Anyone use only spinning gear?

[hahmmo]

Just curious if anyone is using only spinning rods for bass, or as main gear..not just for finesse.. If so whats the combination or set up of Rods/line/reel? 

[MrFrost]

I favored baitcasters when learning, but not favor spinning, for most of my fishing.  I have three baitcasting setups, and don't think I'd change those technique specific setups, becasue for me, they just work best.  Frogginh/flipping, top water, and heavy swimbaits.  For finesse, and crankbaits, I much prefer spinning now.  I just upgraded my spining/finesse setup, to a Fenwick HMX 7' M/F paired with a Cabela's branded Daiwa reel.  I've only thrown a few casts, but so far, love the feel and response from this Fenwick.  Most sensitive rod I've owned yet, but take that lightly, I've only been fishing since June so I aven't had many other rods to compare it against, but I have spend a lot of time in Cabela's, lol.

[Darren.]

Most of my fishing is spinning.

 

I use shorter rods from ML through MXF along with 1000 size

Shimano Stradics for my main rigs. Both fresh and salt for

striper.

 

Braid + leader for 100% of the rigs, mainly 10 and 15# PP

and PP Super Slick 8, with leaders (majority) in 6, 8, 10#

fluorocarbon or yo zuri hybrid.

[OkobojiEagle]

Darren... I've wanted to ask you within one of these discussions, do you throw any lures that weigh greater than 1/2 oz?

 

oe

[The Bassman]

I've got five real nice baitcasters and four spinning outfits. I love my BC's and use them occasionally but my spinners are my go-to, especially now with cold weather. I also find them to be more accurate casters. Not having to compensate for wind is a big plus, too. Baitcasting has its place for sure but I fish from shore and spinning is superior IMHO.

[thedilettantedad]

No, but half of my arsenal is spinning gear. My other rod is a baitcaster.

[tander]

I have both baitcasters and spinning rigs. I have used spinning more this year than before. I throw a lot of Ned rigs and drop shots. Spinning is sure more easy on you shoulders arm and wrist. Nothing wrong with spinning for all, Tom Mann did a pretty good job of it.

[ww2farmer]

No. I typically carry 6-8 casting rods on the boat, and 4 spinning. This year, just because of circumstances, spinning gear got used A LOT.

[Darren.]

1 hour ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Darren... I've wanted to ask you within one of these discussions, do you throw any lures that weigh greater than 1/2 oz?

 

oe

Not on those rigs, typically, although I've done so in salt water, though

in those cases I'd have been better off with a MH setup.

 

I had a MH spinning rod that I was throwing 3/4 oz swimbaits and heavier

jigs on...that is before one of my sons borrowed said rod for saltwater, and

was riding his bike home from the local saltwater dock with that rod and his

own and of course, got my MH rod stuck in his wheels, breaking off the

handle - and causing some wheel damage to boot.

 

Haven't replaced that one yet....

 

It is really funny, locals who don't care a whit about rods and reels will 

throw 1 oz and heavier on medium gear with 2500 size reels all the time.

Had to help a neighbor understand her setups were too light for what she

was using. Yet she still caught fish on them. Go figure.

[jbmaine]

All my gear is spinning.

 

Rods--Shimano  6'6" Compre  Med fast and Med extra fast

          Shimano-- 6'8" Crucial Med extra fast.

         Gloomis---    7'  E6X  heavy fast

 

Reels-- Shimano,  two 2500 symetre's, one 2500 stradic, and one 3000 nasci

 

line-- I'm a little different than most on this. All my med's are spooled with 6 lb. yozuri hybrid ultra soft. My heavy is spooled with 10lb. McCoy mean green 

[new2BC4bass]

Back in the day spinning was all I used.  Mitchell 300.  Couldn't tell you what rod.  K-Mart special.    No Walmarts in those days.  When I got older I invested in much more expensive gear....a 6' Lightning and Penn 430ss.    Still have that combo.

