Can I fish a spinnerbait with spinning gear?

[Pavlooskin]

I got a spinnerbait recently, but I'm confused on whether I should use baitcasting or spinning gear. I've seen people catch fish with it on spinning gear, but some articles said to use baitcasting instead.

[MN Fisher]

I occasionally toss spinnerbaits on spinning gear - main thing you have to be sure of is that the rod you're using is rated to toss that lure. 1/4oz spinnerbaits I toss on a Medium power, heavier than that I go to a Medium-Heavy.

[TnRiver46]

Baitcaster for heavy lures like a spinnerbait is most people’s preference including mine. I like 6 lb line for spinning gear and that’s too light for most spinnerbaits 

[Jig Man]

I don’t but my son-in-law does and my best friend did everything with a spinning setup.

[bowhunter63]

I throw smaller size spinnerbaits on spinning gear. I have Mh rod and 10 lb test . Works great 

[Darth-Baiter]

Yes.  No problem. 
 

I have friends that cast everything with spinning gear.  They don’t baitcast ever. 

[jimmyjoe]

  For several years, I was limited to spinning gear due to arthritis. I threw 1/2 ounce spinnerbaits on a 6'-06" St. Croix avid M/F spinning rod, 3/16-5/8 and 6-12 lb. test rating. I was kinda tentative, but several people here assured me that the rod was adequate to the task ...... and it was. If I were to do it all over again, I would choose the 7' Avid-X MH/F, but right now I don't need to.

   Reel was at first a size 40 Pflueger, and then a Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000FB, which I still have. I used 12 lb. Trilene XL.

   I, as well as many other people, prefer baitcasters for heavier lures or lures with greater resistance. That is preference only; it's not chiselled in stone.              jj   

[ThatZX14Fella]

Given that you have proper rod and line choice, you can cast anything with spinning equipment.

[Captain Phil]

Of course you can.   The problem I have with spinning gear and spinnerbaits is the retrieve ratio is normally too fast for the bait.  The optimum spinner bait ratio is 5/1.   If you pull a spinnnerbait too fast, the lure will turn on it's side or even twist.  Cadence is very important to the success of spinnerbait fishing.   Spinnerbaits work better when retrieved slow as close to cover as you can get.   If you want a spinnerbait that you can fish fast, tie on a buzz bait. 

[nascar2428]

I've caught plenty of fish with a spinnerbait using spinning gear. 

[Jigfishn10]

Yep, sure can...It's not fun, but you can. ?

[Pavlooskin]

Thanks for the advice! I have a gear ratio of 5.1:1 and 8 pound line. Also, the spinnerbait I had in mind is 3/8 ounce. Would this be a good setup?

[new2BC4bass]

I thru small Beetlespins on a 6' ML for years and a K-Mart special before that (over 60 years ago).

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Finn Johnson said:

Thanks for the advice! I have a gear ratio of 5.1:1 and 8 pound line. Also, the spinnerbait I had in mind is 3/8 ounce. Would this be a good setup?

Gear ratio doesn't mean much in the end...inches per turn (IPT) is the factor.

Example - I have three spinning reels, all with a 5.4:1 ratio...but three different retrieve rates: 22IPT, 25IPT and 29IPT - all depends on the reel size: 1000, 2000 and 3000 in this case.

Personally, I like 29+IPT for spinnerbaits.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, I would toss a 3/8oz spinnerbait on a MH rod...most of your Medium power rods are rated to 5/8oz or 3/4oz lures. A 3/8oz spinnerbait with a decent size trailer is going to be 5/8oz or more, so casting with a Medium rod is problematical.

I'd also want to have 10# test if not 12# for that size lure if not braid with or without a 12# or so leader.

 

The spinning rig I'll use for 3/8 and 1/2 spinnerbaits is the 3000 size reel on a MH/F rod, 20#braid with a 12# leader.

 

2 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

I thru small Beetlespins on a 6' ML for years and a K-Mart special before that (over 60 years ago).

He's talking more like the Strike King Tour Grade or Booyah Blade. Beetle Spins are a whole 'nother animal.

[Pavlooskin]

22 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

He's talking more like the Strike King Tour Grade or Booyah Blade. Beetle Spins are a whole 'nother animal.

The Booyah Blade is actually the exact one I was talking about! It must be very popular

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Finn Johnson said:

The Booyah Blade is actually the exact one I was talking about! It must be very popular

It is - though I use Strike King Banshee's myself in 1/4oz, 3/8oz and 1/2oz.

[throttleplate]

when wading i am only carrying 1 spinning rod reel setup a 6-6 mf. My tackle pouch is full of all different size lures.

 

I put on the heaviest lure and let her rip and if rod breaks than i learned a lesson but so far the ugly stick Carbon with the solid core tip has survived throwing the big spinners with trailers.

[PhishLI]

3 hours ago, Finn Johnson said:

I got a spinnerbait recently, but I'm confused on whether I should use baitcasting or spinning gear. I've seen people catch fish with it on spinning gear, but some articles said to use baitcasting instead.

Absolutely can use spinning. Describe the rod, or rods, that you own. Action, power, and line rating.

[Pavlooskin]

9 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Absolutely can use spinning. Describe the rod, or rods, that you own. Action, power, and line rating.

Medium action, medium power, and the line rating is 6-15lb test.

Could I catch a pike on this?

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Finn Johnson said:

Medium action, medium power, and the line rating is 6-15lb test.

Could I catch a pike on this?

Definitely - I've gotten 9-12# pike on a Medium rig with 8#-10# test. Takes a bit to get them in...no 'horsing' them to the boat...but it can be done.

[gim]

16 minutes ago, Finn Johnson said:

Could I catch a pike on this?

If they snip you off like they notoriously often do then the answer will be no.  I don't know what kind of line you're using but you might want to consider a steel or flurocarbon leader especially with a spinnerbait, which they tend to love.

[Pavlooskin]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

If they snip you off like they notoriously often do then the answer will be no

I guess I should use a wire leader then.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Finn Johnson said:

I guess I should use a wire leader then.

Ya - if you're going to target 'toothy critters' like pike, walleye and even bowfin...a wire leader is pretty much manditory.

[FishTank]

I use a M Fast spinning rod for most of my spinnerbaits up to 1/2oz with not issues

[Boomstick]

A MH spinning rod will work great for 3/8 and 1/2oz spinnerbaits. With a medium you would want 3/8 or more ideally something like 5/16oz or 1/4, simply because most medium spinning rods are not as stout as their baitcasting counterparts.