Casting baitcaster/weightless worms 2024
jasondaily reply :
Hello everyone I need some help.. I have been using baitcaster awhile now but I still can not thumb it. I usually set it up so I don't have to thumb it. Heavier weights seem to be easier.. I bought a medium rod and can still only cast a weightless worm like 20-30 feet (idk of that's far).. everyone I loosen the tension knob to practice thumbing it, as soon as i cast I get a birds nest, I don't even have a chance to thumb it... any advice would be great.. thanks
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
What type of reel and what type of line
jasondaily reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 4:43 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:What type of reel and what type of line
Diawa type r with 12 pound floro carbon
Drew03cmc reply :
What worm? What hook? Also, I am in the minority here, but I don't like the Magforce braking system. I've been using my Spartacus and Spartacus Plus to fish weightless Trick Sticks on a 3/0 EWG. I can toss a Trick Worm on the same hook as well. If I'm using the latter, I have to be extra cautious with the thumb, but the Trick Stick, I can toss it to the moon.
jasondaily reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 5:17 AM, Drew03cmc said:What worm? What hook? Also, I am in the minority here, but I don't like the Magforce braking system. I've been using my Spartacus and Spartacus Plus to fish weightless Trick Sticks on a 3/0 EWG. I can toss a Trick Worm on the same hook as well. If I'm using the latter, I have to be extra cautious with the thumb, but the Trick Stick, I can toss it to the moon.
Senko with size 3 hook
Drew03cmc reply :
Honestly, any baitcaster and M rod should be able to cast that bait. A 5" Senko is 3/8 oz by itself.
jasondaily reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 5:17 AM, Drew03cmc said:What worm? What hook? Also, I am in the minority here, but I don't like the Magforce braking system. I've been using my Spartacus and Spartacus Plus to fish weightless Trick Sticks on a 3/0 EWG. I can toss a Trick Worm on the same hook as well. If I'm using the latter, I have to be extra cautious with the thumb, but the Trick Stick, I can toss it to the moon.
Senko with size 3 hook
On 6/28/2018 at 5:50 AM, Drew03cmc said:Honestly, any baitcaster and M rod should be able to cast that bait. A 5" Senko is 3/8 oz by itself.
I can cast it but only about 30 feet
NHBull reply :
Some thumbs take longer to train than others......I found myself using to much pressure when I went to lighter weight, out of fear of a nest. Just have to work through it
lonnie g reply :
tighten the brake a little , really concentrate on your thumb just tickling the line.
reb67 reply :
Do you over head cast? If so try changing your casting angle, I fish senkos, zoom fluke sticks and yum drinker weightless all the time I use a 2 o'clock down to a 4 o'clock casting angles. The biggest thing is practice.
jasondaily reply :
Thanks for the tips, I usually cast side arm.
reb67 reply :
Another thing you may want to try is when setting the tension knob as the bait starts to drop, slowly tighten it until it stops the bait. I do this when fishing in the wind and it works great.
Lead Head reply :
Sounds like the problem is your just not experienced enough yet. If you are still setting up your reel tight enough you don't need to thumb it you are going to struggle with lighter baits. When you get better at controlling the spool with your thumb and can back off the breaks the lighter stuff (and everything else) will start getting more distance. If there is some magic reel or brake setting out there that will let you get good distance with light lures and no thumb... well, that would be interesting.
jasondaily reply :
Thanks, I guess I'll get a reel and cheap line to practice with
WRB reply :
When folks suggest loosening the spool tension knob it means maybe a 1/2 turn so the Senko can pull line off the reel on it's own so it falls a little faster.
You can't whip the rod like a spinning reel, the casting motion needs to be slowed down with about 18" of line out between the rod tip and the lure with lighter weights.
Don't listen to to people who make false claims.
Tom
jasondaily reply :
Thanks I'll experiment with all suggestions
BigAngus752 reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 7:08 AM, NHBull said:Some thumbs take longer to train than others......I found myself using to much pressure when I went to lighter weight, out of fear of a nest. Just have to work through it
On 6/28/2018 at 7:21 AM, reb67 said:Do you over head cast? If so try changing your casting angle, I fish senkos, zoom fluke sticks and yum drinker weightless all the time I use a 2 o'clock down to a 4 o'clock casting angles. The biggest thing is practice.
On 6/28/2018 at 7:48 AM, Lead Head said:Sounds like the problem is your just not experienced enough yet. If you are still setting up your reel tight enough you don't need to thumb it you are going to struggle with lighter baits. When you get better at controlling the spool with your thumb and can back off the breaks the lighter stuff (and everything else) will start getting more distance. If there is some magic reel or brake setting out there that will let you get good distance with light lures and no thumb... well, that would be interesting.
