Braided line is so thin and slippery that it digs deep into a loose packed bait casting reel’s spool if you pull hard on the line. To pack the line tight either your lure has to provide enough resistance, or you need to provide tension with your thumb and forefinger when you retrieve. However, I found out yesterday that pinching the line with wet fingers leads to line cuts.
So today, I had Flexi-Wrap tape over my thumb and forefinger and couldn’t feel how tight I was pinching the line. That lead to a loose spool, which lead to a backlash when I cast into the wind. I pulled hard on the backlash and caused the line to bury itself deep down in the spool. Next cast ended about 20 ft in the air.
Every other cast ended in a backlash. And I pulled harder on the line to free it, only to cause deeper line buries. If I were smart I would have stripped off all the loose line and packed it back tightly. I wasn’t smart and eventually quit.
The Waxwing System’s red Powerpro is very unforgiving when things go wrong. It casts and retrieves well under calm conditions but is prone to backlashes when mismanaged. So far I had two windy, backlash days and one calm, backlash-free day with the Waxwing System. I have to figure out how to cast properly in the wind, or go back to fluorocarbon when it’s windy.
I’ve discovered that same thing. I only use braided on my spinning set ups now.
Hey Justin, how’ve you been?
I had tried braid on a bait caster years ago and stopped using it. I guess I now remember why! Gonna try making sure I repack the line tightly every so often. Kind of a hassle though.
-scott
This is why I never use a bait casting reel on a light lure. Its just an endless battle of backlashes because you can’t consistently get the brain to retrieve properly.
Hi Brian,
Was that “brain to retrieve properly” or “braid to retrieve properly”? Both apply in my case!
-scott
It was supposed to be braid. Its also partially the reel I find as well. The lure weight really needs to match the reel.
Scott I would really suggest to go spinner. Get shimano stradic or daiwa ballistic and that power pro will work wonders for you. I had no issues casting into winds with my set up.
Hi Mike,
As you know, I’ve been resisting getting a spinner. I still have my old Penn SS reels from the 80s. I could resume spin fishing with that in windy conditions.
You don’t have issues fishing braid in the wind in general? The line was so light even when I was retrieving, the line would tangle on a hook keeper attachment. Fluoro never does that.
I may try my friend’s Stradic to see if I want to get one of those.
thanks,
scott