Easy way to teach how to use baitcaster?

Here is the deal. My oldest daughter just turned 10. I've got a Shimano Crestfire on a 5'6" uglystick that is pretty easy to use. I told her if she masters it by Christmas I'll buy her a good combo as a Christmas gift.

What do yall recommend as the best way to help her? She already has control down pretty well with a Zebco 202.

Set the brake up tighter, and show her how to ride her thumb on the spool. Start her off making short casts and let her work up making longer casts as she improves her control. When she gets a bird nest, and she will, reassure her that it happens to even the best anglers. Keep her confidence up with praise. This will help from her getting discouraged.

i taught my friend pretty quick. just told him to fling it and thumb the spool right before it hit the water. he did good

Getting the thumb educated, and not to concentrate on distance at first.

I taught my son when he was 8yr old. Pull out a small amount of line that she will be casting. Put a strip of tape on the remainder of the line on the reel and then reel the line back up. That way when she does backlash it and she will it is very easy to pick it out and cast again. Nothing worse than cast, pick backlash out thats how I learn took soon long. Good luck.

GReat IDEA!!!

thats one of the best ideads I have heard on teaching how to use a baitcaster.. thanks. Now I wont be afraid to let me wife use my MG50....

My Dad seemed to have the theory, if I back lash it and I have to dig it out, I will learn quicker. Not sure if I learned quickly or not but I can dig out some of the worst today. That skill will come in handy when my son is old enough to learn I guess.

Use the thumb.

Medium action rod
1/2 - 3/4 oz rattletrap
Light line - maybe 10 lb

The medium action rod will load easily and the light line won't have much memory and will be easy to pick out. Head out to the lake and have her just smoothly cast it out (not whip cast it). That thing will go a country mile. Teach her to feather the spool with her thumb as it flies and show her how she can stop it with her thumb as well.

You can play with the clutches somewhat but I find if you tighten them down too much they tend to fight it even worse.

Dont use a trap as mentioned above. Lol too many hooks. Try a lil george or something with some weight and fewer hooks. Chatter bait maybe they fly decent

3/8oz jig for my wife. not so much worried on if she catches something until she learns how to use the equipment.

I'd use weighted casting plugs instead of lures.

She will be using them to practice. I really like the tape idea.

I took her to Academy last night & let her pick a rattle trap & a spinnerbait. I told her that as long as she fishes with me what's mine is hers but she wanted something of her own.

dave i cant find your cell# call me

give her a 3 hook-stickbait and put her in the back of the boat with Jay.... LOL!!!

I remember my Dad always telling me to turn the reel sideways as you make the cast...I'm not exactly sure what it does but it seems to help...

Casting with the "handles up" allows your wrist better flexing action.

Hold your hand out like you're shaking hands with someone and then turn your hand "palm down" and then move it up and down and you'll see and feel the difference.

The tape idea was told to me by a couple of friends. I bought my 9 yr old daughter a baitcast. I made a moderate cast and taped it up. It wasn't long (a couple of trips) and she was hitting the tape. I made a long cast and retaped. My only addition to the previous posts is to not let her switch back and forth to a 202 or similar. It seemes to set her back after she uses it.