Help with buying my first bait caster

[MRQturbo]

don't start off using light lures when first learning....set your braking fairly high and the cast control knob so that as soon as you release line and the lure hits the water the spool will stop...you won't be able to cast as far but at least you can minimize back lashes until you get and learn "thumb" control.....it becomes normal...you'll still end up with backlashes no matter how experienced you are...and always remember to adjust for lure changes and different weather conditions (ie windy, turn up braking and cast control)...personally, i find higher end reels are much easier to cast and use in the beginning but its tough to pay 400 plus to start off but lower end models are being made much better each year...