 

Earlier this year about the only combo I caught fish with on my visit to Florida was a 7' MF Jig and Worm Elite Tech Fenwick (older rod) with a TD Sol 2500 and what looks like 30# braid.  Line was on reel when I bought it.  Before leaving I gave a 7' MHF Superlite with Daiwa 1600SS spooled with 40# braid to my brother-in-law.  I prefer baitcast for anything that rod can handle.  He only uses spinning gear.

 

I bought a Major Craft Benkei and BG 1500 for Ned rigs.  Have 5# braid on it.  Had it out once and discovered it will require a leader.  Maybe even a bit heavier braid.  A Regista 6'10" ML with 2000 Procyon will be my "do everything else" finesse rod.

 

Sorry, but spinning will be for finesse only.  I like baitcast gear too much to use spinning for anything else.

[TOXIC]

Spinning and Baitcasters both have their place.  I use both in multiple sizes and weights.  Not because someone told me to, it was through trial and error and what felt best to me.  I have waaaaaay too many setups to list.  

[Oregon Native]

Two spinning set ups have eight pound braid and two set ups have ten pound braid.  Use the lighter ones mostly in the winter for small baits and the ten pound gets a twelve pound leader and used a lot in spring and summer.  Go down to six pound on the eight braid.  Just what I do and it works well.  Still love the baitcasters but spinning like mentioned above can be easier on the body.  The big thing for me is a light and balanced outfit that just seems to be an extension of the arm.  Hate that big reel feeling in the hand.

[Brad Reid]

I fish almost exclusively out of a kayak and, at least partially owing to this, tend to favor finesse presentations way over power presentations. In a kayak, the large majority of us fish shallower water. And, in a kayak, unless you stand, finesse is easier to manage, a bit so for sure.

 

I do stand a lot in my Sportspal S-15 canoe and my Bluesky 360 catamaran styled kayak, sit more often in a pedal kayak.

 

I use a collection of St. Croix spinning rods, prefer Stradic Ci4+ reels to all others but I have some NASCIs, too, and they do really well.

 

If you haven't seen the article I have attached elsewhere regarding a pro angler who uses big 4000 spinning reels on matched rods for digging out big bass, let me know and I'll look it up and post it again. 

 

Brad

[Choporoz]

Interesting,  @Brad Reidand @Darren..  I, too, fish from a kayak a lot, but I prefer baitcasting gear in the yak (seated only.)

I always have 1 or 2 spinning rods with me and I use them...and almost exclusively if on a smallmouth float.  But I struggle a bit with spinning because of the reel placement.  My wrists and forearms tire or ache after hours of holding the rod out farther due to being seated and due to my pfd.  I spent a couple hours drop-shotting on Monday and was sorta miserable.  I've considered trying a finesse baitcast rig for just that reason.  

[Darren.]

Posted this back in 2017, FLW pro, only spinning gear Brad mentions.

 

 

[fishwizzard]

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

  I spent a couple hours drop-shotting on Monday and was sorta miserable.  I've considered trying a finesse baitcast rig for just that reason.  

I feel the same way and use a casting combo now for most of my drop shotting.  On the bank I use a MB XXX Black Themis and from my yak I use an old-model mbr782 glx.  I like the softer/more forgiving action from the yak.  The older Loomis MBR and CR rods are the perfect kayak rods imho, they have very short handles and the mbr action is so versatile.  The biggest drawback to fishing a DS on a casting combo is the potential for the weight to fly off during the cast, my thumb is not quick enough and even an sv spool will not save me.  But, an overhand knot at the end of the line holds the weight on very well and still allows you to pop the weight off if it gets snagged.  The biggest benefit, other then ergonomics, is not having to care much about line twist.  I run 7lb Sniper on both combos and get really good line-life.

 

To veer back on topic, while I don't just use spinning tackle, I believe I could do so if I really wanted to.  I think if one was willing to deal with having to use larger and heavier spinning reels, a rod could be found for most every bass presentation.  I have a 9' surf rod that I sometimes use to throw 6" paddle tails for stripers, I don't see why I couldn't do the same for freshwater bass.  

[soflabasser]

I do most of my bass fishing with size 4000 spinning reels and medium heavy to heavy action rods. Use the same tackle for big snook which are far more powerful than any largemouth bass.

[Darren.]

