Baitcaster Nah!9

[Buffdaddy54]

I was at my local BPS today appeasing the Bait Monkey and asked one of the guys for advice on Baitcasters under 80 bucks. He proceeds to tell me that anything under 100 is junk. I ask why and he said the bearings on models under 100 bucks are fewer and for the most park junk.  So I asked him what he would recommend and he points me to the BPS Pro Qualifier. He then tells me that as a bank fisherman I would be wasting my time buying a baitcaster because there would be a limited number of applications where it would be useful. Now I used to have a Pro Qualifier and sold it because I just could not use it without a bunch of backlashes. 

I was considering getting another baitcaster but questioning whether it would be worth my time and effort right now. Would it be wiser for me to learn all I can with a spinning Rod and reel until I have more experience and catch fish more abundantly or not?

Looking forward to your responses. 

[Buffdaddy54]

By the way, his recommendation was to go a PQ paired with a Berkley Fire Rod

[d-camarena]

Pq is not a bad reel, idk about the fire rod. I wouldnt say a spinning reel is better for bank fishing but it may be easier go that route for now. So you can put all your focus on fising and not on backlashes

[Raul]

If I were that employee's supervisor he would be collecting unemployement check by now, every brand ( yes, including the all mighty Shimano ) has not so good quality products, but saying any reel inder 100 dollars is junk is going a little bit too far away taking into consideration that actually one of his "most knowledgeable" recommendations, the PQ is, well, less than 100 dollars. The PQ is a great value reel.

In other words, the employee is a dummy.

[new2BC4bass]

Agree with Raul on all accounts.  Especially the last one. 

Jeez.  Guess I need to put my baitcast combos away since I fish 99% of the time from shore.  What are all those applications that a baitcaster would be no good for?  Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits?  T-rig, C-rig?  Finesse?  Casting into junk along the shore?  Topwater?  Jerkbaits?  Frogs?  Etc., etc., etc.

People better start throwing away their older reels cuz many don't have more than 5 bearings.  Got no idea how they are still working. 

Baitcasters are harder to learn.  Also need more room for casting unless flipping or pitching.  At least I need more room so there are definitely places I would rather have a spinning rod to fish.

I think you could find a suitable baitcast reel for $80 or less.  Especially if willing to buy used.  I've got several reels I bought used for less than that (and one new reel).  They don't give me any problems.

Simply put....................that guy is full of it.

[Buffdaddy54]

I thought he was full of it also but what do I know, I'm still pretty new at this.

[Cgrinder]

Step 1: ignore every salesperson at Bass Pro Shops.

Step 2: shop online for a sub $100 Tatula. 

Step 3: profit!

[James Pondscum]

20 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Agree with Raul on all accounts.  Especially the last one. 

Jeez.  Guess I need to put my baitcast combos away since I fish 99% of the time from shore.  What are all those applications that a baitcaster would be no good for?  Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits?  T-rig, C-rig?  Finesse?  Casting into junk along the shore?  Topwater?  Jerkbaits?  Frogs?  Etc., etc., etc.

People better start throwing away their older reels cuz many don't have more than 5 bearings.  Got no idea how they are still working. 

Baitcasters are harder to learn.  Also need more room for casting unless flipping or pitching.  At least I need more room so there are definitely places I would rather have a spinning rod to fish.

I think you could find a suitable baitcast reel for $80 or less.  Especially if willing to buy used.  I've got several reels I bought used for less than that (and one new reel).  They don't give me any problems.

Simply put....................that guy is full of it.

  Why do you need more room to cast with a casting reel then a spinning?  I can throw a under handed cast easier with a casting reel then a spinning reel?

[Mumbly]

nearest BPS to me is 2.5 hours away so I called to check if they had a Carbonlite 7' medium/moderate in stock. Young sounding guy answers the transferred call. I explain what i am looking for......BPS: "We have a 7' medium" Me: "yes but do you have the 7' medium/moderate?" BPS: "It's a medium....a medium is a medium". Me: "Are you saying that power is the same as action?" BPS: <crickets>...."It's a medium".

I certainly wasn't expecting an Abbott and Costello routine and I am still unsure if they have the rod in stock or not.

[Yudo1]

You don't have to have a boat to use bait casters.  Buy on eBay and get more value.  Bps is overpriced although I do like the pq, but I'd rather get a tatula or Lew's LFS .

[K_Mac]

The PQ is a good reel. The knothead got that right. There are some folks at BP who know what they're talking about, and some who don't know beans from buckshot. Just like most big retail businesses .

 A  Pro Qualifier is not a difficult reel to use. A different baitcasting reel, especially a cheaper one, will not be any easier to use.

[new2BC4bass]

3 hours ago, nickles said:

  Why do you need more room to cast with a casting reel then a spinning?  I can throw a under handed cast easier with a casting reel then a spinning reel?

By underhanded cast are you referring to pitching?  Otherwise I don't know what you mean.  I make sidearm roll casts and overhead casts.  I need room either overhead and behind me or beside me...on one side or the other.  Very seldom make an off-the-opposite-shoulder cast as I simply switch hands and cast from the other side.  I can cast a spinning rod with very little movement of the rod.  Can't do that with a casting rod.  I need room to move the rod in so I can load the tip.  Maybe it is because I started with a spinning reel 63 years ago while it has only been 7 years using a baitcast reel.

I've been totally surrounded by trees where the only way I could make a cast with a casting rod would be to flip or pitch, but was able to cast with a spinning rod.

[Bruce424]

He's just trying to get a better sale.

[Jaderose]

PQ is a terrific BC to learn on and they are tanks.  I just got done hauling multiple girls outta the muck with a PQ and a frog.

 

[MassYak85]

Generally I avoid talking to any of the sales associates at Bass Pro for advice on things. I go in the store knowing what I need. Some guys might give you great tips, some might just try to sell you stuff, and some might have no idea what they're talking about.