baitcaster VS spinning 2024

JCMAN reply :

How big of a deal is it if i only use a spinning reel for all the lures and baits i use? is there any big difference that will not help me catch as many fish? and if there is what lures work best for each?

retiredbosn reply :

The main differences to me are that a b/c pole is much more powerful. You have more control not only over your bait but the fish, say a big LM wants to run into the cover, you'll have a much better chance of turning that fish using a casting pole. Add to that spinning reels as a general rule have no where near the drag power that a bc reel has. Line capacity, strength of the reel, etc. An example that I can give is I fish jigs, worms, carolina rigs, etc a lot, when I fish the river with a spinning outfit I loose many more jigs to hangs than I do with a bc outfit. I credit this to the combination of heavier line, stronger pole and reel. When my jig gets hung under a rock, most of the time I can flip the rock over and retrieve my jig. I was a die hard spinning outfit fisherman, and thought bc were for the macho set or pros, however since trying a bc, I hardly ever pick up my spinning outfits, I even bought a finesse reel to handle the light baits. Good luck

JCMAN reply :

thanks i told my dad i was going to go buy a baitcaster and he told me i wouldn't like it because of the backlash and that it would birdnest how hard is it to get used to on say a 50 to 60 dollar baitcaster? any suggestions for that price?

central_fl_fishin reply :

You should use what you are most confident with. But give a baitcaster a try sometime and practice with it for a bit. You might find the controls are better for lure placement while casting and the increased drag capability superior to spinning gear. I use both, but prefer baitcaters for most fishing. I will say that casting ultra-light tackle is easier on a spinning reel, but for everthing else a baitcaster just feels better. FYI: I just started baitcasting 2 years ago after 30 years of spinning gear.

retiredbosn reply :

Check the flea market forum on this board, ebay, also Bass Pro Shops have their Extreme reels on sale now, last years model is 40 bucks, the extreme combo is on sale for 110, which is a steal. There are several tips on here on how to set your baitcaster for optimum performance etc. If you know someone who uses baitcasters they can teach you in 5-10 minutes how to use one, they are not difficult to learn to use. Baitcasters have come a long long way, I hardly get backlashes now. You will also be amazed with the increased sensitivity of these rods and reels. If I were looking to add a new set up, I would definitely get a BPS Extreme combo, for you to learn with I would recommend a 6foot 6inch MH pole with a 6:2:1 reel for 110 bucks it is like buying the rod and getting the reel for free.

central_fl_fishin reply :

By the way, I got a diawa tierra BC reel as my first. Fairly cheap but has held up well and still my favorite after 2 years. Even casts weightless plastic worms pretty far on 12lb mono. Star drags are so much easier to set during the fight than spinning drags IMHO.

fishbully 2.0 reply :

Its not too hard to learn how to use one, just take it out for some practice and see how it goes. I have a quantum bc that I love and a few others, it just takes some getting used to

Hammer 4 reply :

For the baitcaster, you need a trained thumb, which comes from practice..I have a BPS extrem, not a bad reel, once you learn to set the drag, brake ect, I have mine fairly loose, so if my thumb doesn't respond at the correct time, I get what they call a pro overrun, not nessesarrly a birdsnest, but slightly tangled line. I'd say go for the baitcaster, but allow yourself time to learn how to use it before you take it fishing.

roadwarrior reply :

Fish Chris uses spinning tackle almost exclusively. Don't let anyone tell

you this gear can't handle big fish. Stick with spinning tackle and catch

a bunch of fish. When you decide to try baitcasting, buy a good quality

rig and work with it until you are comfortable casting.

8-)

Grey Wolf reply :

Any one who says you need bait casting gear to catch big fish have no idea what they are talking about.

rubba bubba reply :

Spinning gear will catch fish just fine. Baitcasters are great and there are many reasons for one, but you don't *need* one to catch lots of fish. I'd venture to guess there are countless spinning only fishermen that would wipe the floor with many of the baitcaster fishermen out there. It's not the reel.

