Spinning or Baitcasting or both

[Buffdaddy54]

Today I had a conversation about spinning reels and baitcasting reels with a coworker. He said he rarely if ever uses a Baitcaster so I asked him why. He basically said that anything he can throw on a Baitcaster he could throw on a spinning outfit but not the other way around. He said he has been using spinning gear for so long that he feels he is just as accurate and gets longer casts than with a Baitcaster, and he never has to worry about back lashing.

 I thought his comments were interesting but I am leaning just the other way. I'm really starting to like using a Baitcaster but feel as a bank bound Angler I shouldn't give up on my Spinning Reel just yet but am really fighting the urge to do so.

Would love to get some of your opinions on this.

[NYWayfarer]

I have fallen in love with baitcasting. Before last year I was 100% spinning gear. This year I have gone on fishing session where I take nothing but baitcasters.

 

While his statement about spinning vs baitcasters is true to a degree I would rather throw certain lures with a caster over a spinning reel and vice versa. In essence they both have their place.

 

A typical day of Bass fishing for me will be a baitcasting set-up for top water, cranks and texas rigged/wacky worms. I also carry a spinning set-up for dropshot and ned rigs. I can also switch over to beetle spins and atomic tubes on this combo for panfish if the Bass bite is slow.

[jbmaine]

I would just use what you like, are comfortable, using. There are no absolute rules in spinning VS baitcasting.

[OCdockskipper]

While a case could be made for either over the other, you are cheating yourself if you only use one.

[tholmes]

There's no rule that says you can't use both. I'm also a shore-bound angler and I use both spinning and baitcasting gear. Sometimes even (gasp!) spincasting. Generally, I use spinning gear for lures weighing 1/4 oz. or less and baitcasting for 1/4 oz. and up. Use whatever you like and are comfortable with. 

 

Tom

[gnappi]

I grew up using a Mitchell 301 (lefty version of the 300 well before reels were ambi) and just never saw a reason to learn any other method, sort of like not needing to learn how to write with my right hand or shoot (long story) with my left hand when what I know works pretty well. 

 

 

 

 

[Darren.]

Use whatever floats your boat, I say! I use both, but the vast

majority is spinning. Why? It's more bullet-proof for me. And I

set out to go all-baitcasting several years ago, and got to the

place I took only baitcast setups with my in my yak.

 

One day it occurred to me that spinning was just easier to deal

with when skipping in tight confines (and in general), windy

conditions, drop-shotting, etc.

 

Mind you, I could do all of that with my casting, but inevitably

wind would pick up and I couldn't skip w/o a backlash, taking

one of my setups out of action...

 

So I'm fine using spinning. I will use casting, too, on occasion.

I also don't throw every technique in the book. Just like my 

tools, I have stuff for the things I like to do, and things I can 

do. So with fishing.  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Both plus fly and center pin. Mastering different tackle systems adds to the overall experience in addition to keeping options open. 

[Ratherbfishing]

I like spinning when I need versatility and when I can only carry one or two rods.  Also, when casting space is limited (like around overhanging trees and brush), it's a lot easier to lob a lure (especially a light lure) out with a spinning rod.  HOWEVER, if space is not an issue and I need more control, sensitivity, and backbone, I'll go with my baitcaster.  Generally, I carry both and use both.

[LonnieP]

I rarely bring a spinning reel . Every lure in my tackle bag can be thrown with my baitcasters and i can cast a lot more accurate with casting gear  

[Jrob78]

I use casting gear 95% of the time, I've used them since I was 8 or 9 years old and I am more comfortable with them. It's also gotten much more affordable to find baitcasting gear that handles light weight well. One thing I've noticed is that people from the south lean casting and people from the north lean spinning, in general. 

[Mike L]

100% casting. 

Never felt that I was at disadvantage and that includes distance, skipping etc. 

 

As others have said..Use what you're comfortable with and have confidence in. 

And if it's both that's good too. 

 

 

Mike

[WRB]

Spinning or baitcasting is a choice, use right reel for the presentation. The downside for spinning is the fixed spool twist line.  Downside with baitcasting is light weight wind resistant lures tend to stop or slow down quickly in mid flight creating backlashes or short casting distance.

Tom

 

[Log Catcher]

I use baitcasters most of the time. I do use spinning setups for light weight soft plastics and drop shots. Like many others said use what you are comfortable with. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.

[Deeare]

Go with what you feel most comfortable with!!!  

 

My general rule of thumb is under a 1/2 oz I use spinning.   1/2 and over baitcaster.    

[Mike F]

3 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

I use casting gear 95% of the time, I've used them since I was 8 or 9 years old and I am more comfortable with them. It's also gotten much more affordable to find baitcasting gear that handles light weight well. One thing I've noticed is that people from the south lean casting and people from the north lean spinning, in general. 

I’ve noticed this too, any thoughts as to why? My theory is two fold: one is, I’ve heard the aquatic vegetation in the south is much thicker, and two we have walleye and salmon up north. Which both tend to be sought with spinning gear.

 

Personally I grew up spinning only, and walleye fishing, but picked up casting reels this spring and am a total convert, when I caught my first bass on a med. heavy casting rod I was stunned at how much more control of the fish I felt I had. And Learning to use baitcast gear has made me a significantly more accurate fisherman with both reel types.

