Reel Repair by Alan Tani

General Maintenance Tips => General Questions and Trouble Shooting => Topic started by: TimH on February 21, 2011, 03:35:05 AM

Title: Tension knob question
Post by: TimH on February 21, 2011, 03:35:05 AM
A common problem I see most people have is that no matter how tight they have their tension knob, they will still backlash. Sometimes with it all the way turned up, when they disengage the spool their lure will still free fall without resistance. Besides messing with the centrifugal breaks, what is the best way to deal with this problem?
Title: Re: Tension knob question
Post by: alantani on February 21, 2011, 03:52:29 AM
tim, some people will backlash no matter what.  i don't use spool tension at all. 
Title: Re: Tension knob question
Post by: aus bass on February 21, 2011, 04:09:50 AM
an "educated thumb" and plenty of practice will see a stop to backlashes.
Title: Re: Tension knob question
Post by: Bryan Young on February 21, 2011, 07:00:29 AM
I don't use anything also, but I hear that adjustable magnetic braking is great.
Title: Re: Tension knob question
Post by: Alto Mare on February 21, 2011, 01:05:59 PM
I've seen some ingaging the clicker....not a good idea. Your best bet is to use your thumb, like Alan and Bryan do, it's challenging, but that's what makes it fun. Practice-practice-practice! I still mess-up every now and then, but we're only human.
Title: Re: Tension knob question
Post by: wallacewt on February 21, 2011, 01:15:59 PM
no tension,smooth cast,when your lure hits the water,tree,or a low flying emu jam your thumb on the spool.works 4 me
Title: Re: Tension knob question
Post by: Dominick on February 21, 2011, 11:05:18 PM
Thumbing a spool can be painful.  I had my thumb on the spool as I reached to pull some line off while live lining a Sardine.  A 25lb Tuna hit the sardine, and I instinctively pressed down with my thumb :P.  Dumb, I ended up with the biggest burn blister you can imagine :'(.    Dominick
Title: Re: Tension knob question
Post by: Keta on February 22, 2011, 02:23:00 AM
Not casting but I put my thumb on a spool full of spectra with a nice sailfish on the other end going away fast.  It didn't take long to realize my mistake and had a nickle sized blister on my thumb.