8 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Interesting,  @Brad Reidand @Darren..  I, too, fish from a kayak a lot, but I prefer baitcasting gear in the yak (seated only.)

I always have 1 or 2 spinning rods with me and I use them...and almost exclusively if on a smallmouth float.  But I struggle a bit with spinning because of the reel placement.  My wrists and forearms tire or ache after hours of holding the rod out farther due to being seated and due to my pfd.  I spent a couple hours drop-shotting on Monday and was sorta miserable.  I've considered trying a finesse baitcast rig for just that reason.  

When I set out to do all casting it was partly for my arms' sake.

Overfishing is what did me in with sore forearms (fisherman's

elbow), etc.

 

I don't fish for as long a period as I did then, and spinning rarely

bothers me to that end. Although it has on occasion. So I get your

reasoning.

 

Found for me that doing pushups - not full body, but when you 

leave your knees on the ground - helped heal my arms, believe it

or not  

[Brad Reid]

Probably belongs on a different thread but I never overhead cast a drop shot, standing or sitting.

 

I just reel up line to the point where I can grab the sinker with my off hand and pitch mine out using my spinning reel. It doesn't somersault as much, my accuracy is improved and my distance is pretty danged good. But, here again, I don't usually make long casts with drop shots. I float up pretty close to my target.

 

For anyone suffering from being poked in the belly button by a rod all day long, I can't recommend a St. Croix 5'6" MF spinning rod too strongly. It is super for accuracy, working under docks and boathouses, etc. And, it creates a short lifting point for more power than you might imagine over large bass.

 

A good topic, lots of good comments!   Brad

 

 

[soflabasser]

23 hours ago, Darren. said:

Found for me that doing pushups - not full body, but when you 

leave your knees on the ground - helped heal my arms, believe it

or not  

The human body is made to be active and regular exercise helps keep the body healthy. Pushups and other exercises helps me too when it comes to fishing. One of the most useful exercises that has made fishing much easier for me is heavy hammer dumbbell curls. I can fish all day and not worry about the rod being heavy. I find it easier to fish for bass or bigger species of fish when I have more than enough physical power and endurance for a full day for fishing.

[govallis]

I use only spinning rod and only one rod for everything, fresh or salt water. As baitcast cannot cast a small lure, so I have no choice. I always tie a smallest swivel, so never line twist. I use medium action rod only, works fine for all lures, big and small, single and treble hooks. I do have 3 rods, not using them for different purposes though but mainly for back up.

 

I use a cheap Quantum Nitrous 30 for saltwater, because I cannot find anything cheaper with good quality and durability. My main reel is Daiwa RG 2500, bought for $30, also the cheapest for a reel that may last for decades. All reels you can find today are super smooth including those with only one BB. The difference is about durability and line twist. Some cheap reels with 8 BB cannot last for a year. The Shimano Sienna always twist my line otherwise perfect.

[LCG]

For me personally, I use both. Started with only spinning. As I watched more videos of professional fisherman using baitcasters I wondered why, so I bought one to learn. I have grown to love it. 

 

Think of it as your tool box. A screwdriver and a hammer, each for the appropriate application.

 

I use my spinning set ups for ned, neko, shakey head, drop shot, and light Texas rigged worms. My baitcasting set ups I use for heavier Texas rigged creatures, jigs, chatterbaits, crankbaits, and frogs. 

 

You can use one or the other, but I do find this is what works best for me and from what I have read, alot of other people as well. Each technique works best with the right tool. Pitching is something that is very natural with a baitcaster, can't do it with a spinning rod to save my life

 

I am in the process of simplifying this winter. Two rods. A 6'8" m-xf spinning rod and a 6'6" mh-f casting rod. It's all I need. Tackle will be harder but working on that later. I am a bank angler, so mobility and versatility is key. 

[Mobasser]

I use spinning and casting tackle. Both have their place, and both will work. I would use what you are comfortable with, which can give you more confidence, to fish more effectively.

[greentrout]

go to 8# test or less spinning gear...1000 - 3000 size reels...5'5" to 6'6"rods ml - med. fast ...

 

spinning does have its place for finesse presentations...

 

good fishing...