Back Reeling. 2024
starweldpro16 reply :
Hey all. I was watching Mark Davis drop shotting on Erie. He was back reeling to land bass. Anyone else here rely on back reeling as opposed to relying solely on the drag? It looked like he was putting his right index finger down on the bail as an anti-reverse sort of stop. Pretty slick.
Choporoz reply :
Been a lot of years since I tried it....because it ALWAYS resulted in disaster very quickly
J Francho reply :
I know some old timers that are pretty adept at it. Modern drags are far superior for me.
everythingthatswims reply :
Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!
Raul reply :
With modern day reels backreeling is absolutely unnecesary.
Mike L reply :
It may be unnecessary, but some habits are hard to break.
I wouldn't recommend back reeling unless you know when, for how long, how fast and when to transition back to land the fish.
Mike
Bluebasser86 reply :
I back reel because I feel like I have more control of the fish. I can back off of a fish or put more heat on them depending on the situation without messing with the drag. Plus I can have the drag tight to help with hooksets.
Mike L reply :
On 10/7/2014 at 6:35 AM, Bluebasser86 said:I back reel because I feel like I have more control of the fish. I have back off of a fish or put more heat on them depending on the situation without messing with the drag. Plus I can have the drag tight to help with hooksets.
Exactlly!
Mike
mjseverson24 reply :
On 10/7/2014 at 5:19 AM, everythingthatswims said:Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!
I personally don't do it very often, but I see guys on the pro circuit do it quite often when fishing crankbaits... It can and will damage your reel, but it can also help land a large fish when it is close to the boat and she takes a run on you... definitely bad for the reel though...
Mitch
Alonerankin2 reply :
I never did it, I believe in a great drag set properly & use the heel of my hand to add pressure on the spool if needed. But some folks do it. It seems pointless to me.
starweldpro16 reply :
I figured there was a benefit for hook setting. Tighten up the drag,set the hook and start back peddling. Dunno. I'm probably going to rely on the drag. Too old to start retraining myself now. It was interesting to watch him land chunky Erie smallies.
OkobojiEagle reply :
Yes, I backreel most large fish. I use baits with relatively small diameter hooks and I fish them barbless. They don't pull free as easily when I'm backreeling. For those worried about a strong run... the drag still works when you hold the handle still.
oe
David P reply :
On 10/7/2014 at 5:19 AM, everythingthatswims said:Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!
Might upset you.. But it WORKS, and has landed me a ton of fish that I otherwise would have lost when they make a hard run. The drag on a spinning reel I let do all the work, but most of my baitcasting rigs are tightened down and frequently use the freespool technique.
RSM789 reply :
I don't, I depend on the drag but for a different reason. I like the option to free up my left hand (on a spinning reel) to do whatever may be needed, especially when fighting a larger fish. I have often switched hands with the rod if a large fish makes a run to the left, it gives you an extra couple of feet to cushion the power of the run by switching hands. I really use the rod to fight the fish and don't want to be confined to have to have a hand on the reel at all times.
Then again, I'm no Mark Davis... 
Dwight Hottle reply :
Back reeling or free spooling allows you to adjust drag pressure from light to heavier based on conditions . If a fish hits at the boat with little line out you can feather the drag from easy to hard as the fish dictates. If you have experience with it and are comfortable it has its place.
Josh Smith reply :
I've been thinking about building a 5500D for this. It backreels but a drag controls the backreeling.
Been forever since I did this, though. I took the dog out of a 5000 once and tried it for a bit. It gave me no advantage over the drag for the time and place I was fishing, so I put the dog back in.
Regards,
Josh
Team9nine reply :
I'm a spinning "backreeler" and a baitcast "free spooler" ('thumb-barrer,' if that is a word - LOL) with any fish of large proportions. Not near as critical with the small guys though. Certainly in the minority of anglers these days, though.
-T9
Paul Roberts reply :
I've been a back-reeler for some 40 years now. I've never used drag with spinning tackle. I've never wanted a mindless stack of washers giving line for me. I've posted in some detail about it in other threads.
Jeff H reply :
No shame, no regrets, I've done it for many years and will continue to do so.
SirSnookalot reply :
No, some of my spinning reels don't have an anti reverse switch. I would not want to backreel with some of my target species.
Lund Explorer reply :
On 10/7/2014 at 5:19 AM, everythingthatswims said:Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!
Why should something that someone else does upset you? They aren't free-spooling your fish.
