The Switch From Spinning To Baitcaster

[Jim Hill]

So im 36 now and have been fishing pretty much since I could hold a rod.  I grew up on the classic zebco 33 when I was younger and then sometime in my teens went with the spinning reel.  Since then, its been spinning reels.  On the MN opener last week in the boat my dad was saying I should swap to a baitcaster, which he uses.  Hes never used spinning reels, ever, but he won't buy anything else.

I see more often people using baitcasters and I would like to get one.  However, not only am I on a budget, I'd need to know what type of rod and line to get for what I do.

Currently im using  

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Shimano-Solstace-FD-Clam-Pack-Spinning-Reel-SO2500FIC&i=726463&r=view&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=373236343633&kpid=726463&gclid=CjwKEAjwj9GqBRCRlPram97Xk3ESJADrN7IeC7vyHsjM8UVz-zeoyhUggyKNU7aGMY4MvFWU6EJ1nxoCvK_w_wcB

 

Rod is 

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Berkley-Cherrywood-HD-Casting-Rod-7-Medium-Heavy&i=707347&r=view&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=373037333437&kpid=707347&gclid=CjwKEAjwj9GqBRCRlPram97Xk3ESJADrN7IeAm0aZscaop4JoAKASh7KWp1O78KpW-uJlS6C1FNGVxoC4sLw_wcB

 

Neither were bought at gandermountain but it was the first link.   I use power pro 20lb braided line and it seems to work out ok.   Im so clueless to baitcasters im not sure I could just swap reels on my current rod and use the same line.  The #1 reason, minus cost, I never swapped to a baitcaster is because of backlash.  I remember in my 20's I used one and every time I cast my line I'd get it.  Now Im sure I could figure out with some minor practice how to correctly thumb the line but maybe because that was mono line at the time, it caused it more?

 

Anyway, I found some pretty cheap (hopefully decent) baitcasters and wanted to find out if  I was buying the right stuff or what really matters on the set up.  I use one rod/reel combo for everything I fish for.  I just can't really have a whole lotta rods/reels with all different setups because its too much $.  So far walleye, bass, northerns and crappie arewhat i fish for.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!


Oh lastly, one of the reels I was looking at was a quantum vantex.  Cheap in price and looked ok?

 

[Shockwave]

My first baitcasting rig was a Daiwa Exceler on a 7' MF Quantum Tour Tactical rod.  I still use that rod with 15# copolymer.  The reel was about $70, the rod was about $80.  Definitely a decent combo that was good to learn on.  Hope this helps. 

[jyu87]

If you don't mind us asking, what is your overall budget? Might help us narrow it down a little. 

[new2BC4bass]

Assume your budget is low based on your current gear.  My Dad called crappies Paper Mouths for a reason.  Just my opinion, but I would stick with a spinning rod for crappies..    That way you won't need to worry about getting a rod that will load with crappie size lures, and a reel that will throw those weights.  Plus light lures on a baitcast reel are not for beginners.  They also require some specific gear which normally costs quite a bit.  Plus a rod suitable for crappies will be a little on the light side (power wise) for the other species.

 

The good news is any reel should handle pretty much any lure you would be throwing for the other 3 species.

 

Telling us you fish for crappies, bass, walleyes and northerns isn't a lot of help.  Preferred lures (and weights), techniques and cover type would help a lot towards getting good suggestions.  A good all-around rod will be either a MF or MHF ranging from 6'6" to 7'3" length.  A reel with a ratio in the 6s is considered a good all-around ratio.  I am starting to like the faster ratios as I have no problem slowing down, but often don't reel fast enough when the situation calls for it.

 

What reels did you find?  Post what you are looking at and I am sure someone will have an opinion about your choice.  Might not be the right opinion for you, but hey..............

 

EDIT:  Everyone backlashes on occasion.  Probably the best reel to start on would have dual brakes which work on both ends of the cast, or a centrifugal brake system which works on the beginning of the cast where most backlashes occur.  I learned on a magnetic only.  It would be my last choice of those 3 brake systems (unless it were my Zillion 50th).  However, for a backlash free reel, find a Daiwa with Magforce 3D braking.  Unfortunately I have a feeling it would cost more than you are willing to spend.  Approximately $200.  Another option might be a round reel.  I have some Ambassadeur Black Max 1600C reels that are pretty hard to backlash.  They are plenty small enough to palm.  Naturally the used market is the only place to find one.  I would assume the larger sizes (3600 to 4600) would handle similarly and would make a better all-around reel.

