I rarely adjust my breaks. Attach the lure that you will be using. Then set the break to the middle sitting; If yours goes 1-10 set on 5. Hold the rod about 4 feet parallel to the ground. Hit the thumb bar to release the lure and observe the lure as it falls. Make sure you do not have your thumb on the spool;let it free fall on its own. It should fall at a slow even pace. If it does not fall any loosen the cast tension. If it falls to fast the lure will hit the ground and the spool will keep spinning for a second and that will result in a over run/tangle.

When you have the cast tension adjusted correctly the lure will fall on its on and when it hits the ground the spool will stop instantly or maybe make 1/2 turn.

The only time I adjust the breaks is in the wind. As soon as it turns into normal condition I go back to orginal break sitting.

When casting you can use your thumb as a break to slow down/stop the lure right before it hits the water. During a cast, using your thumb as a break does not work very well.