For what it's worth, I have landed countless fish from bass to bluegill by giving them total complete slack in the line. A fish wrapped in brush or weeds will often times quit fighting and reverse course away from the obstruction if it doesn't feel the pressure anymore. Once the fish is back into more open water, the fight can resume.
OntarioFishingGuy reply :
I backreel and freespool fish because I feel it makes the fight more fun. I also don't like my drag slipping on a hookset, but I don't want to break off fish. I guess I'm in the minority.
Oregon Native reply :
On 10/7/2014 at 5:19 AM, everythingthatswims said:Guys used to do it because reels didn't have good drag. Today's reels have great drag and should eliminate back reeling. What REALLY upsets me is when I see guys clicking their baitcasters into freespool while fighting a fish!
Why should it upset ya...it's there fish!!
Oregon Native reply :
I spend hard earned money on good reels and keep them for years. I also maintain these reels so I trust them to work...drags included. Have caught hundreds of steelhead and salmon trusting a drag using from six pound test to fifty pound test. No complaints. Also trust for bass too.
People who like to back reel.....that's awesome. It's all part of the game and what you like and feel comfortable doing.
Tight Lines
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Sharp hooks and appropriately matched line should not require locked down drags for good sets. At the end of the day though you gotta do what works for you.
new2BC4bass reply :
Yup. 45-50 years ago that is all I did. Currently I am using the drags as I don't use my spinning reels enough to be comfortable with the drag locked down. However, as stated, I probably don't need the drag locked down today.
SirSnookalot reply :
An interesting event happened this morning along this subject line. I casted out a cast champ spoon, as soon as it hit the water I get a strike, before I put my hand on the crank. With lighting speed I had line peeling off, thought I was going to be spooled with about 250 yards of line. I tighten the drag to what I thought may have been 20+ pounds of drag on my Quantum cabo 40, the line still being pulled but I was slowing the fish down to have a shot at landing it. I was very happy not to be backreeling and doubt I could have landed it, I was very unhappy the fish spit the hook lol. Don't know what this fish was or how big (have a hunch), but I did land an apx. 70# tarpon on the same outfit early this year, this one made that feel like a guppy.
Side note, big kudos to my bristol knot (real similar to the alberto) and loopknot, they held just fine.
everythingthatswims reply :
On 10/7/2014 at 6:05 PM, Lund Explorer said:Why should something that someone else does upset you? They aren't free-spooling your fish.
For what it's worth, I have landed countless fish from bass to bluegill by giving them total complete slack in the line. A fish wrapped in brush or weeds will often times quit fighting and reverse course away from the obstruction if it doesn't feel the pressure anymore. Once the fish is back into more open water, the fight can resume.
Haha I just have my fishing pet peeves, I'm sure I'm not the only one... I totally get it when you freespool a fish that is in brush, I do it too. I'm talking about people continuously take the reel in and out of free spool while playing the fish in open water, I just back off my drag in that situation, it's hard for me to trust my thumb as a drag system, and some of my reels won't go into free spool when there is a lot of pressure on the spool anyways.
J Francho reply :
There's plenty of guys that are way better than I that do things I'd never do, and can still out fish me. Look at Ike, ripping line off his spinning reel...what is the point of that? Oh well, he could still smoke me, lol.
CWB reply :
Not on spinning reels. First thing I do is check and set the drag on all my outfits before leaving the dock. I've hit freespool on my crankin rod when I see a big pike or musky with my expensive crankbait in his mouth and let him run around a bit before bringing him in. Keep your thumb on the spool though.
Paul Roberts reply :
I've back-reeled chinook salmon and steelhead -and with running room. It's just not a problem. You get to know how much tension to apply. It's easy. I can't imagine NOT being in touch with the break strength of my lines. Heck, I even back-reeled steelhead on 1kg line.
A big advantage to back-reeling with such long distance runners is that line twist doesn't build up in the reel as it does with drag. One big salmon and my buddy's spinning reel spools turned into crazy coiled springs ready to explode in a tangle. One would never see this in bass fishing though, although it is potentially cumulative there too.
fish365 reply :
I do it in the winter tightlining with 4-6lb line.
Jeff H reply :
You know, it isn't inconceivable to be able to back reel AND let the drag work in the same fight. All you gotta do hold the handle and let the drag kick in if they run faster than you can keep up with. Bass do not peel off long runs, they are not Tarpon or Salmon. I have back reeled plenty of 5+ lb pike that have made high burst runs and have never had a bass on that could match the burst speed of a big pike.
