[alanw]

I get tons of backlash on my Avet if I don't set it right. I'm not that good with thumbing it yet so I sometimes set the drag lever to the bait position and adjust the side tension knob so that whatever weight I have on will just unwind off the reel under its own weight, then cast and start to thumb it as it's nearing the water. This usually keeps the spool from over spinning.