I have had success with BILLINGS spinning reels and the amount of fish I am able to catch, so I figured let’s try a baitcasting reel from the company and went for the BILLINGS DC DREAMER which has a Digital Control System Anti-rebound, high speed gear ratio of 7:2:1 and an 11-pound braking force.
The reel sells for under $34 but a coupon that takes it under $29.
I actually like the look with the round profile, no doubt paying a little homage to the classic retro baitcasting reels of the day with a modern touch. I like its metal-flake paint presentation.
The DC DREAMER is offered in left or right orientation. For baitcasting, right handers will want the handle on the right but to be perfectly honest, since spinning reels for righties are typically on the left, I don’t think it should matter too much but as a rightie, I get my baitcasters with handle on the right. Unless it’s a spinning or even trolling reel, I prefer it on the left.
As for the Digital Control system, DC baitcasters are known for making that zing sounds when casting. This baitcasting reel has an intelligent digital control braking system and the DC algorithm enables the spool to achieve a higher initial speed at the beginning of your cast.
So, on the left, you have the braking area. For beginners, set it to maximum at first, pointing it to the top last dot.
On the left, you have your tension knob and star drag on the lever. Set the tension all the way to the bottom to tighten it and then the star drag, tighten it. So, it’s tightly connected, hold the rod out and press the baitcaster button with your thumb and you will see your line, will not fall until you loosen the star drag and tensioner. You want to continually get int the practice of adjusting until the line drops (typically with something weighted) and while it’s dropping and finger is on the button, making sure that no birds nest is occurring.
If it does occur, you will need to keep readjusting until there is no birds nest.
So, then you can practice your casting and making sure your thumb is on the button and your line, cast and make sure you stop the line with your thumb. You should be able to do this without birdsnesting.
Next advice when spooling your line, this baitcasting reel does remove from the side so there is a latch on the bottom left, unlatch it and remove the spool. Depending on which end you are putting your line end, just makes sure the line goes through the line guide (hole on the front and then take the line through the side and tie your line around the spool. I always put electrical tape on to make sure there is no loose line rolling and to keep the line tight to the spool.
But overall, this is a very cool baitcasting reel. Very smooth on retrieval, easy to cast. But definitely go online to learn about casting and testing the drag without birdsnesting because a baitcast reel takes time to learn until you get it right.
Just remember to cast and check your line and your drag, unlike a spinning reel, baitcasting reels you want to make sure your line is nice and tight to prevent any birdsnesting (one of the reasons why beginners quit, due to this initial frustration).
At $34, this is a pretty cool DC baitcasting reel with a round profile and it works very well. I recommend the BILLINGS DC DREAMER!