Paul Roberts reply :
Speed isn't even an issue. One can let go of the handle if you need to. You then stop the rotor with your rod hand.
SirSnookalot reply :
I have caught a fairly wide variety of fish both in fresh and saltwater, there are species I wouldn't consider back reeling. Some are just too fast, too powerful and too big. In fairness not all fish make the same kind of runs, as far as the duration of the run, number of runs before they tire, the distance of the run, and IMO the hardest with fish changing direction on the run and swimming back at you, hard to keep a tight line on those.
If one chooses to back reel with a 40 mph fish, be my guest, I'll go with my drag.
Paul Roberts reply :
Guess I've only br'd 30mph fish. So I can't say. But bass are a 15mph fish, at best.
OkobojiEagle reply :
On 10/8/2014 at 1:42 PM, Paul Roberts said:Speed isn't even an issue. One can let go of the handle if you need to. You then stop the rotor with your rod hand.
I'm not a fan of this... you've given up all control of the fish during when your rotor is free-spinning and stopping the spinning rotor is not a smooth process.
oe
J Francho reply :
On 10/8/2014 at 4:43 PM, Paul Roberts said:Guess I've only br'd 30mph fish. So I can't say. But bass are a 15mph fish, at best.
Paul, do you even own a spinner made after 1988? 
LOL.......
Paul Roberts reply :
On 10/9/2014 at 5:07 AM, J Francho said:Paul, do you even own a spinner made after 1988?
LOL.......
Come to think of it... No! I looked for good set of gears: Quick, Zebco Cards, Daiwa, ... and never looked... forward. Never saw a reason to add any bells and whistles on top of a good gear package and spool size. Which reminds me, I do have some newer reels: some SuperCasters (which are poor substitutes for my old workhorses). I've always had a thing for spinning reel design and even designed my own (on paper). They all lacked drag completely, being back-reelers.
On 10/8/2014 at 8:17 PM, OkobojiEagle said:I'm not a fan of this... you've given up all control of the fish during when your rotor is free-spinning and stopping the spinning rotor is not a smooth process.
oe
I stand by my statement. There is as much "smoothness" as is needed in the flex of the rod.
Anglers would find out very quickly that their paranoia is for naught. Back-reeling is cake. Letting go of the handle, if need be, and re-catching the rotor is cake. On a typical bass fight, I rarely give line. If the fish tries to make headway on me, I may lower the rod a little to absorb it. If it's determined I'll budge a half turn. On pike, and trout, or a feisty smallie on UL tackle I may have to leggo the handle for a short run. No problem, my rod hand catches the rotor and the rod is still doing its job. I control all the line going in and out of my reel. Breaking point can be readily felt in the rod. If it's a long fight, or my line is damaged, I can back off. I have complete control when the fish is far out, or right at the boat.
All this said, y'all, and newbs, should stick to drag. I would guess drag is better today than it was. I wouldn't know. And bass don't take enough line to cause much twist. I started back-reeling bc the Lindners, Rich Zaleski, Spence Petros, and all the guys back then did. Guess I'll die with my drag locked down, and take back-reeling with me.
roadwarrior reply :
This guys claims no one is quick enough to choose back reeling over a proper drag setting,
but what does he know?
https://www.google.com/search?q=fish+chris&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=DqI2VN-gEsKiyASu0IDgCg&ved=0CB8QsAQ&biw=1536&bih=864#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=O7m-SZOsHwoIVM%253A%3BZMbpdnCWRsy66M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.meanmouthbass.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F01%252Fmeanmouthfishchris.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.meanmouthbass.com%252Ffish-chris-with-giant-mean-mouth-bass%252F%3B660%3B510
J Francho reply :
Drags are so much better now. I find the gradual slip a good drag provides, along with "giving the fish some rod" as Paul describes actually tired a fish out pretty quick. Bass usually aren't a big deal, unless you're chasing big ones with light line, so it's not something to get too worried about what is better. What is actually better for the particular person is really up to their skill set, and how they can use the tools. A lot more goes into playing a fish than just drag or back reeling.
I'll bet Paul, Fish Chris, and myself all lost our share of fish figuring out what works, and whether someone back reels or uses drag, or a little of both won't change this. Nothing better learning how to deal with getting your string pulled, by actually getting your string pulled.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 10/7/2014 at 5:06 AM, J Francho said:I know some old timers that are pretty adept at it. Modern drags are far superior for me.
