Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

[wannagofishin]

I didn't want to hijack ST's thread about spinner/baitcaster, but we got to talking about practicing this past week. It's funny, but it was almost like Luke's advice from the old guy in Star Wars when he told him to let go. More or less, just use your instinct. Well, that's what happened to me. I was thinking too hard about what I was doing instead of letting come naturally. When I stopped concentrating so hard, I felt it more. I could "feel" the rod and knew when to let go, and my thumb sort of knew to release the line. <br /><br />Any hoo, just wanted to relate my experience with this.<br /><br />Dan

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

I didnt know anyone that I fish with that "Pitched". I wanted to learn it so I would try it out on the water once in awhile and always get a birds nest, I watch a lot of Bass fishing shows and last weekend there was a show on that tried to show the technigue. He first showed flipping. Rich Tauber taught me how to do that back in about 1978. Then he went into pitching, he pitched a few times and didnt explain squat.<br /><br />I had taped it so I rewound it again and again watching the wrist movement and arm movement. Its somewhat like flippin, as you use your wrist and elbow, not your whole arm so much. The bait stays just a few feet off the water. Most people make the mistake if thinking that flippin is a pendulem type of presentation, its not, your bait should just be a few inches off the water when flippin.<br /><br />Anyway, I got it down now. Only problem is that with my torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder, I have some pain when doing it.

 

[wannagofishin]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

When I first started trying to learn to master the baitcaster, I looked all over the internet for an instructional DVD. There are none as far as I can tell. Millions on the art of fly fishing and even some on "advanced bass fishing techniques." But not one for beginners. I've done a few (about 40) television programs and have the equipment to produce such a video, but was looking for someone with a name to do host the program. Plus, I'd need a high-speed camera for some slo-mo shots. That would cost BIG MONEY. <br /><br />Maybe some day I'll get a chance to do it.<br /><br />Dan

 

[koolerb]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

I've had my new baitcaster out about three times now. All three times have been pretty successful. But compared to my spinning reel I'm nowhere near comfortable with it yet. I don't think it's the type of thing a video would help. A few good tips from this forum and a whole bunch of practice and I'll hopefully start to realize some of the advantages of baitcasting.

 

[wannagofishin]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

I could give you tips just relating what I have read on the net even though I'm a beginner. And no, nothing will replace practice. But, a DVD, especially with slow motion shots and verbal instruction, could speed up the learning process. If I could have seen just how the reel is held, seen just when the spool is released, and when pressure was reapplied to the spool, it would have made it a lot easier to find that starting point. <br /><br />I could do a video and pull out individual frames, sort of stop-action, and post them on the web along with instructions and make it a lot easier for a beginner than the written word alone. <br /><br />Visualization is important to me. I have service manuals for all my vehicles. Without the photos and diagrams, as poor as most are, they (the manuals) would be useless. I could describe part A that bolts to part B, but a picture is worth a million words. <br /><br />On top of all that, matching rod, reel, line, and lure, has as much to do with being successful as proper technique. For example, a short, stiff rod with 20# test and a 1/8oz lure is gonna be hard to cast, at least for me. There are a lot of variables and a comprehensive DVD with all the information in one place would be a successful venture.<br /><br />Dan

 

[cart7]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

Here's a few tips for the beginning baitcaster:<br /><br />1. Spool tension.Manufacturers suggest setting it so the lure slowly falls and then the spool stops rotating once the lure stops. I'd suggest beginners crank the spool release up a notch so the lure needs to be jiggled a little just to get it moving. Experienced baitcasters are able to loosen up the tension much more since we have experienced thumbs.<br /><br />2. If the reel comes with magnetic braking, I'd suggest turning that all the way up when learning. Mag brakes actually only work at the initial cast when the spool first turns.<br /><br />3. Too many anglers think the reel needs to be held in an upright position when casting. Hold the reel, turn your wrist till the handles are pointing up and then cast. Remember, casting is achieved as much with the wrist as the elbow. There is no need for full arm movement to occur when baitcasting unless you're going for distance. <br /><br />4. The line should always be spooled about 1/4-3/8 inch from the top of the spool. Over-filling line is a common cause of backlash.<br /><br />5. Practice, Practice, practice.

 

[wannagofishin]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

Thank you Cart7, you've just made my point. While everything you said is correct, it is, to me at least, incomplete. This is not criticism, it's just that the little details you take for granted, a beginner doesn't know. For instance, when starting the cast, how far back should you bring the tip of the rod? At what point should you release the spool? Is it a snapping movement or slow start? Just where should your thumb be on the spool? How do you aim at your target? Does your thumb come completely off the spool or do you keep a slight pressure? How about body position? Is there a particular stance that makes for a better, more accurate cast? It's sort of like football. Almost anyone can throw a football, but it takes a lot of training and practice to be a quarterback.<br /><br />The information you gave, I got from searching the net, the rest I had to figure out myself through frustrating trial and error. In fly fishing they use a clock to describe rod tip positions. This same technique could be used for baitcasting, and a DVD could show as well as tell the viewer exactly what to do. Again, nothing will replace practice. But that time would be shortened considerably with competent and complete instruction.<br /><br />I agree that there is enough knowlege right here on iboats to write the instructions. But it would require that the writer stop and think about every detail of the cast. Most of this is is done without much thought, you just do it. A lot of it is feel, but we need to tell the beginner what feel to look for. Once found, it will become second nature.<br /><br />Sorry for the long post, but I write like I talk, except without the hand gestures. <br /><br />Dan