[CRANKENSTIEN]

New2b4cbass gave some good info. Maybe I misread but a spinning rod and baitcaster aren't interchangeable. In Minnesota for larger fish a mh rod would work out well. A lot of forum guys like the berkley lifhtning shock rod and it is reasonable. For a reel you want to max out on a limited budget, it will greatly improve your success rate. A bass pro shops pro qualifier for $100 is a good choice. For both $150. Unless can save $30 when on sale. Line can make a big difference for a beginner. Trilene XL mono cast great. I use copolymer and recently purchases 15 lb McCoy mean green and it cast easy for a strong copoly

[GoRavens]

I got my first baitcaster a little over a year ago. Its a lews speed spool ss1. I put it on a bps carbonlite. And I started with suffix siege mono. I practiced hard because I was tired of giving up on it. Once I made up my mind I was going to stick with it. It didn't take me long to get it down. Backlashes are inevitable. But to me I hated backlash with mono. So I switched to invisX. I liked it a lot. Just recently I switched to braid (power pro #30lb) and I love it! I think I benefited going mono, to fluoro, to braid all on the same reel. Anyway I said all that to say "don't give up"

[Jim Hill]

If you don't mind us asking, what is your overall budget? Might help us narrow it down a little. 

I wanted to spend as little as possible, kinda the most bang for my buck I guess.  Im on military and SS disability so its not a lot of money, hence why the relatively cheap gear now.

I would LOVE to spend under 100 for both, if possible.  I'd hate to actually spend more, budget in mind also, for something that if it turns out I didn't like it would be collecting dust or need to be resold.  I can spend MAYBE like 130 on a combo and I'd much rather buy a combo if feasible.  I have a L and M fleet supply store near me, the only place that has fishing gear, and it mainly has daiwa, abu, and quantum reels.  They have like 150 different rod types but almost no combos.

 

Assume your budget is low based on your current gear.  My Dad called crappies Paper Mouths for a reason.  Just my opinion, but I would stick with a spinning rod for crappies..    That way you won't need to worry about getting a rod that will load with crappie size lures, and a reel that will throw those weights.  Plus light lures on a baitcast reel are not for beginners.  They also require some specific gear which normally costs quite a bit.  Plus a rod suitable for crappies will be a little on the light side (power wise) for the other species.

 

The good news is any reel should handle pretty much any lure you would be throwing for the other 3 species.

 

Telling us you fish for crappies, bass, walleyes and northerns isn't a lot of help.  Preferred lures (and weights), techniques and cover type would help a lot towards getting good suggestions.  A good all-around rod will be either a MF or MHF ranging from 6'6" to 7'3" length.  A reel with a ratio in the 6s is considered a good all-around ratio.  I am starting to like the faster ratios as I have no problem slowing down, but often don't reel fast enough when the situation calls for it.

 

What reels did you find?  Post what you are looking at and I am sure someone will have an opinion about your choice.  Might not be the right opinion for you, but hey..............

Ok, my prefered lures that I typically use are Daredevle spoons (northerns), Rapalas of all sizes, zara spook for bass (and northerns because they bite on everything), walleye is almost exlusively on a boat whereas the rest are from shore, so its 99% trolling with just a simple line, floater and hook with a small weight.   The reels I saw that were decently priced at the local store were all the quantums.  Like vantex and up.  Also the Abu garcia 5000 series +.  All though those looked like the big open things, I was leaning towards one that was palm sized, that style.

 

EDIT:  Everyone backlashes on occasion.  Probably the best reel to start on would have dual brakes which work on both ends of the cast, or a centrifugal brake system which works on the beginning of the cast where most backlashes occur.  I learned on a magnetic only.  It would be my last choice of those 3 brake systems (unless it were my Zillion 50th).  However, for a backlash free reel, find a Daiwa with Magforce 3D braking.  Unfortunately I have a feeling it would cost more than you are willing to spend.  Approximately $200.  Another option might be a round reel.  I have some Ambassadeur Black Max 1600C reels that are pretty hard to backlash.  They are plenty small enough to palm.  Naturally the used market is the only place to find one.  I would assume the larger sizes (3600 to 4600) would handle similarly and would make a better all-around reel.

 

Speaking of the backlash, I have never once had an issue of line twisting, knotting, or backlash (which probably couldn't happen) with my spinning reels.  I just wanted to make the jump because more people seem to use them and swear by them.  who knows, maybe all I really would need would be a better spinning reel instead?   

Being as I don't/can't work and don't leave the couch much, fishing is my passion.  I moved back home here to northern MN after I was medically retired in hopes to fish more.  I go fishing every single day of the week for about an hour or two, and can manage half a day on a boat if im sitting.  Having said that, im just looking to increase not only my success rate but also my passion/hobby.  I love buying new things fishing, its like a kid going into toys r us with my at a fishing store.  So I figured maybe a baitcaster would be right.  I dunno.   

