OK, first let's not make this a debate on conventional vs. Spinning, I get that spinning reels are easier.

The gear: A Shimano Curado 300E and a Lamiglass Vedder 10-20 . I plan to use a different line when my spare spool arrives from Shimano, but for now I have 30lb power pro on the reel.

I adjusted the cast control so that the 1/4 oz float and 1/4oz jig barely fall to the ground in free spool.

At fist I started out trying to finess the case not loading up the rod, trying to use minimal thumb feathering. Did not have a lot of success.

I then tried and had better success casting with more force, and more thumb. I then begin to load the rod a little with the cast and stuck to the heavier thumb, and was pretty consistent with 40 ft casts, and some out to fifty or sixty feet.

I have come to the conclusion I can't overhand cast this set-up, but rather have to come sidearm or almost underhand.

Anyone have some advice, how far are you getting out there with your float and bait-caster, how often to you give yourself a nest? Are you using ample thumb, or have you developed a motion and reel setting that allows you minimal thumb?

More wrist, less arm, lighter rated rod... Sorry Dave ...

I'm not a jig/float guy.

But I will tell you to forget this notion of "minimal thumb".
This would be something that a noob might do, especially after reading about all the magical cast control that his new reel possesses.

The notion that I would encourage is "never lift".
My thumb is always in contact with the spool in varying degrees of pressure. Everything is turned off and that is my cast control.
I can't live with even one brake weight engaged. I'm a distance junkie and will trade that off for an occasional oops.

With the jig/float setup, I don't think you're going to want to grip and rip.

Any light bait on a levelwind is difficult to master.
The jig/float a gangly setup when rigged "fixed' so a good lob sort of cast would be what I would try to achieve.
You will have to get some reps under your belt, concerning rod loading and thumb education.

You should be able to get started with just two brake weights engaged.
If not, add more and slowly turn some of them off as you get used to the set up.

Sounds like you're on the right track.


Edit:
Boat People can't cast, so take your casting advice from Bank Maggots.

The Curado does not have a magnetic cast control, I believe just a spool tension which I back off so that the float and jig fall very slowly to the ground, do you back your spool tension off all of the way and rely 100% on thumb pressure?

Ocean fishing I have been able to set up conventionals so that hardly any thumb is needed, but casting light weights with a conventional a whole different animal.

Well on the smaller streams in my area I have a 8 1/2 ft Lami rated 8-12, but for the Feather and Sacramento I just couldn't see turning a 25lb salmon in a current without a heavier rod.

That rig is too light for that rod, it needs something heavier to load it than a 1/4oz. jig.

It's ok to have everything tightened up while you are in the early learning stage, but if you want long distance and better accuracy you will eventually end up with all the various braking systems turned mostly offand you will be using your thumb for all of the braking.

Fish on...

Todd

1/4 will be the on the light end of the spectrum, most likely I will be using 1/2oz with this set-up, just wanted to see what I could do with the lighter weight. In all honesty it doesn't feel like the weight is the problem I think practice will enable me to get this righ 50-60 feet consistently. I have thrown a couple those distances when it feels like I hit it just right.

I think I will give it another go with the spool tension backed off, then play with the plastic brakes, maybe I just need to get my thumb more spool time.

I remember practicing flylining anchovies, I practiced flipping with a clothes pin, I got fairly decent. When I actually put a anchovey on my 20 lb outfit it felt like it weighed three times what a clothes pin did, I was really getting it out there.

Correct.
Most modern Shimanos use "centrifugal cast control".
I mentioned "brake weights" above. Those are part of this system.
You can engage or disengage them.


Most all levelwinds have this feature.
I like a tiny bit of spool shaft endplay.
I'm batschitt crazy, so don't try the 100% thing.



Correctamundo.
Never lift.

What Todd said. The float and jig you describe will work best with a spinning reel, or with a baitcaster on a rod designed for light stuff. You a trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

What Todd said. The float and jig you describe will work best with a spinning reel, or with a baitcaster on a rod designed for light stuff. That rod will not properly load with that float and jig. You a trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

OK, I'll spent the next few days trying the 1/4 oz set-up on my 8-12, and move up to the 1/2 ounce on this set-up.

Thank you.

A little bigger float and an inline weight will help you gain range with a baitcaster.

Set up the reel with 4 weights out on the side of the spool & tension knob to where it drops really slow. After reading this I went outside & set up my 10 1/2' 6-12 float rod with 1/2oz weight & made several 75' casts with both hands holding the butt of the rod & no thumb on the spool. 0 backlash. As you get better you will be able to loosen up the tension.

But Mr. Thumb stays stoopid if you do like that.
Young Barkoff is at the point where Mr. Thumb needs some lessons.

Young Barkoff is 54...I arrived late to the game.

It is never too late to get in to the game. I used to go to the local ball park and cast on the grass. It helped me a lot in the early days. An educated thumb is paramount and nothing will more achieve this than practice and lots of it. You can never have too many rigs. I vote you buy a lighter set up for the light jigs

Practicing in a ball park helps. Then when you get the casting down start practicing accuracy by getting something like as old hoola hoop and set it a various distances and try to land the weight in the hoop.

This kind of practice will be valuable in landing your lure in that spot where you know the fish are holding, etc.

ClearCreek

Practicing over water is good because you get that visual feedback as the weight hits the water.
That's the moment when you have to HIT THE BRAKES (stop the spool) or you'll have birds circling your location as you pick out the bird's nest.

So to reiterate....

Set up the Shimano with two brake weights engaged (the side plate must be opened)

Add in a little spool shaft tension (the little round cap) so your weight can fall to the ground in a controlled manner. Not dead slow, but not brisk enough to bird's nest.

Start with heavier weights and slowly work down to your preferred weight.
Don't go for the homerun cast. Work your way up in applied power.
Your best casts come from a smooth, pure motion and accurate thumb work.

As mentioned above, choose a rod that will load properly with your preferred weight.
This is key to getting good, efficient casts. Utilizing the stored energy in the loaded rod means less wear and tear on you.

Coming from spinning reels, it took me a season to get comfortable with my first levelwind.

Edit:
Just as in auto racing, NEVER LIFT

sounds like you need to step up to a spin cast reel!

The past few days, I've seen the spinning vs. level wind at its finest. Both days I felt sorry for the level wind person....trying to cast a "too light float and jig". I actual counted my casts and retreives, spinning, to the level wind. It was 7 to 1.....I made 7 passes and they got 1....reason "back lash". Now eventually they added more weight and thier casting got better.

Again as I've said many times....I have the ability to fish every morning, for summer run, while I've not actually counted spinning reels vs. level wind, I'd guess it 95 out of 100.

It's also amazing to me, that many people still try to "float and jig fish", with rods that are short. Can you fish a short rod and be successful, sure but a 10', or 11.5' or a 13' can make casting, line mending, line control just so much easier.

I have level wind reels, Curado's, and they are awesome but just not for the "low flows" of most summer run waters in this State.