How often do you spin vs baitcast?

[jimf]

Just curious, what ratio of time to you spend over a year say using one vs the other?   I'm asking because I've noticed something about my fishing over the years - I'm more finesse now than I used to be.   30 years ago, I would say 100% baitcaster for me.  Now I spend probably 1/4 or maybe a 1/3 of my time with more finesse presentations using spinning gear.   My next rod/reel purchase will almost surely be spinning gear.   I don't know that I'll ever get to the 50/50 mark, but I've gone from never using spinning gear to having it be a pretty significant part of my game.

 

 

[Deleted account]

I do not track that metric.

[Paul Roberts]

Hmmmm... I am heavy on the spinning. Habit, and... tackle weight. 65/35 ?? In early spring it's almost 90/10. By mid-summer, it's 40/60. 

 

I use casting gear for spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and flippin/pitching. I use MH spinning rigs a lot for soft plastics and jigs -swim jigs, small to mid swimbaits, in particular.

 

Spinning is esp useful when fishing from the shoreline as it's easier to cast from beneath shoreline cover.

[RichF]

I used to finesse fish when I was young, age 9 to like 16.  Once I started flipping and pitching, the spinning rods basically disappeared for me.  I'm trying to force myself back into it, especially since I don't live in northern NY where the fishing is easy.  I spent a little more time drop shotting last year and had a lot of success.  It's just not nearly as enjoyable to fish that way.  If I had to give it a ratio, I'd say 95/5 for baitcasting.  

[12poundbass]

For the last 10 years or so it's been 100% baitcasting. After joining Bassresourse in October '16 I'm going to go buy my first spinning set up in a long time! Thanks BR for making me spend more money!

[Darren.]

16 minutes ago, jimf said:

Just curious, what ratio of time to you spend over a year say using one vs the other?   I'm asking because I've noticed something about my fishing over the years - I'm more finesse now than I used to be.   30 years ago, I would say 100% baitcaster for me.  Now I spend probably 1/4 or maybe a 1/3 of my time with more finesse presentations using spinning gear.   My next rod/reel purchase will almost surely be spinning gear.   I don't know that I'll ever get to the 50/50 mark, but I've gone from never using spinning gear to having it be a pretty significant part of my game.

 

I'm probably 90/10 maybe 95/5 in favor of spinning now.

[MacBassin]

I was 100% baitcaster, but just recently got a spinning rig. I'm finding it to be the one that's tough to cast now!

[jimf]

I can't drop a bait on a dime with a spinning setup like I can a caster, and I don't think I ever will.   @Darren.I remember you being a kayak angler, does the kayak play a role in your choice or are you just a spinning guy because of the techniques?   

 

 

[scaleface]

Close to 100 per cent casting . 

[Darren.]

3 minutes ago, jimf said:

I can't drop a bait on a dime with a spinning setup like I can a caster, and I don't think I ever will.   @Darren.I remember you being a kayak angler, does the kayak play a role in your choice or are you just a spinning guy because of the techniques?   

 

Well, the whole thing boils down to "sort of" to answer the kayak

role question. I started down the road of baitcasting with Quantum

Accurists, which I could never get dialed in right but they were

serviceable. Got a Lexa years later and loved it. Decided I wanted

to go all casting - part in conjunction with a terrible case of fisherman's

elbow - so I bought 2 Chronarch 50e reels, upgraded to 7.1:1 and set

about learning to cast the lightest baits I was using for spinning.

 

Got pretty good at it, but over time I started thinking about why I was

doing this. I was skipping into an area I love to target and ended up

grabbing my spinning rod, which made it look easy.

 

That kind of started the unraveling of casting for me. I love(d) it, was

good at it, if I do say so myself, but spinning was just a lot less work

overall. Yes, techniques do play a roll, but I was able to do 98% of them

with a BC.

 

I get the whole "it's another tool in the toolbox" and "best tool for the job"

thing, but I fish for love of the sport, outdoors, and relaxation. I'm not 

making money, fishing tourneys and so forth. I fish techniques I like and

produce fish  spinning gets me there more easily. I'll still use my one

remaining Chronarch for stuff, though. I still like it!!

[Scott F]

Which you choose to use I think, is mostly dependent on where you are fishing. Most of my time is spent fishing smallmouth on Northern lakes and rivers. Not a lot of slop fishing, mostly open water with smaller baits, so I use spinning gear the majority of time.

If you have been watching MLF, a lot of their shows have been on Northern lakes with a lot of smallies. Those guys were using a lot of spinning gear. When they are doing a lot of flipping and pitching and working heavy cover, it's all baitcasters. To repeat what has been said, use the best tool for the job you are trying to do.

[Yudo1]

Almost 100% casting, even for finesse stuff like Ned rigs and 1/8 jigs with grubs.  I use a px  type r with a diy spool on a ml rod and I can cast the lightest bass baits as far as I can with spinning gear. I'm way more accurate and efficient with casting gear.  I do prefer spinning gear for drop shots though.

[IndianaFinesse]

About 80% spinning and 20% casting.

[the reel ess]

Depends on what the bass want to bite because I use them for different type of lures. I usually have 4 BC combos and 2 spin combos. But I'd bet I use the spinning gear half the time.

[shovelmouth83]

i have 3 bait casters that i use majority of the time. i have 2 spinning rods that i use for my light baits and also super tight spots. i would say 85/15. 

[38 Super Fan]

Nearly 100% casting gear for me.

 

I used to use spinning gear all the time, then a few years ago I got bored with it. I've tried to warm back up to finesse fishing, but I just can't do it anymore. I fish deep super clear lakes that are known for finesse fishing too.

[crypt]

95% baitcast-5% spinning......................give or take 1%...

[Fishin' Fool]

I used to be 100% spinning when I started but I'm switching more the other direction.  There's something to be said when your fighting a 5 pound smallmouth on and you have 12 pound line on versus 6-7 pound line on a spinning rod.  I'm probably 60% casting 40% spinning currently.

[tholmes]

Just a rough estimate, 75% baitcasting, 25% spinning.

 

Tom

[geo g]

With thick south florida weeds and big bass, bait casters 95% of the time!

[OkobojiEagle]

83.7% time spent with a spinning rod

 

oe

[Choporoz]

Maybe 85% spinning...and about 85% casting....:)

 

Depends greatly.  I fish swift smallie rivers...deep ledge-y lakes....thick spatterdock coves....shallow tidal rivers...busy dock-filled waters....whether in a boat or kayak or from shore, I always have a minimum of one of each with me...their utilization rates on any one day vary greatly

[hoosierbass07]

 

 Spinning 95% of the time.  I only catch bass and large bass on spinning gear.  Don't catch anything on baitcasting gear except small bass.  

[Ratherbfishing]

When I'm trying to go light (amount of gear), I almost always go with spinning.  In my (larger) boat, it's about 50/50.

[S Hovanec]

I'm probably 98% spinning, 2% casting.