What is backlash?

• Glossary
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• slang
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• What is backlash?

In the context of fishing, "backlash" refers to a situation where the fishing line becomes tangled or knotted on the reel spool during casting. This typically occurs when the spool continues to spin after the lure or bait has stopped moving, causing the line to loop back on itself and create a mess of tangled line. Backlash is also known as a "bird's nest" or "professional overrun" and can be frustrating for anglers, as it often requires time-consuming untangling to fix. It is more common with baitcasting reels than with spinning reels and can be minimized through proper casting technique and adjustments to the reel's braking system.

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