Spinning rod love!

[Munkin]

I don't hate them but only use them for baits too light to cast with a baitcaster. As far as accuracy I think it just depends on what you like and how much experience you have. Me personally I can cast a jig into a shot glass at 25' with a baitcaster but cannot hit the broad side of a barn with a spinning rod. Just like senkos I know I need spinning rods but they are definitely not my first choice.

 

Allen

[MN Fisher]

 

2 minutes ago, Tyler. said:

What’s the opinion on using spinning rod for cranks, swim baits, and spinner baits? If you like them what gear ration you use? Got a lews xfinity combo from Walmart and it’s 6:2.1. Curious if that ration would be sufficient for those baits. 

It's not the gear ratio that matters - it's the Inches per Turn. I run smaller cranks and spinners (1/2 oz and less) on my Trion which has a 25.9 IPT on a 5.2:1 gear ratio. I think a 6.2:1 would at least be able to handle those. I wouldn't run swimbaits on only a medium power rod though...unless the rod rating can handle the weight. Most swimbaits are too heavy to be easily cast with a Medium power.

[Manly Studson]

I’m not sure if anyone can relate, but I’m more accurate with a spinning rod at close range and more accurate with a casting rod at long range. On lakes I use casting rods, in streams I use spinning gear.

1 hour ago, Glaucus said:

Yeah but I'm confident in saying that there is no better sound in fishing than a fish peeling drag on a spinning reel. So satisfying.

I agree. The sound of fish on (spinning) is better than the sound of a cast (casting).

[A-Jay]

I use both.

Some light line techniques & presentations seem to lend themselves exclusively to spinning gear for me.

Others, routinely heavier gear deals, are most often done with revolving spool tackle in my fishing.

There are a few baits / presentations where I can & do use both; jerkbaits & blade baits immediately come to mind.

A-Jay 

[Tyler.]

19 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

 

It's not the gear ratio that matters - it's the Inches per Turn. I run smaller cranks and spinners (1/2 oz and less) on my Trion which has a 25.9 IPT on a 5.2:1 gear ratio. I think a 6.2:1 would at least be able to handle those. I wouldn't run swimbaits on only a medium power rod though...unless the rod rating can handle the weight. Most swimbaits are too heavy to be easily cast with a Medium power.

Gotcha. So most my swim baits are like 1/4 oz. and my rod rated 1/8-1/2 oz. 

 

i tied 1/2oz lure on it in the back yard to see how far I could cast. With a flip of the wrist it was sent flying. I run braid with fluoro leader tied on with fg knot. 

 

I have had my leader knot break a few times at the knot when casting my baitcaster. This occurred when I tried to cast to the moon so I’m paranoid to try too hard now on my spinning gear. 

29 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

 

It's not the gear ratio that matters - it's the Inches per Turn. I run smaller cranks and spinners (1/2 oz and less) on my Trion which has a 25.9 IPT on a 5.2:1 gear ratio. I think a 6.2:1 would at least be able to handle those. I wouldn't run swimbaits on only a medium power rod though...unless the rod rating can handle the weight. Most swimbaits are too heavy to be easily cast with a Medium power.

Is this what you got? 40 size reel? 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Tyler. said:

Is this what you got? 40 size reel? 

Nope (see my signature)...I've got a 30 that I bought separate, mounted it on an Ugly Stick GX-2. Might be upgrading the rod next winter...though it worked well last year. We'll see.

[AC870]

I like fishing around boat docks with spinning gear. You can toss that bait into some nooks and crannies. 

[Bluebasser86]

I'm not sure I would have caught one of the around 2 dozen fish I caught last Friday if I didn't keep a spinning rod in my hand so much. No hate from me, they both serve their purpose. I love fighting fish on light line and some of my favorite techniques are predominately spinning reel techniques. 

[GreenPig]

My spinning rods with a shakey head/ Ned rig/ dropshot have saved me from countless skunkings. 

[Jrob78]

I never touched a spinning rod until I was probably 17 (been fishing my whole life). I own them but don't like using them, no hate, just don't enjoy them. I can do pretty much everything I need to do with baitcasters. I use light line and light baitcasting rods for finesse stuff all the time. I also live in TX and don't fish deep, clear water with finesse techniques like many of you do up north. If I did I would probably use spinning gear more often. I don't call them "fairy wands" or "sissy sticks" and don't look down on people who primarily use them, they just don't suit me well.

[bowhunter63]

Spinning is my go to for River Smallies. Been using one a long time.Hair jigs and them go hand in hand.

[Yumeya]

I love my spinning rods as much as I love my baitcasters.

 

I do tend to use my spinning rods more for fishing rivers and trout, unless I'm using a small jerkbait, ned rig and drop shot.

 

My first rod was a ugly stick with a Mitchell 300 when I was like 10 years old...

