Anyone have some tips for a baitcaster newbie?

[iTz moleman!]

I bought a cheap okuma reel to try out a while ago. it was a $50 low profile baitcaster, and wow, complete disaster. Every other time i casted (this was practicing at home) the line would tangle up in the spool. like the spool would spin faster than the line could come out and i'd just get a mess of trilene.Then, i couldn't even cast as far as i could with my spinner, and not nearly half as accurate. ugh.
if i keep my thumb on the spool wouldn't that mean i can't cast as far? what about that little knob next to the drag setter? should i change that up too?

 

[Twitch]

keep practicing, when you cast, try to keep your thumb on the spool as it releases line to prevent backlash.

eventually you'll be able to cast just as far with your new baitcaster as you could with your spinner

 

[Rob]

I jus kinda got the hang of it... basic tips that helped me... use heavier lures... when you push the button.. it should take bout 3 seconds to hit the floor... when you cast use a long gentle toss and keep your thumb on the spool... when you see lure slowing down... stop the spool with your thumb(its not gona go much further anyway)... always look at your spool before reeling it in.. you may have to pull out a lil extra line to get any possible tangles out before reeling it in...

 

[jtexas]

That little knob is the spool tension. Adjust the spool tension to where the lure falls slowly when you hit the release. This will help prevent the spool from starting up so quickly at the beginning of the cast but it'll also cut back on your distance.

I don't know if that reel has a magnetic backlash control, or centrifugal but, whichever it is, set it to maximum. Daiwa reels (even the "cheap" $50 ones) have an excellent magnetic backlash control.

Don't really know how to describe this -- if you cast with a jerky motion, you're going to get backlash -- the lure has to accelerate with a smooth, fluid motion from the backswing through the release. If that makes any sense at all.

Use heavier lures and avoid casting into the wind. Also try to keep the trajectory low.

 

[210.KYLE.210]

keep messing with the drag and just play around with that and see what works out

 

[ideal22us]

keep Light thumb pressure, the more you push your thumb it'll stop the spool.
what weight is the lures you're using,
if they're too light it wont cast out well.
and.the little dial next to the drag that slows the spool as well.
if you tie a lure on say,,, 1/4 of an ounce.
turn that knob in gently till it seats REpeat gently
then push the cast button in and slowly turn that knob the other way to loosen it.
when the lure slowly falls to the ground, its adjusted for that lure.
remember to keep slight thumb pressure on the spool as you cast so it wont backlash.
go to your local tackleshop and ask them if they sell practice plugs
(rubber sinker, usually 3 pcs, in weights of 1/4 3/8 & 5/16