"Heavier" fishing vs. finesse fishing

[TedderX]

I know there are many variables but from what I gather and you can even had one rod for each specific fishing.  However, I realistically can only afford (and only want) two types of set ups.

GENERALLY it goes like this (correct?):

Baitcaster is for "heavier" fishing.  15+ lbs line.  Crank baits, swim baits, lipless crank baits, top water, frogs, swim jigs.

Spinning real is for "finesse" fishing.  8-12 lbs line.  worms, shakey heads, craw-type jigs, drop shot rigs, etc. 

What other "types" of fishing fits into these categories? where do jerk baits fall?  where do chatterbaits fall?  etc, etc.

[Darren.]

"Generally" to whom? 

You can do everything with spinning if that's what you want to do. You don't *have* to do casting no matter what anyone says.

Otherwise, use both. 

[new2BC4bass]

Basically you have the right idea.  However, for me spinning is 4#-8# and baitcast is 6#-17# although I may try 4# on one reel.  This is for mono/co-polymer/hybrid lines.  Nothing says you can't do it all with one or the other.  Some do.

I use a lot of 8# mono or co-polymer on Medium power rods, 12# on MH and 17# on Heavy rods.  Right now most of my spinning rods carry 8# mono cuz I only have one MH and it is a jig and worm rod with braid.

Any chatterbait I fish is big enough to go on a MH rod / 12# line.  I've fished jerkbaits with both but prefer a Medium.  I prefer braid for frogs.  Also for worms and other plastics I may be throwing into the slop....and I use a baitcast rod.

I fish everything I can on a b/c rod because I like the reels better than spinning.  Over the winter I bought the necessary plastics and jigs for Ned rigs.  I will be using a spinning rod even though the weight will be more than sufficient for a b/c rod.

[Dye99]

In reality, one can fish finesse or power fishing on either reel. I know guys who finesse fish very small baits on bait casters as well as people who only use spinning rods for everything. What Ive run into was the rod difference. Rods are made for different types of fishing for a reason. So with that in mind, lighter more sensitive for finesse, and more powerful to horse fish for power fishing.

 

Me? I like having different set ups for different things. I use spinning for drop shot, shakey head, and weightless flukes/worms and bait casters for everything else.

To me, I enjoy collecting fishing tackle...Same thing with guns and tools, but if you can fish everything off one rod or reel, then more power to ya!

[I.rar]

Through all of my buying and selling tackle, I found I really only need 3 nice setups for my fishing. Unless something catches my eye, lol. 

Medium/Light spinning for 1/8-5/16  (I do most of my fishing with this)

Medium casting for 1/4-5/8

Medium/heavy casting for 3/8-1oz

All fast action with braid and leader (6lb, 10lb & 15lb).

I'm not a tackle junkie with a million baits to choose from. Over the years I've narrowed down my selection to the bait styles I have the most confidence in, then manufacturers. What I have is roughly 5 styles of soft plastics and a hand full of hard baits for each rod power. I even did the spreadsheet thing other members suggested to help keep track of what you use and need to reorder so I'm not shopping for new-to-me baits when I can see what works for me. 

This helped me limit my gear, selection and stress carrying what I need when I'm bank beating. Also makes restocking easier and cheaper. My wife appreciates the cheaper part, lol. A happy wife means more fishing time so I'm thrilled. 

Sorry to ramble on. This all is jmho of course. 

[0119]

8 minutes ago, I.rar said:

Over the years I've narrowed down my selection to the bait styles I have the most confidence in, then manufacturers.

I keep saying that....then like today I find Whopper Plopper's at BPS and whoops I did it again......

[I.rar]

Hey, it happens!

Just now, 0119 said:

I keep saying that....then like today I find Whopper Plopper's at BPS and whoops I did it again......

 

[WRB]

19 hours ago, TedderX said:

I know there are many variables but from what I gather and you can even had one rod for each specific fishing.  However, I realistically can only afford (and only want) two types of set ups.

