Do you generally find baitcasters to be more or less difficult to use than spinning for river smallmouth?

[gim]

11 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Isn’t low water ideal as they are easier to locate being concentrated in current?

Its down to a trickle.  There are pockets and deeper holes but getting there is an issue since I float it in a jon boat.  I could wade a small area but it wouldn't be nearly as productive as floating from one canoe access to another.  I'd never even make it to those spots and since the entire river is surrounded by brush, trees, and agriculture on private land, I can't access it from the bank either.

[Scott804]

5 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Really? I was smackin em the other day on the whopper plopper. I found that much more efficient to use than finesse jigs, I covered infinitely more water. My plan wasn’t to eliminate spinning, as I said in my OP just to have casting to cover water in between spots when floating.

You will definitely always be able to cover water faster on a high speed casting reel, but by nature smallmouth fishing (especially outside of the summer) is going to lean spinning just inherently because of their behavior and more importantly, where they live. You can still cover water with a spinning rod with something like a paddletail, smaller crankbait, or jerkbait and probably be better off with smaller presentations anyways. My main point is that a lot of techniques that would be traditionally used on casting can be downsized for spinning and you might not even need to go there at all. I think that is why most smallmouth anglers lean spinning, because they don't have to go casting. Not to mention you can't throw light line on casting gear very effectively. 

 

That being said, it also depends on where you are fishing. Where I fish for smallmouth, it is pretty shallow. I can usually just see them and then just cast at them. I bring a casting rod 1/5 trips maybe, and even then it is mostly just because I want to use casting gear because it is fun, not because it is the ideal choice. I would say most of the time I have to actively put two hands on casting gear more than I do with spinning, ESPECIALLY in a kayak. Casting gear is fun though, it really just comes down to what you want. 

[Ohioguy25]

17 minutes ago, Scott804 said:

You will definitely always be able to cover water faster on a high speed casting reel, but by nature smallmouth fishing (especially outside of the summer) is going to lean spinning just inherently because of their behavior and more importantly, where they live. You can still cover water with a spinning rod with something like a paddletail, smaller crankbait, or jerkbait and probably be better off with smaller presentations anyways. My main point is that a lot of techniques that would be traditionally used on casting can be downsized for spinning and you might not even need to go there at all. I think that is why most smallmouth anglers lean spinning, because they don't have to go casting. Not to mention you can't throw light line on casting gear very effectively. 

 

That being said, it also depends on where you are fishing. Where I fish for smallmouth, it is pretty shallow. I can usually just see them and then just cast at them. I bring a casting rod 1/5 trips maybe, and even then it is mostly just because I want to use casting gear because it is fun, not because it is the ideal choice. I would say most of the time I have to actively put two hands on casting gear more than I do with spinning, ESPECIALLY in a kayak. Casting gear is fun though, it really just comes down to what you want. 

Interesting, so why do the people above say it is faster and more efficient for casting top waters and cranks in abundance? The whopper plopper I use isn’t huge but it is the 90.

[Tatsu Dave]

Fished finesse only now for 5 years, light weight plastic lures and FC line and pin point casting accuracy. I take five rigs each trip and with the extreme weed and structure we fish everything is weedless and not too expensive if you loose it. I prefer spinning gear since the finesse move and have never looked back, I feel I catch a lot more larger lure shy fish and that is what I fish for. Use what you are comfortable with and what works best for your style.

[Ratherbfishing]

Far and away, I prefer spinning gear for most river applications (and a lot of pond and lake apps) primarily because the techniques and the baits I typically use are on the light side and don't need the merits of a baitcaster.  I have and use both types but for MUCH river use, the spinning rod is a better choice.  IMO.

[moguy1973]

Moving baits like top water, crank baits, and spinner baits all get casting rigs when I’m on the river. All my bottom baits like tubes, Ned rigs, drop shot, and lighter baits get a spinning rig. 

[ironbjorn]

If you're fishing for river and creek smallies, Great Lake or other clear northern lake smallies, or northern LMB out of ponds, you'll enjoy using casting gear more, but you'll have more fun and be far more productive with spinning gear. I see so many people up here in Indiana fishing public park ponds with casting gear wondering why they're getting skunked it's unbelievable.

[Spankey]

How deep is your Smallie river?

 

How deep is some of the deeper areas you fish in that river?

[QED]

Wow, a lot of these responses completely ignore the ultralight/BFS class of casting gear, which is a perfectly viable option.  It isn't budget friendly but it is definitely fun.  Before you knock it, perhaps you should try it.

[bulldog1935]

People are going to report from their experience and what they know.    

Only a few of us here have taken BFS to the shocking level where it's superior to comparable spinning tackle.  