I like to use good equipment but when it came to spinning it was about the rod more than the reel so back reeling was a way to compensate for drags I didn't trust. Now the modern reels have much better drag systems, my Daiwa Tierra and my Okuma Inspira have fantastic drags and since I've been using them I haven't had to back reel. I will say that back reeling is a good measure to use even with a good drag as it allows you to set your drag and leave it and if you end up with a large fish you can simply back reel instead of trying to add or subtract drag while fighting the fish.
Paul Roberts reply :
I've never lost a fish that could be attributed to back-reeling. Back-reeling is just... a no brainer. I'm really not suggesting that anyone go to back-reeling. Just suggesting that you lose nothing if you did. It's not hard. And one can handle fish much bigger and faster than bass doing it.
I am making the assumption that there are advantages to back-reeling, such as having complete control over line going out, being able to lock down when you want to, and with line twist. But then I don't know what advantages drag offers. I've never used it, except with my casting reels, and then I'm always aware that I'm at the mercy of a "setting".
OkobojiEagle reply :
On 10/10/2014 at 7:55 AM, Paul Roberts said:I am making the assumption that there are advantages to back-reeling, such as having complete control over line going out, being able to lock down when you want to, and with line twist. But then I don't know what advantages drag offers. I've never used it, except with my casting reels, and then I'm always aware that I'm at the mercy of a "setting".
We agree, except for the part about letting the rotor spin freely...
oe
Paul Roberts reply :
With regular bass-sized spinning reels I just haven't had to leggo the handle for bass. I have on UL sized reels and... it's just NO problem. You don't have to catch the handle with the reeling hand. One uses the fingers of the rod hand, the same ones you pick up the line with on every cast. It's ... cake.
I can understand the fear, but... it's unfounded. Maybe it's due to fear of line twist issues? I can say that if one puts line on correctly, and don't let the drag build twist up, line twist isn't an issue. I do wet my spool, however, when I start a day's fishing -cheaper than "line maintenance" sprays. Then again, there is no slack introduced when fighting a fish, even when letting go of the handle.
Guess I've defending back-reeling all I can. For the record, anglers nowadays should stick to drag; it's even less of a no-brainer than back-reeling I suppose (except for the "proper settings" part, and maybe the adjustments mid-fight part, or the line twist part). But if you did back-reel, the reel wouldn't explode in your hands. In bass fishing, the rod does the majority of the fighting, the reel just holds line.
J Francho reply :
I know where Paul is coming from. I don't back reel a spinning reel, but with a centrepin, that is all you can do - there's no drag, gears, anti reverse - just an arbor on a bearing. The fish takes line, and you control how much with you pinky. It's a different way to fish, for sure. I'm not sure that I can say I've never lost a fish because of the low tech, but like anything else, you learn to use the tool and exploit it's strengths. I know I'll never use anything else in current. It's so simple. Not really a bass fishing rig, but I have caught smallies in rivers with it.
I think a few will pick up back reeling, but I don't see it becoming the norm. Drags are so, so, so much better. Never mind that you can do exactly the same thing as Paul dies with his finger, to feather the spool if you need some extra stopping power. I don't recommend back reeling (or forward reeling) what the drag us spinning. You gain nothing and twist the heck out of your line.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 10/11/2014 at 10:00 PM, J Francho said:... I don't recommend back reeling (or forward reeling) what the drag us spinning. You gain nothing and twist the heck out of your line.
I assume you mean "when the drag is spinning". I've always wondered about that. Mostly bc my son would reel like mad with his ABU spin-cast reel on a good bass, stale-mated against the the drag -the drag clicking away, him reeling, the line twisting, and me wincing. If he stopped reeling slack might form and he could lose the fish. Crank down the drag and he could bust off a really good one. Now spin-cast has a relatively slow retrieve rate and he was a kid with short arms, and not as adept with the rod.
But what does one do with a spinning rig? What happens on a bass heading into trouble? Is the drag set so close to breaking point, or do you put your finger on the spool at that point? How do you lock down when you need to? Ever find that when a bass is able to turn it's head down into cover, it's moments from being buried? How do you keep it's head up? I can lock down, and give no quarter, and keep reeling. If I had drag, wouldn't it be giving when I don't want it to? And do I really want to stop reeling?
J Francho reply :
What bass owns you that bad? My 2nd biggest NY bass (7-1) made three drag stripping runs. Never felt helpless, or out of control. I can't tell you the lake on the internet, but it was one of those stump filled, CNY mud puddles. Plenty of heavy cover.
