Should I Switch To A Baitcasting Rod And Reel?

[DCfishing]

I own a Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 7'0" Medium Action (6-15 lb line) Spinning Rod, and a Pflueger President reel. They were both given to me as gifts and I've never had any trouble with them whatsoever.

The thing is, I ONLY fish for largemouth bass using HEAVY lures, and I've heard that baitcasters kind of specialize in those categories(largemouth bass and heavy lures.)

What exact advantages will I get with a baitcasting rod and reel? What length/action is best for largemouth? Also, any suggestions for a good combination? I have $150-175 to spend...

Thanks!

[Trenton]

Less line twist, in some cases more control of your lures, I feel I have more power pulling in fish with mine, quicker for power fishing/covering area faster, flipping and pitching jigs will change your fishing life lol. With your heavy lure power fishing fishing style you could throw lures faster with a bait caster. As for a rod it depends on what your aiming for tackle wise. If your cranking, chatterbaits, heavy action baits that require a "pause" in hookset you need a medium or medium heavy moderate action rod. 5 to 1 gear ratio will be your best for those lure as well. I know I've fished with 6 to 1s just with a slow retrieve

[new2BC4bass]

First let me say that spinning reels can be used for pretty much any type of fishing if that is what you prefer.  They are all I use to own.  Now I much prefer a baitcast reel.  I feel they handle heavier lines better than a spinning reel unless you are using a reel that I feel is way too big for bass.  You can get around that by using braid.

 

There will be a lot less line twist with a baitcast reel although...again...braid is a big help keeping it to a minimum.  Haven't checked, but I imagine there will be many more options for Heavy bass casting rods than Heavy bass spinning rods.  Often the b/c reel will be lighter.  I don't like the long reach to pick up the line with my finger on any spinning reel of decent size.

 

Baitcast reels are generally considered more accurate although growing up with spinning reels, I feel that wasn't an issue for me.  Always easier to get good when you start out young.  I was 6 when I got my first reel, 61 when I got my first baitcast reel.

 

I'm afraid I can't help too much with advice on what to buy.  Some of the following I own.  Some are recommendations based on a lot of reading over the past 6 years.  The Berkley Lightning is one option.  Their E-Motion is getting good reviews.  I've head good things about the Ethos rods from Academy Sports.  The 7'3" H is on sale for $70 right now.  Cabela's Prodigy on sale is another option.  Closeouts are always a good bet.  Some amazing deals can sometimes be gotten.  I picked up a couple Tatula rods last year at less than $95 shipped.  A rod I can recommend at $100 is the Fenwick HMG.  Buying it probably would require a used reel to stay within your budget.  However, I also read good things about the Ethos Mettle reel which could also be bought new and still keep you within budget.

 

If you don't mind used, it is a great way to get more expensive gear than what you can afford new.  Do you want a right or left hand baitcast reel?  Not all reels are offered in left hand.  A new Tatula can be gotten for as low as $95 if you look hard enough.  Check out the Flea Market here.  A little patience will go a long way towards getting a very nice reel in excellent condition at a very good price.

 

I am usually thinking Low Profile, but Abu makes some very nice round reels that should work very well for you....provided you like round reels.  I am impressed with the few I own.

 

 

There will be a bunch more suggestions shortly.  This is an often repeated thread.  Try searching for the best rod and the best reel for $100 or less.

 

[Fisher-O-men]

Your question is "should I switch?"  No, but you should add a baitcaster to your arsenal.  You should get a really nice set up for that money.  For ease of casting I like Daiwa reels.  A Medium Heavy, fast rod will serve you well.

[CRANKENSTIEN]

Your question is "should I switch?"  No, but you should add a baitcaster to your arsenal.  You should get a really nice set up for that money.  For ease of casting I like Daiwa reels.  A Medium Heavy, fast rod will serve you well.

Agree. I can use a spinning feel for most anything but most applications I prefer a baitcaister for the reasons mentioned in other post. Try it you will most likely learn to like it better as well. I read an article on FLW. Where a tourney angler used nothing but spinning gear and he was winning with it. He used large reels as well for punching ...... He said he didn't spend enough time on the water to sharpen his skills with a baitcaister and with spinning he could get right to business. Ot the norm but I can see his point. Large spinning gear can horse fish just fine. Watch salt water fishing.

[yakingfisherman]

Much better to have both a spinning setup and a casting setup. There will be times where one setup is better suited for a situation than the other.

[SirSnookalot]

I do think certain techniques may be easier with a b/c, but not impossible with spinning gear.  Power comes from the rod, spinning rods are available to handle about any size fish and any size lures.  The terms power and finesse fishing do not exist in my vocabulary, I use nothing but spinning.  A b/c is lighter, with a spinning reel on the bottom I don't find weight or exact balance to be all that critical.  Line capacity and max drag should't be much of an issue for bass fishing, either spinning or b/c works just fine.  If you feel you need or want a b/c, try it out.

[new2BC4bass]

I do think certain techniques may be easier with a b/c, but not impossible with spinning gear.  Power comes from the rod, spinning rods are available to handle about any size fish and any size lures.  The terms power and finesse fishing do not exist in my vocabulary, I use nothing but spinning.  A b/c is lighter, with a spinning reel on the bottom I don't find weight or exact balance to be all that critical.  Line capacity and max drag should't be much of an issue for bass fishing, either spinning or b/c works just fine.  If you feel you need or want a b/c, try it out.

 

 

Man, you keep some early hours.  I might be awake at that time or earlier (and often am), but it is a quick trip to the bathroom and back to bed...even if I can't get back to sleep. 