These guys are all over it. I just started using baitcasters 14 months ago. My suggestions are practice, use a heavier weight for practice (3/4 to 1 ounce) until you are good at it, practice, get rid of the fluoro for now, practice, and if you want to "cheat" buy a Tatula SV. And then practice some more. You will get good at it. I guarantee it.
haggard reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 4:41 AM, jasondaily said:as soon as i cast I get a birds nest, I don't even have a chance to thumb it...
If you're casting overhead, try a side cast instead; they seem to be gentler, less prone to tangles.
Concentrate on a slow and gentle acceleration cast. This will tangle much less than a power throw.
Cast downwind, not into it.
Before doing anything, set the spool tension (plenty threads on this) and brakes (start with max or near max, and work your way down as you get comfortable).
Catt reply :
Every time I try casting with my reel I have problems ????
My rod does a way better job!
RSmall reply :
If you wander over to the Bass Resource page on Youtube, Glenn May did a video on casting light lures with a baitcaster some time ago.
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 10:16 AM, haggard said:Cast downwind, not into it.
Sometimes you got to cast into the wind. When you do keep your bait low as possible, sidearm works best.
Troy85 reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 9:09 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:Sometimes you got to cast into the wind. When you do keep your bait low as possible, sidearm works best.
Sometimes? Do fish ever bite downwind? Sometimes I swear they are like deer, and can smell my boat if they are downwind. ????
scaleface reply :
I'm not an advocate of using bigger than necessary hooks but in the case of casting weightless worms with a bait-caster , I use big heavy flipping hooks .
DRT reply :
Practice, practice, practice, then practice some more. I agree with WRB, letting some extra line out (12-14") before casting helps me throw lighter lures easier. Also, if I were you, id get rid of the fluro until you get some more experience in.
fishwizzard reply :
On 6/29/2018 at 1:25 AM, DRT said:Practice, practice, practice, then practice some more. I agree with WRB, letting some extra line out (12-14") before casting helps me throw lighter lures easier. Also, if I were you, id get rid of the fluro until you get some more experience in.
I find that, in general, if I have more then about 6” of line out past the tip, my accuracy tanks. Do you guys notice a decrease in accuracy when you have 12” plus of line out past the tip?
jbrew73 reply :
I find that, in general, if I have more then about 6” of line out past the tip, my accuracy tanks. Do you guys notice a decrease in accuracy when you have 12” plus of line out past the tip?
I think you will find with lighter lures the added length from the rod tip will not only help with distance but also accuracy. It's all relative to getting enough load on the rod while casting.
DRT reply :
Exactly @jbrew73 If you're going for distance with lighter lures, its more about loading the rod than it is about trying to muscle it out there.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 5:50 AM, Drew03cmc said:Honestly, any baitcaster and M rod should be able to cast that bait. A 5" Senko is 3/8 oz by itself.
I use MH rods with a 10" ribbontail worm and a 3/0 EWG. Doubt they are heavier than a 5" Senko. So yeah, a Medium rod should be great.
OP: Sounds like you still need more practice. Lighter lures are harder to cast than heavy lures. Took me awhile to get decent with 3/16 oz. lures. I still suck at 1/8 oz. lures. Don't go below 3/8 oz. for awhile.
Where is your brake set? I prefer to use more braking and less spool tension. I feel this gives me better distance. When I learned to use a baitcast reel, I later found out my spool tension was too high. This made me cast harder. Smoothness triumphs power every time. I have since learned that a nice smooth cast will get me almost as much distance as when I try to power the cast.
Don't go too heavy on spool tension. Instead practice nice easy casts trying for a smooth casting stroke at all times. Is your side arm cast a roll cast? It took me longer than a lot of guys to get to the point where my thumb was starting to do what it was supposed to be doing. Actually it was easier for me casting with the left hand....but I am right handed and had always cast right handed. Problem was my right thumb was like a light switch...either On or Off...while my left thumb was able to do a lot better job of feathering the spool.
I've read where some guys have it down in an hour. Personally I find that hard to believe, but then there are tons of people out there better than I will ever be with a baitcast reel. 
Fishingmickey reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 7:51 AM, jasondaily said:Thanks, I guess I'll get a reel and cheap line to practice with
Hi Jason,
A couple of things to try or thoughts on my part anyways. Don't overfill the reel, fill to about 3/4 or slightly more.
Fluorocarbon is the hardest line to cast without getting a backlash. Because it is stiff it likes to keep coming off the reel. Try using some Berkley XL 12# or 14#. Berkley Big game is another favorite here. Try it in that same pound test. If you want to go to 30 or 40# braid.
