baitcaster reel on big shot?

[imagineero]

I'm looking at some ways to improve my efficiency this year, and line setting is an area I think I could make some gains in. Setting lines on trees up to about 60' isn't too bad, but setting multiple lines in bigger trees often takes quite a few shots. Flaking out the line each time etc... can add up to half an hour of line setting on a really big tree.

I know sherril has a kit for a fishing reel, but it uses monofilament. I've never seen anyone try a baitcasting reel, and I know nothing about fishing so maybe there's a reason why it wouldnt work? I'm talking about the kind of reel pictured below;

Had a look around on ebay and there are all kinds, cheap new crap starts from about $10 and not quite top shelf used stuff at around $100. You're headed towards good gear if you want to be able to put 180' of 1.8mm line on it. Most have drag (maybe could use just a little to stop the line birdsnesting on the reel?) and some have level wind which looks useful to keep all that line nice and neatly stowed.

Mounting isn't a problem, the only question is whether it would work. I'm sure it would wind in just fine, and I'd put a couple of the 'eyes' you get on fishing rods up my big shot pole for a straight run so there was a fairleed to the reel. Looks like they would wind in fast so long as you dont get tangles/twigs. The only question is whether they would feed out smooth and fast with such a tremendous 'cast'. Any ideas?

Shaun

 

[2treeornot2tree]

Instead of flaking your line out on the ground, put it into a throw line cube. They only cost $30 bucks, and you almost never get knots when you throw your line.

 

[superjunior]

Not a bad idea in theory, but I know first hand from being a bass fisherman that those things are notorious for bird nesting. In fact its the reason I don't use one. You've got to be a master at "thumbing the line" perfectly every time its being fed out or it's a bird nest every time, and they take forever to untangle. I'd bet the first attempt with launching a weighted bag from a bait cast real would bird nest after 20 ft and stop the bag dead in its tracks probably breaking the line and giving you a tangled mess about the size of a grapefruit.

I could be wrong here but that's just been my experience with bait casting reals in fishing applications. If I were going to try it I would probably use a spin cast real.

 

[superjunior]

Instead of flaking your line out on the ground, put it into a throw line cube. They only cost $30 bucks, and you almost never get knots when you throw your line.

We use a little throw line bag and almost never have any tangles.

 

[TreeAce]

Not a bad idea in theory, but I know first hand from being a bass fisherman that those things are notorious for bird nesting. In fact its the reason I don't use one. You've got to be a master at "thumbing the line" perfectly every time its being fed out or it's a bird nest every time, and they take forever to untangle. I'd bet the first attempt with launching a weighted bag from a bait cast real would bird nest after 20 ft and stop the bag dead in its tracks probably breaking the line and giving you a tangled mess about the size of a grapefruit.

I could be wrong here but that's just been my experience with bait casting reals in fishing applications. If I were going to try it I would probably use a spin cast real.

Or it wont break the line and it will come back at you. I like the fold up cube. The economy version works great.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

I agree about using the fold up cubes. The CHEAP small blue ones that fold flat are the best choice if anybody besides you will be using them. They do tend to fall apart fairly soon but are cheap. If you will be the only one using the cube and are smart enough to take good care of it, then the larger size is probably worth the extra cost.

I also agree that the baitcasting type of reel will NOT work well on a Bigshot. I'll bet it takes a least an hour between shots to untangle the birdsnest.

Rick

 

[Tree Pig]

I agree about using the fold up cubes. The CHEAP small blue ones that fold flat are the best choice if anybody besides you will be using them. They do tend to fall apart fairly soon but are cheap. If you will be the only one using the cube and are smart enough to take good care of it, then the larger size is probably worth the extra cost.

I also agree that the baitcasting type of reel will NOT work well on a Bigshot. I'll bet it takes a least an hour between shots to untangle the birdsnest.

Rick

Yup I guess if you got it set just right adjusting the magnets and tension but it would change from shot to shot depending on the power of the shot.

 

[Scrat]

Better and Cheaper!

