hey man, you will have back lashes, and birdnests, but that`s just part of it. They are easy to use. I`ve been able to use one since I was 10 years old. You tie your lure on and then push the button when it will spool off. If it doesn`t drop, then turn the little schew on the side lightly until it stops dropping, Adjust it until the lure drops just enough to wear if it hits a piece of paper loosely, it will stop. When you have done this, you`re ready to cast. Push the button down and throw the lure just like any other rod and reel. Right before it hits the water, or in your case, the ground, put your thumb on the spool to stop it from spinning. Well that`s just how easy it is to use a bait caster. I love baitcasters so much and can`t see why anyone wouldn`t love them as much as I do. Well, tell me if you learn how to use it or not. Thanks

The magnetic spool screw is probably the problem, like other said tie on your lure and make sure it drops evenly, when it hits the ground the spool should stop. When starting out it is important to do this with every lure. Other culprits can be: thumb on the line, which cause less spool movement...you' ll want to have your thumb just above the line when casting but not directly on it. To eliminate bird nest, when you see the lure dropping then place your thumb on the line until it hits the water. Another technique is cast more up then straight, so the line remains tight. Yet one other way is to thumb the line as it hits the water and bring the rod tip back to remove slack. Another thing could be not enough line on the reel, baitcaster perform much better at close to peak capacity. Most will hold a large spool of 200 yards plus. What I do is fire on about 100 yards as a backer of 14 pound test mono, then spool on the line I want to run. When I replace my line, I just unspool to the backer line. B/C it sees no action you can leave it on for a long time. While on the line thing, I have noticed some lines are easier to cast then others. I use Berkley XT on my baitcasters, I have found that up to 12 lbs I get good castability, but beyond that it effects my distance. I run 10lb XT most of the time for pike fishing and the odd time I will goto 12-14 XT for laker fishing.

Remember with a bait caster the spool is free wheeling, so the harder you cast the faster it moves. It is very different than a spinning, where the line just runs off the spool, in a baitcaster the spool is moving the line out.

If you want more drag, then turn the wheel behind the crank until you get more spool tension. I wouldn' t suggest setting it at the max, as when you get a fish on you' ll be suprised at how much it will hold.


It does take some time but once you get the hang of it you' ll love it.

Two other tips for after you have it adjusted for your lure. Cast out as far as your longest cast and then put a piece of tape(a good sticky, electrical is good) over the spool and reel your line over it. From then on even if you really screw it up the backlash will never go past the tape and it will essentially eliminate them and if a big one hits the tape will come off and line will come out. One other tip is to practice using the exact same motion and force for every cast. With spinning reels you throw hard ,soft, every which way depending upon how far you want to cast (and why they can be so imprecise), with a baitcaster always use the same amount of force and casting motion and just adjust the pressure on the spool with your thumb to determine where you want the lure to stop. Beauty of the baitcaster is that you can cast all day to within a few inches of a shoreline or snag, just start to feather the spool with your thumb as the lure nears the area where you want it to stop. With a spinning reel you always get flyers and duds that end up in the bushes or fall short and ruin a fishing spot. Hope it helps, best of luck.

These guys pretty much hit it on the head. Just a little practice. Birdnests will still happen once in a while, but that is only when you get careless. I wouldn' t trade in my old Quantem for anything. I won' t throw my lizards or worms with anything buy that real.

Just another bit of information. If any of you guys that swear you won' t use them anymore want to send me the reels, I will pay for shipping!!