You might try going out in the backyard and making some short casts before going to the lake. With a baitcaster you have to "load" the rod to make it cast well. What I mean by this is when you bring the rod back it has to bend then start the forward motion to complete the cast. It doesn't work well if you bring the rod back and stop. Stopping lets the rod unload and then you bring it forward and release the reel and it creates the back lash.
Last but not least, what your trying to cast might just be too light. That's where the spinning rig comes into play.
Good luck and hope some of what I typed makes sense for you.
Regards and tight lines,
Fishingmickey
P.S. I wouldn't go with the bargain basement cheapest you can buy line. That may cause problems in itself.
p.p.s.s. ya gotta use your thumb.
CrankFate reply :
If you get an early birds nest, IMO, that means the line is coiling off by itself because it isn’t limp enough and or the rod is too stiff for the weight. If you have the right rod for the weight it’s almost impossible to get a true birds nest. You’ll know you are using the right rod when it slingshots the bait and you feel the rod pop back somewhere around two inches down from your elbow and about an inch away from the bone on the outside of your casting arm.
i know, I jokingly posted about birds nests. But in truth, I’ve never birdsnested a reel. But I have stood there cursing at line that was coiling off by itself because it’s not limp enough making it impossible to cast.
But there’s no absolutes, because every rod/reel combo is different and everyone’s body mechanics are different.
For me, this is the #1 way I wind up with rods that I shouldn’t have ever bought because I ordered them by the stats without ever seeing them in the store. Hardly anything casts as low as they say or as high as they say.
Further North reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 4:41 AM, jasondaily said:Hello everyone I need some help.. I have been using baitcaster awhile now but I still can not thumb it. I usually set it up so I don't have to thumb it. Heavier weights seem to be easier.. I bought a medium rod and can still only cast a weightless worm like 20-30 feet (idk of that's far).. everyone I loosen the tension knob to practice thumbing it, as soon as i cast I get a birds nest, I don't even have a chance to thumb it... any advice would be great.. thanks
Medium rod seems heavy for a weightless worm.
Consider a ML.
jasondaily reply :
On 6/30/2018 at 6:50 AM, CrankFate said:If you get an early birds nest, IMO, that means the line is coiling off by itself because it isn’t limp enough and or the rod is too stiff for the weight. If you have the right rod for the weight it’s almost impossible to get a true birds nest. You’ll know you are using the right rod when it slingshots the bait and you feel the rod pop back somewhere around two inches down from your elbow and about an inch away from the bone on the outside of your casting arm.
i know, I jokingly posted about birds nests. But in truth, I’ve never birdsnested a reel. But I have stood there cursing at line that was coiling off by itself because it’s not limp enough making it impossible to cast.
But there’s no absolutes, because every rod/reel combo is different and everyone’s body mechanics are different.
For me, this is the #1 way I wind up with rods that I shouldn’t have ever bought because I ordered them by the stats without ever seeing them in the store. Hardly anything casts as low as they say or as high as they say.
It was brand new line so it may have been this issue.. I went out today and was able to throw small square bills with no issues..
On 6/30/2018 at 7:56 AM, Further North said:Medium rod seems heavy for a weightless worm.
Consider a ML.
I don't play soccer but this looks like fun lol
CrankFate reply :
Whelp. Let me say it’s a good thing I keep my feet clean. Because I said I never birdsnested a reel. So I went out to test a new rod and the reel I’m getting set up after changing the line on it, right after saying that, Sure enough after a few crappy casts I birdsnested it. So now that my foot is in my mouth. It took about 20 minutes to get out. I had too much line on it. Took about 100’ of line off and then everything was working as it should. No fish. Only 1 bite. Fish exploded on the lure the second it hit the water just as I took my thumb off the spool and the second before clicking the spool in gear. No fish.
Cranks4fun reply :
Different reels have different "personalities" (require different settings). The OP said he used a Daiwa type R, I think. I have some Daiwas: a Tatula CT, A old Pro Tournament PT33p, A Tierra, a Zillion, and an older Capricorn. They all cast well but I have to set them differently and the casting distance differs from reel to reel. My Tierra probably casts the furthest but it seems to throw a coil (tries to backlash) when I really wing it out there. My Zillion and my Capricorn almost never backlash. My Tatula hasn't seen enough fishing time to honestly compare, but many reels require "tighter" settings because they are more prone to throw coils or backlash. My older Ambassadeur 5000's will produce backlashes in a heartbeat if I try to throw a bait real hard. I used to have a Revo that would backlash a little if I started casting real hard. I have a Quantum (Energy PT) that you could almost cast without even using your thumb and never have an issue and I can really swing hard for the outfield with it too! Another Energy PT might be different.