Don't use the baitcaster you will be untangling line for hours. I use the cube economy version and if you want to really save money go with this 24 quart collapsable cooler from Harbor Frieght. I have 4 set up for throw lines and have given at least a dozen as gifts. oh yeh and use one for its intended purpose, a cooler! For $6.87 it is nothing short of awesome. here is the link and a picture

24 Quart Collapsible Party Cooler

 

[TreeAce]

Don't use the baitcaster you will be untangling line for hours. I use the cube economy version and if you want to really save money go with this 24 quart collapsable cooler from Harbor Frieght. I have 4 set up for throw lines and have given at least a dozen as gifts. oh yeh and use one for its intended purpose, a cooler! For $6.87 it is nothing short of awesome. here is the link and a picture

24 Quart Collapsible Party Cooler

It looks perfect for throw line. I think Beastmaster posted that same thing awhile ago. Is it big enough for a climbing line?

 

[beav700]

This type of reel is a bad idea. When you shoot the weight bag, the the drum/reel has to accelerate in a split second to feed the line out. Use this type of reel instead (picture below). that is what I use and the line comes of without any resistance. I'm also a Bass fisherman.

http://new-fishingtips.com/Balzer-fishing-reel.jpg

 

[Dutch295]

I had this in my cart back over the summer and I think they got away from them for a brief time.... I wish I had called or waited ... spent quite a bit of time today reeling in lines that for the life of me I couldn't hit the crotch...one of those days... I don't even want to think about the time waisted over a period of year when throw lines aren't gong your way...

Tree Stuff - The Shotline Winder

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I had this in my cart back over the summer and I think they got away from them for a brief time.... I wish I had called or waited ... spent quite a bit of time today reeling in lines that for the life of me I couldn't hit the crotch...one of those days... I don't even want to think about the time waisted over a period of year when throw lines aren't gong your way...

Tree Stuff - The Shotline Winder

A mason line winder that a construction worker uses, would probably do the same thing and costs a whole lot less then $75

 

[Dutch295]

you'd be paying about 50 for the reel... you're getting throw line and a weight with it. The reel sits flat on the ground and the line flies off of it ... we're talking two different animals. There's a video somewhere with a guy named treemachine (pretty sharp cat) that demos it; I did a quick search but didn't find it. I'll probably get it sometime down the road.

 

[beastmaster]

I recently tried putting 80lb test superbriad on a big spinning reel then taped the reel on the bigshot pole. It seemed ingenious to me.
First shot went pretty good, worked like a charm. So next try I went for the money on a 100+ shot up a big pine. The fishing line got hung up and the throw ball was last scene flying towards L.A. by its self. It still has a few bugs to work out but that was my last throwball.
Baitcasting reel wouldn't work for all the reasons already stated, plus it take a second for a baitcaster to overcome inertia(sp?)and start spinning, the line would probably break.
My next experiment I think I'll use one of those big reels bowfishermen use on their bow and arrows to retrieve the arrow . You could use regular throwline with it too. One of those with a trigger system would be deadly I bet.

 

[pdqdl]

A mason line winder that a construction worker uses, would probably do the same thing and costs a whole lot less then $75

I don't recommend that variety of holder. Most folks wind up the string by rotating their wrist around their other hand, winding the string over the top of the holder. Then they feed it out by unrolling it. This will cause countless twists in the line with repeated use; before long, the throwline will tangle up with every toss.

Unless I am mistaken, the $75 version will have the same problem, too.

 

[Dutch295]

my OCD is kicking in.... I found the video & if it doesn't work you can try the link as well (post #27). Like I've read many times before... support a fellow AS member and give him da business. I'm done unless he wants to send me royalties ... one to field test will be just as good.

http://treeguy.info/videos/shotline_reel.mov

http://www.arboristsite.com/arborist-101/123849-2.htm

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I don't recommend that variety of holder. Most folks wind up the string by rotating their wrist around their other hand, winding the string over the top of the holder. Then they feed it out by unrolling it. This will cause countless twists in the line with repeated use; before long, the throwline will tangle up with every toss.

Unless I am mistaken, the $75 version will have the same problem, too.

Very true, didnt think about that.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Blue cubes are the way to go, I have used just about everything out there and those little collapsible cubes are the cats meeeeyooow.