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Just bought a Abu Garcia Revo Toro 61

1784 Views 16 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  6667supersport
Just got smokin deal on a revo toro 61 on ebay and got it today. I have been using a spinning reel all my life. I tried a baitcaster in the earlier 80's after a counter guy told me I would toss all my spinners after using it for a day. Well it lasted 10 mintues and I went back to so my pinning equipment. I got a great deal on a baitcasting muskie pole and finally got a great deal on the reel. So any tips on using the reel for a beginner ???? I dont know anyone that uses one for casting, so I cant just take a friend out and have him show me. I plan on reading the instructions to see whats up, but I know there was a post on this reel this spring. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know to use some mono before spooling it up with the braid.
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The things I always say to a beginner in my boat is to just start soft. Start with 20' casts, then 30, and so on. Also, let the rod do the work. Don't try to swing like a baseball bat. The adjuster knob on the handle side will also help. It should slowly let out line with your lure hanging from the end of your rod. You will have to adjust it for each lure's weight. When the lure is about to hit the water, stop the spool with your thumb. Otherwise, the lure will stop, but the line will want to keep coming out, causing a bird's nest. Good luck!
QUOTE(Jim tenHaaf @ Aug 18 2009, 08:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The things I always say to a beginner in my boat is to just start soft. Start with 20' casts, then 30, and so on. Also, let the rod do the work. Don't try to swing like a baseball bat. The adjuster knob on the handle side will also help. It should slowly let out line with your lure hanging from the end of your rod. You will have to adjust it for each lure's weight. When the lure is about to hit the water, stop the spool with your thumb. Otherwise, the lure will stop, but the line will want to keep coming out, causing a bird's nest. Good luck!

i like to call them professional overruns
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check the brake/spool tension...thats most important, IMO. After every bait change, adjust the brakes and spool tension. If you get it adjusted right, you can cast and without thumb pressure, the spool will stop on its own...sometimes you get backlash, but its all with learning how to use the reel...and Yeah, use cheap line while learning and expect some 'lash. Patience is the key, once you learn how to use it, youll be a pro and not wanna use a spinnin reel again. I dont like spinning reels now, after learning how to properly use a baitcaster.

All I do is tighten the tension, hold the rod upright at 45 deg angle with the bait dangling a few inches from the rod tip. Depress the casting button and slowly loosen the tension until the bait falls to the ground. Once the bait hits the ground, the spool should roll once, but no over-run. If theres over-run, the tension is set too loose and needs tightening. Keep in mind, once tightening the drag and/or brakes, re-adjust the spool tension as they affect that as well. Sounds confusing, but once you get the hang of it, youll be good. Doesnt take long to learn how it works.

Good luck bro

anyone wanna buy/trade a Quantum KVD spinning reel with only about 20 miles on it LOL im anti-spinning reels lol
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That is a really nice reel I have the toro 50 and love it. Its the best reel I have ever owned. As for casting with it there are a few things consider. One make sure the bait slowly drops when you activate free spool and are not holding the line. If the spool is to loose then it will drop very rapid and can birds nest without even casting it. This can be adjusted with the knob all by itself next to the handle. Also the beaking system can be adjusted by removing the side plate. This is normally set to have 50% of the breaking system activated but you can increase the breaking force by snapping the breaks to the outside position. Finally just cast without much effort and increase the power over time. I will thumb the spool if I put more power into casts but once its set up right it will only need minor adjustments with the spool tension depending on the weight of the lure that you are casting with.
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It's a good idea to practice in your back yard or somewhere else nearby before actually fishing with it. Might have you tearing your hair out if you head out "cold."

But once you get the hang of it, chances are you'll love saying goodbye to line twist and the control you have when playing fish.
i was going to suggest keeping the reciept but you got it off ebay. LOL

i have a Pflueger Templar, and i cant use it for casting and used it once for drifting, but thought.....whatta waste of money for drifting lol. i like the reel and everything, but birds nest is all i ever get. i definitely agree to use cheap line until you get the hang of it. ive wasted so much line, that i really, dont even wanna know how to use this thing. id hate to be out and that be my only set up.

my best idea was to only set it up with about 20-40 feet, that way if it did nest up, it wouldnt be that bad to untangle.

ill stick to my spin casters!!! crap or not, even the cheap 5 dollar reel works better for me.

GL with yours, and i hope this doesnt discourage you in anyway. likewise, i dont fish with anyone that uses them so i never got to see the perks of using one either. same story on open face reels, just cant get it down, so ill use them for ice fishing. lol i can drop the bait down 10 feet, but i cant even cast 10 feet with them.

again GL
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don't try to get the longest and best casts right away. start slow and work on nice smooth casts letting the rod and lure do the work. congrats on the new reel that's a nice one for sure
You will love the bait casting reel.
Keep a little thumb pressure on the spool during the cast and be sure to stop it when it hits the water. Once you get it adjusted properly you will be able to cast with very little or no thumb pressure. Still always stop it when it hits the water. And as the gang said. Keep em short at first. You will get a backlash once in a while but it will be less and less soon. Keep at it and take your time. You will be a pro in no time. Let me know if you want to get together for some practice. Good luck.
Before you load that reel with expensive spyder wire, load it with mono and practice, you wont feel so bad cutting off the line when the "Professional Overruns Happen".

Draino
I would start off with casting something a little heavier at first. keep the breaks a little tighter, and lightly feather the spool with short casts, then start extending your range while constantly adjusting the brakes to fond your sweet spot.

put on an ounce er two of lead and cast in the yard awhile

BE PATIENT!!
QUOTE(Draino @ Aug 19 2009, 12:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Before you load that reel with expensive spyder wire, load it with mono and practice, you wont feel so bad cutting off the line when the "Professional Overruns Happen".

Draino


If you use mono make sure it is over 10lb and I would look at 17lb just to practice with. Good advice posted and just start shorter and work your way out....really long casts are not always a good idea while musky fishing and start thinking about strategic and well placed casts.
Good advice........................ I will load it with some 17lb mono and cast in the yard. I have a spinning outfit for musky so I can use the rod for a bit and then go back to the spinning outfit most of the time and break it in slowly. I know the baitcaster are better once U get used to them, look at all the bass pros thats all they use. Easier to hit a target with a cast, quicker casts, etc. Thats why I bought one in the early eighties, but I just spooled it up and went fishing (the guy never said anything about ajusting it to lure wieght), I just used my thumb to stop the spool, but after 2 major birds nests in 15 casts I went back to a spinner and returned the reel the next day. I bought this reel on EBAY for $130 couldnt pass it up, since I have a great baitcast musky pole.
Just hire me I will teach you the right way. LOL
Ive got all my tackle now, really thinking hard about it before my son goes back to school.............will PM U and get the details on setting up a day.............
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