Spinning Rod with Walking Baits?

[Stratocat_Joe]

Since using a spinning rod for jerkbaits has become popular, I'm curious if anyone uses a spinning rod for topwater walking baits? It seems to me that the same reasoning for using a spinning rod for jerkbaits (i.e. longer casts, easier bait movement w/o moving the bait very far, etc.) bodes well for also using a spinning rod with topwater walking baits, right?

[jimmyjoe]

   Right.                    jj

[Deephaven]

The action for both jerks and walking baits is really ackward with a spinning reel.

[A-Jay]

When it's about Max distance,

I'll throw both walking baits & poppers on spinning gear.

https://youtu.be/QB1VOTaQuvE?t=101

https://youtu.be/6Ds4Z22ywnY?t=124

BTW, I also use it for quite a bit of my jerkbait fishing.

https://youtu.be/zIqCmH_52IQ?t=726

Works out OK.

A-Jay

 

[Scott F]

I throw topwaters, walking and poppers on spinning gear. The ones I use are always within the weight ratings for the rod and more importantly I always use braid. The lack of stretch in the line means I don’t have to move the rod as much to get the walking baits to move properly. Saves on fatigue in my hands and wrists. 

[Big Swimbait]

43 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

The action for both jerks and walking baits is really ackward with a spinning reel.

I 100% believe you but for me it was just the opposite since I hold the rod in my right hand and I'm right-handed. It was just easier to control the tempo and the strength of the wrist snaps.

[Deephaven]

Just now, Big Swimbait said:

I 100% believe you but for me it was just the opposite since I hold the rod in my right hand and I'm right-handed. It was just easier to control the tempo and the strength of the wrist snaps.

Buy a left handed bait caster.  WAY better than using a spinning reel.  Beware though, it will probably make you want to upgrade the rest as well.

 

[Big Swimbait]

Just now, Deephaven said:

Buy a left handed bait caster.  WAY better than using a spinning reel.  Beware though, it will probably make you want to upgrade the rest as well.

 

I have been trying to convince myself to do this for pitching and flipping so I don't have to switch hands.

[Deephaven]

Just now, Big Swimbait said:

I have been trying to convince myself to do this for pitching and flipping so I don't have to switch hands.

The jerkbait is what caused me to.  Not the early spring jerk, but the nonstop wicked action warmer water jerk.  I hated doing it with my left hand, tried my spinning rod, and bought a cheap left hand bait caster.  Less than a year later I had replaced all but 3 of my right hand ones with left.

[TnRiver46]

Lee livesay was throwing a walking bait about as far as you could imagine on lake fork recently (with a baitcaster) 

[the reel ess]

I'm sure people do it since some avoid BC gear altogether. But I would make it a longer MH rod. I personally wouldn't want to because my manual dexterity reeling with the left hand is pretty bad. 

13 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Lee livesay was throwing a walking bait about as far as you could imagine on lake fork recently (with a baitcaster) 

Indeed. Casting distance of a big topwater on BC gear is not an issue. Another thing I've noticed about topwaters on spinning, at least with poppers, is the line tends to get loops in it from taking up slack line. You can't stare at your reel all day. Get a loop in braid and try to untangle it wrong and you have a mess.

[J Francho]

For me it comes down to the size of the bait.  If it's too light to throw on casting gear, I'm probably not going to use it.  But, I'd switch to spinning if I had to throw it.

[Bankc]

You could certainly do it.  But I don't have distance issues with walking baits.  They're pretty large and aerodynamic.  And I use a M/M rod for them anyway, which will really slingshot them out.  Plus, I prefer BC reels because I'll often throw to something and need the ability to precisely drop it into a small area, which is a lot harder to do with a spinning reel, since you can't thumb it as easily.  So it's not for me.  But if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for you, then I say go for it. 

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, Bankc said:

Plus, I prefer BC reels because I'll often throw to something and need the ability to precisely drop it into a small area, which is a lot harder to do with a spinning reel, since you can't thumb it as easily.  So it's not for me. 

Separate topic, but you just need to learn control with spinning gear.  One tip: you don't use your thumb.

[the reel ess]

5 minutes ago, J Francho said:

For me it comes down to the size of the bait.  If it's too light to throw on casting gear, I'm probably not going to use it.  But, I'd switch to spinning if I had to throw it.

The standard size Pop R is this kind of bait to me. I just can't accurately place it near targets with BC gear. I can cast it in open water though. So I tend to use the Chug Bug whenever I can instead. What poppers are heavier than the Pop R that I might try?

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

The standard size Pop R is this kind of bait to me. I just can't accurately place it near targets with BC gear. I can cast it in open water though. So I tend to use the Chug Bug whenever I can instead. What poppers are heavier than the Pop R that I might try?

H20 express makes a great one 

[Tennessee Boy]

All things being equal I prefer using a spinning rod for walking baits because I think having the weight of the reel under the rod just makes the walking action feel a little easier.   Other factors would be more important than the type of reel in my decision on a given day.  I use both and I use left hand bait casters.    If I tried to walk a bait with a right hand baitcaster I would probably get dizzy and fall in.  

[J Francho]

47 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

The standard size Pop R is this kind of bait to me. I just can't accurately place it near targets with BC gear. I can cast it in open water though. So I tend to use the Chug Bug whenever I can instead. What poppers are heavier than the Pop R that I might try?

Get a Popmax.  You only need one.

[the reel ess]

49 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Get a Popmax.  You only need one.

LOL I can only afford half of one.

[Deleted account]

10 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

H20 express makes a great one 

Shhhhhh!!!!

[Deephaven]

12 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

All things being equal I prefer using a spinning rod for walking baits because I think having the weight of the reel under the rod just makes the walking action feel a little easier.  

I am shocked.  It is so ackward in comparison to a palmed reel to me.

[Deephaven]

14 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

I still find the overhand grip of a spinning rod better than the underhanded grip on the rod and reel of a baitcast to be better suited to just about any presentation where rod movement is the primary means of moving the bait.  

 

The rod has so much more leverage on you when you are only grabbing something that is a 1" diameter or less.  Time to revisit how you hold your baitcaster as it will greatly add feel and control to rod moving presentations.

[J Francho]

I don't agree at all. Either is easy to walk with and neither poses any kind of problem for me. It's all in the wrists!

[MN Fisher]

21 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

If that was the case then every tool on earth would have some baitcaster shaped mass on the handle if it is so much better to hold onto a stick when palming a reel then to just hold onto the stick.

Everyone is going to toot what they think is best. Some would avoid spinning rigs all-together if they could - others would go to all spinning if they could.

 

Entirely dependent on experience.

 

Myself - larger walking baits like a Super Spook I toss on casting gear, mainly because I don't have a spinning rod that can easily handle it - but regular Spooks and even Puppies go on the spinning rig. I have no problems walking with either...but I will admit it's a little easier with the spinning gear...probably because I have a dozen more years experience with that than with baitcasters.

 

Use what you're comfortable with and I'll use what I'm comfortable with. Neither of us is wrong, and to imply so is wrong.

[Deephaven]

1 hour ago, BaitFinesse said:

If that was the case then every tool on earth would have some baitcaster shaped mass on the handle if it is so much better to hold onto a stick when palming a reel then to just hold onto the stick.

Adding mass isn't the solution adding size is.  If you have a huge hand and put something little in it, it is hard to control...simple Physics.  Of course you can train yourself to do things that are hard to do, practice is an amazing thing, but that doesn't make the technique logical.