How to tweak a baitcasting reel
I'm sure things have changed in recent years, but trial and error was the only way to learn how to tweak a baitcaster during my learning days. The instructions in the box never had any useful information and we didn't have an internet to search for articles. I'm writing this article so you can quickly learn what took me a lot of trial and error to figure out.
This article applies to most baitcasting reels. Since about 2007, I've been using primarily Ambassadeur Revo reels. They are very good quality reels, with a wide range of models. As far as I know, all Revos have the same shape and size. I highly recommend the Revo. However, before 2007 I used mostly Shimano reels - and they can be tweaked the same way. They made a great reel (and still do). But I haven't kept up with all of them since I went to Revos. I'm sure most other baitcasters work the same way.
This article assumes
you are using right handed baitcasting reels. If you use left handed reels, everything should be just the opposite. This article also assumes that you already know how to throw a baitcasting reel. If you don't have experience casting a baitcasting reel, read my article on how to throw a baitcasting reel. The articles compliment each other.
Fill them full
The most important (and most often ignored) factor in
setting a baitcasting reel is to fill it full of line. I like to have
my reels so full that if I put any more on it, it will bind up on the
sides. If it does bind on the sides, it is too full. However, it is better
to overfill it and have to remove some than to short yourself on every
cast.
Let me explain the importance of filling it full. The main reason is that
you will get longer casts. If your line is full, your spool doesn't have
to turn as many revolutions to get the distance. A rule of thumb I have
come up with is that the percent of how full you fill your reel is about
equivalent to the percentage of your maximum casting distance. For instance,
if you fill your spool 100%, your maximum casting distance is 100%. If
you fill it 80%, you can only expect to throw it 80% of its' potential.
Likewise, if you fill it 50% full, you can likely throw it to the end,
which is about half the distance you could get if it was full.
Another reason for having it full is because it is the only way you can
be consistent. If you fill your line 80% full and get it tweaked for that
amount of line. Later, you get hung up and cut your line - now you are
at 60%. Your settings are now too tight, so you loosen your reel so you
can get your maximum distance (which is about 60%). You later fill your
line full and don't tighten your settings. What can you then expect? You
guessed it! You can expect a big backlash with your brand new line.
How do you prevent inconsistencies? Well, you can't totally prevent inconsistencies,
because line changes after it gets wet and after it has been used. But
you can be fairly consistent by filling your line full and not letting
it get low. My rule of thumb is to change my line when it gets below 90%
or when the line gets looking bad. When I replace the line, I don't leave any line on the reel unless I'm using mono for a backing for braid (if you tie braid directly to the spool, it will slip).
There may be reels that are exceptions (but not many) to the rule of
filling them full. I had a Shimano Corsair reel that I got because of
its' large line capacity. I filled it full and couldn't get it tweaked
until I took about 20% of the line off. But most spools are the perfect size and should be tied directly to the spool and filled full.
Setting the brakes
Setting the brakes is very simple on the low profile
styles of Shimano and Ambassadeur reels. Just remove the cover on the left side and pull
out one of the 6 plastic weights to tighten the brakes or push it in to
loosen the brakes. Revos have a knob on the right side that are usually finger tight (but could require a screwdriver to loosen). It must be loosened before the left plate can be removed. The round style Shimano reels (Corsair & Calcutta) are
a little more complex. The brakes are in the same place and they are basically
identical, but you must remove the spool from the right side of the reel
to get to the brakes.
Many reels have brake control knobs on the left side of
them (usually instead of centrifugal brakes). In most cases, you can tweak them by following the same procedures as the brakes. They will usually have +- or more/less written on them. "+" or "more" usually means more brakes - not more distance. So, don't get that confused. Also, don't get the brake confused with the friction adjustment. All baitcasting reels that I ever use have a friction adjustment between the spool and the handle.
Tweaking the reel
To tweak the reel, first fill your reel full with line.
Then tighten the friction control knob (located under the star drag control)
on the right side of the reel. You don't want it finger tight, just tighten
it until it is just tight enough for a bait to slowly drop. It's better too tight than too loose. Start with 3 brakes out and 3 brakes
in. Cast your lure fairly easily, but not against the wind. If it backlashes
before the bait hits the water, you need to pull out a brake. If it backlashes
after the bait hits the water, either you released too late (which you will almost certainly do the first time you cast it overhead) or you need
to tighten your friction control knob.
If you didn't backlash on the cast, try again a little harder. If it still
didn't backlash, push in another brake and repeat the process. You want
to find the point where if you pushed in one more brake it would backlash
before the bait hit the water. The only way I know to find that point
is to push them in until it does backlash (before it hits the water) and
then pull one out. That point will usually be 1 to 3 brakes out on a calm
day and 2 to 5 brakes out on a windy day. If you are able to fish with
no brakes out, you probably don't have enough line or your reel needs maintenance. Most of my reels have 2 brakes out. When I have beginners, I will often need to set it to 3 brakes. Likewise, if I'm fishing a tournament or for some reason my clients aren't using my reels, I will sometimes have them set with just one brake. When I have a reel perfectly tweaked for me, it will be too loose for most of my clients.
Once you get it tweaked to where it would backlash if you pushed in another
brake, then you do any adjusting with the friction control knob on the
right. Loosen it to get more distance, or tighten it to keep it from backlashing.
Keep in mind that your reel will let you know if it is too loose, but
it won't tell you if it is too tight. You may set it for a windy day and
when the wind dies down you could be getting much longer casts if you
pushed in a brake or two. Likewise if you have it set for a full spool
and you lose some line, it will then be too tight.
How tight you put the brake cover on (reels that don't snap into place) will also make a difference on some reels. Tighter will
slow the spool, while looser will make it spin (and backlash) easier. I believe most manufacturers are getting away from the variable adjusting brake covers.
Setting the drag
Setting the drag can mean the difference from catching
or losing a fish, so it is very important. In case you didn't know, the
big star next to the reel handle is the drag setting. Clockwise tightens
the drag while counter-clockwise loosens it. I like to get the fish in
the boat as soon as possible, so I normally keep the drag as tight as
I can get away with. If I am using 30 pound test, I don't want the drag
to slip unless a big fish turns away right at the boat. If I am using
lighter line, I want it to slip so it doesn't break the line.
What I do
is put my thumb on my spool (pushing down hard on the line) and hold it tight to keep it from turning.
I then turn my reel handle. If my drag is too tight, I can't keep the
spool from turning - so I will loosen it counter-clockwise. If it is too loose,
I can hold the spool and easily turn the handle without the spool turning
- so I will tighten it clockwise. This is basically the same as trying to pull
the line to see if the drag will turn, only it doesn't dig the line in
the reel. You may still want to pull the line to test it - just to make
sure it is set right. Be sure to check it fairly often - especially if
someone else uses your reel. I often set the hook on a fish later to find
out that one of my clients loosened the drag so much that I couldn't get
a hookset.
