New Article: Spinning Vs. Baitcasting

[long island basser]

I can't cast a diamond jig with a tail wind 100 yds using an 8' rod, .

I was thinking the same thing.

A lot of guys here should head on over to their local high school football field and get ready for some disappointment.

[hawkoath]

The reason why I got into baitcasters late was spinning setups just had much more (1) multi-species/multi-environment versatility and (2) cost effective. 

 

Where I live within an hour driving distance you can fish for easily up to 25 species that are fairly easy to catch. If I'm going for shark/flounder in the surf or trout in the lakes I can always use a size 3000 reel and be done with it. It's also easier to cast in heavy wind which can happen at any time and I don't need to worry about really maintaining the reel when saltwater fishing. If I used a baitcaster, I would have to have multiple reels to optimize for each situation and have to spend a considerable amount of time untangling bird's nest which would also result in lost lures on the bottom when fishing for salmon. 

 

It's also about cost. You can get a Mitchell Pro, Pflueger, etc... for around $50 and it's all you really need. It's really hard to find an easy to cast and really user friendly baitcaster brand new for that price. Hence, I had to wait a while to get a Coastal Zillion and Steez EX that I have right now. Especially for a beginner at using baitcasters, the really low cost reels are nowhere as easy to use and reliable as a similarly priced spinning reel. 

[hawkoath]

That being said. Baitcasters are really awesome. You save a lot of time opening/closing the bail and grabbing the line with your finger. With baitcasters you cast, retrieve and simply cast again. I really do think you get a more power when fighting the fish as well. So there are definitely advantages to using one. But there is a reason you don't see anyone using a baitcaster fishing for Shad on the Columbia or Salmon on the Surf. You'll get bird's nest every other cast with the winds you can encounter and probably lose tens of dollars worth of gear. 

[C0lt]

to join the echo chamber; both have a time and a place. No matter how much I love my baitcasters, I ALWAYS have one spinning rod with me. 

 

I see a lot of people saying they like spinning gear for jerk baits, topwaters, and shallow running crankbaits. I use to feel the same way before I got into bait casters, and now the only bait with a constant retrieve that I can tolerate using on a spinning rod is a keitech easy shiner on a 1/8 head for smallmouth. All of my cranking, jerkaiting, and top water fishing has to be done on a baitcaster. 

[Caliyak]

I did the coke can fishing. LOL My parents could not afford gear so I did it. Today, I fish from a kayak so spinning gear is best when sitting. I have one baitcaster for crank baits, spinner and buzz baits. Great article.

[Oregon Native]

Have used and feel comfortable with both.  Casting into the wind is easier with a spinning and there's less backlashes.  Also there's less maintenance I believe with spinning.  Glad we have both to choose.

[dumfish]

There is one lure that demands the use of a bait cast reel, that would be the spinner bait.

[fish devil]

There is one lure that demands the use of a bait cast reel, that would be the spinner bait.

What about burning a lipless crank at high speed?  Sure as hell are not doing it with spinning gear.

[SirSnookalot]

What about burning a lipless crank at high speed?  Sure as hell are not doing it with spinning gear.

Why not ?  Many spinning reels have as much or more IPT than a b/c.  Using the same class rod it's just matter of turning the crank.

[Shanes7614]

If you are drop shotting or some other light line technique in open water, yes spinning shines, but if I'm trying to throw a crankbait open water I want a low gear round reel that will bomb that crank 75-100 yards, and then have cranking power to get that thing down in the strike zone.

Please post video of these 75-100 yard casts. I'm sure we can ALL learn something from anyone who can cast that far. What current setup are you achieving this with? I want to order mine tomorrow!!!!! I hope they come in lefty.

[Shanes7614]

There is one lure that demands the use of a bait cast reel, that would be the spinner bait.

This is the furthest from truth!!!!

And burning lipless baits is VERY possible with spinning reels!!!

[Shanes7614]

What about burning a lipless crank at high speed? Sure as hell are not doing it with spinning gear.

FALSE statement!!!! And quite honestly the distance lipless can be thrown with a spinning reel is probably way further then any bait casting reel.

FYI. Avid bait casting user here... Probably consists of 90% of my uses.

[d-camarena]

Not trying to cause any arguments. But 90% of the time i use spinning gear. Ive caught plenty fish throwing spinnerbaits and "burning" lipless crankbaits. I also throw jigs on a heavy spinning set up. It might not be as effective as a BC but it gets the job done

[Shanes7614]

There is one lure that demands the use of a bait cast reel, that would be the spinner bait.

Maybe it's not the fish that are so DUM....

[fish devil]

This is the furthest from truth!!!!

And burning lipless baits is VERY possible with spinning reels!!!

Of course it is, question is why would you not use a baitcaster? BC's are just way more effective. In one trip I will cast hundreds and hundreds of times with a 7.1:1 reel at a frantic pace. It's a pretty sight. No way you can accomplish this with spinning gear.

