Baitcaster Help Your Fishing?

[Muzz22]

Does a baitcaster improve or help your fishing in any ways

[Mr Swim Jig]

Depends on the person. I prefer bait casters over spinning reels any day and every day. So to answer your question does a bait caster improve or help your fishing, for me yes it does. But I am sure the answers you get will very quite a bit.

 

and welcome to the forums...

[BassinLou]

Does a baitcaster improve or help your fishing in any ways

 

I find it does. Many years ago all I did was fish with multiple spinning outfits. As time passed curiosity and need to improve my skills as an angler led me to try out a b/c. It was challenging at first and 12 yrs later all but 2 of my outfits are b/c's. Only you will be able to truly answer that question. Many people do just fine with spinner's but I have yet to come across someone who has picked up a b/c, master it , and say they want to go back to spinners. 

[Jaderose]

I did it a little differently.  I went straight from a Zebco to baitcaster.  I've since picked up a couple of spinners but am not very good with them.  The learning curve wasn't as steep as I thought it would be.  The baitcaster has the same basic profile as a Zeb and I had already gotten my thumb used to using the button as a brake.  My fishing immediately improved.  I can cast farther, more accurately and work my bait through more stuff.  When I bought my first BC (BPS Pro Qualifier...I love it) I had them string it up with the gnarliest bulk 13 lb mono they had,  It backlashed...I fought it....was generally a nightmare...but I did all that in January and February out in the yard and on the banks of some of the water I fish.  YEah...just casting out on the ice.  But I got good at it....when warm weather arrived, I stripped off about 3/4 of that old mono (leaving the other 1/4 as backing) and filled it up with Power Pro Slick 8 20 lb.  HOLY COW!!!!!  Stuff casts like a dream.  I don't claim to be a pro or anything but now I can put my bait about anywhere I want and I'm not "thinking" about my casts.  I just do it.  Occasional backlash?  Yep..but I love my BC's.  I only like my spinners.

 

If I have any advice to give at all, it would be to wait.  DO NOT try to learn to use a baitcaster on the water.  You'll either sell it or (if you're like me) throw a couple of hundred dollars worth of gear in the lake in frustration.  Besides......casting and flippin and pitching into a coffee can in January is fun.  Beats sitting in the house dreaming about fishing.

[Fish Murderer 71]

Once you go Baitcaster you'll never be able to go back!  I still have a few Open-faced reels and they have a specific technique, but the bulk of my arsenal is Bait caster!

[gramps50]

When I learned to use a bait caster I did it with a practice plug in the yard until I could throw it fairly well without back lashing, call it thumb training.

What helped me was I reeled off maybe 30 yards of line then wrapped the spool with a piece of splicing tape (won't leave residue). This helps by preventing a back lash from getting to deep in to the spool so they are easier to get out. I also started out with #17 mono.

I use my spinners more but do enjoy using my BC for things like frogs, buzz baits & spinners. I like it for the heaver stuff, but that's just me.

[Jaderose]

When I learned to use a bait caster I did it with a practice plug in the yard until I could throw it fairly well without back lashing, call it thumb training.

What helped me was I reeled off maybe 30 yards of line then wrapped the spool with a piece of splicing tape (won't leave residue). This helps by preventing a back lash from getting to deep in to the spool so they are easier to get out. I also started out with #17 mono.

I use my spinners more but do enjoy using my BC for things like frogs, buzz baits & spinners. I like it for the heaver stuff, but that's just me.

 

 

Now THIS is a good idea...although there is nothing like uncorking a monster cast when you're new to BC's and having it growing an instant AFRO

[0119]

Spinning reels have helped my fishing recently. Helped me avoid pain in my hand. Increased my catch. Allowed me to use a wider range of lures with the same outfit, since I rarely bother with using or taking more than one on a trip. Makes for a better multi species usable combo. You should never feel compelled to change what might be already working for you. Ten miles from my house they catch near 200lb tarpon on a daily basis with spinning gear so never feel your missing out on bigger fish because you use spinning.

[jignfule]

Hard to find heavy or XH in a spinning rod for flippin/pitchin/punchin/froggin. I use both and probably always will. B/c for heavier lures spinning for lighter.

[0119]

Tons of them but since they are not marketed towards bass anglers you have to look at inshore rod sections of the catalog.

[David D.]

I went straight to baitcasters from spin casters, and it made a world of difference. Now I also have a spinning setup for lighter stuff( but it mainly gets used as a drop shot rig.

I will never again fish without a BC nearby.

[new2BC4bass]

Fishing in my area sucks.  Baitcast gear is the only reason I keep going out.   So I guess you could say that it has improved my fishing.  I don't like using heavier lures on a spinning rod.

[Hattrick7]

I went from spinning to BCs about almost a year now and I can't stand spinning reels. The main reason is I can't control the distance like I can with a BC. I know a lot of guys use spinning for finesse stuff but I don't really get that. Maybe if I'm throwing a split shot rig with a super light weight and a roboworm but I don't think it'll cast very far even with a spinning reel.

