Baitcaster 101

[dam0007]

Hello all first post here. Found this site via google looking for some gear reviews and ended up on the 'show your stuff' thread. Now because of that thread I want a baitcast reel. So on that note anyone interested in schooling me on a few questions I'd greatly appreciate it.

So basically I'm 29 and have never used one except for a few charter boat trips with friends. I consider myself an avid fisher and have a arsenal of spinning reels/rods fresh and salt.

Question 1: The reel is on the right! I'm a righty my left hand is illiterate doing anything other than reeling and adjusting drag. So the reel I was checking out is made both ways. Is that in the fishing world considered 'cheating'. Like... Is there a right way and a hey I can do this too wrong way?

If its perfectly normal to have it in both formats then I'd assume to go ahead and buy the lefty version. But if using the right handed version is the code of ethics and I must learn that way then I'm a on the fence on it.

Question 2: Has anyone here who has done spinning all their life and switched to baitcasting down the road gave up on it, loved the switch or now do both?

Learning curve looks like the basics are pretty easy but once you start getting into more precision casts its just a time invested way of getting good. In other words I'm willing to invest the time over my life and learn just wanna know I'm not alone if I get frustrated. Lol

Question 3: Honestly, should I splurge and grab a great combo now or grab a cheap set to learn on?

I'm a huge Shimano fan but I fell in love with a Daiwa around $300 price point. Was a great looking reel felt light and comfortable. My go to spinning combo for Bass is St. Croix 6'ft Premier M/F with a CI4 Stradic 2500F so when checking out the Daiwa I matched it with same pole/action but in 7'ft. Felt pretty good in hands tried casting for like 20mins in the store lol just don't wanna drop $400 if it isn't necessary.

Well thanks in advance guys once I get a chance to gonna contribute to the show off thread.

Happy Fishin.

[BrianinMD]

1. If you have a store around you, go get a righty and lefty and see how each feels. Everyone is different on what they like. No way to answer that question for you.

2. I was all spinning until 4 years ago, now I use both. Learning curve is not to bad, see answer 3 for an explanation.

3. Worse thing you can do if find a cheap combo to learn on. No reason to spend big money but a lot of people have become frustrated trying to use a cheapo reel. With a baitcaster you do need something decent. I learned on a Revo S and Shimano Citica both quality reels at a decent price, a lot of used the BPS PQ reels but I don't have any personal experience with them.

[new2BC4bass]

1. There is no right way, only what works best for you.

2. I used spinning gear exclusively in my youth (quit fishing for 23 years.). I wanted to try baitcasting reels after getting back into fishing. I prefer them now to spinning reels, but must admit that I'm not that great of a caster yet. You will find timing to be different. If like most people, your first casts will be way to the left (if casting sidearm with right arm). I suggest staying with a sidearm cast until getting the hang of the release. Will save you a few backlashes.

3. As already stated, buy a decent reel to learn on. My suggestion is either a centrifugal reel or one with dual brakes. They are usually easier to learn on. I learned on Daiwas, and really like them. There was a left hand Fuego on another site for $115. Last time I looked (yesterday) it hadn't been sold yet. This was a $250 reel when it came out. It is an excellent reel as is the Zillion. Neither are that hard to learn. The Zillions are considered heavy compared to most reels today. However, they are built like tanks and are very smooth. They don't seem that heavy to me after coming from a spinning reel background. Of course I don't own any of the modern day wonders like your C14.

If you don't mind used, then you can find some pretty good deals on quality gear. Another option is waiting for closeout sales when new models come out. I got 2 Fuegos at over $100 off MSRP when TW closed them out.

BTW, having only reeled with my left hand, it was weird at first to reel with the right. Now I'll pick up one of my combos without considering which side the handle is on.

[roadwarrior]

Here is a suggestion for a rod thar will compliment the reel:

I would recommend LEC70MF, but some prefer MHF:

http://www.stcroixrods.com/product/freshwater-legend-elite

[dam0007]

Hey guys thanks for all the input! Think at some point between now and next spring I'm gonna go for it and prob grab the Zillion. Wait to see what kind of deal I can get on it. Its funny this Daiwa is built like a tank but when comparing their reel that is similiar to my stradic it was night and day how much more solid and smooth the Shimano was. Anyhow, now its just deciding righty or lefty.

As far as that St Croix goes. Idk about spending that much for me. The Premier I have is awesome!

Thanks again guys. If anyone else wants to keep contributing go for it!

[dam0007]

Thinking about making the purchase tomorrow. Seeing as how I'm still learning about these reels have a question.

I think my heart is set on the Daiwa Zillion, but what about the Type R. Are you only paying for a slightly lighter reel? If I'm gonna drop $320 on a reel it might make sense to go $80 more and get the next step up. BUT I don't want to tick money away either. Is it worth it?

Thanks in advance!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

At a price point above $100 you'd have to almost try to wrong in selecting a good baitcast reel. Whether or not the type R is worth the extra is totally personal preference. The point of diminishing returns is at about $250 IMO. The Daiwa brake system is a unique blend of centrifugal and magnetic braking that is very effective and adjustable. Cheap throw away reels cause more frustration than the $ they save.

Match whatever reel you choose to a MH/F 7' rod for a good all around setup.

Choose a manageable line like a 15# mono. Fill the spool to about 1/8 inch from the rim. peel off 150' feet of line and run a strip of electrical tape across the spool. This will limit the severity of the inevitable backlash.

