Baitcasting combo - got it!

[plowboy]

That reel should have platic brakes inside the cover. Have someone to show you how to set them. Keep side arming for a while and gradually work your way up to an overhand cast. When you master casting then you can learn how to pitch underhand. Great way to put the bait right where you want it with a soft entry.

[KYHorseflys]

Still gotta look for the owners manual online... but when I was buying it the guy at the store checked it out and there was a clear/white plastic peice (brake) missing from the gears inside after he removed the cover... they replaced it for me and gave me the rest of the little plastic brakes they pulled from another box.

I think my biggest problem with overhand casting is not following through... also, I'm a little nervous that I didn't do the best job of windin' the line onto the spool and that's helped to create some of the birds nests I've been gettin'... I'll probably try to re-wind the the line back onto the spool this weekend. Might get one of those spool tools or spooling stations when I go up to BPShop this weekend... are they worth it?

[Danny]

I have the berkley spooling station, and have had it for several years. My wife likes it even more than I do, and I love it. She no longer has to hold the spools of line on a pencil, and put pressure on the spool to make sure I got it on tight.

You won't be sorry you have the spooling station. Also, the hook sharpener/line stripper is great!!! It empties the reel faster than you could ever do it by hand.

Get it, enjoy it... honest!

Danny

[KYHorseflys]

That's the one I was looking at... I really think I did a terrible job spooling the line on my reel and that might (not sure, but seems reasonable) be why I got birds nests so often at first. Seems like a real affordable thing to have - so maybe that'll be one (as in there'll more than just one!) of my weekend purchases! My fiancee was rollin' her eyes having to stand there with the pencil and keep 'er tight for me (though I don't think she kept it very tight at all... LOL!)