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<p style="margin: 0px; display: inline;">Hello. I'm new here and new to fishing (other than farm ponds as a kid). I am getting gear together to start making up for lost time and have some questions that are likely easily answered with some experience. I would appreciate any input that you can offer...</p>
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How often, if ever, does backreeling (turning off the anti-reverse) on a spinning reel come into play? Some Shimano and Penn reels don't have it. I understand that it was a bigger deal back when drag systems were less reliable.
The only time I can think of when it could be used is going for salmonoids with light gear. Otherwise, modern drag systems are reliable on decent reels, negating the need for backreeling.
All fish are beautiful.
if you use a spinner and want your bait to drift naturally with the current or wind, backreeling is the most precise/controlled way of letting out line with minimal slack -- very important for optimal bite detection, timely hook-set, less debris on the line, etc... a spinner w/ disengaging A/R will do the job, but if you fish that way often, you may be better off with a center-pin or a flipping/pitching baitcaster (albeit, that requires specialty rods, as well)
P.E.T.A. sucks!!! Plants are living things, too -- they're just easier to catch!
Often times while sucker fishing with 8# test, med action 6 foot spinning rod, I hook up with a carp that decides the current is where it's at. If I let the drag peel for very long I don't think the reel likes that very much. So I just flip the lever and play it out like that. Keeping a good bend in the rod. And a good grip on the reel handle. Don't let it slip outta your hands. Be like a helicopter.
I've used that method with un inteded species like lake sturgeon too. I dont like seeing my spool spin out on drag for long runs. It will still scream out drag even while back reeling, but not as bad.
I can honestly say I've never back-reeled in my life. Interesting point by philaroman about using it for an accurate drift presentation. Never even thought of that.
Eli
I see you are in Missouri, so that means you have a whole lot of fishing opportunities. As far as the gear you need, that depends on what types of water you will be fishing, and maybe what kind of species you'd like to target. Big rivers, small streams or lakes? Catfish/carp/gar or redhorse/panfish/trout?
Also, check out the articles we have on fishing with live bait, you might find some good tips here. - they are about half way down the list on this page - http://roughfish.com/articles/tactics
Thanks for the insights regarding the backreeling issue. It is much appreciated... This is a really dumb question. 1 piece rod or 2? Do the ferrules get loose over time? Does wax help keep the 2 pieces together during casting? I understand that sensitivity and strength differences aren't major considerations with modern materials. I would like to be able to travel in a car on occasion and 7'+ rods are going to be a tough fit.
Carpy Diem!
Backreeling, I've never used it, but I can see how it'd be effective for accurate and extended drifts, usually I have a fly rod in moving water but considering the newfound use for this I may have to take a spinning rod down soon to try that. For the rods, 1 or 2 piece is fine. I even have a 9' 4 piece rod, but much prefer 1 or 2 piece ones. Just use nose grease to lube the ferrules before you put them together. Lift straight up to remove, don't twist. How do you store rods in your car? I'm usually able to fit a fully constructed 9' rod in most of my cars, just not my truck, which I can only fit a 7'6" in.
didn't mean to suggest that backreeling makes a spinner optimal for long drifts -- other reel types are better suited, but if a spinner is all you have, backreeling is certainly less sloppy than feathering the line out with the bail open, then trying to decide in a split second, which 3-4 things to do simultaneously for a precise, timely hook-set
plus, I use thin braid which cuts mushy, water-logged skin like it was butter, so I tend to shy away from hands-on line management when something BIG might hit unexpectedly... been cut bone-deep -- didn't like it
P.E.T.A. sucks!!! Plants are living things, too -- they're just easier to catch!
9' in a car? I am currently looking at the space in the Hyundai with the baby seat precluding folding down seats. I think am sold on 2 piece for the moment.
yeah once in a great while mostly -10 steelheading when drag freezes up and you got a fish pulling
good fishing