 

[cart7]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

When I learned how to use a baitcaster 32 years ago, there were no video tapes, only virgil Ward on TV and few if any bass fishermen around to teach. I basically took the instruction manual that came with my old Red Ambassadeur 5000 and figured it out through many hours of practice. <br /><br />Casting is a lot like a golf swing. I can watch video after video of players showing me how to swing but until I actually get out there and do it will I actually figure out the feel of the thing. <br /><br />Todays beginning baitcasters have far more advantages than I did. The reels are smoother, have more anti-backlash mechanisms in place to help prevent the buggars from happening along with a multitude of video's, TV shows, internet info to help teach them. No matter how intricate you make your video instructions, the viewer is never going to able to really get the feel of casting until he does it over and over and learning from his or her mistakes and by repetition.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

While a video may be good for initial learning and basic casting with a baitcaster, there are so many variables you will face in the course of a day on the lake, time on the water casting is the only thing that will work. There are side arm casts, overhead casts, right to left, left to right, Flippin, Pitchin, heavy baits, light baits,casting into the wind and with the wind. <br /><br />Practice,Practice,Practice,Practice,Practice,Practice,Practice,Practice,Practice,Practice,Practice.

 

[wannagofishin]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

I agree with everything you said except the part about the videos. I haven't been able to find any doing extensive searches on the net. That's what gave me the idea of making one. They may be out there, but I can't find 'em. <br /><br />Again, I agree with getting out and actually doing it. Nothing will replace practice, as I stated before. However, if I showed you how to grip a golf club, and told you why that grip is necessary, wouldn't that be better than you reading it? Then there is all that goes with the grip. Stance, swing, follow-through, etc. I'm not saying a DVD will make you a better caster. It will only shorten the learning curve and take out a lot of the guess-work. <br /><br />If you had teachers back when you started, you would have used them, right? You said it took many hours of practice. I'll bet you tried many different ways before you found the proper one. Once you found the way, all you had to do was practice "that way" until you got really good at it. I'm saying that by showing that way, it eliminates the "hunting for it" step. <br /><br />As for television, yes, there are a multitude of programs and you can catch some information here and there. But just watching a split second cast from an angle not focused on really presenting the technique, is hard at best. My suggestion is merely to put all the information in one place, with the focus on teaching the casting technique. <br /><br />I think we agree with each other, we're just looking at it differently.<br /><br />Dan

 

[wannagofishin]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

Guys, I'm not saying a video will replace practice and experience. Nothing will. Tiger Woods still practices just as professional fishermen still practice. There are sometimes more than one way to approach a subject. Many different styles for different people. I brought this up because I couldn't find a video on the basics of baitcasting. They may be out there, but I haven't found them. If I had one before I started learning, I would have bought one. There is a big difference in figuring it out and practicing. Now that I have it figured out, I'm practicing. (was out earlier today as a matter of fact) <br /><br />Bassin', You make a good point. There are different styles of casting. They could be added to the DVD, or as part of a set, depending on the length of time spent on covering the separate subjects. Everything you mentioned about the different circumstances could be covered in varying degrees of detail based on need. <br /><br />I've got the video equipment necessary to produce the DVD (digital camcorder, wireless mics, editing computer, etc.) I just don't have the money for all the extra expences involved with video production.<br /><br />Dan

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

Originally posted by wannagofishin:<br /> I think we agree with each other, we're just looking at it differently.<br /><br />Dan

Originally posted by Bassin' Fever:<br /> I had taped it so I rewound it again and again watching the wrist movement and arm movement.

Yes, I think you are right.

 

[wannagofishin]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

Bassin',<br /><br />Thanks for the yea vote. Sometimes I have a hard time clearly explaining what I mean. At the beginning of this topic, I said it was like a Jedi moment when it came to me. But, can you imagine trying to teach someone how to use a baitcaster and telling them, "Use the force, Luke." <br />Not everyone has a father or friend that has this particular knowledge to pass to them. Some of us growed-up men (OK so I'm a redneck) have a hard time asking another guy for help. And I thought a well produced DVD would fill a niche. You know, help get them off on the right foot. There must be hundreds or thousands of fishing videos teaching how to use a fly rod, fly tying, tactics for finding and catching different species, etc., but I couldn't find one danged video on the basics of baitcasting. And, as you pointed out, why stop there? Why not make a series, from basics to advanced? Rod, reel, and line selection. Overhand, underhand, sidearm, backarm, and skipping. What lures for each water and weather condition. Patterns, presentations, and retrieves.<br />I see a series here sold individually or a boxed set. Get a big name pro to host the series and I see a way to help a lot of people and make enough money to buy a couple of new rods to boot!<br /><br />Oh well, it's just an idea.<br /><br />Dan

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bassin' Fever, got a few words for ya

Originally posted by wannagofishin:<br /><br /><br />Oh well, it's just an idea.<br /><br />Dan

Thats where it all starts.<br /><br />I see a very big gap in promoting fishing DVDs. I see them advertised once in awhile, but not often and I watch quite a few fishing shows.<br /><br />There needs to be a napster of sorts for fishing videos. Not for downloading though, I mean to buy them.