Will a baitcasting rod and reel setup help me with bank fishing (over a spinning rod and reel)?

[islandbass]

31 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

 

If you are fishing from shore where casting obstructions are a pain in the butt, then I would avoid a baitcast reel.  It is so much easier with a spinning reel.  I firmly believe a baitcast reel would be a hindrance in this scenario.

 

A boat would open up a lot of fishing for you.

As a shore angler myself, I am very happy to dispel those thoughts. Both can be a pain in the you know what, lol. 
 

I use both in tight spots because, well, that’s all I have. With that said, the only real plus of a spinning reel over a casting reel in this scenario is zero chance for a show stopping backlash. This type of back lash is the one you get when you manage to get tangled up on the surrounding shrubbery and brush. If one can avoid this backlash,  casting set ups will do well. 
 

Lastly, learning to cast underhand is a real plus in tight quarters. 

[ironbjorn]

26 minutes ago, islandbass said:

As a shore angler myself, I am very happy to dispel those thoughts. Both can be a pain in the you know what, lol. 
 

I use both in tight spots because, well, that’s all I have. With that said, the only real plus of a spinning reel over a casting reel in this scenario is zero chance for a show stopping backlash. This type of back lash is the one you get when you manage to get tangled up on the surrounding shrubbery and brush. If one can avoid this backlash,  casting set ups will do well. 
 

Lastly, learning to cast underhand is a real plus in tight quarters. 

A baitcasting bank angler should never leave the house without a spool of line in the bag. Learned many years ago. 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, ironbjorn said:

A baitcasting bank angler should never leave the house without a spool of line in the bag. Learned many years ago. 

Or two - and a trash bag to take the line you WILL cut off to replace when the backlash creates the mother of all bird's nests.

[islandbass]

27 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

A baitcasting bank angler should never leave the house without a spool of line in the bag. Learned many years ago. 

Good point. I sometimes do, depending on the situation, but I usually bring another reel ready to go. It beats spooling on the fly, in the field. 

[JustJames]

8 hours ago, piscis said:

I'd still need to understand many things about baits, colors, temp, cover, so on and so forth.  But will the rod and reel help me better than a spinning reel?

 

I ask because if I can't catch a bass with a spinning rod and reel, what makes me think I can do it with the baitcasting?  Maybe I need a boat instead :)?

I think you should set primarily goal to catch bass with whatever you have first. Eventually you will own BC for sure. If you can’t catch bass with spinning you won’t catch bass with BC neither. Then you would have two frustrations, first learn to catch bass second learn to use BC and deal with backlash.

Yes there are many lures out there but you don’t need all of them at least not at this moment. Get something proven that can catch bass with your spinning setup. Senko, Ned Rig, small topwater or small crankbait. Once you become proficient with spinning then you can venture to BC for even more varieties of lures and techniques.

[Mobasser]

Both casting and spinning can work from the bank. It's personal choice, and which one you like.

[ike8120]

I use both depending on the technique. 

[huZZah]

I have 6 spinning rigs and 4 BCs. As a bank fisherman my success has more to do with finding a decent spot than which rig I’m using. Rod length also has a huge impact and not just for trees. Trying to work a jerk bait (this I only do Bc) when you’re standing in shin-deep water that is rolling at you is a rather tedious experience. Flipping (also only Bc, not fast enough on my spinning to catch the line) to cover when you’re surrounded by grass and bushes can be frustrating, or standing shin-deep in water that’s rolling at you. But you do you man.

The setup matters less than the person fishing IMO.  

[HawgHunter13]

I would learn what’s best for you. I fishing spinning gear off the bank for years and didn’t have issues at all. That said…..when I got into heavy lures like jigs and punching Texas rigs and frogging I really had to learn the bait caster because you have a lot more control with a bait caster imho. You can pitch into spots and cast under trees a lot easier with a bait caster. I guess it’s all in what you want to fish, what types of lures and how serious you think you will get. 

[The Bassman]

23 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

 Do you really need a bc, no, but I think if you keep at it long enough, your likely to buy a baitcaster at some point.

And then another and another...................

[Deleted account]

On 7/26/2021 at 6:03 PM, piscis said:

Will a baitcasting rod and reel setup help me with bank fishing (over a spinning rod and reel)?

No.

[TimTheGearNerd]

Bait caster will make you hate fishing (at first) nothing will ruin your day faster than getting that birds nest. You’re definitely going to make mistakes as you learn. 
 

getting off the bank will catch you more fish. 
 

I’m on a yak and I catch the most fish doing drop shot on a spinning rig. 
 

 

[WRB]

To me spinning excels when using line under .009D, bait casting over .010D or lures 1/8 oz or less with poor aerodynamics. 

I have been using spinning since the 60’s, bait casting since the 50’s, from shore and boats.

Light line and light lures separates spinning front baiting casting outfits.

Tom

[NoShoes]

On 7/26/2021 at 10:12 PM, ironbjorn said:

A baitcasting bank angler should never leave the house without a spool of line in the bag. Learned many years ago. 

Not to be rude but if birds nests are that common then practicing in the yard may be helpful. 
 

After a week or two practicing I don’t have anymore issues. I still have a occasional birds nest, but nothing I can’t usually get out and it’s normally when I shank a dock skip. 

[ironbjorn]

1 hour ago, NoShoes said:

Not to be rude but if birds nests are that common then practicing in the yard may be helpful. 
 

After a week or two practicing I don’t have anymore issues. I still have a occasional birds nest, but nothing I can’t usually get out and it’s normally when I shank a dock skip. 

My thumb is very educated and backlashing on casts the traditional way isn't the issue for me nor the primary problem that requires another spool of line. With bank fishing it's the trees and brush that can grab you and ruin the day if you don't have more line whether it's in the form of a spool, another reel, or even extra rods (limited for bank anglers).

[The Bassman]

1 hour ago, ironbjorn said:

My thumb is very educated and backlashing on casts the traditional way isn't the issue for me nor the primary problem that requires another spool of line. With bank fishing it's the trees and brush that can grab you and ruin the day if you don't have more line whether it's in the form of a spool, another reel, or even extra rods (limited for bank anglers).

A side arm caster like me gets bit by tall grass and weeds. You tend to develop a very fast thumb.

[CrankFate]

Do what works best for you. I fish BC because of a lifetime of fishing related right hand/wrist injuries. I don’t have much of a choice. If you do, the choice is yours. If I ever get arthritis, I’m screwed. Because at 45, my right hand and wrist are all messed up from fishing overweight, heavy metal spinning gear dating back to when I was 2 years old. If you have kids, please get them light, modern gear.

 

I’m not kidding when I say I was not permitted to write in script dating back to the first grade, because of hand/wrist injuries from fishing. The only time I was ever permitted to write in script, as a kid in school, was when the test was to see if we knew how to write in script. By the first grade, there was no way I could drag a # 2 pencil over the paper in a marble notebook 5 days a week.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

There are applications where I prefer one over the other but boat/bank doesn’t factor in.