Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: shakespug on September 25, 2010, 12:05:03 PM
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How does one fix bird's nest?
I'm brand-new to the whole bait casting method and I'm spooled with 15 lb test monofilament.
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One knot at time....... ;D
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One knot at time....... ;D
and patience or you'll just end up cutting it.
Find where a knot is and give it a back and forth pulling motion, like flossing ( teeth that is ;D)
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That is when a spare reel comes in hand , take off the one you are using and use the spare . Start untangling at home when you have spare time . Good luck
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Go to your closest sewing store and buy yourself the smallest crochet needle. It has a small hook at the end. It's ideal for picking out the birdnest.
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More importantly,
A couple of tips to prevent it from happening again ... and again ... and again ...
Firstly, did you set your spool tension correctly? I noticed the comment that you're brand new to a bait-casting reel. One common mistake for folks new to bait casters is not setting the spool tension correctly. If it is set too loose then once your weight hits the water after a cast the spool will continue to turn and spew out line causing the tangle. To set the tension correctly start by tightening down the spool tension knob as tight as you can. (Silver knob on the inside of the star-shaped tension knob). Next, set up the rod with your weight, lure etc ... Then lift your rod tip up high so your tackle is dangling below. Finally, back off the tension spool until you notice that your line begins to fall to the ground. It should fall at a slow controlled speed.
Now you've got your spool tension set correctly. Note; it is good practice to re-adjust this every time you're changing your terminal tackle as different set ups have different weights.
Secondly, your thumb should be used to assist in controlling the spool speed. When you cast, try applying thumb pressure directly to the spool in the moments before your weight hits the water. This will ensure that you won't free spool the reel when no more line is required for your cast.
Do those two things and you'll be spending less time cutting and re-spooling! A couple of times of out and you'll have it all figured out.
Enjoy!
WIMF
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Thanks for all the replies! :D
I guess I'll have to practice more. Note to self - adjust tensioner.
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I just laugh when I see guys sitting on the bank tying up, fixing rats nest or untangling.
The best way to catch fish, is to have your line in the water. Minimize the time that you dont have your line in the water, be prepared before hand and have a game plan before you arrive (where to fish).
Carry an extra reel, pretie some leader and good idea of where to fish, so you spend less time walking and more time covering good water.
Also sitting at home on the computer would be bad advice.
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I know ; every good fisher has a back up. So there you are at the horniest looking water ever and kazaam your next longest cast hits a branch or something and the spool continues to spin. Whip out the spare reel and you are back in business. Because you never know ; the 30 minutes you spend untangling the spool could be the time when the fishes are biting. Now I have two level winds , and a big old spinning reel with me when salmon fishing.
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Do you guys carry all this extra crap in a wheelbarrow?
Just drag the tip of your thumb on the spinning spool the whole cast until you're comfortable taking your thumb off completely. Set the tension higher too, and use heavier weights until you're more comfortable casting light weights/low tension.
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I just laugh when I see guys sitting on the bank tying up, fixing rats nest or untangling.
You just laugh, do you? Wow, I hope that some day I evolve as an angler to your stratospheric status. ::)
Eveyone starts somewhere. God forbid that you ever were an inexperienced angler.
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As much as I like to help an inexperienced angler out, Showing them how to pick a rats nest out is something every new angler should learn themselves. ;)
All I was trying to get at was prepare on your down time, so when you get to the river you can make everylast minute count.
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All I was trying to get at was prepare on your down time, so when you get to the river you can make everylast minute count.
Weeell if you put it that way, then that is something I can agree with you on.
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He who makes fun of the angler who bird nests their reel shall endure a birds nest of their own upon their very next cast
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get to work , went fishing with my buddy and he had a bad one that took a 1 hr to undo :o
1 hour of untangling is better than cutting all the line off like mine.
:-\
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1 hour of untangling is better than cutting all the line off like mine.
:-\
The best advice I can give you (I'm noob as well, this is my second year salmon fishing the Vedder) is to practice thumbing the spool. Keep your casting motion smooth and don't whip it out there ( just yet ;)), I like to chomp down on the spool with my thumb right before my gear hits the water, that way the spool wont over-run. Always try and keep an eye on your spool from time to time, just to make sure your line is wound up tightly on there, if there's a bit that isn't things can get ugly after just a few casts...good luck!
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I always always have my thumb at least lightly on the spool during casts. If it's starts to overrun a little bit, you'll feel it right away and can apply more pressure before it gets out of control. It's faster to bail on a cast and quickly reel in than have to deal with even a small backlash.
Adjusting the freespool tension definitely helps too, but there's no need to have it too tight.
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I have used "the force" today at stave and no birdnest for 2 hours ;D
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDI5kwR5zjc&feature=player_embedded
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDI5kwR5zjc&feature=player_embedded
looks interesting have to try it sometime
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Watching newbies landing socks is closely followed by the shock look of birds nest, very entertaining. ;)
Mono is fairly easy to unnest, just like sex, back and forth until it comes out 8).Try thin braided line <50#, and if it dug in and snaps inside the spool start cutting.
Problem starts with most don't know how to cast (also very entertaining to watch the baseball style windup for a short cast). Surprising most folks don't know to tension the rod before casting. No different than a smash with a birdie or volleyball. Tension/compression is required, then a smooth snap will cascade that projectile way out there with minimal effort with full control of the spool.
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You are saying braided lines are better for the baitcaster? ???
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go to a school field and practice. you may get some funny looks but when you are on the water you want to fish... take it easy and tight lines
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Saying Bird's nest are way worst with braided line plus it is easy to wrap the tip with braided.
Go mono with baitcaster. I use about 30' of mono, then braided backing on my TE201.
You are saying braided lines are better for the baitcaster? ???
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Ambassadeurs are tricky reels to cast with some satisfaction.
You use a light weight then switch to a heavier weight. First cast, new weight, and if you are not careful, you overspool on the cast and backlash.
You use a heavy weight and switch to a lighter one. First cast, you throw harder and "force it" Line does not go where you want it to and you have a backlash.
If you put the anti-backlash on too much, you get no distance. To get the distance you want, you loosen it right off and cast easily, but then, have to worry about a backlash.
I have found numerous things to cause backlashes and usually get at least one a year.
Some tips:
-Use Mono if you get a lot. Usually heavier mono as well. It is easier to get it out.
-Once you see you have a backlash, never try to pull the line and pull the backlash out. You just cinch up the knots tighter.
-Avoid using a scissors to work the line/knots out. If you use a long darning hook for rubber worms and keep it with you, use that to slowly pick the line. If you have no needle, look at using a fish hook.
-Always roll the backlash backwards first, rather than rolling it ahead. Once it rolls backwards and stops, begin to wiggle the line and start to work it free. once done, pull the line ahead slowly and not too tightly. Once you hit the second knot in the backlash, roll it backwards once again and start the process over again.
-Sometimes, if worse comes to worse and you are desperate, cut the line at the swivel, pull the float off, and force the line back through the guide. Once this is done, force the freed line back through the knots in the backlash.
Hope this helps out,
Dano
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Sometimes, if worse comes to worse and you are desperate, cut the line at the swivel, pull the float off, and force the line back through the guide. Once this is done, force the freed line back through the knots in the backlash.
Brilliant suggestion. I had the mother of all birdsnests this summer when on a mighty cast, the hook snagged up on my rod, and the reel mushroomed. After sitting on my duff for too long trying to pick it out, I resorted to the "cut it out" technique of untangling.
Your suggestion would have worked much better.