As others have suggested, line quality makes a difference too. I spooled P-line CXX 10 lb on a reel or two and have had no problems but I have read on here about some people casting that line in heaver Lb. testings (17-20Lb. maybe ??) and having real problems - A lot of thick Fluoro is like that too. Even some long-term pros complain about their baitcasters having "professional overruns" (euphemism for nasty backlashes) at times.
I had to really practice with my Ambassadeurs to get them casting right and I learned how to set them and fish slightly heavier baits with them (1/2 oz spinnerbaits etc.). That Daiwa you have might be like a spirited horse. It might need some extra time before you see what it can really do. Don't give up!? Good luck!
greentrout reply :
cast zoom trick worms on 12 and 10 # test...med. rod. 6' 6" fast action...berkley big game & silver thread mono...best to practice and more practice...try 1/32 oz. bullet weight...
good fishing...
BaitFinesse reply :
Tatula CT Type R? What weightless worm? If the worm is a finesse worm and very light weight then you will need to use different casting rig such as a ML rod and a reel with a light weight shallow spool or a finesse spool for your existing reel. You might want to look into ML casting rods or M rods with light tips and a Ray's Studio DIY spool for your reel.
CrankFate reply :
On 7/1/2018 at 3:49 AM, BaitFinesse said:Tatula CT Type R? What weightless worm? If the worm is a finesse worm and very light weight then you will need to use different casting rig such as a ML rod and a reel with a light weight shallow spool or a finesse spool for your existing reel. You might want to look into ML casting rods or M rods with light tips and a Ray's Studio DIY spool for your reel.
I agree. I was just using a ML rod and I love the shallow spools. Used one today on my Tatula CT for the first time and my weightless rubber worm casts tripled in distance compared to yesterday with the stock spool. I have a few on other reels, too. IMO they work best with light braid. Line capacity is overrated for most fish. I got a nice one today that took a few hard runs, but there’s no way it was going to spool me. After that first JDM shallow spool reel around 9-10 years ago, I’m completely hooked on them.
WRB reply :
Took off a 100' of line, Amazing!
Tom
BrackishBassin reply :
On 6/28/2018 at 5:08 AM, jasondaily said:Diawa type r with 12 pound floro carbon
Hey, see if you can get in touch with Fishnkamp on here. He sent me videos on how to set up Daiwas with the Magforce Z brakes. I watched them both, adjusted my CT the way suggested, and I haven’t had a backlash since. My casts went from praying I didn’t get a birds nest to winging it out there without even needing to thumb the spool (if the cast is smooth). It’s made a world of difference for me.
Sifuedition reply :
When going weightless and/or wacky, I go with a much lighter hook. Due to the hook and the low weight, I prefer to throw it with either a spinning combo or my one medium baitcaster combo. Doing this allows me to cast it much easier and keeps me from overpowering the hook out of the fish's mouth.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 7/2/2018 at 3:30 AM, BrackishBassin said:Hey, see if you can get in touch with Fishnkamp on here. He sent me videos on how to set up Daiwas with the Magforce Z brakes. I watched them both, adjusted my CT the way suggested, and I haven’t had a backlash since. My casts went from praying I didn’t get a birds nest to winging it out there without even needing to thumb the spool (if the cast is smooth). It’s made a world of difference for me.
Maybe these?
BrackishBassin reply :
On 7/2/2018 at 6:40 AM, new2BC4bass said:Maybe these?
Yep! Thanks for the links. Set the reels up like that and you’re golden.
jasondaily reply :
My current rod is a medium diawa that's rated at 1/4-1oz.. a rod I plan on purchasing is dobyns fury 703 rated at 3/16-3/4.. is there really a difference between 3/16 and 1/4? Wil it help casting lighter weights ?
greentrout reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 12:18 AM, jasondaily said:My current rod is a medium diawa that's rated at 1/4-1oz.. a rod I plan on purchasing is dobyns fury 703 rated at 3/16-3/4.. is there really a difference between 3/16 and 1/4? Wil it help casting lighter weights ?
I use a 6'6" med. Shakespeare Agility casting rod fast action composite rated 1/8 - 5/8...for weightless trick worms and spinnerbait fishing....10 and 12 # mono...difference...noticeable...for me...my mileage...
good fishing...
new2BC4bass reply :
Yeah, there is. 1/16 oz. 
I have no experience with the Fury line so I can't say how they handle their lower ratings. Some rods do well. Some don't. I don't normally try the low and high end weights with a rod preferring to go to another power. However, I have tried a very few rods at their low end....and even fewer at their high end. I have one rod I absolutely won't use a lure at the low end. Another that just does okay, but an 1/8 oz. heavier does very well.
Hopefully someone with experience with both lines can give you an informative answer. BTW, what model Daiwa is it?
related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.