{"id":3591,"date":"2022-05-30T20:30:49","date_gmt":"2022-05-30T20:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gofishingoutdoors.com\/?p=3591"},"modified":"2022-05-30T20:31:33","modified_gmt":"2022-05-30T20:31:33","slug":"the-best-baitcaster-setup-for-light-lures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gofishingoutdoors.com\/the-best-baitcaster-setup-for-light-lures\/","title":{"rendered":"The best baitcaster setup for light lures"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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If you\u2019ve gotten comfortable with a baitcaster you might want to start using it all the time instead of a spinning setup. Unfortunately, baitcasters usually aren\u2019t the best option for lures below \u00bc ounce. They don\u2019t cast very far and you\u2019ll increase the chance of backlashes.<\/span><\/p>

But thanks to new technology in fishing reel design, you actually can find baitcast reels that will cast under \u00bc ounce. Some will even go to \u215b ounce lures if you have the right setup overall.<\/span><\/p>

Lets talk about what reels to look for, what line to pair them with, and what rods you should be look at for lightweight lures if you want to use a baitcaster. Or, if you want the short version, the baitcast reel I recommend for light lures is the Daiwa Tatula Elite<\/strong><\/a> paired with a 7\u2019 or longer medium moderate action rod and 10 pound braid or 6 pound monofilament.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why baitcasters won't work with light lures<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lets start by talking about why baitcasters don\u2019t work very well with lures under \u00bc of an ounce generally. This is because of the way spools work inside of a baitcast reel. When you cast out a baitcaster, the spool (the part the line sits on) spins freely. This is what gives you maximum distance and how the line comes off the rod smoothly.<\/span><\/p>

However, this also leads to overruns or backlashes. This is when the spool (and the line) is coming out too quickly and doesn\u2019t stop once the bait hits the water. The bait has no where to go, but the line keeps coming out and loops and knots.<\/span><\/p>

In contrast, a spinning reel does not have a spool that moves freely. It is static and the line just comes off the spool as you cast it. Thus, when the bait hits the water or stops moving, the line automatically stops moving as well. It doesn\u2019t have the momentum built up like a freely moving spool does to keep the line coming out and knotting.<\/span><\/p>

Now for light lures specifically, it becomes very hard to put enough force on the light lure to keep it going at the same rate as the spool. You cast it hard and the spool easily starts turning – but a light lure will only go a short distance and then fall. The spool has too much momentum and will release more and more line, creating backlash after backlash. If you correct by making too soft of a cast, then the lure just won\u2019t go anywhere because there is no weight to it.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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So how do we use a baitcaster with light lures?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The way we fix it is a bit complicated but I’ll try and break it down easily. First, you want a rod that \u201cloads up\u201d well to create maximum distance. This means it needs to bend easily and it needs to bend throughout the rod and not just in the tip. <\/span><\/p>

So what you want is a medium, moderate action casting rod. Medium is light enough to bend easily, and moderate action means it will bend throughout the whole pole to really get that whiplike motion to get even light lures flying. If you want a rod that I have used and recommend, take a look at this St. Croix Mojo Casting Rod<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

Then, you need to think about the weight of the fishing line. Part of the reason it\u2019s hard to cast light lures is that the line it is attached to becomes too heavy, provides too much friction, and you can\u2019t get the momentum behind a light lure to overcome this. Since you can\u2019t change the weight of the lure, you have to change the resistance provided by the line. So you need to get one that is smoother and has a smaller diameter.<\/span><\/p>

The best choice for this is braided line, as it comes off baitcasters very smoothly and is always smaller diameter than any plastic line counterpart. 10 pound test is usually about as light as you can get away with so it\u2019s a good plaice to start, I personally like this brand<\/strong><\/a> from Sufix.<\/span><\/p>

But if you don\u2019t want to tie a leader on to the end of your line or are worried that fish may see you line color with braid, you can use monofilament instead. Try to go with a good 6 pound test like Trilene XL<\/strong><\/a> and you should be good to go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The best baitcast reel for light lures<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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So you have the rod and line – now the most important part- the baitcast reel. Unfortunately there aren\u2019t many specifications for baitcast reels that make them great for light lures. Gear ratio, number of ball bearings, and the usual suspects you see in baitcast marketing don\u2019t actually have a thing to do with if a light lure will work with your reel.<\/span><\/p>

Instead, you need the lightest spool possibly to get it going easily with the bait instead of being heavy and providing too much resistance. It also needs a tremendous magnetic braking system, as it\u2019s impossible to cast light lures without getting the spool spinning faster than where the bait will go. So it needs to have the technology to help you stop the line coming out easily as soon as that bait starts slowing down.<\/span><\/p>

Frankly, this means you’re going to need a top of the line baitcast reel option.<\/strong><\/p>

In my opinion, the baitcast reel that best matches this description is the Daiwa Tatula Elite<\/strong><\/a>. If you look at their specifications, everything specially engineered for this reel is to make it cast further and be as lightweight as possible. Those are the two things you want in a baitcast reel for light lures – as it will help you get distance which prevents backlashes and is lightweight to provide the least resistance as possible – making a fluid casting motion.<\/span><\/p>

Don\u2019t just take my word for it, go to Tackle Warehouse and look for the #1 selling baitcast reel. It\u2019s the Daiwa Tatula, though a different model. Read these forums<\/a> from Bass Resource on the best fishing reel for light lures – you will see the Daiwa Tatula Elite all over it. Daiwa has made a name for themselves among fisherman for producing the best baitcasters on the market. With light lures, you want the best of the best. So the top of the line offering from the top rated brand is the best way to go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Daiwa Tatula Elite Specifications<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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