One of the reasons I like baitcasters so much is it's like getting a car with stick instead of automatic - makes driving that much more interesting. I love messing around with the flexibility of a baitcaster.

retiredbosn reply :

I don't believe anyone was telling him to buy a bc, just the differences in between the two. I still use my spinning reel, I however love the bc setups I have. For me I think I caught just as many fish with my old zebco 202, but I get more satisfaction out of a bc, which is the reason we go fishing. I know a local pro who cannot use a spinning reel, and skips under docks with a zebco 33. Different strokes different folks. Use what you like, but the differences between spincast, spinning, baitcasters and conventional reels are real. Bottom line I loose less lures with the baitcaster.

rubba bubba reply :

Apparently you missed his initial question - allow me to highlight the pertinent item being discussed:

Quote
How big of a deal is it if i only use a spinning reel for all the lures and baits i use? is there any big difference that will not help me catch as many fish?

J Francho reply :

Well, thanks for pointing out our stupidity and blindness, rubba bubba. At this rate, you'll be a moderator in no time. You actually missed his most recent question, which I can answer.

Keep a sharp eye out in the Flea Market here, and you can come up with some good deals, though coming up with something durable, and quality for < $60 is a tall order, unless someone cuts you great deal. If you can save up to the $100 point, there are some good deals on combos, and used gear. As always, if you buy a used reel, have it cleaned, serviced, and inspected by a good reel mechanic. Shouldn't cost you more than $20, but well worth the investment.

rubba bubba reply :

Nope, I saw his latest question; I was just clarifying in response to Retired's statement about people not recommending a baitcaster (i.e. concerning why several people had responded with "spinning gear is fine" posts).

Not pointing out anyone's stupidity/blindness. I probably should have quoted Retired so as not to be confusing.

Fish Chris reply :

The answer is, no. Their is no big difference.

I use spinning gear almost exclusively, but that is mainly because I am totally lame with a bait caster. It's a long story, but trust me.... I'm in a fairly unique situation, in which no amount of practice would have made me good with a baitcaster. Heck, I don't consider myself "great" with a spinning reel (and I've been practicing with those for 40 years).... but I get it out there in front of a big one every now and again, regardless ;-)

But yes, as was mentioned above..... I always say a person should use whatever they feel the most comfortable with. That will always be the best choice.

Not trying to wear this photo out, but I caught this 71", 90'ish lb Sturgeon on my micro-light spinning rod and reel. Granted, I use braid, but the braid I use on this combo is 2 lb diameter, and still only 10 lb test. Looks and feels about like sewing thread. Works great on my rod rated for 1 to 4 lb mono.

Anyway, needless to say, after landing this fish on the micro-light, I feel pretty confident about landing any Largemouth, or Catfish, or Carp, etc, that I happen to hook on the same rod / reel combo.

One other thing.... I always have to chuckle when people come up to me and say.... "So all you use is spinning.... Is that the secret" ??? Uhhhhh..... no. The secret (which I already told you guys) is that I suck with a baitcaster

Peace,

Fish

central_fl_fishin reply :

I believe the debate on this thread boils down to this;

1) What setup catches more "fish". The answer is not the necessarily the equipment for this general question, rather the skill/knowledge of the fisherman. The time/location/pattern/bait/knowledge of the area is what is most important for the catch. Otherwise there would be no need for fishing guides.

2) The technical merits of spinning gear versus baitcasting gear. Once again the more experienced you are with your preferred gear the chances are you will catch more with your rig.

What retiredbosn and I pointed out is that baitcasting gear by nature has a superior drag system, which translates into (in the hands of someone that knows what they are doing) a better chance of landing bigger fish. It is not meant as a slight against spinning gear. That is all. This is evident is large game fishing. Just enjoy the sport and use what you want. We are only here to give advise.

Fish Chris reply :

Hey central, I hate to always fall back to the > braided line < rant, but it just pertains SOOO directly, to so many different aspects of fishing....

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baitcasting gear by nature has a superior drag system

Hmmm. Okay.

