Spinning reels just aren’t fun anymore

[DitchPanda]

50 minutes ago, NOC 1 said:

LOL, It would be some mild mannered sportsmen who used fishing casting reels to boost their masculinity I'd say. Try bicycle racing or rugby if you need that sort of cred. Half of fishing is done from a chair! Sort of like beating your chest over a checkers game. Sounds more to me like some fishing buddies trying to get your goat. I wouldn't pay any attention to it.......unless your the kind of sensitive individual that would use a sp....(Just kidding on that last line...)

I've gotten it from buddies..of course some of it is trash talking innocent ribbing in good fun. The rest is stupidity and also trying to prove toughness over other people because they reel on top not bottom? Heck I don't know..I don't get it. I've also seen it in years past where pros are bashing pros for using sissy sticks. Also these tough guys have half the winnings of the guy they are criticizing for gear choices.

That's why I mentioned that argument with my buddy..he was serious almost ticked off about it...which is dumb anyhow...not sure how my head choices affect him negatively enough to get upset? I told him you keep using what you use and I'll keep beating you down when we fish.

[Greg728]

14 hours ago, Mobasser said:

I tend to look at it like this. I don't catch " hawgs" on every trip. They're rare for me. I catch a lot of bass in the14" to 18" range. Fighting these fish on a med spinning rod is sporting and fun too. But, should I hook a big bass, I feel confident that my spinning tackle can land him too.

Same here. I live in NE USA and a nice fish for us is in the 3-5lb range with the average being 2lbs. I've caught most of my nicer fish on my M spinning combo on a weightless senko. My favorite rod to throw baits on is my 6'6 M dobyns casting rod. I still use my heavier gear a lot but I don't live in Florida where I'm catching 5-8lb bass regularly. I think maybe some of the stuff people say that may come off as "macho" may be from people that live in areas where the fish and cover are just heavier, and bringing a M spinning rig as the main combo to the everglades is like going to gun fight with a knife. Just a different perspective I could be wrong. But yea, if I'm fishing in open water in ponds and small lakes with light to no cover I tend to favor my M power stuff over MH or H gear. If that makes me a wimp then it is what it is lol. 

[galyonj]

16 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

The macho mindset about it is crazy to me...I had a buddy argue with me about the usefulness of a "wimpy" spinning rod as it pertains to bass.

Not to disparage your homeboy, but the vast majority of macho thinking is difficult for me to wrap my head around.

2 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

The rest is stupidity and also trying to prove toughness over other people because they reel on top not bottom?

Hold your spinning reel upside down. That'll learn 'em.

[MN Fisher]

4 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

I agree that having to fight the fish is the fun part. The thing is you don't have to do the common casting rig using a MH rod with 30lb line and a 15lb drag on.

I could do that with spinning gear for around $150

Pflueger Supreme-40 14# Drag (yes, it's a metal body reel) - Diawa Aird-X MH/F

Or for $260 total change the Aird-X for a Sierra 704SF or 705SF

 

Yes, I know you can do finesse with BCs, but some of us are old enough that trying to learn that would take away from fishing time. So, I could easily go to all Spinning if I had to choose, but I couldn't go to all BC without a lot of time in practice.

[WRB]

I keep 15 rod & reel combos in my boat. 12 baitcasting and 3 spinning. Why 3 spinning, 1 for for 5 lb UG mono, 1 for 7 lb Sniper FC and 1 backup or fishing partner.

When you need a spinning outfit it's good have.

Tom

[NOC 1]

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I could do that with spinning gear for around $150

Pflueger Supreme-40 14# Drag (yes, it's a metal body reel) - Diawa Aird-X MH/F

Or for $260 total change the Aird-X for a Sierra 704SF or 705SF

 

Yes, I know you can do finesse with BCs, but some of us are old enough that trying to learn that would take away from fishing time. So, I could easily go to all Spinning if I had to choose, but I couldn't go to all BC without a lot of time in practice.

I have the Pflueger Supreme XT reel and it seems like a pretty good reel, at least on par with most of the Lews stuff and the Revo SX.  I don't really use it that much because I have it paired with a 7' Abu Volatile MH Inshore rod. It is a great combo for fishing the thick weeds because that rod is really more like a MH rod with a H backbone, and being in the Midwest, I just don't usually have the sort of thick salad that you see down south. I also use it some for trolling big DT27 crank-baits.

