Let me hit you with the hunched truth first, if you have been thinking a baitcaster braking system will help you to catch more fish, I’m afraid to say you are entirely mistaken. The main duty of the braking system is to help to avoid any dreaded backlash tangles which can happen when dealing with a baitcaster reel.
These awful tangles can ruin your mood instantly, and you might even have to stop fishing for that day. But you know there’s a saying, “where there is a problem, there is a solution,” and in this case, a braking system can save your day.
Now, you will see different variants of the braking system out there, and if you don’t have much idea about them, you might end up buying the wrong one. But no worries, we are here to rescue you; let us help you to find out the best baitcaster braking system.
Best Baitcaster Braking System Explained
The primary role of the baitcaster braking system on your baitcasting reel is to regulate the rotation of the spool when you are casting. It’s a lot like how your car’s brake works against the tires. The more you brake when casting, the more resistance you will get on your spool.
The braking system helps you avoid any dreaded backlash tangles that may happen when using the baitcaster reel. The brake slows down the speed of the spool when needed. Therefore, the moment your lure is going to hit the water, you are supposed to get more tension to the spool. However, don’t confuse the braking system with the spool tension as they are two different things.
Types of Baitcaster Braking System For Beginners
The braking system on a baitcast reel comes in different types depending on your need. In this section, we will have a brief discussion about each. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
1. Magnetic Braking System
The magnetic braking system functions by following the Lenz’s law. The pool spins by opposing the forces of the magnets. On a baitcaster reel, you will find the magnetic braking system on the reels side plate on the opposite side of your handle. If you take a close look inside the side plate, you will notice the series of round magnets.
You will find a dial on the outside of the plate. Turning on the dial will move the magnet further or closer to the spool, therefore generating a weaker or stronger magnetic force. If you turn the dial up to the maximum level, it will move the magnets very closer to the spool and make an abrupt and steady stopping on the spool.
And setting the dial to the lowest value is going to weaken the magnetic power. As a result, you will be able to continue the spin more indecently. The only downside we have found about the magnetic braking system is it’s not possible to turn it off at all. If you are just starting, then no worries, you can get started with the magnetic braking system, and it’s quite effective.
2. Centrifugal Braking System
The location of the centrifugal braking system is the same as the magnetic braking system. It has a series of braking pads inside the plate, and they are used to put pressure on the brake ring that slows down the spool. The more the pressure, the faster the spool will slow down. Adjusting a centrifugal braking system has a couple of ways.
You will get an external dial on the side plate with some reels as like the magnetic braking system. The higher you go with the dial, the further out the brake pads will reach and put more pressure on your brake ring and helping it to slow down faster.
With some reel, the setting for the centrifugal braking system is internal. So, every time you will need to remove the side plate when any adjustment is needed. You can use some of the internal adjustment systems by using a dial. All you have to do is turning up or down, while other functions are based on a spring system.
You can turn this off for good by going inside the side plate. But if you are a new user, then we wouldn’t recommend you.
3. Manual Braking System
This is one of the essential ones on this list, and if you really want to get good at angling, then it’s imperative to know how to use it. You must have heard about the method called “feathering.”
Here, you have to feather the line lightly using your thumb while your lure will be in the air during the cast. And when it’s about to land, you start to raise the pressure. When your lure finally hits the water, put the pressure harder using your thumb onto the spool. So, that makes it stop immediately, and then no more lines are going to be released.
Centrifugal Brakes Vs. Magnetic Brakes in Baitcaster
In the past, the only braking system angler had was their thumb. However, it’s long gone now. Most of the reels back then were based on what’s known as “conventional reel.” The reel used to exert only one friction, and that was from the spool tensioner. External forces conducted the primary braking. The backlash became a bit easy when the level wind came.
Finally, after that, the mighty 2-modern braking system centrifugal and magnetic took entry. Nowadays, even some conventional reels also come with the braking system installed. However, it’s not that common. We have already described the two popular braking systems, centrifugal and magnetic above, so no need to get down to those again. Let’s just get down to the real deal, and that is which one is the best.
Well, truth be told, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Picking the best one would be like picking one between a banana and apple. The one difference we can mention is that you can adjust the magnetic braking system without removing any covers.
And that makes things a lot easier and comfortable, right? However, you can adjust the centrifugal braking system by just opening the cover or hatch. If you would like to know my preference, well, I prefer the magnetic one.
Final Verdict
The braking system has made fishing a lot more convenient than before. It allows you to adjust the initial speed of the spool and, also, the speed of the rig flying after casting. You can also control the decelerate rate of the spool. In this article, we have focused on the two most used braking systems, centrifugal and magnetic. Now what is the best baitcaster braking system for me depends much on my expertise. However, If you are a beginner, it would be good to go with the magnetic one because you can control it very easily.