But then if a person is even 'remotely' concerned with a smooth drag, they had better be using braided line, and here's why;

Monofilament, by nature of it's high % of stretch, will build up a ton of energy, then, when the drag system finally hits its breaking point, all that stretch energy will be released at once. Then the drag will stick, and the energy starts building up again, until it finally unsticks, and releases again.... over and over. This is called drag surge. It's totally the lamest thing on the planet, and heck yea', if your using mono, you had better have a drag which is as "unsticky" as is technologically possible.

With braid on the other hand, because it has virtually zero stretch, you will have virtually zero drag surge as well..... even with a not so perfect drag..... although I still prefer as silky smooth a drag system as possible :-)

Just some food for thought if anybody here is still using rubberband, for line (sorry, I mean mono :-)

Peace,

Fish

central_fl_fishin reply :

Fish Chris,

Hey, braid is great, I use it. But.. Spool drag dictates how much force can be applied before it let's go. You can have 100lb braid, but if the fish can produce more than your drag rating for an extended time all you do is lose line until your gone. 100lb braid does not mean you land the big catch, only that the line can withstand that much pressure. It's like putting Off Road tires on a minivan. Looks cool but torque is what it's all about. :)

SirSnookalot reply :

Chris.............great sturgeon and a real feat in landing it, is that a recent catch?

I use spinning exclusively (I'm equally at home with a bait caster, 55 years of experience). 10# braid for bass, 15 or 20# for saltwater. Most of my fish have to be lifted over a seawall, otherwise it would be 10# braid for saltwater.

Again...........Great fish

retiredbosn reply :

Awesome fish Chris, the largest I've caught on an ultra light is a 20lb cat, I was confined to the bank and had to switch line, she was guarding a nest and bit anything I put in it. After she broke my line 3 times I put some 17lb mono on the reel, I think it held like 10yds. The water was so snag infested that I couldn't turn the fish before she fouled my line and snapped it, that changed when I put the heavier line on. I have little problem in landing fish while in a boat with ultralight rigs, typically what happens though is the boat is taken to the fish not the other way around, (small aluminum job, doesn't work in my fiberglass boat). No I don't use the trolling motor to chase the fish down, but the boat has less water drag than a big fish pulling. The only time this doesn't happen is if the fish gets into current then the fish typically spools me or breaks the line, I need to switch to braid from the sounds of it.

On an unrelated note, you mentioned getting your scale certified on another thread. Do you use a special portable scale? How do you go about getting a scale certified, I guess it would vary from state to state, but knowing the process would help me know who to contact, etc.

Denea reply :

JC, I have 2 baitcasters sitting in my garage. If you would like to take one for a test run, I have no problem with you checking one out (before you buy one, info on them is below - both are left hand)... even though I don't know you personally and all, but apparently you had (or have) my brother as a Gym Teacher...so if anything happens to it, I'll take it out on him

I replied to your PM you sent, just let me know... also, they don't have any line :'( as I don't use them

Clarus 6'6 with Daiwa Exceler 100HL

Clarus 6'10 with Quantun Energy PTxm

Get a hold of me,

Denea

retiredbosn reply :

what a deal!!! Hey wait didn't I have your brother as a teacher too? lol

coffee reply :

I have used spinning gear exclusively except for catfishing, the only reason I use baitcasting for that is because of the line capacity and the fact I have a few abu garcias that hold up well to the fight. I am starting to use some b/c stuff for largemouth now, but only because I want to try something different. I am not sure how it will work out, but I will give it a try.

I caught several (I lost track how many) over 100lb blacktip sharks off the coast of South Carolina with a guide using spinning gear for two days. The gear never gave an ounce of problems and those sharks were tough fighters. I spent several years catching musky and northern pike using Pflueger Presidents with no issues. Those fish fight a heck of a lot more than largemouth, weigh more too. You can catch very large fish using spinning gear, it works fine.

What it really boils down to is use what you are comfortable with. I am more comfortable with spinning gear, which is pretty much what I use most times. I don't feel like I am missing too much not using baitcasting stuff.

The Virginian reply :

I'm going to order a BC BPS Extreme, I'm unsure what unsure what action to buy though, ML, M, MH or H? I plan on lake fishing for LMB. Any advise would really be appreciated.

