Kclance are you adjudting the drag or the spool tension knob? You can tighten the drag all you want and it will not do wnything for casting. Please don't take this the wrong way because I'm not sure how knowledgeable you are on bait casters and I sure don't want to belittle you in any way.
The star drag is the one behind the handle and the spool tension knob is behind and slitely back of the drag and that is what sets the resistance on the spool. To set tension tie on a lure of your choice, hold the rod at a 45 degree angle and press the thumb bar and if the lure drops fast tighten the tension knob so that when you press the bar the lure falls at a slow rate of fall.

Now you will need to do this with each lure change if they are differant weights. You also need to educate your thumb also. When you cast put slight pressure on the spool aith your thumb and this will keep the reel from backlashing and practice,practice,and then practice some more.

Hope this will help you out.

Harry

I still remember my first few times with a baitcasting rod and reel. I learn quickly that it was my casting that caused most of my foul ups. So I had to start by easing up on my casting and let the equipment do it's job for me. As I learn to educate my thumb and become more comfortable by adjusting my baitcasting reel, I could put more effort into my casting swing. I went from feet to yards in my casting distance over the course of a summer.

I also learned that keeping the baitcast reel well maintained is very important to casting distance.  So I often take open the side plate to get fresh oil into the spool bearings and I unscrew the cast control cap to get to that other bearing in it.  Different types of oil, makes a difference in how smoothly the spool will spin too.

The things I am learning everytime is adjusting the spool brakes in conjuction with the spool tension knob, especially with magnetic brakes. Centrifugal brakes on reels, I normally just use two brake pegs so not so much adjusting on those type of reels. It's slightly different from reel to reel and probably changes from rod to rod as well. Still learning, so I mostly use topwater lures or floating type lures just in cast I back lash nasty.

I am adjusting the spool tension not the drag. That was my error in posting. Also I didn't see a model number on the reel but it says tidewater on the side. After doind some research online it appears to be a trolling reel instead of a baitcaster but I read those can cast well with practice too. I have a lot to learn and am open to all tips and suggestions. Thanks guys

I don't have any trolling reels but I think they don't come with any kind of spool braking mechanisms. So there's a lot to be learn for thumbing the spool on the initial cast. You'll wantto feather the spool to start up slowly before taking your thumb off, but still keeping your thumb very close to the spool. Your thumb should probably feather some lines as they loosen up during the cast. Then when the line will pull tight off the spool again in the middle of the cast. But make sure you feather the spool again before the lures lands in the water and thumb the spool to stop it just as the lure hits the water.

I think a lot of trolling reels has a clicker that can slow the spool down. If you don't mind the whirring clicker noise, it can help prevent backlash. However it will also reduce casting distance overall.

I have several baitcasters including trolling reels. They all have spool brakes. You must learn to properly thumb the spool when casting. I did this in my backyard tied a two ounce weight to the line and started casting. After you get the hang of it you can lessen the weight and try it again. They are great reels for certain applications. Good Luck.