Practice with a relatively heavy weight (3/4 oz or so) and make nice easy lob casts concentrating on spool control and accuracy. Distance will come later and is way over rated anyway. Let the rod load and do the work. Getting over zealous and bombing one out there is when you get in trouble.

When you do need to pick out a backlash look up the "Thumb Trick". Do not tug on the end of the line or you'll end up cutting it out.

If you're used to casting right and reeling left I suggest sticking with that. There is no advantage to changing hands. There is no right or wrong either.

You catch fish using all spinning or all casting but matsering both gives you more options and enhances the overall experience.

Don't get frustrated. This is supposed to be fun, not life or death! Post you progress and questions as you go and you'll get plenty of assistance. Good luck

[dam0007]

@delaware Thanks for all the input bro!

[new2BC4bass]

... Its funny this Daiwa is built like a tank but when comparing their reel that is similiar to my stradic it was night and day how much more solid and smooth the Shimano was. Anyhow, now its just deciding righty or lefty.

What Daiwa reel are you comparing to the C14? A Zillion baitcast? I don't know about others, but I can reel with a cheapo spinning reel and have virtually no reel or rod movement. Not so even with my most expensive baitcasting reel. Maybe it comes from growing up with a spinning reel in my hands. However this doesn't mean the spinning reel is smoother and more solid. A quality spinning reel turns with ease and the handle will keep spinning when you let go of it. A baitcasting reel is a tad different in this aspect. It can be reeled with very little rod/reel movement, but requires more concentration on my part.

Although I can't reel my Alphas ito without some rood/reel movement most of the time, it is dead silent and feels like it is retrieving on greased rails. Besides the Alphas ito I have several other Daiwa reels ranging from a Procaster to a TD-Z 103HL Type R. None of them feel like s**t when compared to my Chronarch 101A & 100B or Curado 51E. As a matter of fact the 51E is the only reel I can think of offhand that sings on the cast. However, retrieve is quiet and smooth.

[dam0007]

@new2BC4bass I'm not sure the model of the daiwa. It was the spinning reel that's $20 cheaper than the Stradic, looked the same too, black with red highlights. Whether flipping the bail, operating the reel, tightening the drag etc it felt like I was playing with a kids toy not a high quality reel. It was just funny to me, I picked the Zillion back up and was like ahhh this is more like it! Lol I'm not an expert on bait casting reels (yet lol) but having owned so many over the years, I can easily tell the Zillion is built well. I think you mis understood my original statement. Def was not comparing the Zillion to the Stradic!

[dam0007]

Someone local is getting rid of a min St Croix PC70MF with a Pfleuger Trion for $150. Has anyone used that reel? Is it decent? Would anyone want it? That's the pole I want to pair to the Zillion. If anyone here wants that reel throw me a offer and I'll pick the combo up over the weekend.

[dam0007]

Bump post*

Ok guys pullin the trigger this weekend. Got a dilemma.

Zillion or Curado

From what I've been reading they're very comparable and if I can save $100 that would be cool. If searched some posts comparing the 2 but from 2010. So here 2+ years later what are those opinions like after more cast time is under your belts.

[dam0007]

Edit* Chronarch! Or Zillion. Just realized I said curado

[gramps50]

Someone local is getting rid of a min St Croix PC70MF with a Pfleuger Trion for $150. Has anyone used that reel? Is it decent? Would anyone want it? That's the pole I want to pair to the Zillion. If anyone here wants that reel throw me a offer and I'll pick the combo up over the weekend.

I think the Pfleuger Trion is a spinning reel, all the ones have are spinning reels. I have them from Ultra Light to the heaver one. I have been very happy with mine. They retail from $30 to $60 depending on the size.

[islandbass]

Either reel is going to be awesome. However, my question to you because I am dying to know, is have you decided left or right hand? I am betting a Floating Rapala minnow you will prefer hands down the left hand model. Don't go right hand given your spinning background. Been there done that.

[rockchalk06]

Hope the above has helped some. You found the right place for answers here.

[dam0007]

@gramps Yea they were def casting reels, drivee is longer than I thought so prob next week.

@Islandbass LEFTY!!!!! lmaooo I was debating it like crazy but made up my mind. My left hand is useless to do anything other then spin the retrieve. Lol I think I'm gonna go with my gut and grab the Chronarch. Its Shimano, made in Japan not indonesia, I'm saving $100 and resale will be higher if I say to hell with this.

I have decided on going with the 5.0:1 and plan on having this exclusively for Crank baits.

[dam0007]

@rockchalk06 Thanks for alll the info. Prob with the BPS is its a 3+hour drive from where I am. 1 is actually opening about a mile from here in the next year or so tho. Anyhow, gotta run to work, gonna go over the rest of your input later on. Thanks!

[RyneB]

one bit of advice, practice casting with mono for a little bit to get used to baitcasting. It took me a couple seasons to get good, then i switched to braid and fluoro and it changed the game. It took some getting used to. Practice, practice, and practice more. I found that a 3/8 oz practice casting plug, a tree, and a yard will do wonders. I stand close to the tree and cast at it as a reference point, then back off gradually until i feel like im going to backlash. Then i would practice until i felt comfortable at that distance. Then i got to a point where i would try to hit the tree, it taught me how to stop the spool with my thumb to keep it from backlashing. Learn how to use your brake system and it will help you out tremendously.

[dam0007]

@RyneB Thanks for the info! Def will be practicing!