Thanks,

Eric

retiredbosn reply :

I really like the MH's either 6'6" or 7', seems like this is a good all around rod, if not that then the M. If you are going to focus on fishing the bottom, i.e. worms, jigs, carolina rigs, and deep cranks then the MH would be a good choice. Team the reel with 12lb Yozuri Hybrid line and you have a good all around combo, which will also do buzzbaits and topwaters fine. If you are going to work more cranks, spinnerbaits, topwaters(spooks etc) and buzzbaits then I might go with the M. I tend to believe that you have better control and less backlashes with a MH, the more whip action of the rod the more likely I am to overrun, there are many that will disagree with this but for me this is the set up that works best. Out of five rods I own 4 are MH's, and one ML. I have different actions but the same rating, my CB rods are BPS crankinsticks, my bottom rods are quantum tours, and the ML is a KVD.

bilgerat reply :

I'm a spinning guy, have been forever. Yeah, spinning gets a bad rap for line twist, not a big deal if you invest in a quality reel and good line. BC's backlash occasionally, nothing is 100% immune from line problems.

As for the comment about spinning gear not having enough drag force - HUH ??? Earlier this season I foul hooked a huge brown carp on my ultra light rig - 4# mono. The drag on my reel was flawless, despite being spooled several times. I eventually landed him with no damage to the reel whatsoever.

I've been fishing shallow weed filled lakes my whole life with spinning gear, as have thousands of others. Sure I've lost fish here and there, everyone has. Just go with what you like and go fishing.

Fish Chris reply :

Hey central_fl,

Quote
Fish Chris,
Hey, braid is great, I use it. But.. Spool drag dictates how much force can be applied before it let's go. You can have 100lb braid, but if the fish can produce more than your drag rating for an extended time all you do is lose line until your gone. 100lb braid does not mean you land the big catch, only that the line can withstand that much pressure.

Well sure. I'm totally aware of that. But the thing is, every reel I've ever owned was able to apply as much drag as I needed. And for the last 15 years that I've been using braid, I run my drag setting even lighter.

I know their are situations where you need to horse fish away from cover and such (moreso in the Southern US than in CA) but as long as your fishing in open water, and from a boat, you don't even have to stop the fish within the distance, of the amount of line on your spool..... You simply chase them with the boat. I've done this many times with Bat Rays, and a few times with Sturgeon. In the case of that Sturgy I caught on my micro-light (above photo) it probably ran 15 or 20 X's the length of the line on my reel. Took me so far from where I hooked it, I had a hard time finding my anchor bouy..... and its a lime green 2 gallon detergent jug ! Maybe a 1 mile fight ?

Anyway, my drag was never an issue. I landed that 90 lb fish with probably 2 lbs of drag.

Peace,

Fish

SirSnookalot reply :

Quote
I caught several (I lost track how many) over 100lb blacktip sharks off the coast of South Carolina with a guide using spinning gear for two days. The gear never gave an ounce of problems and those sharks were tough fighters. I spent several years catching musky and northern pike using Pflueger Presidents with no issues. Those fish fight a heck of a lot more than largemouth, weigh more too. You can catch very large fish using spinning gear, it works fine.

Absolute fact, spinning gear can be used in any situation.

I caught 2 150# lemon sharks back to back on 6000 series spinner with 20# braid and 40# leader, drag never an issue, only my back........lol.

I've caught hundreds of larger more powerful fish than bass on a standard 4000 spinner.

That said, don't think for a minute you land every one.

The Virginian reply :

Quote
I really like the MH's either 6'6" or 7', seems like this is a good all around rod, if not that then the M. If you are going to focus on fishing the bottom, i.e. worms, jigs, carolina rigs, and deep cranks then the MH would be a good choice. Team the reel with 12lb Yozuri Hybrid line and you have a good all around combo, which will also do buzzbaits and topwaters fine. If you are going to work more cranks, spinnerbaits, topwaters(spooks etc) and buzzbaits then I might go with the M. I tend to believe that you have better control and less backlashes with a MH, the more whip action of the rod the more likely I am to overrun, there are many that will disagree with this but for me this is the set up that works best. Out of five rods I own 4 are MH's, and one ML. I have different actions but the same rating, my CB rods are BPS crankinsticks, my bottom rods are quantum tours, and the ML is a KVD.