 

My point isn't that one SHOULD choose to use casting gear to go light, it is just that you can legitimately do so if you want to. There are so many people that believe that the light baitcasting set ups are somehow a compromise used by people who have some sort of mysterious aversion to spinning gear, and that spinning gear is just better at light work that the casting gear. That was undoubtedly true 20 years ago and likely true even 10 years ago, But today that is just not so.

 

If the cost is a primary concern, I'd say that you'd be better off with spinning gear as you say, but I would not say that spinning gear is just better at it, just better at it that price.

 

 

 

[Linewinder]

UL baits on BC?  Like 1/16th or 1/32nd?  Closest I'll try -- meaning not spending a lot of money to try -- is my Ryobi V-Mag3.  I doubt it can do that either, but oh well, I'll stick with my spinning stuff.  I think fishing is fun, no matter what type of reel.

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, NOC 1 said:

My point isn't that one SHOULD choose to use casting gear to go light, it is just that you can legitimately do so if you want to. There are so many people that believe that the light baitcasting set ups are somehow a compromise used by people who have some sort of mysterious aversion to spinning gear, and that spinning gear is just better at light work that the casting gear. That was undoubtedly true 20 years ago and likely true even 10 years ago, But today that is just not so.

Ya - my point is that so many people harp on 'fairy wands' as being under-performing. My point is that spinning gear can do pretty much everything casting gear can. Given that some of us grew up on spinning gear, we're much more comfortable with it.

 

Currently, have 10 rigs - half are spinners.

 

[dodgeguy]

I only use baitcast . I gave all my spinning to my daughter. I have gone to finesse Baitcasting and light line.

[NOC 1]

24 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - my point is that so many people harp on 'fairy wands' as being under-performing. My point is that spinning gear can do pretty much everything casting gear can.

 

Yep, that is also true. I have an 8'6" H spinning rod with a size 40 reel on it that will pretty well bring in anything that needs brought in.

[brophog]

4 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

Not arguing that you are wrong, just trying to add some perspective to the conversation.

 

No problem. I was just wondering if I was misunderstanding.

 

Price is definitely something that is a huge consideration here. BFS is something that can be gotten into at a cheaper price point, primarily through the use of aftermarket spools into existing reels or the newer cheap Chinese knockoffs, but it’s still niche enough that the good gear is still quite pricy. 

 

 

[J Francho]

It depends on what I’m fishing. 

[NYWayfarer]

Just buy a new spinning reel. Nothing like a shiny new toy to get you excited about fishing spinning again.

 

Spinning has its place. I get excited when using it realizing it is the best tool for the job. If it is an application where I could use a baitcaster, like a weightless worm then I will use a baitcaster. 
 

Today I caught my PB on spinning gear and I was plenty excited.

[ike8120]

I use spinning for all my finesse fishing. Just a personal preference.

[new2BC4bass]

22 hours ago, NavyVet1204 said:

Ever since I bought my first bait caster and learned to use effectively a few months ago, I haven’t touched a spinning reel at all. My spinning setups haven’t left the man cave In months. I’m not saying that they don’t have their place, I just don’t get the warm and fuzzy for them like I do my baitcasters. Small creeks seem to be the most logical place for them at this point for me outside of cat fishing. 
Was it like this For you?

Yes!  Grew up on spinning.  Got back into fishing in '09 and got my first baitcast reel.  Haven't looked back.  Have also purchased a few spinning rods & reels since then, but with 2 exceptions they have sat in the basement after my initial outing with them.  Those 2 exceptions got fished once...so far.

 

Nor is it about which type reel catches more fish.  Or which is better for this technique or for that technique.  I simply enjoy a baitcast reel more.  I'd have quit again shortly after getting back into fishing if I had to catch fish to keep going out.

 

I've only got two things to say to those of you that think baitcast reels can only skate a bass across the water.  1)  Stop watching so many professional fishing shows.  2) Learn to use the drag.    Okay...3 things.  3) They make more than MH, H and XH baitcast rods. 

 

Before quitting I only used 4# XL with the drag locked down.  Before that 8# XL with the drag locked down.  Before that I used the drag.

 

I used to be pretty accurate with a spinning rod, but should have been since I started at 6 with one and fished every chance I had.  So I don't buy into comments that spinning isn't accurate.

