Bait Caster Getting The Best Of Me

[gunflint]

I've got a 3 or 4 year old Cabelas Prodigy bait caster. The spool will not stop even with the drag cranked all the way down. When you set the hook on a large fish or a snag it just free spools. If I tie the line to a tree at a certain point the spool will just spin although slowly like it's in neutral. Any ideas?

[Ralph Wiggum]

What kind of line? If you've got superline tied directly to the spool, I'll bet the spool is spinning inside of the line. A bit of mono or electrical tape on the spool will solve the problem.

[gunflint]

I've got mono backing on Power-Pro. When I set the hook the even with the drag set all the way down, it literally free spools into a rats nest. I learned about line slippage with super lines years ago when I started using FireLine. This isn't it.

[upnorth]

I am guessing some thing amiss with the drag washers. There should be a wavey(I can't think of a better way to describe it)washer that compresses to apply pressure on the spool, probably flat or stuck.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm going to go a different direction and say your anti back reel clutch/bearing is toast...Could be a stripped gear as well.. at the very least it sounds like it need a trip to a reel Dr.

[polarsusd81]

Good approach Deitz. I would be leaning towards the anti reverse bearing being toast as well. I had one that went out on a Shimano Corsair and was having the same problems you are talking about.

[folke2000]

I agree the antireverse is gone....If it's a cabelas reel, try bringing it back for replacement. My brother in law had same problem and they exchanged no questions asked.

Good luck

[crothmeier]

take it back, they will replace it. Ever see how many of those things end up in the bargain cave? I know people that are on their 2nd and 3rd prodigy.

[upnorth]

With the baitcasters I have, if you loosen the drag enough the spool will spin. If you have a one way/anti reverse bearing controlling the spool, there will effectively have no drag as there will be no slippage.

[Deitz Dittrich]

On a side note.. its a VERY good idea to back your drags way off(loosen them) for the off season or if you are not going to use them for quite a period of time.. helps the washers last longer.

[gunflint]

Cabela's basic told me to take a hike. Brining it in is out of the question until they open the one in Cloquet. (If ever) besides the new Prodigy doesn't have a flipping switch. All I use it for is bottom bouncing. I have the manual that came with it so I think I'm going to rip into it and do an autopsy. Who knows maybe I can figure out what went south and get a part for it.

[Ed Carlson]

Try cleaning it our well...the anti reverse may be sticky from thick grease or a bugger of something hanging it up? Clean it and lube it lightly with Hot Sauce ... then see if it snaps out of it.

The thumb bar may also be buggered up and not completely reengaging after the cast, again, try cleaning the old [PoorWordUsage] grease out and lube with Hot Sauce or Reel Butter lube.