Retiredbosn,

That's a big help. Thanks for posting your thoughts.

Z06-VETTE reply :

This really comes down to the person.I use BC gear,but have spinning gear form back in the day.I can use either.But I gotta say my Abu

garcia has about 7 tours of duty and begging for more.Love my abu.

Big Phish reply :

I dont know if this has been mention cause i'm not gunna read the whole thread but i prefer baitcasters because spinners always make your line curly after a few days which makes it harder to keep it tight when your fishing stick bates and what not.

Sam reply :

Each has its own application for different techniques.

You need to learn how to use both and when.

Dock Master reply :

If you ever do decide to switch to baitcasters the one key thing to keep in mind is practice, practice, practice, and more practice!!!!!!!

Hammer 4 reply :

Re: spinning reels, I have to agree with Chris, as I used them for a long time too..no problems, both fresh, and salt..

If you do decide to go the BC route, I'd lean towards the MH, depending on the rod, my not so exspensive rods are mh with fast action, so far they've worked o.k. for me..It's really a personal thing which kind of rig you use, as any rig will catch fish, some will work better than others in a given situation.

djmax22 reply :

How do you spinning guys pitch a jig? Just curious.

Fish Chris reply :

Quote
How do you spinning guys pitch a jig?

The same way you baitcasting guys do.... except with no fear of a backlash ;-)

I really can't think of a technique that can be done with a baitcaster, and not with spinning. While I do know of a few things that can be done with spinning, and not with a baitcaster (super light stuff... skipping under docks, etc}.

Fish

SirSnookalot reply :

The only situation I would favor b/c over spinning is trolling, which seems to be uncommon on this site anyway.

Other than that I can use a spinner using any technique that one can do with a b/c, even live bait, you can always use a baitrunner. For me the spinner is more comfortable in fighting a fish and casting it for long periods of time.

I have use a b/c since 1953 so experience is not an issue

Muddy reply :

I used spinning equipment solely for over 35 years, you can do everything with a spinning rod and reel that you can do with a baitcastingrod and reel.

I wanted to learn how to bait cast, because it was a challenge

If you use a barrel ( not a snap swivel) swivel on the tag end of your line and a leader and make sure you put the line on the reel the same direction it is coming off the spool, twisting will be minimal on your spinning gear.

What I did learn, and this is for me only that I enjoy the "feel" more with bait casting. This is especially true with soft plastics and jigs, this is a very personal choice and I am sure not shared by many.

I have 5 Bait Casting outfits and One spinning and I use the spinning gear when I am pond fishing from shore.

CWB reply :

Use everyones responses as what they are - suggestions.

Some people do just fine with only spinning gear. Some people look down their nose at spinning gear and use only baitcasting. Most (myself included) use some mix of both. If I had to choose and use only one type I would probably go with spinning due to versatility but ultimately the decision is your and yours alone.

mrlitetackle reply :

keep the spinner.....

thats all i have ever fished as well....

not that baitcasters aren't good, their just a pain in the a*$....

spinners will catch you any fish a b/c could.

Hammer 4 reply :

I would just add that, I prefer to use a bc in heavey cover, i.e. flippin, that's not to sat it can't be done with a spinning rig.

Muddy reply :

Quote
keep the spinner.....
thats all i have ever fished as well....

not that baitcasters aren't good, their just a pain in the a*$....

spinners will catch you any fish a b/c could.

Something that takes time to learn is not a pain in the A@@, it is a skill.In a world of instant gratification this concept is dying.

The_Natural reply :

Sure you can pitch heavier jigs with a spinning reel, but it's going to be significantly easier with a casting reel. If a stickup is 50ft away, gently setting a half-ounce jig on top of it without a splash would take some serious talent. I'd buy tickets to that show. Sure you can feather the line with your hand...I've done it. However...the difficulty level of that versus utilizing the spool tension knob a casting reel offers isn't even fair.