[greentrout]

70 percent of my fishing for bass is with a baitcaster...25 percent spinning when using 6&8# test...5 percent spincast...

 

that being said, the older I get the more spinning...and more in the future...

 

good fishing...

[Jrob78]

1 hour ago, Mike F said:

I’ve noticed this too, any thoughts as to why? My theory is two fold: one is, I’ve heard the aquatic vegetation in the south is much thicker, and two we have walleye and salmon up north. Which both tend to be sought with spinning gear.

 

Personally I grew up spinning only, and walleye fishing, but picked up casting reels this spring and am a total convert, when I caught my first bass on a med. heavy casting rod I was stunned at how much more control of the fish I felt I had. And Learning to use baitcast gear has made me a significantly more accurate fisherman with both reel types.

I think you are probably right. Adults teach kids how to fish and if the adults are fishing for species best suited to spinning gear, it only makes sense that they would start kids off with spinning gear too. I've noticed that in the south a lot of kids start out with spincast gear, (Zebco's are big in the south) which transition pretty easily to baitcast gear. That's how it was for me and most of my family and friends that I grew up fishing with.

 

We do have panfish in the south but I remember seeing people use cane polls and spincasters to target them. I imagine with spinning gear becoming more popular in the last 20 years, this regional difference is changing to a degree.

[Mike F]

thats interesting! Zebcos are present up north, but from what I’ve seen, if you grew up in a fishing family you started on spinning gear. Cane poles are sold in Michigan, but I’ve never seen anyone use one. In my experience, if your dad fished, you got a spinning rod first, if you grew up in a non fishing family, you got a Disney/superhero zebco.The majority of people in Michigan I encounter use spinning tackle and baitcast gear is  a symbol of a fellow bass specific angler. On the Great Lakes conventional reels are used by walleye/salmon trollers or musky guys usually. (Obviously exceptions to all this)

 

This makes me want to search for/ start a thread about region specific lures. I’ve got a handful in mind that some guys may have never heard of! 

[islandbass]

10 hours ago, Buffdaddy54 said:

Today I had a conversation about spinning reels and baitcasting reels with a coworker. He said he rarely if ever uses a Baitcaster so I asked him why. He basically said that anything he can throw on a Baitcaster he could throw on a spinning outfit but not the other way around. He said he has been using spinning gear for so long that he feels he is just as accurate and gets longer casts than with a Baitcaster, and he never has to worry about back lashing.

 I thought his comments were interesting but I am leaning just the other way. I'm really starting to like using a Baitcaster but feel as a bank bound Angler I shouldn't give up on my Spinning Reel just yet but am really fighting the urge to do so.

Would love to get some of your opinions on this.

Imagine this is spoken with an old, seasoned beyond years angler who has forgotten more than we have ever learned, like Uncle Homer:

”Well, sonny, you’re both right and both wrong. A big question and I truly hate asking it, is a why in the heck does an angler have to “give up” using a certain reel type? Peer pressure?  a false sense of self respect? Pride? 

Both reels are tools. Different tools for different jobs.  

Both reels can handle many techniques equally well. 

 

However, with that said, each reel type can excel over the other for some techniques. 

 

Point 1: let’s just try throwing a 1/8th oz rooster tail with a bait caster into a 40 mph wind. Good luck. Do you want to fish or spend all day untangling certain overrun?

Point 2: try fishing 20# mono on a 2000 sized reel pitching a jig into some pads. Do you want to fish or spend all day trying line falling off the spool?

 

Neither reel is more accurate than the other. Sorry, but that is solely dependent on the user. And that is the gosh ding dang truth. 

 

A true angler, while free to choose using only one reel type will, with the right attitude, choose the right tool for the job when it matters. In other words, they’ll use both. 

 

If both of you really wanted to improve your skills, you’d both want to master using both.”

[LCG]

A screwdriver and a hammer are different tools to use for different reasons. Same concept regarding spinning reels and baitcasting. 

 

For me...

Spinning=light plastics or lures, drop shot, ned, wacky, etc

Baitcasting=heavier plastics and lures, jigs, creature baits, texas rigs, chatterbaits, etc

 

Ergonomically speaking I prefer pitching and casting with a baitcaster. Far more accurate. Distance casting probably goes to spinning set ups. But remember the rod and reel, as well as line all play a part in the equation. 

[ohboyitsrobby]

Both.. you need both. They both shine under different circumstances. Can't say that I would ever throw a 6xd on spinning gear. Although I'm sure you can I wouldn't throw a small spybait on casting gear. At the end of the day though it's what you're comfortable with.

[Tennessee Boy]

Personally, I can’t imagine not having both in my boat.

[Matt_3479]

I use both but have 2 spinning set ups and 6 or 7 casting set up. 9.9 out of 10 times I’m throwing a casting rod and even when I should be throwing a spinning rod and trying to go more finesse I’m trying it on a casting rod. But the spinning set ups have there purposes and I won’t ever get rid of it completely. Illl probsbly upgrade to the best rod and reel I can afford for the finesse application, and just stick to using casters for everything else