And this is a guy who fishes with us from time to time that I call "Backlash Bob"
I had already spent 20 min digging this out for him before I said I need to take your picture.
I don't jig enough to know/understand conventional advantages but I keep considering it for drifting eels. That seems like it would be way better with conventional. Spinning seems fine for just about everything else. Learning to fish conventional does seem like a good way to cure boredom when there are not any fish around.
And this is a guy who fishes with us from time to time that I call "Backlash Bob"
I had already spent 20 min digging this out for him before I said I need to take your picture.
Be a hero and show him the backlash trick....i.e., cranking against your thumb......it is on youtube.....works pretty well.......wish I'd known about it 20 years ago.
I don't jig the canal much, but I do find it much easier to do well with conventional tackle. Dropping back big swimmers in current is another place it shines.
If you want to jig and want to use spinning gear and still drop back as you would with conventional gear just jig with your bail open. pinch your line between your finger and rod and have your other hand on the bail. When your jig gets picked up flip your bail and drop your rod tip followed by your hook set. Do the same with eels. takes a few fish to get use to but once you do you'll be able to do everything you can do with a conventional setup.
wear a piece of tape as you would for casting.
Nobody calls me Lebowski. You got the wrong guy. I'm the Dude, man.
Be a hero and show him the backlash trick....i.e., cranking against your thumb......it is on youtube.....works pretty well.......wish I'd known about it 20 years ago.
I don't jig the canal much, but I do find it much easier to do well with conventional tackle. Dropping back big swimmers in current is another place it shines.
Hmmm... I'll have to try this. I'm sure the next trip out with a conv I'll get a chance.
It doesn't take too long to learn to cast a conventional. It takes a lifetime to learn enough discipline not to try to overcast your own ability. You never overrun a reel just casting normal. It always happens when you want more distance than your current ability allows. (or you catch a bush or something interfers with the cast...that doesn't count)
The best proof of what I say above is to take a few hours to learn the reel. Then cast with your eyes closed or into pitch black darkness. You will almost never overrun the reel. Now , cast conservatively 5 times and note how far out it lands. Next try to cast 50 yards past that. Bang , I can almost guarantee an overrun.
Yes , it takes a lot to control the reel like a world champ but just sending out the lure or eel enough to be in the game , takes just a short time.
I find that if you get it in your head that down time is far worse an evil than long casting is a benefit , you will settle in quickly with a conventional. Start conservatively and let repeated casting get to be part of your body language. Soon you'll start getting your body into it more , your waist , your legs , your two arms seperately. The distance will come naturally with time.
Start conservatively and let repeated casting get to be part of your body language. Soon you'll start getting your body into it more , your waist , your legs , your two arms seperately. The distance will come naturally with time.
I think it's all preference in what one uses at the canal,most of the Guys I know were mostly convench but now with these high end spinners most have strayed.
I have found that if you drift eels you some times have no say in the matter of what size you get at the bait store like shoes stringsso this is where spinning will still get you distance vs convench.
If it's any constellation I still prefer to use convench for eels,jigging and plugging
MY backlash story,
Mid Nov a bunch of years ago Tedy Tours and I are fishing SW corner on the block, miserable cold rainy nite. I was all conventional all the time for years back then.( Newells and abu's )
First cast with a big bottle plug, must have turned a little sideways. ( I used to take out all the brakes , use ceramic bushings , rocket oil and let it rip )
Well I get a backlash that looks like Troy Palamalu on a bad hair day.
Truck with bulk spool is a 30 minute hike away, get to truck and realize keys are in plug bag back on beach.
3 days later I'm at Roys getting a big old RA spun up for spinning jumbo plugs and eels.
I'm not that much of a purist.
We will be back on the beach before we know it kids. . .
I use an old glass lami rod for my conventional gear and have no problem.I put the same reel on a 1266c loomis and I didn't enjoy casting it as much.Not that I couldn't cast it but I saw no advantage using that rod at my experience level.This year I may step up to one of those Mojo rods.Too bad I don't see one in 9ft.
Hmmm... I'll have to try this. I'm sure the next trip out with a conv I'll get a chance.
Found the video:
That trick might work with mono but on braid I don't think it'll be so receptive.Mono has a lot of fluff and there might be some dug in areas on the spool,but braid is allot thinner and seems to dig in deeper.
That trick might work with mono but on braid I don't think it'll be so receptive.Mono has a lot of fluff and there might be some dug in areas on the spool,but braid is allot thinner and seems to dig in deeper.
It works pretty well with 20lb fireline most of the time.
It works pretty well with 20lb fireline most of the time.
That would be great if it works with thicker braid,I have had a couple really nice tangles that took more time than expected,but if this trick works, one could de tangle with there eye's closed
so this is where spinning will still get you distance vs convench.
Hybrid Mode