Z06-VETTE reply :

Quote
keep the spinner.....
thats all i have ever fished as well....

not that baitcasters aren't good, their just a pain in the a*$....

spinners will catch you any fish a b/c could.

Not a pain in the azz,you just have to learn how to use one.My Abu is like casting a Zebco 202 to me. ;D

retiredbosn reply :

Quote
I used spinning equipment solely for over 35 years, you can do everything with a spinning rod and reel that you can do with a baitcastingrod and reel.

Quote
spinners will catch you any fish a b/c could.

Quote
But the thing is, every reel I've ever owned was able to apply as much drag as I needed. And for the last 15 years that I've been using braid, I run my drag setting even lighter.
I know their are situations where you need to horse fish away from cover and such (moreso in the Southern US than in CA) but as long as your fishing in open water, and from a boat, you don't even have to stop the fish within the distance, of the amount of line on your spool..... You simply chase them with the boat. I've done this many times with Bat Rays, and a few times with Sturgeon. In the case of that Sturgy I caught on my micro-light (above photo) it probably ran 15 or 20 X's the length of the line on my reel. Took me so far from where I hooked it, I had a hard time finding my anchor bouy..... and its a lime green 2 gallon detergent jug ! Maybe a 1 mile fight ?

Ok this is getting ridiculous now. The sultans of spinning gear are living is some sort of alternate universe. There isn't any fish a BC can land that will be lost on spinning gear. There aren't any applications that the BC really is better for. Quote your can do everything with a spinning reel that you can do with a BC, the answer is no you can't. Using this logic we would all still be using our old Zebco spincast reels, in reality there isn't anything you can do with a spinning or bc that can't be done with a spincast, plus you can cast a spin cast into a strong wind! Must be a better set up! Please. Is spinning gear effective? Absolutely yes! Is it as strong as a BC? No. Are there applications where a BC has the advantage? Yes. Can you flip a jig with a spinning reel? Yes! The question is can your spinning gear with inferior drag, limp rod, etc horse the fish out of the twisted pile of wood and grass? Probably not.

Good night, no offense to Fish Chris I respect his obvious angling skills, but his post makes the perfect reason for using a BC. Lets say you fish from shore and don't have the luxury of chasing your fish down with a boat, you either turn the fish or loose it, better be using a BC. Or you are fishing flooded timber and can't move the boat, when you hook the fish you have turn the fishes head now or loose it to the timber, again better have a BC with heavy drag and 50lb braid, 10lbs of drag just isn't enough in these situations. So in short unless you are fishing open water, have unlimited line or a boat to chase the fish with you are better off with a baitcasting set up. Or another way if you pond fish, fish an open lake etc there isn't nothing a spinning reel and BC can't do, but if you fishing water like the rest of us with logs, limited access to run the fish down etc, a BC has advantages.

Muddy reply :

What planet on you on? I have caught a few 25 # plus blue fish and some very healthy stripped bass off Breezy Point, Queens NYC , using spinning gear FROM THE JETTY, Rocks , no boat and have done it since my teen years.

I have caught Northern Pike in the Adirondacks with spinning gear, in the weeds and wading!

I use Bait Casting primarily now, and you can do it all except hanging chunks of bunker over the side and trolling for said blue fish and stripped bass in a chum troll. For that conventional levelwind Penns is the ticket

Grey Wolf reply :

Quote

Quote
I used spinning equipment solely for over 35 years, you can do everything with a spinning rod and reel that you can do with a baitcastingrod and reel.

Quote
spinners will catch you any fish a b/c could.

Quote
But the thing is, every reel I've ever owned was able to apply as much drag as I needed. And for the last 15 years that I've been using braid, I run my drag setting even lighter.
I know their are situations where you need to horse fish away from cover and such (moreso in the Southern US than in CA) but as long as your fishing in open water, and from a boat, you don't even have to stop the fish within the distance, of the amount of line on your spool..... You simply chase them with the boat. I've done this many times with Bat Rays, and a few times with Sturgeon. In the case of that Sturgy I caught on my micro-light (above photo) it probably ran 15 or 20 X's the length of the line on my reel. Took me so far from where I hooked it, I had a hard time finding my anchor bouy..... and its a lime green 2 gallon detergent jug ! Maybe a 1 mile fight ?

