What backlash
 

I've been putting in some time lately really trying to teach myself how to cast and watching alot of youtube videos just trying to pick up any little tip or nuance that could help. I ran accross this video on how to clear backlashes and it has really helped, even with the larger conventionals. It may be old news to some veterans (and if it is, why hasn't anyone ever showed me???) I just cut my practice time in half.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/TDI5kwR5zjc


Rob

Cool!! I'll try it next time.

I hope this works with spectra.

yes it works with spectra too

40 years of using conventionals and I've never seen that tip before. I usually get any backlash out, but that looks to be one great idea that I will definitely try next time. Thanks for the video.
Aaron

Cool tip!

When I bought my first conventional reel I went over to the rocks in Long Beach past the Queen Mary to get some practice in before I went on a cattle boat. I recall the frustration I had after my first cast and my first massive birds nest. As I'm standing there trying to untangle the damn thing I'm thinking to myself, $150 and this is what it does? Out of nowhere I here a voice in the distance saying, "Pull on the loop"! I look to my right and when I make eye contact with this other fisherman and as he makes the motions of pulling on the loop he yells out again, "Pull on the loop"! As I stare at him with my puppies eyes he yells again, "Look for the loop and pull on it"! I'm like, WTF is he talking about? As I start to untangle the mess I notice a my line is caught up on a loop, I PULL ON THE LOOP and the rest is history.

I've been pulling on the loop for over 20years now, guess it's time to stop pulling on things. This tip/trick seems much easier to do but will definitely be harder to explain to another fisherman from a distance. I'm sure the day will come when I yell at someone, "Press down on the spool with your thumb while you slowly turn the handle once or twice. Once you do that pull on your line and see if it untangles, if it doesn't work go back to step 1 and try it again, keep repeating until its untangled"!!!

Great tip! Thanks! :cheers1:

another great tip...been casting for along time, hate backlashes, don't happen much anymore though...thanks for the tip, have not seen that berfore:luxhello:

Thanks for sharing that info, I'll try that next time. Have you guys ever noticed that some brands of line backlash more than others? I have found that Ande line backs up more than any other line I have ever used. Izor, and the other top of the line brands are great for reducing the birds nests.

Have you seen these videos yet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s1Rw...883C822089AA0A

and this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOYYP...883C822089AA0A

I have used these to assist and they do make sense.

I've been using this technique to clear my birdsnests for about a year. It works most of the time, just make sure your drag is set tight enough for the reel to barely turn when you apply downward pressure.

That won't strip any gears will it

What I did not hear him mention, was that you should tighten your drag down all the way when you do this. If you tighten your drag you should not have any gears slipping. When I use this trick I usually turn the handle 3 or 4 times rather than the little half turns he was doing... not sure if it makes much of a difference, but it works well for me.
I have been using this technique for a few years now and it almost always works.

works MOST of the time. my first time ever casting a conventional was after i bought my own setup. I was so excited that i totally forgot to thumb the spool during the cast. Tried the trick for about an hour to no avail. So after about 9 straight hours of untangle, i finally got the line free without cutting it. Talk about being stubborn.

WOW !!! I was a backlash master till I mastered the cast ,but I would pull the key loop and it was clean .Down in Mex a guy watched me shore cast a 2 oz croc for 2 hours past the surfline and I had landed 3 25-30# class WSB .When he asked me how I hadn't backlashed the whole time I told him it was weight and thumb .Thanks for the new trick

I rarely backlash anymore but it seems like when I do, I get bit by something huge and results in something that sounds like a 22 cal going off. That was a great tip and I'll definitely try it the next time. Thanks!!!!!!