Any other all spinning gear bass fisherman?

[Dtrombly]

I'm very much prefer casting. Though both have their place. I have 1 spinning outfit in my 5 rod arsenal. 

[IndianaOutdoors]

I grew up with spinning gear. Just bought some casting gear this spring.  I learned to use them and I like them just as much as I like spinning gear.  I still don't understand all the rhetoric about needing casting gear for this or that our that they have more power and torque.   I find that spinning gear is generally more versatile.  I spend allot of time fishing from small boats and wading or hiking to fishing spots so having one to three versatile rods is important to me.

[NYWayfarer]

I like options. I always have a spinning and baitcasting setup with me when I am on the water.

 

My spinning setups are mostly for drop shot and ned rigs while Bass fishing and light weight lures for pan fishing.

 

Baitcaster setups are for everything else. Crankbaits, topwater, Texas and wacky rigged worms, etc. 

[shimanoangler]

I am right there with you.   I live in the northeast and our waters are typically deep clear cold waters without a ton of grass, weeds or pads, so there isn't a need to be pulling bass out of the slop.   Most of the techniques that work in my region are truly best fished on spinning gear, with a few exceptions, so my entire fishing "fleet" is spinning gear.

 

What are your reels of choice?   What about rods?   Always interested in hearing what other spin fisherman are using for gear.   

[Fishing_FF]

10 hours ago, shimanoangler said:

I am right there with you.   I live in the northeast and our waters are typically deep clear cold waters without a ton of grass, weeds or pads, so there isn't a need to be pulling bass out of the slop.   Most of the techniques that work in my region are truly best fished on spinning gear, with a few exceptions, so my entire fishing "fleet" is spinning gear.

 

What are your reels of choice?   What about rods?   Always interested in hearing what other spin fisherman are using for gear.   

I'm in Florida where grass, weeds, pads, and other vegetation is abundant. Spinning just works for me. I can flip, pitch, skip, walk the dog, twitch a jerk bait, rip a crank, etc. 

 

Going back to the photo I previous post starting from the right and moving left, my reel and rods are as follows:

Shimano Sahara FB2500 on a St Croix Mojo Bass ML

Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 2500 on a St Croix Avid X M

Shimano Nasci 2500 (standard model with lower gear ratio) on a St Croix Mojo Bass MH

Shimano Ultegra 2500 on a St Croix Mojo Inshore MH (since it is an inshore road, lure rating is higher 1/2-1 1/4oz so used in place of a heavy rod, but their true heavy is actually 3/4-2oz).

Shimano Sahara FB4000 on a Shimano Compre MH

Shimano Sienna 2500 on a Shimano Sellus M

 

The last 2 rods and reels are piece and are my travel rods for long distance trips/vacations.

 

I also use different color line so I can easily tell what lbs test is on the reel. The yellow is 10lbs and then green is 30lbs. 

 

[MassYak85]

Since I was introduced to fishing by my dad when I was really young to probably 4 years ago I was spinning only. But lately I've been building up my casting arsenal and they've definitely become the majority. I still love spinning and if I could only have 1 setup it would probably be spinning, but you won't see me punching on 65lb braid with a spinning setup, although I'm sure it can be done.

[crypt]

my tourney partner uses spinning only. he can flip and pitch better than anyone I know. punching was a problem until I built him a spinning rod for that.

[Klebs01]

1 hour ago, crypt said:

my tourney partner uses spinning only. he can flip and pitch better than anyone I know. punching was a problem until I built him a spinning rod for that.

Any particular reason you built the rod? My wife is spinning only and has St. Croix Rods rated up to 2 oz. and plenty of inshore rods if there isn’t a freshwater specific on that would work. 

 

I kinda laugh at the finess only idea. Caught sharks, AJs, Goliath grouper and a ton of other stuff with big baits on spinning gear and there wasn’t an issue. I use casting gear at times for fun, but it’s not inherently better, just user preference.

[Boomstick]

I do love my baitcasting gear especially for moving baits, but don't let anyone tell you that you absolutely need a baitcaster to fish certain baits either -- you don't. I've seen people flip and pitch on spinning gear better than I can on casting gear. It is harder to find spinning gear for larger baits, but it does exist.

[crypt]

14 hours ago, Klebs01 said:

Any particular reason you built the rod? My wife is spinning only and has St. Croix Rods rated up to 2 oz. and plenty of inshore rods if there isn’t a freshwater specific on that would work. 

 

I kinda laugh at the finess only idea. Caught sharks, AJs, Goliath grouper and a ton of other stuff with big baits on spinning gear and there wasn’t an issue. I use casting gear at times for fun, but it’s not inherently better, just user preference.

he wanted an 8 footer for punching, he didn't like anything out there.so I built it.

 

he like Tennessee handles also.

[Lyman X]

If you ever fished a Zara Spook on a spinning rod.... Each has it's place.

[Klebs01]

35 minutes ago, Lyman X said:

If you ever fished a Zara Spook on a spinning rod.... Each has it's place.

? Fished them on both and they both work. Don’t have to worry about backlashes and slack line on spinning though. 