Ok this is getting ridiculous now. The sultans of spinning gear are living is some sort of alternate universe. There isn't any fish a BC can land that will be lost on spinning gear. There aren't any applications that the BC really is better for. Quote your can do everything with a spinning reel that you can do with a BC, the answer is no you can't. Using this logic we would all still be using our old Zebco spincast reels, in reality there isn't anything you can do with a spinning or bc that can't be done with a spincast, plus you can cast a spin cast into a strong wind! Must be a better set up! Please. Is spinning gear effective? Absolutely yes! Is it as strong as a BC? No. Are there applications where a BC has the advantage? Yes. Can you flip a jig with a spinning reel? Yes! The question is can your spinning gear with inferior drag, limp rod, etc horse the fish out of the twisted pile of wood and grass? Probably not.

Good night, no offense to Fish Chris I respect his obvious angling skills, but his post makes the perfect reason for using a BC. Lets say you fish from shore and don't have the luxury of chasing your fish down with a boat, you either turn the fish or loose it, better be using a BC. Or you are fishing flooded timber and can't move the boat, when you hook the fish you have turn the fishes head now or loose it to the timber, again better have a BC with heavy drag and 50lb braid, 10lbs of drag just isn't enough in these situations. So in short unless you are fishing open water, have unlimited line or a boat to chase the fish with you are better off with a baitcasting set up. Or another way if you pond fish, fish an open lake etc there isn't nothing a spinning reel and BC can't do, but if you fishing water like the rest of us with logs, limited access to run the fish down etc, a BC has advantages.

I totally disagree with your analogy.

retiredbosn reply :

Muddy, man some days you are just so sensitive. ;D Anyway off of the jettys I'm sure you were using a surf rod, the right tool for the job. I thought we were talking bass fishing here, all I'm saying is that the two set ups are not equal. Each has qualities that the other doesn't share. I use both. You can bet if I'm fishing for big cats from the bank and I have two set ups and one is a medium spinning set up and the other a medium BC, I'll pick the baitcaster every time, double if the water is filled with submerged logs, etc. If I'm fishing blues off of the jettys and I have a surf rod combo with a spinning reel or a medium bc set up for bass I"m going with the spinning reel. Match the tool for the job at hand, there are places I won't take a spinning set up because it just isn't up to the job and places I leave the bc in the box because it isn't up to the job, can I fish either you bet, is one better suited you bet. BTW Muddy I would love to go fishing with you sometime, as opinionated as I am and as you can be I think we should go fishing and talk politics and religion, jk We can go to Tioga lake or something. I use to live in Williamsport, Caudersport and Tioga, my granddad had a gas pipeline company up that way. Been there many times, still have some family up near Tioga

JellyMan reply :

Freshwater = Baitcaster

Saltwater = Spinning

I ONLY use baitcasters for freshwater. Once I learned I will never go back. Go with a cheaper one, learn it, then go for a nice expensive one. More control, more accurate casting, and just plain more fun.

Muddy reply :

Quote
Freshwater = Baitcaster
Saltwater = Spinning

I ONLY use baitcasters for freshwater. Once I learned I will never go back. Go with a cheaper one, learn it, then go for a nice expensive one. More control, more accurate casting, and just plain more fun.

Hey Jelly;If you wnanna have some BC fun you should try fishing RedFish and Spotted Trout in salt water and then see if it's all that clear

SirSnookalot reply :

Overwhelming majority of South Florida fisherman use spinning gear for inshore species such as Redfish, Trout and others, guides as well. Some do use b/c, but very few, matter of choice.

I run into very few saltwater fisherman that even fish freshwater, most don't even own a b/c, however I do know a few.

Muddy reply :

Not my experience fishing in Lousiaiana

roadwarrior reply :

It seems we have reached a dead end or at least drifted off topic.

We'll close with this summary:

"Some people prefer spinning gear while others prefer baitcasters.

Some of us fish both and prefer one over the other for certain

techniques. Use what you like, it will probably work out just fine."

Good night Irene.

-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior

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