 

[BASSPATROL247]

like stated above I would use your present set up for crappies, reason being is I have never known anyone to be able to cast say a 1/8oz jig on a baitcaster and even if you fish for them with live bait and slip bobbers,jig for them or drift I can tell you your spinning gear is a 100 times more suitable for crappies than baitcasting gear because of the smaller and lighter baits and presentations used. and I want to also add that the same thing goes for walleye fishing with the exception of trolling, in that case baitcasting reels are better suited. so I agree with the above poster that said to keep your spinning gear for crappie fishing and I will add walleye fishing. now for pike and bass baitcasters are essential for presentations using pike and bass lures with the exception being finesse fishing for bass with small baits and very light line wich you will be able to still use your spinning gear for that. as far as a 100-130 dollar budget and it being your first baitcaster set up I would buy the rod and reel separately and use the majority of it towards the reel, I didn't learn on one with a dual braking system but can tell you that I fished for years before trying one with a dual braking system and knew right away that had I started with one it would have made learning to cast way easier and faster because the centrifugal brakes and magnetic brakes together give you the ability to adjust them in smaller increments and get the best performance out of the reel versus just the magnetic braking system by itself. I have only used abu garcias and lews reels and do not know of them having a dual braking reel that would fit your budget even if you were only buying a rod, that being said I don't want to recommend any reel that I have never used. but there are some nice combos on the market that fit your price range from lews and abu Garcia. you can get any of the MAX combos from abu for about 100 bucks or less, I have a pro max combo(99.00) and have no complaints and also have 2 lews laser mg combos(99.00)and also like them and would recommend them both. I would have to say that the laser mg's cast a little smoother than the pro max but not much and it could just be the different line I have on them too.. buy either one, watch youtube videos and get some tips and start practicing with it. one tip I will give you, start with heavier line(15-20lb test) and heavier lures(1/2-3/4oz) and you will save yourself some headaches..

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

IMO it shouldn't be a matter of switching, but rather adding a new tackle system that will compliment your spinning tackle. A MH/F casting rod for baits weighing 1/2-oz> is a good addition. As for a starter reel, The BPS Pro Qualifier on sale is arguably the best bang for buck in casting reels. It's affordable, adjustable, user friendly and good enough quality that you won't "out grow" it as your skill develops.  

[DocNsanE]

I wanted to spend as little as possible, kinda the most bang for my buck I guess.  Im on military and SS disability so its not a lot of money, hence why the relatively cheap gear now.

 

[..]

 

Speaking of the backlash, I have never once had an issue of line twisting, knotting, or backlash (which probably couldn't happen) with my spinning reels.  I just wanted to make the jump because more people seem to use them and swear by them.  who knows, maybe all I really would need would be a better spinning reel instead?   

 

To be honest, it's been said before, but there's nothing you can do on a baitcaster that can't be done on a spinning rod. Each have their strengths yes, but you can achieve the same results either way. I only own one casting combo, and so I don't know much. But from what I've read, if you go with a cheap reel, backlashes are going to be more common than if you put a bit more money into it. If your budget is very limited I'd say:

a) stick with the spinning setup, you can get a decent setup for less than $100. You don't need to break the bank here.

if you really want to get a casting setup, save up a little bit more.

[Jim Hill]

Thanks all for the replies!   I have heard about the BPS one and was told it was pretty good to start with.  What I guess I never did consider was keeping what I have and "adding" another.  Usually when I buy a new reel I will stop using the other one.

its such a joy to hear others opinions of my favorite hobby and help me to make an informed decision on my newest purchase!

[DocNsanE]

many anglers like to have multiple combos at hand to handle various techniques with a better tool. Some combos will throw lighter lures better, some will throw heavier better. Some will give you more give for fishing moving treble hooked baits, others will offer more back bone for muscling a fish out of heavy cover. You can of course do a lot of different things with just one combo, but as many people often say, would you play a game of golf with only one club?

 

Even if you do only like one specific technique, having an extra combo on hand allows you to rig multiple baits so that you can quickly change to something different.

 

Or let's say you are fishing top water, you could have a fish blow up on your lure but miss it. What do you do? Pick up your second rod with a wacky rig on it and throw it where the fish was.

 

Having multiple rods is a plus, as long as you have the budget and the space for it.

[Jim Hill]

yeah space is semi limited, I have to have a rod that breaks down to fit in the back of my van.  I can fit a good bit of them back there but right now I only have 4, mine and my families.  I do see your point with having multiple setups, seems to be more for bass then for anything the way you describe it.  I do fish for them, just less often because I so love northern and walleyes!

[livemusic]

The BPS pro qualifier has regularly great reviews. My buddy bought one a few months ago on the sale-of-a-lifetime -- $50. The BPS guy later said "Probably never" when we asked if they would have them for that again. The local store sold, like, 500 of them, people were lined up when they opened. My bud was lucky to get one but he's a lefty and they had one more in stock. The salesman said they will probably go for $70 to $80 when on sale again.

 

You might shop around (even online) for a used reel or a bargain online. I recently bought a high end Daiwa for a great price on Ebay.

[John G]

 reason being is I have never known anyone to be able to cast say a 1/8oz jig on a baitcaster 

 

There are guys here that can cast 1/8oz  jigs with a baitcaster. All it takes is the right rod and a shallow spool.