Bottom fishing with Conventionals

[mytmouse]

Hey everyone,
I tried asking this on another question, but I think that with it not being a boat forum people didn't quite understand me... I have fished with a bait caster before, so I understand how conventionals work, but what I don't get is how you keep from blowing up when you hit bottom? Do you just drop it slowly(thumb it) until you feel the bottom or tune the reel so it drops slowly?

Thanks for your help,
MYT

[mmanolis2001]

Lite thumb pressure is all you need. The speed at which your bait drops will not backlash a reel generally.

[Foursteps24]

Ive used them befor on deep sea fishing trips before and i was taught to use your thumb to control the speed as it goes down. When i used it the biggest thing was not letting it drop too fast. It was a long time ago and ive only fished with one a couple times

[ictalurus]

When you cast, you have to stop the spool when the weight hits the water. Then I usually take my thumb off the spool to let it drop more if I want, or else I just let the weight come toward me as it sinks (because the amount of line out is fixed). This is based on casting lures--I've never used a baitcaster when fishing with a surf rod.

[Memory Maker]

The thumb is what most people use but you can also use the casting control knob to slow the drop a bit and it will help control the backlash until you get the hang of it. Had the same problem and that's what I did .......

[mytmouse]

Thanks guys! That helps a ton... I just didn't wanna get one only to get birdsnests by messin up! LOL

MYT

[MetroMan]

Ive used them befor on deep sea fishing trips before and i was taught to use your thumb to control the speed as it goes down. When i used it the biggest thing was not letting it drop too fast.

Same for me here

[surfdog]

just remember not to take your thumb off before the spool stops or you engage the reel or you will be picking tweety pies out of the reel

[ronaultmtd]

Hard to beat a conventional reel for controlling fish- I have always used them- all second nature to me- feathering the spool with a little pressure with your thumb against the side of the spool is easy and you don't have to touch the line- The only thing you are doing is preventing overspeed of the revolving spool so that the spool and the line are at the exact same speed- it doesn't take much pressure to do that- today's magnetic control casting reels pretty much eliminate backlash-