 

Happy to all....regardless of what you use.

[RoLo]

 

When I was heavy into ocean fishing (inshore, bluewater, deep-sea),

I used around 80% casting gear (conventional) and 20% spinning gear.

In freshwater, during the early 2000s, I used about 90% spinning gear as a novelty, and maybe 10% casting

(Big-O thought I was nuts). Today, in freshwater it's about 70% casting & 30% spinning.

In summary, I'm impartial to casting & spinning, and would be fine if either one was abolished. 

 

Roger

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

I used to be pretty accurate with a spinning rod, but should have been since I started at 6 with one and fished every chance I had.  So I don't buy into comments that spinning isn't accurate.

I started with spinning when I was 7 - over 50 years ago. Even now, I'm more accurate with a spinner than a BC - which is why I skip with spinning or anytime I need to drop a lighter lure in an exact spot.

[PiedmontAngler]

Funny, I’m in the opposite position. I still love baitcasters but only used spinning rods when I was younger and held them in low regard. I recently discovered finesse and now have 3 spinning rods. Fun stuff and they have been much more productive in ponds and lakes in this hot weather. 

[Columbia Craw]

Braid changed my whole outlook about spinning gear.  My buddy says, "If you ain't spinning, you ain't winning."

[BrianMDTX]

2 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

Yep, that is also true. I have an 8'6" H spinning rod with a size 40 reel on it that will pretty well bring in anything that needs brought in.

Gotta say...never saw anyone heaving tackle in the surf on casting rigs lol. You can catch and reel in some big fish on spinning rigs...if it’s sized right. 

[RoLo]

 

Exactly

[NOC 1]

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

Gotta say...never saw anyone heaving tackle in the surf on casting rigs lol. You can catch and reel in some big fish on spinning rigs...if it’s sized right. 

Actually, that rig is designed more as a fast river fishing rig targeting salmon and the like. It's good for throwing 1/2 to 1-3/4 oz baits and is actually kind of a whippy rod. I use it sometimes for throwing across the river trying to catch Walleye in the fast current below reservoir dams in the spring. For lighter stuff there I use an 8' L/F spinning rig.

 

You are right about the surf casters. I've seen a guy haul in a 6' shark on a spinning rig. Should be able to handle a bass I think.

[Glaucus]

To each their own. I typically have 1 BC and 2 Spinning setups with me because I fish pressured ponds for LMB and rivers for SMB and I like to catch fish. BC are more enjoyable to use, but catching fish is a greater pleasure than simply using the equipment.

[garroyo130]

2 hours ago, Glaucus said:

but catching fish is a greater pleasure than simply using the equipment.

I think we all draw the line somewhere. I remember a couple of years back i was fishing an old Daiwa that clicked on the retrieve. The fish were biting good while the anti reverse was on and it was clicky but whenver I turned it off they stopped. It was a good day of fishing but the audible anti reverse was a bit too much for me and so it hasnt been fished since. 

 

Id probably also throw trolling and live bait into the category of "things that catch fish but people don't do because they prefer using the equipment over catching fish". 

[redmeansdistortion]

23 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

My only issue...and this is me personally...with using BFS over spinning is cost. You can get a very solid spinning combo for $150-$200 and if you step up to $300 your talking real quality stuff. To accomplish that same level of performance in BFS or even traditional baitcaster setups your looking at twice that cost it seems.

BFS can be costly, but it doesn't have to be very expensive.  Will it cost more than a decent spinning outfit?  That depends.  If you're buying higher end gear to begin with, the spinning vs BFS argument is pretty much a wash.  There are plenty of $200+ spinning reels on the market and there are but a handful of BFS reels at that price point.  Additionally, BFS gear isn't widely available on the US market so you almost always have to buy from overseas.

 

If you fish more budget oriented gear, it isn't so much about cost as it is availability.  At the budget end, there are near limitless options for spinning gear.  You can go to any store, buy what you want, and go fishing.  With BFS, every budget item, be it a rod or reel, needs to be purchased from overseas, usually from China.  Many of those reels do have respectable performance, but the inability to buy domestically really hampers their adoption in our part of the world.  Additionally, some of the bigger more familiar names could very well bring those here since some use those same OEMs.  The bigger names don't see a market here for it like they do elsewhere at this point in time.