[Shanes7614]

Of course it is, question is why would you not use a baitcaster? BC's are just way more effective. In one trip I will cast hundreds and hundreds of times with a 7.1:1 reel at a frantic pace. It's a pretty sight. No way you can accomplish this with spinning gear.

I myself do use bait casters at least 90% of the time. However others make this sound as if it is not possible at all. Which again is not the case. Almost anything we can do with bait casters can also be done with spinning gear as well. Maybe the spinning users aren't able to train themselves to use a casting reels themselves However their outfit does not in any way limit the lures and presentations available to them. I fish with a guy who uses spinning gear only and can outcast myself and is way more accurate. I personally grew up throwing lipless baits for many years with plenty of success using spinning gear. Throwing lipless and spinnerbaits and buzz baits as well. I also believe today there are quite a few more higher ratios for spinning reels available. Why should they be limites their bait "traditionally" labeled for casting reels?

[Shanes7614]

Of course it is, question is why would you not use a baitcaster? BC's are just way more effective. In one trip I will cast hundreds and hundreds of times with a 7.1:1 reel at a frantic pace. It's a pretty sight. No way you can accomplish this with spinning gear.

Why do you think casting gear is more effective then spinning in these applications?

[CeeJay]

I myself do use bait casters at least 90% of the time. However others make this sound as if it is not possible at all. Which again is not the case. Almost anything we can do with bait casters can also be done with spinning gear as well. Maybe the spinning users aren't able to train themselves to use a casting reels themselves However their outfit does not in any way limit the lures and presentations available to them. I fish with a guy who uses spinning gear only and can outcast myself and is way more accurate. I personally grew up throwing lipless baits for many years with plenty of success. Throwing lipless and spinnerbaits and buzz baits as well. I also believe today there are quite a few more higher ratios for spinning reels available. Why shouldbthesebguysblimit their bait "traditionally" labeled for casting reels?

 

Well said, and thanks for defending the spinning guys 

I experimented with bait casting and stuck with it just long enough to get a feel for it.  But in the end I just found spinning tackle to be the most comfortable and effective method for me to catch fish.

[Shanes7614]

Of course it is, question is why would you not use a baitcaster? BC's are just way more effective. In one trip I will cast hundreds and hundreds of times with a 7.1:1 reel at a frantic pace. It's a pretty sight. No way you can accomplish this with spinning gear.

This just sounds like a biased comment because it's YOUR preferred method. Sometimes money, no predesessor to teach or some guys even have a handicap preventing their use of casting reels. That doesn't make them any less of a fishermen and prevent them from using certain baits and presentations. Have you yourself ever tried drop shotting in the super clear DEEP resevoirs in Southern California where water visibility can sometimes be more then 50 plus feet of water? Especially using 4# flouro for the super line shy on these massively pressured waters using casting gear? Setups and baits all have their places they shine. To make broad statements saying things in previous posts is a bit biased and your personal choice for the waters you fish. To say it's not possible is purely out of context and furthest from reality.

[Shanes7614]

Not trying to cause any arguments. But 90% of the time i use spinning gear. Ive caught plenty fish throwing spinnerbaits and "burning" lipless crankbaits. I also throw jigs on a heavy spinning set up. It might not be as effective as a BC but it gets the job done

Your downfalls can be fixed by upgrading to a heavier rod class. Others downfalls will never change due to the ignorance of being stuck in thier own ways the has caught their ONE trophy fish and will now forever swear by that method. My grandpa taught me growing up that even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes. And with the new technology being used today many of these guys are going to be left behind in the dust.

[MIbassyaker]

Of course it is, question is why would you not use a baitcaster?

 

Yes, well, I'm sure if I had one, I'd use it sometimes.

[J Francho]

Ever thumb a spool waiting for your bait to hit the bottom at 60'?

[bradc36]

I can perform any technique that I would use for smallmouth or largemouth with both spinning and casting setups. I don't believe one is superior to the other, it is just preference, and ability to perform a technique with a given setup. For example, after reading the part of the article that says spinning gear is better for getting under docks, I would much rather skips a weightless senko or a jig under the dock with my casting setup and 15lb test.

 

Use what you like, they both work. 

[Master Bait'r]

Why do you think casting gear is more effective then spinning in these applications?

 

 

Honestly I feel like I have more control DURING the cast with a BC reel as my thumb is babysitting but to each his own.  I don't feel there's any bait out there that HAS to use either, but it certainly helps to have it dialed exactly like you want.  Also with the way I palm the reel and turn the crank all within a very tight area, it just feels more...  How do I say it...  "tight" or "compact" or "all in one place" so to speak.  Spinning rods your hands and the components feel more spaced out and farther away.  That's not to say that I think it's better, just different.  I am simply happy that we live in an age where we have so many high quality choices.  There is no wrong or right, just what feels good to you.   

[dumfish]

You got it master bait'r, control is the key.