I have been fishing all my life but have always used spinning reels. I recently purchased a bait caster just for Red Fish. Backlashes are a pain. What kind of line is best for this type of reel? Mono or braided? Or do I just need more practice?

I would say mono would be easier to adjust and to just keep practicing. If your reel has brakes, make sure to set them in order to minimize backlashes and ease the transition. Give it time.

WHAT KIND OF REEL IS IT?

Start with short cast and then work on longer ones. It takes alot of practice and the only way you are going to get the hang of it is to practice. I remember the first baitcaster that I bought I took back and got another spinning reel. I finally bought another baitcaster and just practiced with it in the back yard. I still get backlashes from time to time, but i am sure that I am not the only one.

Oh yeah, I forgot. Keep your thumb on the spool until you get the hang of it. That will help you slow the spool down and cut down on your backlashes. Also check on your spool tension, make sure it is not to loose, because then it dosent matter how good you are you will overrun everytime.

LET OUT ENOUGH LINE FOR A ALONG CAST, ADD 3 YARDS. PUT A PIECE OF ELECTRICAL TAPE ON SPOOL. VOILA, NO MORE BACK LASH. BIGGEST REASONS FOR BACKLASHES, IMPRPOPER WEIGHHT SETTING, TRYING TO CAST TO FAR.

cbass..your in trouble if you hook a big fish or even a decent one if it hits it when the bait hits the water right? How can the drag/line go out if you have it taped down?

Start out with 15# test until you get used
to the reel. It is both easyer to cast and pick out back lashes.
What brand / model reel is it??

I bought a couple of Calcutta 251's about 5 or 6 years ago because a guy told me that it couldn't be backlashed. I dispelled that myth on the first cast. Picture this- Here I am with my shiny new 7' Falcon rod and Calcutta. I put on a 1oz weight, walked out into the street (small town and no traffic), ready to cast my first baitcast reel. Well... not first, I have extensive experience backlashing Ambassador 5000's but that's another story. Push the release, thumb on the spool, back cast, forward cast, release at around 45 degrees. I rehearsed that in my mind and I felt I was ready to do the deed. Here we go... Push the release, thumb on the spool, back cast, lift thumb forward cast with all of my effort. I wanted to see how far it would cast. Well... see that part where I lifted my thumb after the back cast? That's a bad thing to do. My 1 oz egg sinker was now rocketing away from me but it was behind me and going the wrong way My little pea brain didn't realize that so I "slung" my rod forward with all the vengence of a someone casting a 12' surf rod with 5 oz of surf weights attached to the other end. All I heard was Pfffftttttt... as every inch of the brand new braided line that I had just installed turned into a high strength birds nest. I had to cut every inch of line off of the spool I've since learned to cast my baitcasters in about any condition, including into a stiff wind, and backlashes don't occur very often but my first lesson was painful.

I still backlash them every now and then. Mostly when I have my head up my... am not thinking... I've got the brake set lite. I use Stren Super Braid 40# test / 10# diameter. If it backlashes I can usually clear it pretty quickly. There are two adjustments to make to control backlash. The cast control knob controls the tension on the spool. I usually set mine so that when I take my thumb off of the spool the bait falls briskly to the water. If you are having backlashes at the end of the cast, adjust the cast control knob so that the bait falls more slowly (more tension on the spool). If the backlash is occuring at the beginning of the cast then you should "kick in" more inertial brakes.

If you don't have a Calcutta then this post doesn't help much.

try berkley sensation

I've used nothing but baitcasters since I began fishing about a year ago, here in South Padre Island. In a nut shell and as most of the folks have said here, keep practicing and keep thumb pressure on the spool until you get better. Also, stick to mono for now. Once you get good with the baitcaster you'll love it!

Try a Calcutta...enjoy!

try adjusting your weight size...using too little will result in backlashes as will using too much. Keep your thumb on the line as it's going out -- this adds pressure (down-force) and keeps it from over-spooling itself. i do recommend pouring a little cool, fresh water on the line and spool before casting...that helps reduce friction and minimizes the slicing and dicing that mono is prone to do to hands and thumbs.

It's all part of the fun! I LOVE to turn around and stare down my fishing partner when I know he's got a big birdnest. I'll act like I don't see it and say something like "hurry up and throw that fancy lure you've been yappin' about into that honey hole"...then slowly turn and look at him over my sunglasses. Priceless

I've noticed that I've personally had more backlashes on heavier lures than lighter ones. How heavy are the lures you're throwing out?

The best advice is to practice thumbing the spool on practice casts in your own yard. Practice with different weights to get use to the feeling.

El Copone has never responded to his own thread but I will tell everyone here...I am 41 and occasionaly still back-lash.
It is a un-avoidalbe part of the baitcaster that happens. Though its usually a simple over run cleared by a few pulls off the spool but once a year, usualy in trout green surf with action happening all around I will get excited and make a real nest that has to be cleared back on the beach!!! Arghhh!!!!!!