 

Always a pleasure to see you posting.  Keeps us baitcast guys honest. 

 

EDIT:  Headed in your direction in 2 weeks for a little fishing.  Think I will try a lot of treble hook lures on the 7' ML Hurricane I bought (and left there) last year instead of mostly throwing a 10" unweighted worm on it.  I need to get my brother-in-law into trying more than 2 lures.  He likes the previously mentioned worm and F11 Rapalas although he may have added some spinnerbaits after last year since I caught the only large fish on one last year and the year before landed several in quick succession one morning.  His wife was up here a couple weeks ago, and I sent 2 new Shadow Raps home with her for him to try.  I am hoping the gold colored one will be a killer since the bass love those golden shiners so much.

[MickD]

Agree with don't switch, add the baitcaster.  There are techniques that are best done with spin.  I think BC's have better ergonomics for a lot of fishing, easier on the hands for a long day of fishing than spin.  Also the ability to immediately let line run with just a flick of the thumb is valuable at times.  

 

I believe that with BC outfits the reel is the most important part, so get the best you can afford.  I have not tried all brands, but find the Abu Garcias and Shimanos very easy to use.  Start with braid or mono, not flourocarbon, and start with easy to cast lures, like spoons, weight transfer stickbaits, about 5/8 oz.

 

Don't go too stiff on the rod.  It has to load properly with the weight of the lures you will use. Don't bother at first trying to match the guys who say they can cast really light lures on the BC.  Use your spin for that.   Check the reviews on BPS or Cabelas.  While not all reviews are honest, if you find a number of them complaining about certain aspects of a product, they are probably valid.

[MickD]

Here is an attractive bass pro combo:

 

http://www.basspro.com/Abu-Garcia-Revo-S-Baitcast-Reel/Bass-Pro-Shops-Bionic-Blade-XPS-Trigger-Rod-Combo/product/1410160700361/

 

I recommend the 7 foot right retrieve medium power rod.  It has an Abu Garcia Revo reel, and they are VERY good reels.

 

I have always found right retrieve BC reels to work best for me.  I suggest you go to a store and handle the combos (any brand) and compare for yourself whether left or right feels better.  I think the medium power will be more forgiving for a beginner than the stiffer rod, and you can go above the lure weight significantly and still have good loading of the rod.  Going lighter than the rod rating doesn't work as well.

 

They have a combo with the same reel and micro guides if you would prefer that, but it will mean that line to leader knots would not go through the micros as well as the standard guides.  I really like the micro rod grip better than the regular, but that is personal preference.  I've used both designs and they both work well.  A friend prefers the shape of the regular guide grip.  Would be great to go right to a BPS store.

[fisherrw]

Ugly stick for heavy lures?? Not a good idea I'd definitely get a baitcasting rod and reel

[Hawkeye21]

If you do a variety of fishing I think it's smart to have a variety of setups.  I currently have two spinning setups and one baitcast.  I just ordered another spinning combo and baitcast combo from Cabelas two days ago.  It's nice to have the options.

[Poolshark]

You will get better accuracy and control. It's much easier to play bigger fish with baitcasting gear, and you can use heavier line to fish cover. I think that for bass, you need a quality spinning outfit and at least one quality baitcast outfit. I would start with a 6 1/2 ft med fast spinning setup and a seven foot fast action baitcast setup with a rod rated for 1/4 to 3/4 ounce lures. If you decide to progress later... This is still a good place to start.

[SirSnookalot]

You will get better accuracy and control. It's much easier to play bigger fish with baitcasting gear, and you can use heavier line to fish cover. I think that for bass, you need a quality spinning outfit and at least one quality baitcast outfit. I would start with a 6 1/2 ft med fast spinning setup and a seven foot fast action baitcast setup with a rod rated for 1/4 to 3/4 ounce lures. If you decide to progress later... This is still a good place to start.

Can't buy this.  Myself and a lot of other people catch fish like this and bigger using med or mh spin 3 or 4000 reels. I used a mh as I fished from a sea wall, I use mediums when on the beach. Our rods have foregrips, I think a  good advantage for fighting fish, much less wrist and forearm fatigue.  I think spinning is easier to handle larger fish.  There does come a point when a conventional reel will outshine spinning, that's approaching 3 digit fish.

[F14A-B]

I find for "most" typical bass fishing styles,

A Baitcast reel is suitable for faster "lure" casting & retrieving methods, fishing a 6 to 10 hour day..I find the clutch mechanism to be very

dependable for heavy use on the 2 top shelf company's. I believe the line twist is considerably less when using nylon blends or FC. I also know you can use spinning for most, if not all bass fishing. I would urge you to try a very good baitcaster, then you will know.

[MickD]

A lot of personal preferences/"do it my way" going on here.  IMHO, get a baitcaster and let nature take its course.  You will find techniques that work best with spin, some others with BC.  You let your experience guide you after you get basic skills on both.  Just get the best quality BC reel you can afford.  With spin, the rod is the most important; with BC, the reel is most important.

[JayKumar]

For bass fishing, everything will be better with a baitcaster.  Cast, presentation, hookset, fish fighting, no line twist, probably some more stuff I'm forgetting. Try it out, you won't go back. Just make sure if you reel lefty you get a cating reel that's lefty.

[MickD]

I reel a spinner on the left side and a BC on the right.  Go to a store and handle both attached to rods and see what you prefer.

[DCfishing]

I reel a spinner on the left side and a BC on the right. Go to a store and handle both attached to rods and see what you prefer.

I'm exactly the same!