A Quick Poll 2025
tugsandpulls reply :
when using a bc how many feather the spool with your thumb or do you rely totally on the reels brakes and stop the spool right before entry
ClackerBuzz reply :
thumb break all the way...with every bc technique. just like an olympic diver, the angler who enters the water with the least amount of splash will reap the rewards. perfect 10...set the hook!!!!
Nitrofreak reply :
On 1/6/2013 at 1:31 PM, ClackerBuzz said:thumb break all the way...with every bc technique. just like an olympic diver, the angler who enters the water with the least amount of splash will reap the rewards. perfect 10...set the hook!!!!
X2 !!!
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
Both. On calm days(15mph under) its thumb one brake light spool tention. On windy days use the brakes more like 2 or 3 if get a 20+ head wind.
tugsandpulls reply :
ok on an average cast using say a 3/8 oz spinnner bait how far you casting say no wind using the thread the spool with no backlash??
Bluebasser86 reply :
I always use and educated thumb on every cast. If you can make a normal cast without touching the spool the tension is set too tight and you're losing casting distance. I can cast a 3/8oz spinnerbait a long way on a calm day.
LgMouthGambler reply :
While my lure is in flight my thumb is not on the spool (they are tuned). As soon as the lure hits the water, I have to stop the spool with my thumb. No loss of distance, still easily a 40yd cast with a 1/4oz bait.
Sam reply :
My spool stops when the bait hits the water.
Learn how to "balance" your reel, rod, line and bait and you will have the same success.
When fishing a buzzbait, topwater, vibrating jig or spinnerbait I start my retrieve right before the bait hits the water so the bait returns to me immediately as it hits the surface.
Or I can just let the spool stop on its own and start the retrieve.
With Senkos and stick baits and a balanced rig you can allow the bait to hit the water and sink as you start to reel in the slack.
BALANCE YOUR RIG AFTER CHANGING BAITS!
Sam reply :
Andrew, when casting into the wind keep your rod tip close to the water and the bait right above the water as it floats to its target.
Try not to cast a baitcaster into the wind. Use a spinning rig. It makes life and fishing more fun and you will have fewer backlashes.
RAMBLER reply :
I never rely, totally, on either. I started using a baitcaster when there was no thumb release, no brake, no drag and when the line went out the handles turned, too. I think that now, it is so automatic for me to use my thumb I don't even really think about it. All the bells and whistles on the new reels makes casting so much easier, if they are all set up right for what ever conditions, i.e., lure type and weight, line type and weight, wind,etc.
Darren. reply :
With my Daiwa Lexa 100, I'll feather only if I need to. First baitcaster I've owned that I could dial in and cast w/o thumbing the spool. My Quantums have to be thumbed upon entry every time.
papajoe222 reply :
If I'm target casting I always thumb the spool, that gives me the accuracy I can only get with a baitcaster. If I'm casting for distance, like when I'm crankin' or fishing from shore, I rely on the spool tension and magnetics.........but my thumb is always at the ready 
Surveyor reply :
Sounds like me and Rambler came up about the same time.
I learned to cast w/o any magnets brakes or drag, so I rely on feel mostly, but the magnets make life better, and the drag saves on the knuckles.
Spinning rods are for sissies 
BassnChris reply :
I have on occasion relied totally on the brake system without using the thumb............this was not by design and ALWAYS resulted in an extended period of de-tangling one horrific birds nest.
I always use my thumb and adjust the brake system to the lure I am using.
NBR reply :
I'm with Rambler. I Started baitcasting with no drag,almost no back lash control except for my thumb and windmilling crank. My thumb is on the spool at all times except when I turn it loose to start a cast. Then the thumb goes right back lightly on the spool. I set the drag loose because I have my thumb there to put more pressure on a fish when necessary.
flyfisher reply :
I use my thumb to slow down the end of the cast to create a quieter entry. I have set up the BC to not have to use my thumb but I did not get the distance I wanted, especially when making long cast with crankbaits and other heavier baits.
Christian M reply :
When I was learning to use a Baitcaster my buddy taught to tune my reeI so that when I cast the spool stops when the lure hits the water. Eventually I was able to cast straight into the wind and not have to use my thumb to prevent backlashes. I do use my thumb at all times when flipping, stopping the spool to place the lure, and when retrieving. I definitely agree with NBR when it comes to keeping the drag loose, my thumb has more education than my drag.
