ORIGINAL: grneyemonstr
i have the exact same rod and reel. i use it with great success. I have no idea what the number dial is though i have never adjusted it. i use the small gold nob which is the break. hold the rod stragiht out and turn the knot towards the tip. then slowly turn it towards you until the lure slowly drops. do that for every lure you put on. then like stated above use the side are technique until you are comfortable and make sure you dont use too much thumb pressure when you cast.
the number dial is the setting for how tight the spool is during the cast. typically a rod/reel combo is either going to have a bad rod or reel in it. usually one of them in the combo isnt that great. but not always