[Tim Kelly]

I think it takes more skill to be good with a spinning reel than it does with a baitcaster. Both will do the job well, but line management is much more of an issue with spinning gear. Distance and accuracy can be great with spinning gear if you learn to feather the line with your finger against the spool when you cast, but it's much more difficult than just jamming your thumb on the spool to stop the cast with a baitcaster!

 

Baitcasters are much more efficient though as you can bring the lure out of the water and go straight into the cast (assuming you use the reel the right way round and aren't one of those who insists on swapping hands LOL). Spinning reels involve grabbing the line, opening the bail, closing the bail etc every time. Baitcasters also go in and out of a rod box easier with less tangles, which may or may not be an issue for you.

[cddan]

A baitcaster definitely keeps it interesting. They are great when making a lot if casts, cranking abd winding covering water. With practice they are more efficient. They make fishing more fun and you look like a professional using them. Im kinda kidding but when you're experienced with one it does make you more confident ands helps to make hundreds of casts. This is kinda what it takes to catch them. I was watching facts of fishing tv show,. They break down the amount of casts to the amount of fish caught. This show was like 857 casts to 12 fish caught. This can be what it takes many times and using a baitcaster can make it easier to do in many circumstances. I truly enjoying tossing them and all too often when I am just casually fishing I call It casting practice. Making tons of casts in the same spot. Many times I have been rewarded with fish almost as if they became curious in time, came over and hit my lure. If you're also a hunter they are similar to your favorite rifle. You learn to care for it, sight it in , make sure it's in good working order so you do succeed. Gives you a better sense of pride in your accomplishments. Aaahh just use a spinning real once and a while to mix it up a bit! Tails up!

[Hattrick7]

I think it takes more skill to be good with a spinning reel than it does with a baitcaster. Both will do the job well, but line management is much more of an issue with spinning gear. Distance and accuracy can be great with spinning gear if you learn to feather the line with your finger against the spool when you cast, but it's much more difficult than just jamming your thumb on the spool to stop the cast with a baitcaster!

 

Baitcasters are much more efficient though as you can bring the lure out of the water and go straight into the cast (assuming you use the reel the right way round and aren't one of those who insists on swapping hands LOL). Spinning reels involve grabbing the line, opening the bail, closing the bail etc every time. Baitcasters also go in and out of a rod box easier with less tangles, which may or may not be an issue for you.

That's another annoying thing about spinning reels the darn bale. Totally agree with the efficiency thing also. Press, cast, reel. The whole switching hands thing has me a little stumped but if it works it works!

[Jaderose]

That's another annoying thing about spinning reels the darn bale. Totally agree with the efficiency thing also. Press, cast, reel. The whole switching hands thing has me a little stumped but if it works it works!

I'm a hand switcher but it is such a natural part of the process to me that it just happens.  When I bought my first spinner, I bought a RH vintage Penn reel.  (couldn't be switched).  It was darn near unusable to me.  (which is too bad because it's a magnificent reel).  I then bought a LH Spinner so I could switch and it got instantly better.  I dunno.....whatever works for you.  I cast righty and reel righty.  My left hand "handles the rod" better.  (Insert joke here)

[OkobojiEagle]

Does a baitcaster improve or help your fishing in any ways

 

There are presentation techniques that are better suited to bait casters and techniques that are better suited to spinning tackle.  It will improve your bass fishing to be proficient in many presentations using both varieties of tackle.  More important than the tackle is understanding your quarry.

 

 

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[SirSnookalot]

A b/c would not help or hinder, both are just tools to get the lure to the zone.  I don't use a b/c but I do use a conventional reel with no level wind or any brake settings, I can cast the crap out of it.  But I don't use it that often because I prefer spinning.  If I were bothered by the bail I'd be using a bailess spinning reel.

 

This being a freshwater site with the focus on bass, I understand when people feel a spinner is finesse and b/c is power.  As much as I understand that, I understand that it just isn't true.  Quite honestly when I'm bass or peacock fishing I'm not expecting to catch anything where I would need or want any thing but a light spinning set up.

 

 Where I do most of my fishing now the sight of a b/c is a very rare event, it's spinning or fly.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

You can get by with all spinning or casting but being proficient with both (as well as other) types of tackle opens up options and IMO enhances the over all fishing experience. I prefer casting tackle for heavy tackle (baits 1/2> and line 12#>)I prefer spinning for finesse fishing and skipping under cover (docks, over hangs etc.

[Felix77]

I think it did.  When I fun fish I use a spinning reel mainly and I find it very inefficient at some presentations.  Things like spinnerbaits, crankbaits, spooks etc. take just a bit more time to do with spinning setups.  The ability to thumb the spool, chuck and wind I end up getting more casts out using baitcasters.

 

I still prefer spinning for finesse presentations. Things like wacky rig, weightless senko, mojo rig, tubes etc.  Tried baitcasters with them and found the feel lacking compared to my spinning setup.

[Fishes in trees]

A short answer to your question is, yes.