[Dtrombly]

I own 1 spinning outfit, it's for ned rigs, wacky rigs and lightweight poppers.. casting for everything else. 

[soflabasser]

On 12/1/2017 at 10:05 PM, shimanoangler said:

I am right there with you.   I live in the northeast and our waters are typically deep clear cold waters without a ton of grass, weeds or pads, so there isn't a need to be pulling bass out of the slop.   Most of the techniques that work in my region are truly best fished on spinning gear, with a few exceptions, so my entire fishing "fleet" is spinning gear.

 

What are your reels of choice?   What about rods?   Always interested in hearing what other spin fisherman are using for gear.   

 

We have lots of aquatic vegation in South Florida as well and I do just fine fishing with spinning gear. I do use larger than normal spinning reels so it makes it easier to muscle out the big bass out of the aquatic vegetation. My 2 favorite brands for spinning reels are Shimano and Penn.

[shimanoangler]

On 12/2/2017 at 4:09 PM, Fishing_FF said:

I'm in Florida where grass, weeds, pads, and other vegetation is abundant. Spinning just works for me. I can flip, pitch, skip, walk the dog, twitch a jerk bait, rip a crank, etc. 

 

Going back to the photo I previous post starting from the right and moving left, my reel and rods are as follows:

Shimano Sahara FB2500 on a St Croix Mojo Bass ML

Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 2500 on a St Croix Avid X M

Shimano Nasci 2500 (standard model with lower gear ratio) on a St Croix Mojo Bass MH

Shimano Ultegra 2500 on a St Croix Mojo Inshore MH (since it is an inshore road, lure rating is higher 1/2-1 1/4oz so used in place of a heavy rod, but their true heavy is actually 3/4-2oz).

Shimano Sahara FB4000 on a Shimano Compre MH

Shimano Sienna 2500 on a Shimano Sellus M

 

The last 2 rods and reels are piece and are my travel rods for long distance trips/vacations.

 

I also use different color line so I can easily tell what lbs test is on the reel. The yellow is 10lbs and then green is 30lbs. 

 

Our line ups are very similar.  I have the Nasci and the Ultegra on several of my set ups, and I love the St Croix Avid X rod.  One of my favorite rods and that includes several G Loomis rods I have.   I have switched some of my lighter set ups to Pfluegers, the Patriarch XT and the Supreme XT, because of how light they are, ie almost all are 7.2 ounces or lighter, whereas the Shimanos are 8.5 or higher.   I have the heavier versions on my MH set ups, where I fish heavier swimbaits and mid diving (larger) crankbaits.   My other rod and reel of choice is the Okuma EVX B series and the Okuma RTX 25 and 30 series (clones of the Ci4 without the price tag).   

[TOXIC]

It used to be (in the olden days ) if you wanted the stronger drag systems you had to throw a baitcaster.  Spinning reels have come a long way since then and have better drag systems and components.  Both have their place in my boat.  I don't throw cranks on spinning and I don't throw Senkos on baitcasting.  Could I?  Sure, but to me there's the proper tool for the job.  It's what works for you.

[Spankey]

I am not 100% spinning. But if by some chance I were to forget to load my casting stuff it would not make or break my day. I'm a Shimano and St. Croix fan also. 

 

If I could throw this in, I fish with (2) St. Croix Premier Series Crankbait casting rods and love them. I can fish 1/8 - 1/2 CB's with them with no problems. I know it's hard to make the conversion. I'm not suggesting you go buy a setup but if you do and you get yourself a setup that works and feels great you will not regret it. I love it for spinnerbaits and crankbaits. 

[RB 77]

My Dad! Haha. It's not uncommon for us to head out on a trip and for me to never pick up a spinning rod and for him to not even bring a baitcaster! I usually have at least one spinning setup on deck for a finesse application if need be (drop shot, split shot, nail weight, etc.). Whether I actually use one depends on the pattern that day. With that being said, there has been many a day fishing our gin clear deep water reservoirs where I have had a drop shot rod with a spinning reel and some light line in my hand the majority of the day and have had some stellar fishing!

[Yudo1]

   I think its been established that you can use spinning gear for every technique especially on this site. I started out 100% spinning like most. Spinning is superior to casting for vertically presentations like drop shots. But IMO, casting is more enjoyable and more efficient. I use lefty casting reels which is the most efficient  for me because I just put my thumb on the spool, engage the thumbar, cast, thumb it, turn the handle to engage the gear, no switching hands. I planned on using spinning gear more this year so I bought a $500 jdm reel. I thought it would make me enjoy it more,  but I made a few casts and immediately took the line off, re-boxed it and put it up for sale. The reel was amazing, but it didn't make me enjoy it more. The process of casting felt clumsy compared to using bait casters.

    It all comes down to what you prefer and enjoy. We spend more time fishing than catching. Do whatever you're comfortable with. Actually I sort of wish I stuck with spinning gear because it was much easier on my wallet. My obsession with casting gear has sent me down the path of the dark side. I scour sites for good deals on high end daiwa, shimano and megabass reels and megabass, nrx and other high-end rods. Life was simpler when I just grabbed my president combo.

[TOXIC]

I don't change hands.  I change my spinning gear handles.