Thumbing Conventionals

[Sweetwater]

I use Abu Garcia 7000 C3 and 7000 CL reels on 10' Lamiglass rods. I've removed all the brakes. My technique is.

Make sure the reel is slightly wet (I use a bit of fresh water) but your thumb is dry for the first cast.

Lock down on the spool tightly when loading up on the rod, then release the spool completely on the cast.

Then I thumb the spool lightly and only as I feel even the slightest amount of "fluff" coming off of the spool. This is what some call having an "educated thumb" and it just takes practice.

As soon as the weight or lure hits the water, I lock the spool down with my thumb immediately...since the line is no longer running but the spool is still spinning.

Other hints: Use mono as you get used to it. I've found braided to be much more susceptable to overspool..and much harder to detangle. Find a weight that loads the rod nicely whether it's 4, 5, 6, or 7 oz. Some weights are harder to handle than other depending on rod loading. Practice with the wind at your back where overspool is less likely. Practice using less tension and fewer brakes to increase your distance as you get more used to your equipment.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Sweetwater

I use Abu Garcia 7000 C3 and 7000 CL reels on 10' Lamiglass rods. My technique is. I've removed all the breaks.

Make sure the reel is slightly wet (I use a bit of fresh water) but your thumb is dry for the first cast

.

I think this cant be overstated, the spool should be wet before you cast, and sweetwater is right, toss the brakes out. I dont use 7000s anymore unless I need that heavy gear, I use the shimano calcuttas, they will outcast a 7000 anmd have plenty of power for big fishn along with an awesome drag. In a heavy current I may switch back top a 7000 or when tossin huge plugs.

The thumb thing cant really be taught, you just have to develop a feel to "educate your thumb"

[Sweetwater]

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, do you use conventional even for tossing eels?

I fish eels mostly at night and do not like using a conventional at night because I have more difficulty managing overspooling and checking the spool for small loops and such between casts.

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Sweetwater

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, do you use conventional even for tossing eels?

I fish eels mostly at night and do not like using a conventional at night because I have more difficulty managing overspooling and checking the spool for small loops and such between casts.

I certainly do, its all I use, I feel conventional and eels were made for each other !

The reason I started using conventional was to toss eels. You have to get used to fishing at night with it no doubt about it, but its really a great way to toss eels

[Nebe]

smoooooth cast.... not a jerky cast is the key.

[t.orlando]

Thumb the edge of the spool, not the line itself..........dont worry you will get used to it.

[Saltheart]

If you are doing everything else perfect , you should only have to thunmb the spool at the top of the arc and when the lure (or whatever) hits the water.

In reality , many people do have to touch it right out of the gate to calm down an overrun caused by a jerky cast. Some guys cast low line drives so don't have to thumb at the top of the arc and that's wrong too. for best distance , aim high. (yes , sometimes windy conditions require line drives).


best advice anyone can give you about using a conventional is start slow and gain distance with technique , not umph. You will seldom get overruns if you are casting into pitch black . Since you can't see where its landing , you tend not to push for distance and therefore have little trouble. Turn on the lights so you now try to reach some imaginary distance goal and you start backlashing like crazy.

a guy who has the timing and starts the loading of the rod way back in the cast will outcast the guy who is using all muscle every time.

[lurch]

You can also listen to the reel...she will tell you when you are about to have a rats nest and when the lure is going to hit the water.....hover your thumb just over the spool so if the line gets ready to nest your thumb will be ready to apply braking pressure. In theory, the lure should be hitting the water when the spool is spinning the slowest so listen to when the spool slows down and you dont need to see the lure hit the water at night.

Also use the proper lure weight with the correct rod....What I mean is dont use a 1/2oz lure on a rod designed to throw 4-6oz, it will work but you have a greater chance of rat nesting.

I actually just bought my first spipnning reel in 15 years. I still cannot get used to a spinner and the only reason why I bought one was because I was using my conv in a 30mph wind in my face last november....I was able to cast very well in the wind but after every 15-20 casts I nested up because of the wind.

Good luck and be patient!