help me prevent blowing up

[rctk2]

i just got my penn 545 coupled with the OM heavy, i have 30lb mono with a 50 lb shock line using an albright knot. currently i am throwing 6oz lead using the pendelum method. i also have the brakes in the on position the problem i keep facing is.....3 out of 5 casts i would blow up pretty badly. sometimes during the cast i can hear the albright knot going the the guides not sure if it could be the knot, the lead weight, or the technique that i am using. My other reels "daiwa 20 shv"are not giving me a hard time like this one. any suggestions? thanks

[Digger]

A bigger and heavier spool will tend to blowup quicker that a smaller lighter spool. Start the cast slow with the power coming from the hips first finishing with the arms.

[Dyhard]

i just got my penn 545 coupled with the OM heavy, i have 30lb mono with a 50 lb shock line using an albright knot. currently i am throwing 6oz lead using the pendelum method. i also have the brakes in the on position the problem i keep facing is.....3 out of 5 casts i would blow up pretty badly. sometimes during the cast i can hear the albright knot going the the guides not sure if it could be the knot, the lead weight, or the technique that i am using. My other reels "daiwa 20 shv"are not giving me a hard time like this one. any suggestions? thanks

Magnets! They are cheap and work great! They are easy to install with a little of epoxy. I have tamed several Penn 500s which may have heavier spools than the 545.

[Digger]

Magnets are the easy answer. I have been throw the 500L for 32 years and never used magnets. IMHO you have a technique problem if you need magnets. I also throw a GS555 (wider spool than the GS545 no magnets in it. Here is a victim.
http://pierandsurf.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1402/cat/500/ppuser/14886

[Digger]

http://pierandsurf.com/photopost/data/500/1488678lb12oz.jpg

[Samurai]

Magnets are the easy answer. I have been throw the 500L for 32 years and never used magnets. IMHO you have a technique problem if you need magnets. I also throw a GS555 (wider spool than the GS545 no magnets in it. Here is a victim.
http://pierandsurf.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1402/cat/500/ppuser/14886

Going to have to agree 100%.

[aero993]

Here is my 2 cents worth, you might want to give me a penny back. Technique plays a very important part. Along with technique, your reel must be properly adjusted. The first thing I would do is add heavier oil. I use 90 weight gear oil. Or if one of my friends are around, I steal some of their heavy rocket fuel. Gear oil is much cheaper. Next I would check the spool tension. By that, I mean when you drop a weight from say 4 feet. You adjust the tension so that it barely fluff up. Also make sure you are not over filling the spool. I'm no expert and I don't fish as much as some do. But, I rarely blow up while fishing. I have some really good friends giving me great advice. I hope this help.

[aero993]

One more thing, with a 6oz lead, you might want to think about a 60lb shocker.

[DickDog]

Mybe someone can enlighten cause i know nothing about OM rods but from what ive read shouldn't one be throwing eight or more with that rod? Tighten down the spool tension aka. cast control knob to a point where the weight barely falls from tip of rod. Loosen knob from here to adjust to increase distance. That and a lot of practice will do it. Mag it in future if u need more distance.

[derekxec]

your knot could also be slowing your bait down as its passing through the guides making it easier to blow up.....either that or you need to get better at casting

[Green Cart]

the spool for weight drop is an old practice connected with bait casting reels of yesterday. I am surprised Black Beard has not popped up here by now. According to him and others, spool tension is done once for bearing adjustment, i.e., tighten just enough so that the spool can be moved back and forth a little. If too tight, the bearing can be burned out. If too loose, overruns will happen. There are other ways to control by using brakes, magnets, oil weight, line weight, and not putting too much line on the spool etc. The whole thing is really more of an art than science, but it all boils down to practice or experience. :D

[rctk2]

THANKS GUYS! I took your advice and magged the reels using 2- 1/4"x1/8" magnets. The difference is like night and day! I no longer have to thumb the spool. I also kept the brakes on in the event that i have to do some tweaking i figured it is easier to turn them off if needed instead of having to take the whole spool and and readjust the mags. looks like all my conventionals are going to be getting magged including my penn 4/0. thanks again