Conference wahoo::fishing

     To improve your spin casting, use your finger to stop the line where
    you want the lure to land. It'll come down softer too. As far as
    baitcasting goes, it's the same as "how do you get to New York ?
    Practice, practice, practice !"
    
     -- El Bandito

re: .0

	I have to agree with .1 on spinning : use your finger(s) - I
	stop the line with my thumb and forefinger of my left hand. I get
	good accuracy and a soft landing that way...

			Robert.

Get a bucket and put out in your yard.

Get a weight or old lure of type/size you will be using.
(remove hooks from lure/worm etc )


practice - practice -practice.

once you get it down pretty well from a standing position, graduate to a 
chair to simulate fishing from a seat in a boat.    The difference in 
angle of approach to the surface will make a big difference.

    > it's the same as "how do you get to New York ?
    > Practice, practice, practice !"
    
    WHAT??
    

     It's an old vaudeville joke. New york is not just a location, it was
    considered to be the "Big Time." The statement was a double entendre, a
    play on words, a - ahhhhh, forget it. No habla Inglese.
    
     --El Bandito.
        

    Try note 590 and specificaly 590.38 for some help.
    
    Tight lines, Ranger Ron

>     It's an old vaudeville joke. New york is not just a location, it was
>    considered to be the "Big Time." The statement was a double entendre, a
>    play on words, a - ahhhhh, forget it. No habla Inglese.
    
    Oh, I always thought it was Carnegie Hall...
    
    Ed
        

    Yea, I thought it was the Baseball Hall of Fame...

    And I thought it was the BASSmasters Classic...

    Does anyone use Baitcasters for light lure fishing.  I mean just
    pitching a worm out with light weigths or 1/8 lead head grubs.  Can
    this be done or is baitcasting really good for heavy lures like
    spinnerbaits etc.  If you do use a baitcaster is there a technique you
    use like lighter lines (is so what test) underhanded etc?
    
    
    Brian

    Brian,
    
    I tend to use the baitcasters for the heavier bait because they are
    more accurate.  With finesse baits, I prefer spinning due to increased
    sensitivity.  However, in a pinch, I've been known to throw a 1/8 oz
    lure on a baitcaster.  8# line works fairly well, except that in a
    pinch, I'd have 12# on the baitcaster and would be limited to only
    short, not-very-accurate casts.  Somebody (quantum I think) has been
    advertising a baitcasting reel for exactly this purpose.  I haven't
    seen it yet.  I think the key is more wind resistance rather than
    weight, although they are not independent.  A single splitshot weighing
    1/32 oz will cast much easier than a weightless grub weighing 1/32 oz.
    
    Tim
    
    p.s. My experiences with baitcasters is limited to last year only. 
    Maybe someone else with more experience can offer another opinion.
    

    Typically real small baits are thrown on light line (<12lb test).
    Light line and small baits work better on spinning rods.  Occasionally
    I've  tossed a light grub on a baitcaster but that was only because I
    didn't have a heavy enough spinning setup to give me confidence in
    obtaining an adequate hookset under certain conditions.
    
    However, light baits can be tossed on a baitcaster.  It's a
    combiniation of the rod, the reel and the person doing the casting.
    
    Someone new to baitcasting is not going to be able to toss a light
    weight bait too accurately with a short stiff rod.  A longer lighter
    action rod will help obtain some distance.  Your also going to have to 
    set the spool pretty loose.  This takes practice to do w/o backlashing.
    
    Somone who has been using baitcasters for a few years can toss light
    baits fairly easily with the right equipment.  I know I put in a topic
    in here a few years back asking the same question.  Today I can toss
    all sorts of stuff more accurately than I could back then, because I
    have more experience and the equipment that i have is more suited to 
    the job.
    
    donmac
    

    Do you use underhand for this type of presentation.  I noticed the
    Pro's on TV tend to use underhand or side casting rather than overhead.
    
    Brian

    re casting.
    
