Reels-how fast for casting?

[Painy]

Just wondering as to how fast you set your reels for casting and what oils you use and brake blocks etc. How do you decide as to whether the reel is running too fast or too slow?

I've got 7HTs and have been using 3 in 1 and one small brake block. Wonder if I would be better with a thinner oil for extra distance? Just don't know what to set them at really.

[mintos]

that's one hell of a question to ask.
I am not the most qualified to answer either, but here goes, it would depend on many things, if you are going for distance when fishing, then go safe, its trial and error, if your reel doesn't blow up during the cast then you have plenty of brake already, take out a brake block, ease off the mag setting, give a little more end play on the spool, use a thinner oil, etc. all will increase speed, but you need to know when to stop, it is no fun respooling on the beach. I supose it is all trial and error really, and no difinative answer, you need to work out what is best for you, try rocket oil, start with red, and if you want more speed try some yellow, unfortunately, I have never cast a 7ht.

[DAVE H]

I run my 7HTs on yellow rocket fuel and one small block for fishing
set the spool tention to the lead that you are fishing with on the day.

[oldchukka]

i think minto has covered just about everything. the only thing i would add is that when the weather is very cold i would tend to use a reel with thinner oil in the bearings.-- all my reels are mag controlled, the reason being,-- when i used break blocks in the past, if there was any oil spray from the bearings it tended to get onto the break blocks and make them less effective.
i know that over oilng bearings is a mistake . but as they say,--- it happens

[cain]

12 seconds ready to cast

[dabhanded]

set end tension to suit fishing conditions is last thing i would do ,long term you are damaging spindle and bearings on ultra cast reels ,it may be accepted on the casting field but for fishing i would just use another block ,i use the min of end float but would not use end float tension to control reel when fishing
john

[V8_rob]

Must admit i've never used the tension control for casting. Always turn it down so it just affects the freespool, then back it off a tad so there's some clearance there. I tend to use the Yellow Rocket fuel too. I use small brake blocks when see fishing and no blocks when casting over grass.

My best distances over grass have been achieved with a Penn 100 Surfmaster with a Mitchell 602 a few yards behind - oil braking only.

I sometimes use these reels when casting off the ground over flat sandy beaches, very rewarding, though I'm normally found to be using an ABU with a brake block when fishing the stoney beaches here on the south coast.

[paddyc]

cain is spot on, 12 seconds is perfect and your ready to go, but saying that i do have a few reels that i have to run slower than that as some reels are faster than others

[Painy]

Is there any miloeage in reel running too fast, line fluffing up off the spool, distance off the cast? I seem to be getting line fluffing up mid cast, with an occasional snapping of the line?

[oldchukka]

Is there any miloeage in reel running too fast, line fluffing up off the spool, distance off the cast? I seem to be getting line fluffing up mid cast, with an occasional snapping of the line?

your lead will start to slow down as it starts to reach its highest point,- then start to speed up as it falls. this may be where your porblem occurs. you might get more controll by adding a drop of thicker oil or using a bigger brake block

[lugi1024]

12 seconds ready to cast

Hi,all
When you say 12 seconds: as and with that you push the spool?
With the thumb or giving a blow on the lever of retrieve?

Regards

[cain]

spin the handle, flick it out of gear and time it till it stops.

[dabhanded]

hi cain starting position 12 seconds does this not vary caster to caster ,lets say a 300yd man surely needs more braking than a 200yd lad, i am not trying to pick up on things i know you are very knowledgable on the casting scene and this thread is realy talking about pure distance its like opening a can of worms talking about reel tuning etc, also line levels are a very impoertant factor do you need your reel brimming with line to get big distances,is it not so less line on reel requires less braking the start of the cast its all ming boggling is,nt it,one of my mates said to me if we filled our reels up in the eighties like we do now our distances would of been up then *******s
john

[cain]

hi cain starting position 12 seconds does this not vary caster to caster ,lets say a 300yd man surely needs more braking than a 200yd lad, i am not trying to pick up on things i know you are very knowledgable on the casting scene and this thread is realy talking about pure distance its like opening a can of worms talking about reel tuning etc, also line levels are a very impoertant factor do you need your reel brimming with line to get big distances,is it not so less line on reel requires less braking the start of the cast its all ming boggling is,nt it,one of my mates said to me if we filled our reels up in the eighties like we do now our distances would of been up then *******s
john

i agree it can be a minefield. most of the big casters i know go b the 12 second rule as do i. i dont cast as far as them but cant get away with a faster reel.

[Mark(south)]

Personally my start up speed changes from reel to reel but none of them run as slow as '12 seconds'.

My slowest reel (for 125gram) runs at about 14secs, the 150 reel runs at about 16 and the 175 reel, faster than that.

I rarely get crack-offs through over running either. If i crack off, its through spool slippage

[DAVE H]

Im glad it not just me on the 15 to 18 sec start up spin
the smoother the cast the faster spin can be used ..

[MrBeachams]

Save your self the greif and get a mag controled reel .......so easy to set up and cast further .....................lol..............now for the big debate .....lol

MrB