reel position

[MC]

I have read a few posts in this forum and was wondering reel up or down, does it make a difference?

[stevecrow74]

i find it really awkward to cast with the reel down.. but thats probably just me :D

[fishinmidget]

i found it really awkward to cast with it down to start with but you get used to it and now i prefer it like that. i now find it difficult to cast with the reel up.

[MC]

but does having the reel low help in casting and does it have any effect on the rod action?

[IDPearl]

I too used to fish reel up, switched to low and won't look back. I Still had one rod with the seat in the high position, used it once and cut it off as soon as I got back - couldn't get on with it!!

As for rod action, reel low gives you a good grip on the spool as you should be pulling round with your lower (leading) hand. This then allows you to grip the rod tight with your upper hand. If you do have a reducer, it is easier to reel in, so you leave the reduced out to cast, cast, put the reducer back in and wind in. I have a captive twist & lock reducer which is fantastic. Twist it, pull it out, twist again to lock it.

[paddyc]

i think its just a personal preference, i did cast high reel before but not long enough for it to sink in and then changed to low reel one day and it all just felt better/easier and have not looked back since,, i dont think it makes a diff really, remember paul kerry cast with the reel up 12ft AWT and did 292yards in a comp and had many more big casts not too far off the magical 300.....

[Kraken]

Is there any recommended distance where the reel should be from the butt of the rod??

Thinking of going reel down as I cant grip the spool fully in the high position resulting in the spool slipping halfway thru the cast :cry:

john.

[Norfolk and Goode]

Kracken, reel down once you get used to it is IMO the only way to go!

Why? When using the reel up ie. right hand at the top, there is far to much strain put onto the right hand and a great deal more to think about, again IMHO. If using you reel up then you top hand has to obviously (dependent on casting style), control the spool, also controlling the twist that the rod has when putting in the power stroke. Your cast is a great deal slower and smoother with no kick at the end. It's hard to explain fully in words why I feel it is superior, but again what you can guarantee is someone will find the reel up the butt suits them. I found when switching over to reel down it did feel odd, but the odd feeling only lasted for about 10 casts. Reel down IMO helps you can control the line lifting much easier by feathering the spool with you left hand when needed.

If I was you either turn/slide your magnets up to full or put in large brake blocks and give it ago. But remember SLOW you cast down quite alot. You will probably find you rod feels alot softer and you cast goes further for the same effort. :wink: 8) 8)

Steve

[MC]

started using the reel down, thanks to the lads at the ulster casting club who are helping me out, back to topic the reel down the butt is easier to use as i felt the rods action was softer and it was easier to get the cast in the right direction as i could use my right hand to control the rod without worrying about the reel, I am now converted and use all rods reel down

[Lee337]

Congratulations on your new P.B. at the UCC day MC - Will have to keep an eye over my shoulder at the rate you are catching up. 8)

Lee

[MC]

what can i say lee with Sean and all at UCC i may even beat you someday, :lol: stop laughing it is possible :lol:

[Kraken]

Well......

tried it with reel down last night and cant seem to get into it at all :cry:

Gave it 4 casts and each time the spool slipped on me almost resulting in a birdie - just escaped it thankfully :lol:

Moved the reel back up and hit 175 yards approx.(with 4oz lead) but as said in other posts the lead was hitting the ground on most casts.

Gotta say though - that reel was screaming for mercy (no mercy for you!!)
Nice to hear it howl though :D :D :D :D
Kinda scares u the first time u hear it really howl :shock: :shock:

Just to ask the question again..

Is there a prefered distance the reel should be at from the end of the rod when using reel down? What distance are people using?

john

[Drew]

Funny that.... I tried casting with Reel up (After about a year down) last night, and it felt as awkward as sin! :lol:

But to Answer your Question mate, its personal preferance, I'm fishing with no reducers, so I've got the Reel set about 18cm up the Butt to give a bit of room on the retrieve.

[fishinmidget]

im using about the same distance as drew on my carbon metal.

[Jonny]

what can i say lee with Sean and all at UCC i may even beat you someday, :lol: stop laughing it is possible :lol:

I'm not laughing anyway. :evil: I think I'm just there to get beaten by by all the new guys that attend the meets.Since you already beat me with the 200gm I sure the rest will soon follow.


As for reel position I'd say 99% of the time I use it down the butt.As Drew has said once you get used to it it's hard to revert back.

[Drew]

I don't own a G5 anymore, so I'll probably drop it to about 10cm considering I now have a Rod w/Reducer, llf! :lol:

[Kraken]

Cheers for the replies 8)

was using reel down at about 4 inches from butt - seems to be too low down based on what others are doing

will move it up a tad and try again :roll:

john

i casted with the reel down for the first time on sunday and it was so much better i thought

[MAC]

Just switched to the reel down a couple of weeks ago, to try bash a few leads out in the field. First few casts were way to the left. My left hand thumb was holding on for too long. Managed to sort this out in the second session. Now I am loving it, and will more than likely stay with the reel in this position. When casting leads only with the long drop, I feel like I have much more time and seem to get a better loading on the rod because of this. Even tried my first pendulum the other day while out casting with KStaf. It was messy, but managed to hit a few.

Kev