Yet another debate!

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Stuart Dennis

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There was an article or should I say In mustering up some advice on what tackle to use on another thread, I was advised to get me fat arse in gear and start using the clutch on my reel when fishing for foreign carp. I for one have always used the back wind and so far it’s done me proud. But I read somewhere that the split in anglers who uses the clutch and the back wind was around 50/50. I’m not sure if I believe that, so lets run a little exercise here to humour little ole me shall we. Do you use your clutch or do you backwind when playing carp? Don’t be shy, I’m just curious, not bi-curious like Rik.
 
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Rodney Wrestt

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Well since it's you who's asking Stu, I use the backwind on my match reels more from habit now as the gears in my shimano match and feeder reels are very good and it's these I tend to use now, It depends how light the line I'm using is 3lb or below I backwind. I think it goes back to when the drag wasn't as reliable as they are now and they would either slip or even worse not kick in when they are supposed to. When carp or pike fishing with 10lb line or more I use the rear drag.
 
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Ron Clay

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On light gear, ie below 4lb I backwind.

For big fast moving fish such as barbel or catfish using fairly powerful gear I use the clutch every time. Some time ago I watched an angler hook a Trent barbel that decided to motor off downstream. He was backwinding. He couldn't keep up and eventually had to let go the handles which were spinning so fast they were a blur.

The fish stopped and the reel overan, creating a hell of a tangle. The inevitable happened as the fish took off again breaking the line with a noise like a gunshot.

Learn to use your clutch for goodness sake. You will land your fish much quicker and have far more control.

The fighting drag Shimanos are superior in every way for playing big fish. That's why they were developed.

I would like to see someone deal with a bonefish or queen fish by backwinding!!!
 
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DAVE COOPER

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I always use the clutch. Reel handles should only be used to wind line ON to the spool in my opinion.

With a drag set right any fish should have work hard for any line it gets. As far as I'm concerned backwinding encourages you to pussy foot about.

I only loosen the clutch when the fish is under the rod tip and almost ready for the net, in case it does a last second surge.
 
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Stuart Dennis

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This is great encouragement for me to move over here guys - so thanks! But I'm getting absolutely battered here! Anyone else backwind??
 
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Dave Rothery

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Sorry Stuart - clutch for me too! You can keep a more even pressure on the fish when they are fast moving, and you can slow them by slowly increasing the pressure with one finger on the spool.
 
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Stuart Dennis

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I suppose old habbit die hard. I spent so many years specialising for tench on the quiver, that when I moved onto carp it was just a natural extension. DOH! DOH! DOH!
 
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Dave Rothery

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I'd stick with what your used to, unless you are losing fish. Like you said, it is a 50/50 split, and I know people who swear by backwinding. Whatever you do, you have to be confident doing it (like baits/rigs, etc) which is why its always(?) better keeping it simple
 
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Stuart Dennis

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Cheers Dave, I have no issues in continuing my backwinding over here and so far have not lost a fish due to backwinding. My thoughts about changing are based on me fishing for the river carp in Canada next year in which continual backwinding for these hard fighting demons and runs of upto 40-50 a day is gonna kill me!
 
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The Monk

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Stuart, on the St Laurence use your clutch mate, I learned the hard way and have the knuckles to back me up, it would be a physical impossibility to backwind fish of that accelleration, in France, fine, backwind!
 
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The Monk

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Dave I know what your saying mate, but Stuart could lose more than just fish, trust me guys I'm a scientist!
 
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Ron Clay

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Once you have learned to play a big fish properly with a fixed spool reel, you will NEVER go back to backwinding, except for small species on light tackle.

You'll also put the fish on the bank a heck of a lot quicker.
 
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The Monk

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And once you've learned to Avon cast with a Nottingham Starback and a Tank Ariel, you'll probably be too old to go fishing anyway!
 
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The Monk

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Thats what me old dad got me for christmas one year (rotten sod)!
 
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The Monk

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Regressing, I can remember a wellknown carp angler advocating back-winding methodologies in one of his books, I think though to be fair, the writer only had experience of British and European still waters at the time, I expect thats where a lot of these kids have got it from Ron? I think the thinking behind it was to avoid line twisting, in that when pumping the fish in, it can occasionally run and slip the clutch against your retrieve, I know if you wind against a slipping clutch you will twist and weaken the line, something like that anyway, cant remember!
 
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Chrisx Ess

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I only backwind when using light tackle. Make 'em work! I have my clutch set a little too tight, usually, but I've only lost one fish this year due to a fighting break - a plunge under the rod tip; a twenty as well - honest! I'm not sure about banking the fish ASAP as Ron advocates; I reckon it's best to let them run a bit, though I certainly don't want a fish to become exhausted. That's far more likely to happen with backwinding - when do you summon up the confidence to bring the fish to the net?
 
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steve flook

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I always used to backwind, until I hooked my first barbel and now realise that some time you just have to use the drag even if it is all a bit strange at first. I always revert to backwind at the netting stage just in case though. Like you say, old habits die hard.
 
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Chrisx Ess

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Even thirty years ago - when my Abu fixed spool made a grinding noise even at the best of times - I always relied on the clutch when netting. As I remember it, the drag would only work when under a bit of pressure - with a pike on the end. When using a centrepin, as I did sometimes in those days, I used to jam my fingers in to lock it (!) - as you might imagine, I never had any big fish on the pin!
 
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