Matching Rod to Reel

• Successfully using baitcasting equipment depends on the skill of the user, but anglers who take the time to balance their baitcasting reels with their rods will enjoy better fishing. Your casts will be more accurate. You will enjoy fishing longer because the rod and reel are more comfortable in your hands.
  
  Fishing equipment manufacturers design their rods and reels to match in combos and often are sold as a package. If you decide to buy a baitcasting reel separately from the rod, then buy the reel first and take it with you when rod shopping.
  
  You want a reel that complements and takes advantage of the rod's action. A reel that is too heavy for the rod will blast your baited hook into outer space. A properly balanced rod and reel combination helps the line unspool with speed toward your target, because the reel is unspooling at a rate that the forward snapping action of the rod can comfortably manage.
  
  Some baitcasting anglers prefer a rod with a pistol grip; others swear by a straight cork grip. Try both with your reel installed on the rod, and hold the combo in your hands for several minutes to get the feel of the gear.
  
  Rod length is a factor of the lure weights you wish to use. The lighter the lure, the shorter the rod you will need. Reel features vary among manufacturers, but standard features should include an adjustable brake, adjustable drag setting and a line winder that respools fishing line evenly across the spool during retrieval.
  A rod and reel combo should balance comfortably when you cradle the rod by the handle with one hand. If the rod tip snaps upward, you might need to look at a lighter reel. If the tip drops, you can comfortably equip the rod with a bigger reel. Visiting tackle shops will increase your chances of finding a clerk who knows about the equipment he sells and can better help you identify a rod and reel to suit your needs.
  
  

Thumb Feathering and the Baitcast

• The hardest part of baitcasting for most anglers is mastering the cast. Baitcasting reels are of the open-face variety, meaning the line is exposed and the reel is mounted on top of the rod. When you disengage the line and prepare to cast, you must place your thumb over the spool lightly to keep the line from unspooling too fast. You also must maintain light pressure on the spool during the cast to prevent a backlash--a nasty situation where the line spins backward over the spool and becomes hopelessly entangled. A backlash occurs because the line is coming off the reel faster than it can shoot through the guides on your rod. This causes line to back up, flip over on itself and rewind backward on the spool.
  
  Proper thumb pressure can virtually eliminate a backlash, but it requires practice. Novice baitcasters practice casting in the yard with 1/2-ounce sinker weights on the ends of their lines and short, colorful lengths of streamers or plastic floats to aid visibility.
  
  While you practice, adjust the reel's brake (on the right side) to the highest setting. As you get more comfortable with the cast, you can ease back on the brake to make longer casts.
  
  With your thumb on the spool, snap the rod forward and begin releasing line when the rod tip is pointed precisely at your target. The line will race toward your destination with the amount of force you put into the cast. Control the speed by gently adjusting thumb pressure on the spool, increasing pressure as your bait approaches the target. Practice until you can consistently hit your chosen spot, then back up 30 feet and try again.
  
  

Out on the Water

• Once you've got solid control over the equipment, it's time to get serious and catch fish. You can cast overhand with your baitcasting gear, but for greater aim in tight spots--such as overhead branches--you'll want to turn the rod in your hand (so the reel is on the side) and snap your wrist for the cast.
  
  Tighten the drag setting clockwise and pull on the line to test it. You want the drag firm enough to be able to set the hook in a fish's mouth, yet not so tight that your prey snaps the line with his first long run. If the line pulls in short bursts without stretching or breaking, your drag is set correctly.
  
  When there are no obstructions and you really need to put some distance on a cast, such as fishing from the banks, use a two-handed overhead cast. Your feathering hand should hold the rod behind the reel. Place your free hand on the rod grip ahead of the reel with your fingers curled underneath and thumb resting on top. If you use your right hand to control the reel, plant your right foot forward and your left foot slightly back. This stance will help you get maximum leverage from the overhead cast.