GENERALLY it goes like this (correct?):

Baitcaster is for "heavier" fishing.  15+ lbs line.  Crank baits, swim baits, lipless crank baits, top water, frogs, swim jigs.

Spinning real is for "finesse" fishing.  8-12 lbs line.  worms, shakey heads, craw-type jigs, drop shot rigs, etc. 

What other "types" of fishing fits into these categories? where do jerk baits fall?  where do chatterbaits fall?  etc, etc.

Spinning is generally used with line under 10 lb test (mono test) for lighter weight lures 1/16 to 1/4 oz and baitcasting with 8 lb to 25 lb ( mono test) for 31/6 to 3/4 oz and heavier.

Spinning rods medium or medium light, bait casting medium, medium heavy and heavy.

No set rules, use what you prefer to cast with.

Tom

[doyle8218]

I use a baitcaster for everything now.

[Darren.]

On April 30, 2016 at 6:33 PM, WRB said:

Spinning is generally used with line under 10 lb test (mono test) for lighter weight lures 1/16 to 1/4 oz and baitcasting with 8 lb to 25 lb ( mono test) for 31/6 to 3/4 oz and heavier.

Spinning rods medium or medium light, bait casting medium, medium heavy and heavy.

No set rules, use what you prefer to cast with.

This pretty much says it all. A matter of preference, 
thus it is all subjective to the whims of the user.

[Capt.Bob]

3 hours ago, doyle8218 said:

I use a baitcaster for everything now.

This wouldn't be near as much fun fishing fer Yellow Perch, Crappie, Bluegill, and small Trout. If I could only have two fishing outfits, one would be Baitcaster on a 7'MH rod, and the other would be a Spinning reel on 6' or 6'6" ML. but man I would hate to handicap my experience like that.

[Fishes in trees]

Here's what I think.    There is such a thing as "heavy" fishing gear.   There is such a thing as "finesse" fishing gear.  Having said that, to me, "finesse" fishing is much more of an attitude thing than a gear thing.

For instance, some day you might be on a "schoolie" bite, where swarms of similar size fish periodically surface and you can see the school of shad being threatened.   Sometimes crappie do this,  more often white bass or hybrids, but from time to time there are bass doing this as well.   More often spots or small lies than largemouths but it happens.    Anyway, one of the best ways to deal with this situation is to bust out your  ML or L spinning gear with 6 or 8 lb test, tie on an in-line spinner heavy enough that you can throw 40 o4 50 yards if you have to  and throw over and across the surfacing school and bring the spinner back through the school.   You're using lighter gear to do this, but there isn't a lot of finesse involved.

By the same token if you're throwing quarter to 3/8 oz jigs or soft plastics  to lay downs in 2 to 8 feet of water, using bait casting gear and 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon, there is a whole lot of "finesse involved.  For instance, if you splash too much, you won't get bit more often than not.  If you consistently pitch too high and get your bait stuck above the water, you're unlikely to get bit.   This is a situation where you're using much heavier gear (out of necessity, due to cover and whatnot), but if you don't present the bait in a finessful way, you ain't getting bit.

Just two situations, I probably could come up with more if I wanted to.    Point being, IMO, finesse fishing is more of an attitude about how you present the bait, moreso than the gear used to do so.

[new2BC4bass]

9 hours ago, Capt.Bob said:

This wouldn't be near as much fun fishing fer Yellow Perch, Crappie, Bluegill, and small Trout. If I could only have two fishing outfits, one would be Baitcaster on a 7'MH rod, and the other would be a Spinning reel on 6' or 6'6" ML. but man I would hate to handicap my experience like that.

Have to agree.  I've slowly been lowering the amount of weight needed for me to be able to cast it on a baitcast reel.  My PXL Type R helped a lot.  However, a spinning reel sure makes it easier and casts much more accurate.........for me.

[roadwarrior]

[0119]

4 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

finesse fishing is more of an attitude about how you present the bait, moreso than the gear used to do so.

Very true.....

[Mike L]

17 hours ago, doyle8218 said:

I use a baitcaster for everything now.

Ditto