FloridaBassDude reply :
On 1/6/2013 at 1:31 PM, ClackerBuzz said:thumb break all the way...with every bc technique. just like an olympic diver, the angler who enters the water with the least amount of splash will reap the rewards. perfect 10...set the hook!!!!
100% True!
rippin-lips reply :
I use both but I think I rely more on the brakes. My thumb is always there but i dont have to feather it much. I got my 1st baitcaster only 9 months ago so I'm still new but picked up on it quickly. On my lews tp I only have 1 cent. brake set and no mag brakes on. Throws a 1/2oz jig perfectly.
kadas reply :
On 1/6/2013 at 6:34 PM, LgMouthGambler said:While my lure is in flight my thumb is not on the spool (they are tuned). As soon as the lure hits the water, I have to stop the spool with my thumb. No loss of distance, still easily a 40yd cast with a 1/4oz bait.
X2 
War Eagle 44 reply :
I use my thumb a good amount during most casts. I have all my reels (all Shimano) set up the same way, spool tention just tight enough to eliminate side to side spool play and one break block on. On calm days I can make a cast, as hard or light as needed for the lure I'm fishing, and just feather the spool at the very end of the casts. I can get pretty good distance on say a dd22 on my crankbait rod and ten pound test mono without ever nedding to touch the spool again until almost the end. I'm no expert by any means but after 12 years of baitcasting use I've gotten good enough to satisfy myself. On my normal casts, with most lures, I pick my thumb completely up off the spool from the start of the cast until the last 3rd. Sometimes I have to lightly feather in the middle but most of the time I just let the one break block do its thing.
If I'm using a lighter lure like a weightless trick worm I have to do more feathering but I think that's to be expected. I always throw these on gear most would consider heavy, a Powell Max 703C with 15# P-Line CXX line. I don't have any issues here either but, I also realize I'm not going to be able to make booming casts with this set up in the first place. I should also mention that the reels I fish with the vast majority of my fishing time on my boat aren't high dollar reels either, I use Citica E 201's. All thats been done to them is I've cleaned the grease out of the spool bearings and re-lubed with a drop each of Shimano's oil. No super tuning or "upgraded" bearings.
I added the part about my reels because it seems some guys think you need a Pixy to cast weightless plastics effectively with a baitcaster. You don't, most all the brands have low cost quality reels that will fish just fine. Now don't get me wrong here, I've owned a Pixy in the past so I know how much fun they can be to use and I do realize they will cast the trick worm a little furture but all I'm saying is you don't HAVE to get the most expensive gear. Sorry I went on a little long there, way more than you asked for.
Hi Salenity reply :
I normally don't use any spool tension. I'd be surprised if you looked at my reels and you found one of my reels that didn't have a bit of side to side spool play.
Needless to say I use my thumb but not a lot of it, more of a tap or too then stop it at the end.
Heavy winds and all bets are off.
SirSnookalot reply :
The only conventional reel I own that I cast with is an Avet MXJ, nothing to set and no level wind, both thumbs need to be educated, 1 to control the spool to avoid backlashes and the other to load the line back on evenly on retrieve. I have the highest admiration for the guys that surf cast exclusively with this type of reel. I do it for a little fun once in a while but much prefer spinning gear, a whole lot less confusion.
Mikey reply :
On 1/6/2013 at 2:09 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I always use and educated thumb on every cast. If you can make a normal cast without touching the spool the tension is set too tight and you're losing casting distance. I can cast a 3/8oz spinnerbait a long way on a calm day.
plus one.
Bankbeater reply :
I set the tension knob and then use my thumb.
tholmes reply :
I set the spool tension so there's a very tiny amount of side play and use my thumb to control overruns Mag brakes are used only for fine-tuning when casting in windy conditions.
Tom
.RM. reply :
On 1/6/2013 at 1:31 PM, ClackerBuzz said:thumb break all the way...with every bc technique. just like an olympic diver, the angler who enters the water with the least amount of splash will reap the rewards. perfect 10...set the hook!!!!
X2....Have used the educated thumb technique for 30+ yrs now................ 
Tight Lines! 
skno reply :
Both,
More brake in windy conditions.
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