Opinions On Light Line Baitcasters

[hike4steel]

In relation to yesterdays thread spinning gear for finness presentation, what baitcasters handel light lines better or is just the skill set?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The features of a casting reel that make light casting easier are a light weight, low capacity spool and good bearings. The Curado 50E and Daiwa Sol are two examples.

[.ghoti.]

I routinely cast a 1/16oz jighead and 3X worm on a baitcast combo. I use Daiwa Alphas, the JDM version of the sol, with #6 YZ line. The more important piece of the puzzle is the rod.

You will need a rod that "loads" with the lighter weight baits you're interested in. If the rod won't flex at the end of the back-cast, with the bait you're using, there's no point in looking for alternative reels to solve the problem.

Several companies offer med-light power baitcast rods. You need to look into one of these. My recommendation is a St Croix 6'9" ML-XF LTB. They may offer this action and power in the Avid line as well. I know the LTB will do the job. I took mine, with one of the Aplhas to the White River last year to fish for trout. Was throwing a 1/16oz hair jig with no trailer for most of the day.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I routinely cast a 1/16oz jighead and 3X worm on a baitcast combo. I use Daiwa Alphas, the JDM version of the sol, with #6 YZ line. The more important piece of the puzzle is the rod.

You will need a rod that "loads" with the lighter weight baits you're interested in. If the rod won't flex at the end of the back-cast, with the bait you're using, there's no point in looking for alternative reels to solve the problem.

Several companies offer med-light power baitcast rods. You need to look into one of these. My recommendation is a St Croix 6'9" ML-XF LTB. They may offer this action and power in the Avid line as well. I know the LTB will do the job. I took mine, with one of the Aplhas to the White River last year to fish for trout. Was throwing a 1/16oz hair jig with no trailer for most of the day.

Good point. The rod definetely needs to be appropriate for the weight being thrown.

[K_Mac]

Just my .02 regarding rod selection. For years I have been using an older MH-F rod with a soft tip as my crankbait rod. It works fine for bigger baits, but I could never throw 1/4 oz and lighter cranks very well. I have had an old St. Croix Pro-Glass rod for years that was inherited from my brother. It had a couple of damaged guides and I never got around to getting it repaired. I lost a very big bass at the boat a few weeks ago on a 100 series Bandit and decided to get the glass rod repaired. This rod is rated 1/4 to 3/4, which is the same as the rod I was using, but loads much more quickly and casts lighter baits far better. When you are old and stubborn, as I am, sometimes the obvious is not all that easy to see...

[Fishes in trees]

I've experimented a little bit with light line on bait casters (8 lb or less) Mixed results. I've come to the conclusion that when it is time to throw light baits on light line, that's why god made spinning gear. I can understand throwing light line and light baits on bait casting gear as an exercise in buying more tackle, (which isn't a bad thing), but practically I don't see the point, and these days there are other areas of the fishing experience that I can squander my dollars on.

[Capt.Bob]

I've experimented a little bit with light line on bait casters (8 lb or less) Mixed results. I've come to the conclusion that when it is time to throw light baits on light line, that's why god made spinning gear. I can understand throwing light line and light baits on bait casting gear as an exercise in buying more tackle, (which isn't a bad thing), but practically I don't see the point, and these days there are other areas of the fishing experience that I can squander my dollars on.

X2, I agree I love casting reels but for anything under a 1/4 oz I'll assure you my Stradic will cast farther and more accurate than my baitcasters, besides, anything lighter than 6# diameter mono has done nothing but make my baitcaters a chore to use. I like 20Lbs. Tracer Braid on my Lew's ss reals, it is only 6lbs test mono diameter and works great, tried 15# with braid and took it off, digs in, the 15# has a diameter of 4# mono, and did not work for me, but I have great luck with the 20# Fireline Braids, I then have 6# mono diameter and run a 4#-12# Flouocarbon leader to the end, 6’-8’ long for invisibility at the lure.