Paul Roberts reply :
I get "owned" every now and then by bass in heavy veges. If I can keep the head up and the fish pointed my way they won't bury. But I prefer casting tackle in heavy stuff anyway, and I'm using drag there. I just have to go heavy enough in line weight to compensate. Same for spinning I suppose.
SirSnookalot reply :
3 drag stripping runs, pretty potent bass. A 7# isn't out of the norm here, I'd like to see one own me.
J Francho reply :
On 10/14/2014 at 3:36 PM, SirSnookalot said:3 drag stripping runs, pretty potent bass. A 7# isn't out of the norm here, I'd like to see one own me.
I should be clear by that - it probably ran all of 20 yards. Heavy cover, 20# braid w/ 8# leader. Was fishing 1/32 oz. wacky jigs with a small 4" finesse worm. The fish were in < 18" of water. Only way to deliver the bait was a spinning setup. Even then, I never felt out of control. Normally, I'd be using a MH or H rated rod, which I was with floating frogs, but the big girls wanted something sinking that day.
Meduim spinner, 1000 series Shimano, big NY fish:
J Francho reply :
Oh, and Paul, that's an old wood knob Stradic I bought from BE, back in the early 90s, lol.
timsford reply :
On 10/7/2014 at 6:49 AM, mjseverson24 said:I personally don't do it very often, but I see guys on the pro circuit do it quite often when fishing crankbaits... It can and will damage your reel, but it can also help land a large fish when it is close to the boat and she takes a run on you... definitely bad for the reel though...
Mitch
Can someone explain to me why its hard on the reel to click it in freespool? I dont do it often but ibe had to a few times while fighting stripers on lighter line. I saw no ill effects to the reel after doing this
Paul Roberts reply :
On 10/14/2014 at 10:06 PM, J Francho said:Oh, and Paul, that's an old wood knob Stradic I bought from BE, back in the early 90s, lol.
Ah! One of those newfangled jobs eh? Back when they still cut down trees to make stuff.
Hey, did you know I worked at BE for a while? I was there in mid 80s. I was one of Gail's best customers.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 10/14/2014 at 10:05 PM, J Francho said:I should be clear by that - it probably ran all of 20 yards. Heavy cover, 20# braid w/ 8# leader. Was fishing 1/32 oz. wacky jigs with a small 4" finesse worm. The fish were in < 18" of water. Only way to deliver the bait was a spinning setup. Even then, I never felt out of control. Normally, I'd be using a MH or H rated rod, which I was with floating frogs, but the big girls wanted something sinking that day.
Meduim spinner, 1000 series Shimano, big NY fish:
Must be something about those NY bass. I catch a thick 22" yesterday, guessing in the area 6 pounds. Considering the water is still warm the bass may have been a bit lethargic and was caught right near the bank. Back reeling, drag stripping runs, the fish may may have run 10' only because I let it, I basically just lifted it it out of the water, used light power spinning 25 supreme reel. Nice bass and it was fun, but certainly didn't require every bit of my landing expertise.
J Francho reply :
Northern strain vs. Florida strain? Temperature? Water temps were in the mid 50s and rising. It was prespawn, April. Though I don't recall a fish fighting like this one. it was memorable. The 7-2 I caught was like reeling in a steel toe boot.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 10/13/2014 at 9:19 PM, J Francho said:What bass owns you that bad? My 2nd biggest NY bass (7-1) made three drag stripping runs. Never felt helpless, or out of control. I can't tell you the lake on the internet, but it was one of those stump filled, CNY mud puddles. Plenty of heavy cover.
Ah! I wasn't meaning feeling out of control bc the fish can take line. Bass don't run far. They can have as much line as they can earn lol. I was talking about hooking fish over dense weeds (usually milfoil or coontail here) and they getting their fins in and burying. I can usually get them back, although sometimes I have to go over and dig em out. But if I keep their heads up and pointing my way, they can't dive and bury. I am using MH spin or casting tackle at this point in the year. And I crank like mad, giving no quarter, to keep that head up and coming my way.
There is one weed type though I don't want them burying in, and that's Chara. Stuff is like steel wool. It grows in clear water ponds and I can see the buried bass -just a tail sticking out of that steel wool. There's no pulling them free and they are too deep to reach. Sometimes I just have to wait them out. In such clear waters I'm often using med spin tackle a jig worm or tube. I've gone to 10lb bc of the Chara.
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