Hi,
I just bought a new baitcasting rod and reel (Ugly Stick combo).  When I'm reeling in a big fish, i will be reeling and suddenly the handle will move but the spool won't.  Whats wrong?

The drag is slipping. Adjust it for your line. If it set correctly and still slips you have a bigger fish on, enjoy the fight.

 

Welcome to the BB.

 

 

Thank you.  Should I adjust it for more or less drag?  And what's BB mean.

Tighten it up. Can`t say how tight to make it though it goes with the pound line you are useing. You can probabley pull the line off the reel by hand without being in free spool. Find your drag and tighten it down, you will feel the difference while you pull the line. If you make it too tight you risk breaking the line and loosing your fish. Should be set at about 1/3 what your line is rated. You`ll have to play with it, you`ll get it. BB is for Bulletin Board. (this place)

 

 

I wonder what type of line he is using.  If mono, it may be slipping on the spool.  He doesn't say he hears the spool clicking like it was the drag.

Just my two cents worth.

Gary

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee176/goinfshn/bassfight.gif Life Member NAFC, West Virginia State Police Retired, United States Army Retired

The line is Shakespeare 12lb mono.  When ever I reel it in the spool will slip.  an example is was when I was changing lures I put a crank on and then laid my rod down.  The hook just stuck on a little carpet matt thing.  I figured i would reel it in and when the carpet was in the air about a foot off the ground, i would reel it in but the line wouldn't move. Hope that helps.
Thanks,
Zach

It sounds like you don't have the end secured to the reel.  Mono has a tendency to slip on the reel if you just loop it around the spool and tie it to itself.  My spool has holes in it, I looped the line through it.  No slip.

Hope this helps.

Gary

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee176/goinfshn/bassfight.gif Life Member NAFC, West Virginia State Police Retired, United States Army Retired

If the handle is spinning and the spool is not, as you stated in your first post,  it`s your drag. If the line is slipping on the spool the spool will still be spinning with the handle.