[The Bassman]

8 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Yeah but I'm confident in saying that there is no better sound in fishing than a fish peeling drag on a spinning reel. So satisfying.

I get a kick out of reading JDM Shimano's description of their clicking BC drags as "exciting drag sound".

[fin]

5 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

I don't call them "fairy wands" or "sissy sticks"

Wow. Are there really people that call them that in a non-joking way?

 

Baitcasters are the automatic transmissions of reels.

 

People ‘hate’ manual transmissions because most people are not accustomed to manual transmissions. It’s more awkward for them than using an automatic transmission. Changing gears manually is the technically superior method, yet automatic transmissions are more common.

 

Spinning reels can do anything a baitcaster can do. The opposite is not true.

[Dwbassin]

Easy that the best noise in fishing is a blow up or drag peeling on a nice spinning reel. Spinning reels are fantastic as are baitcaster. The finesse game obviously suits spinning. You can do anything with either but I find it easier to dock fish like someone mentioned with spinning. Pitching little Ned rigs in lily pads is a dream. Dartheads, and dropshots. All I can throw but they are some of my favorite techniques. I can’t throw senkos on spinning gear anymore, well wacky rig I do but I don’t know it’s weird now with a Texas rig,have to on a bc. Baitcasting is just as fun to me as well. There are times pond hopping though were I will only pick up the spinning rod to be able to wedge myself in between trees were 99% walk by and just pitch so effortlessly with a spinning rod. Safe to say I love em

[Oregon Native]

Gimmie both....they are both tools to be employed and enjoyed.  Each having there specialty.  Love light line and finesse fishing...love flipping.  Some times these ol hands need a break and a light spinning rod makes the day go longer better.

[Spankey]

10 hours ago, nascar2428 said:

Love spinning rods, wouldn't leave home without a couple of em. I catch a lot of fish the power fishers miss because they won't use a spinning setup.

I fish both. I have a place in how I fish with both. 

 

I’m all ears to the baitcasters only as to what a perfect finesse, light setup is with a baitcaster. Serious open for suggestions. I have not found it yet. 1/8 oz. maybe getting down to 6# test. Let me know how you are successfully doing it so I can go buy that setup. 

[ChrisD46]

A spinning rod is a tool just like a bait cast rod - use the tool the application calls for ... Nothing more - nothing less .

[Tyler.]

51 minutes ago, Spankey said:

I fish both. I have a place in how I fish with both. 

 

I’m all ears to the baitcasters only as to what a perfect finesse, light setup is with a baitcaster. Serious open for suggestions. I have not found it yet. 1/8 oz. maybe getting down to 6# test. Let me know how you are successfully doing it so I can go buy that setup. 

I been looking at getting a baitcaster and the Johnny Morris Carbonlite 2.0 medium light is rated 1/16-1/2 oz. $209. May check that out. They get really good reviews. 

[NYWayfarer]

No hate here. I love my spinning setups for finesse fishing.

 

I always looked at baitcasters as the top of the ladder in fishing. We usually start the climb with a spincast reel. We then take a step up to the spinning reel. Some folks are content to stay on that rung and never climb higher. Some take the next step up to the baitcaster.

 

Once you are on the top it seems like a step down to use anything else. How many people who started with spincasters go back to them after learning how to use a spinning reel?

[bagofdonuts]

No hate here either. Always have one in the boat for my wife.?

[fishwizzard]

My love of spinning rods is limited to short, like <6’6”, ones with very short butts.  I hate trying to cast a spinning rod with both hands, I find it really clumsy and uncomfortable.  I bought a high-end 6’11” spinning rod over the winter and after maybe 10 hours with it I think I am about ready to sell it.  

 

In general I strongly prefer casting rods now.  I find them more comfortable to cast and work a lure with and far more accurate.  Using my thumb to release the spool and to slow/stop the lure allows far more precision then using my pointer finger to release the line and to feather the spool on a spinning reel. 

[Subaqua Adinterim]

Almost 100% spinning for me. 

 

I have a casting outfit that I still play/practice with in the back yard and have tried in my kayak a few times, it isn't comfortable for me to use on the water; that's just me.

 

Fishing from a kayak, sitting at the water line, spinning is much easier for me. Never felt limited using only spinning, and have landed small panfish up to 30# salmon; fishing from shore or from a kayak.

 

Use whatever you like and what works best for you. God bless America.

[Todd2]

I'm in the 50/50 camp, both are just tools. Neds, for example, on spinning gear. Pitching a 1/2 oz jig back into a log jam would call for my casting gear.

 

[Deleted account]

To me rods and reels are tools, just like I don't love a screwdriver more than a hammer, I don't favor spinning over BC or vise versa. At times one is the better tool, and others it isn't. A lot of LMB guys suffer from "how it should be done" to their detriment.