the Tailout May 2020 tailout_may2020finalx | Page 8

TIPS & TAILOUTS
Maximizing Casting Performance
As a reel technician, I get lots of custom-
ers who are wishing to achieve better
casting distance or better “free spool”
from their bait casting reels. During
my troubleshooting process, I often
notice that the reels are not adjusted
properly to maximize the casting
performance of the reel. An extensive
cleaning and proper lubrication com-
bined with proper reel adjustments
will deliver all the desired free spool
the customer could want.
The common misperception re-
garding the cast control knob is that if
backing it off is supposed to increase
the free spool, the more you back
it off, the more freely the spool will
spin. This is not the case. To properly
adjust the reel for the most optimum
free spool, you need to first depress
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the thumb bar, or disengage the reel
as if you were to make a cast. Place
your thumb on the spool. Wiggle your
thumb from left to right while depress-
ing on the spool. There will likely
be “knocking” sound as you move
your thumb left to right. This noise
is caused by the ends of the spool
shaft knocking against the shims that
lay under the bearings inside the side
plate on both sides of the reel. Slowly
tighten down the cast control knob
while moving the spool back and forth
with your thumb. The side-to-side
movement of the spool will diminish
as you tighten down the cast control
knob. The idea is to tighten to the
point where there is just the slightest
movement back and forth. You will
barely be able to hear or feel any more
knocking as you move the spool under
your thumb. This is the setting where
your reel will have its greatest free
spool performance. Further adjust-
ments can be made by tuning off the
centrifugal casting pins on the spool,
or turning the magnetic backlash con-
trol to the “off ” or “0” position.
Further tightening of the cast
control knob beyond the optimal
point will result in more pressure on
the tips of the spool shaft, and slow
down the spool. Further loosening
of the cast control knob beyond the
optimal point will result in the spool
knocking back and forth during the
cast as the line is coming off of the
spool. This will also slow down the
spool and adversely affect casting
distance. JOHN STRENK