Baitcaster for Everything

[James Hall]

I’m gradually getting the hang of them. Really like them. Can you use them for everything? Finesse, plastic, etc.? I’ve got a smaller spinner, but I’m just getting into this baitcaster so much!!!!

[TOXIC]

Yes and no.  Yes you can throw just about every lure on a baitcaster but no they are not the best tool for every job.  Just take a peek at any of the upper level pros on any tour and you will see a good number of both spinning and casting.  

[Greeneye8181]

I would say yes. I use baitcasters for EVERYTHING. With finesse fishing you need to buy a higher end reel that can handle the light weight lures. I like a spinning reel for skipping under docks as it’s a little more efficient and others use them for drop shot fishing but me, I use baitcasters 100% of the time 

[new2BC4bass]

Previous spinning reel only user here.  When I got back into fishing in 2009, I decided I wanted to try a baitcast reel.  Love them!    Can you use them for everything?  Some do.  I can't.  Light lures require not only a proper reel, but the rod becomes very important, AFAIAC.  AND.........having both doesn't automatically mean you can cast the really light stuff.  It takes some skill on your part even with the proper gear.  Skill I haven't achieved yet, and probably never will at my age.

 

I wouldn't give up your light spinning rod just yet. 

 

Also a word of caution.  If you like baitcast reels as much as I do, then keep an eye open for that nasty old Bait Monkey.  Avoid him.  Otherwise you will wind up with a whole bunch more reels than you need or can use.  But...then again...you will be happy. 

[LCG]

You could use a screwdriver to hammer a nail, but there are better tools for the job

 

 

[diehardbassfishing]

Yes.

 

Karl

[Dens228]

I've used only baitcasters for the past several years.  I just purchased a decent spinning rod and reel for some finesse. 
I'll be using it for the first time tomorrow setup as a dropshot. If I don't have luck it will quickly convert to a wacky rig. 

[Teal]

You can.... but to optimize every thing bassfisherman do, I should have at least 1 or 2 spinning outfits 

[FryDog62]

Small, 1/4 oz or less you can use Daiwa Alphas SV or Steez SV TW to do about anything finesse: Ned, Neko, weightless Wacky, drop-shot, etc. 

 

Mid-Weight (3/8 oz or more) and/or skipping Tatula SV TW works for about anything. Great for Flippin’ and pitching too.  

 

If throwing anything else that you need long distance, especially lighter/high profile lures like Spinnerbaits buzzbaits jerkbaits, use Tatula Elite.  It casts a mile...

[NOC 1]

Yes you can. There are people who say you can't or it's not the best tool and for sure they are telling the truth... for themselves.

 

There are people who can throw flies with a BC reel (I'm not one of them). But like someone else already said, that is going to require a special reel (Wakasagi spool) and trout rod, and then as someone else said, you have to be good enough to do it. Some people don't want to deal with all that so they say that it is the wrong tool.

 

I think it would be more accurate to say that it can be a difficult and/or inconvenient tool to master. So, given that it might not be the best tool for you, but you can do anything on a BC as you can with a spinner.

 

That said, it's not that hard to throw 1/16-1/8 oz. stuff and it seems to work just as well as spinning gear to me. I don't know about skipping because I don't do much of that at all so maybe a spinner IS better for that?

[Mike L]

I use BC for everything. 
That includes skipping and so called “finesse” techniques that folks say a spinning combo is best for. 
I disagree. 
 

With the right equipment and experience a BC is all that’s needed for any technique. 
 

 

 

Mike

[roadwarrior]

Well, I like very specific tools for different tasks.  For me that means baitcasting for power fishing,

spinning for finesse.

 

[JediAmoeba]

I am known to throw 1/16 oz Ned rigs on my daiwa tatula sv's without any problems.  The thing is, once you add he Ned worm it is closer to a 1/4 oz and flies better than a lot of 1/4 oz lures that I cast on baitcasters.  When it comes to dropshot I just think that spinning rods work better for the technique and the longer awkward leaders.