    I use a 6000 ambassador for steelhead fishing.  It is an older reel
    and does freewheel if you let it.  I have never been able to control it
    with an overhand  cast.  I can't seem to time the "thumbing" of the
    reel to achieve what I want.  My best luck has been sidearm with the
    left hand on the butt of the pole.  Good consistant distance and
    accuracy.  Unfortunately, on a drift boat, you have to watch where
    you're setting or you may catch more than you bargained for.
    
    Ken

    	Speaking mainly from spinning experience, I see a noticable difference 
    in casting distance between 6 and 8 lb. test and a fairly large
    difference between 6 and 10 lb. test.
    
    	With this thought in mind, is there any reason why you couldn't
    simply put 6 or 8 lb. test on a baitcaster ? I know most people get
    them for heavier lures but if you have 2 or 3 outfits, and you like
    baitcasters, why not rig one with 6 or 8 lb. test ?
    
    	RAYJ
    

Ray,
	I do rig two of my baitcasters with light line.  I will fish gitzits
or small jigs on them with 6 in spring and/or 8 in summer.  The only problems
with them is on some reel if you can any kind of a loop (backlash) the line
can get between the spool and the reel case.  This usually puts a kink or
a break in the line.

	Boy you can cast a 1/8 oz jig a mile with 6lb line.

Bassin' Bob  has to wait for ice out since the Florida decis don't read this
file!

    I have tried 1/8 oz and smaller lures/jigs on baitcasters. It did not
    work on my 5500C with med/heavy graphite rod. It was not consistent on my 
    All-Star TWS with a 521. I had moderate success on a light action Fenwick
    rod with a Shamanio pro bantam reel. 
    
    The 100% graphite was too stiff and coupled with the 5500, it was a 
    mismatch. The TWS was also too stiff, and again I think it was the graphite
    composition of the rod and the fact it was a medium action. The TWS throws
    Slug-o's almost as far as Bob can throw. The Fenwick is older and has 
    graphite but it does not say how much. It is rated for 1/8 to 5/8. The rod
    is only 5'6". I think if it were longer it would cast better. IM6 graphite 
    might be better because it seems less stiff to me. 
    
    I like to fish grubs and gitzits on baitcasting because I think I get
    more feel of the line. I like the control of baitcasting when fishing
    in cover. I'll fish spinning in open water areas. When Judson(Bigbird)
    and I fish Smallies this year in deep water I will try the baitcaster
    because I am more confident with the touch of a baitcaster.
    
    I would suggest a long light action rod or one that is for walleyes
    to fish light baits. Do not forget the reel though, it is as critical
    as the rod to throw these baits. I would look at the Pro-light(big
    bucks - $80 or more) or the Abu Black MAX. Reels designed to throw the
    typical bass baits will not do the job in any consistent way.
    
    What do you folks think about about the walleye type rod for this kind
    of bass fishing?
    
    Ed 

    re: what type of swing do you use?
    
    For tossing light baits with baitcasters I probably use a some form of 
    a sidearm cast.  Attempting to verbalize casting techniques isn't my
    cup of tea, so I'll leave it at that.
    
    donmac

Don, 

	When I am using the 6lbs line with the 1/8 oz jigs I will use sort of
a under arm side arm cast.  Or the over head long loft cast gives the best
distance, but you have to stop the spool before the bait hits the water.
It looses lots of speed at the down side of the loft!

Al (Whitman) explan that under arm side arm thing to down.  I can do it but 
can not explain it.

Bassin Bob

    You need a reel with tight spool tolerances (as Mentioned) to keep the
    line from getting caught behind the spool. You also need a longer (6')
    rod with a softer tip - which makes it harder to "feel" the lure.
    That's why I use spinning rods with fast tips and tennessee handles -
    you can cast o.k., and the "feel" is terrific.
    
    --The Skoal/Red Man Bandit

    I agree with the long soft rod!!!!  I do not use side arm cast, but let
    the lure hang about two feet below the rod tip to give it extra
    momentumn. 
    
    Ed