have the dual braking system like the Pro Qualifiers, it just has magnetic braking. The BPS Pro Qualifier I see online they have on sale for $85 now which is a fair price. If you purchase in store sometimes you have to show them their own online sale (smart phone) to get a price match. If you are headed to Table Rock next weekend and go through Springfield I believe they have refurbished Pro Qualifiers in their outlet store for around $50. Again we don't know your budget but if you are wanting to walk out the door with a combo rod and reel that may be a good wallet friendly option. IMO nothing wrong with a factory refurb reel. May not be a 10/10 cosmetically but should be a 10/10 mechanically. Take that extra $50 and put it towards a 7' medium heavy rod which will cover the most amount of different baits you can throw on your new setup. There are a lot of nice rods in the $100 price range. The Falcon BuCoo and Duckett Ghost rods are two of my favorites right at $100. Duckett's I think lack a little on the finish and durability but I think they are second to none for the price point the way they fish. St. Croix also has a Mojo line of rods that they just revamped this year to be lighter (was always the complaint about the Mojo series they were a tad heavy) and are also right at $120. St. Croix makes a dang fine well built rod that will last forever if you take care of it. Good luck with your shopping and venture into the baitcaster world. You'll never look back.

[mixermarkb]

I'm fixing to pick up a couple of refurb Pro Qualifiers myself to keep in the boat for guests. The dual braking system is the way to go for beginners. The centrifugal controlls overrun at the beginning of the cast, and the magnetic controls it at splashdown. If you click all the centrifugal switches on the spool, set tension as Bill suggests, and then dial the mag on a little, you should be good to go. As you get more used to it, clicking centrifugal brakes off will give you more distance. 

Lots of the more "fun" power baits like cranks, topwaters and spinnerbaits really need the power of a baitcasting rig to function right!

[Fish24/7]

really nice fish!

the red eye is one deadly bait, that's why I have 47 of them and still buying  just in case they quit making them,lol

they will hit that bait all year long 

 

[Smalls21]

bass pro in springfield has some of the original carbonlite rods on clearance for $60, as well as other brands on clearance