Most of the shelf-ready BFS reels have small spool diameters, and were intended first for stream trout fishing in Japan.  Only a few ready-to-fish BFS reels have 32-mm dia spools, and if you want a 34 mm spool, have to put your own together with aftermarket parts.  

The difference between a 26-mm dia spool and 34 mm is line speed and distance.  

Note there's no room for anything but light line on this spool, and will consistently cast 2 g beyond 100'

 

Daiwa SV is such a no-brainer in this niche, because you set the brake for the lightest lure, and the moving brake rotor takes over for heavy lures.  

 

 

[Ohioguy25]

6 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

If you're fishing for river and creek smallies, Great Lake or other clear northern lake smallies, or northern LMB out of ponds, you'll enjoy using casting gear more, but you'll have more fun and be far more productive with spinning gear. I see so many people up here in Indiana fishing public park ponds with casting gear wondering why they're getting skunked it's unbelievable.

Sort of a confusing response, I’ll enjoy casting gear more but have more fun with spinning? Lol. Why is spinning gear more productive?

[ironbjorn]

10 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Sort of a confusing response, I’ll enjoy casting gear more but have more fun with spinning? Lol. Why is spinning gear more productive?

You'll enjoy the functionality of the casting gear is what I mean. The practicality of spinning gear throwing finesse baits for maximum productivity is what's more fun because you'll catch fish.

[Ohioguy25]

3 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

You'll enjoy the functionality of the casting gear is what I mean. The practicality of spinning gear throwing finesse baits for maximum productivity is what's more fun because you'll catch fish.

Ahh gotcha. So casting gear is easier to use? That’s what I imagined, why exactly is that?

[ironbjorn]

1 minute ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Ahh gotcha. So casting gear is easier to use? That’s what I imagined, why exactly is that?

It's more accurate, giving you more control, and the palmability factor is the very shiny cherry on top. And educated thumb makes casting gear so comfortable that you'll never want to pick up spinning gear again until you realize how many fish you're not catching in my aforementioned water types.

[Ohioguy25]

1 minute ago, ironbjorn said:

It's more accurate, giving you more control, and the palmability factor is the very shiny cherry on top. And educated thumb makes casting gear so comfortable that you'll never want to pick up spinning gear again until you realize how many fish you're not catching in my aforementioned water types.

So you think you catch far more smallmouth using finesse lures than cranks and topwaters?

[ironbjorn]

Just now, Ohioguy25 said:

So you think you catch far more smallmouth using finesse lures than cranks and topwaters?

Yes, but the top waters and cranks for river and creek smallies are best on spinning gear too. 

It's worth noting that I HATE spinning gear but on the water types for what and for where that I mentioned require it 

[Ohioguy25]

Just now, ironbjorn said:

Yes, but the top waters and cranks for river and creek smallies are best on spinning gear too. 

Interesting, and why is that if casting is more accurate?

[ironbjorn]

43 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Interesting, and why is that if casting is more accurate?

Your ability to cast them with the light line and light weights.

[MIbassyaker]

I have never understood the argument that casting gear is inherently "more accurate" than spinning or vice-versa for that matter.  Individual anglers are more accurate with one or the other, but I am not convinced there is anything going on here other than level of skill and comfort borne of familiarity and practice.

[bulldog1935]

and almost 50 years of both - ever spiral cast an Ambassadeur with weightless rig?  (that was in the early '80s).   

I used to double the cast distance of guides with their spinning gear and PO them, but I always made them look good back at the dock.  

I can cast a fly rod to 140'

 

With good manual bail technique and feathering, the best can come close to the accuracy of a baitcaster, but if you have more cast distance than you need with the baitcaster, you will be a lot more accurate thumbing for final elevation.  

[desmobob]

19 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

I have never understood the argument that casting gear is inherently "more accurate" than spinning or vice-versa for that matter.  Individual anglers are more accurate with one or the other, but I am not convinced there is anything going on here other than level of skill and comfort borne of familiarity and practice.

 

I use both but I do think it is much easier and more comfortable to precisely feather a cast with thumb pressure on a spinning baitcasting spool than by using an index finger to slow the line going out on a spinning reel.  I am personally more accurate with a baitcaster than a spinning reel. YMMV...

[Deephaven]

1 hour ago, ironbjorn said:

It's worth noting that I HATE spinning gear but on the water types for what and for where that I mentioned require it 

Lol

[TnRiver46]

17 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

I can cast a fly rod to 140'

 

Holy ****!!! What weight rod? 

[bulldog1935]

8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Holy ****!!! What weight rod? 

7-wt RPLX, bro.  

250-gr shooting head, and a really good Allbright knot.  

I've gawked at the line leaving my basket and wondering if it was ever going to stop.  

(on a boat, use a 5-gal bucket)