Topwater On Spinning Reels

[Firstoutfisher]

Took out my megabass ronin tonight and some small topwaters, a small walking bait and a small popper to be exact. Just wanted to see how spinning gear handled topwaters. I will so the action on the ronin was absolutely perfect for topwaters. I was effortless walking my sb777 and popping my popper. It was awesome to work the baits with my right hand. I was also able to work it in every direction and at more angles than with a baitcaster.  However I kept having issues with the line coming off my spool and wrapping around the outer part beneath the spool. I assume this is from taking up lots of slack line while walking the baits? Has anyone else here experimented with topwaters on spinning gear? Wondering if this might actually be viable. Side note the sb777 is awesome,was casting it as far on a 6'8 spinning rod as I cast a full size walking bait on my 7'2 baitcaster. 

[CrashVector]

Yes, that's from reeling in a very slack line.

 

I fish swimbaits on the surface using a spinning reel all the time.

[MN Fisher]

Taking up loose slack on a spinning reel will result in this more often than not. Only time I'll use one of my spinners for topwaters is light poppers or my WP-60s.

 

Jerks, spooks, etc go on my M/F casting rig.

[Fallser]

When I'm not fly fishing, all I use is spinning gear.  I do a lot of top water fishing and I've never had that issue.  From the looks of your reel, you have too much line on it.  The line shouldn't come up to the edge of the spool.  Take off about 5 to 10 yards off and see if that eliminates the problem.

[Firstoutfisher]

28 minutes ago, Fallser said:

When I'm not fly fishing, all I use is spinning gear.  I do a lot of top water fishing and I've never had that issue.  From the looks of your reel, you have too much line on it.  The line shouldn't come up to the edge of the spool.  Take off about 5 to 10 yards off and see if that eliminates the problem.

There is probably 1/16" between the edge of the spool and my line but I had this same thought. I think slack line takeup is the main culprit but having too much line may contributing. I already took some line off and will report back here with my findings.

44 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Taking up loose slack on a spinning reel will result in this more often than not. Only time I'll use one of my spinners for topwaters is light poppers or my WP-60s.

 

Jerks, spooks, etc go on my M/F casting rig.

It was awesome with my 1/4 oz popper! Was getting the thing to pop twitch it back and upwards and every which way. Actually caught a 1lb crappie on my popper with it tonight. Never seen a crappie strike a topwater like that. 

[WRB]

We discussed this recently on this forum using spinning for top water and jerk baits. Your experience is exactly what I posted, loose line tends to do what happened to you.

Tom

[schplurg]

Only time that happens to me is if it's windy or if I screw up. I've never had that happen with a top water due to walking or jerking and I use spinners a lot.

 

I agree the spool looks too full. When I see this happen it usually goes under the spool, even around my handle. It's never barely off the spool like that. My two cents.

[Brett's_daddy]

I agree with another post, from the looks of your reel you have it spooled with too much line. You want it 1/8" below the bevel line on your spool.

[J Francho]

If you like using your right hand to hold the rod, get a left hand bait casting reel. 

[Bdnoble84]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

If you like using your right hand to hold the rod, get a left hand bait casting reel. 

I never did understand the right hand/ lh thing with baitcasters. Being a lefty ive always fished righthand reels.

[J Francho]

5 minutes ago, Bdnoble84 said:

I never did understand the right hand/ lh thing with baitcasters.

I use both.

[PressuredFishing]

14 hours ago, Firstoutfisher said:

Took out my megabass ronin tonight and some small topwaters, a small walking bait and a small popper to be exact. Just wanted to see how spinning gear handled topwaters. I will so the action on the ronin was absolutely perfect for topwaters. I was effortless walking my sb777 and popping my popper. It was awesome to work the baits with my right hand. I was also able to work it in every direction and at more angles than with a baitcaster.  However I kept having issues with the line coming off my spool and wrapping around the outer part beneath the spool. I assume this is from taking up lots of slack line while walking the baits? Has anyone else here experimented with topwaters on spinning gear? Wondering if this might actually be viable. Side note the sb777 is awesome,was casting it as far on a 6'8 spinning rod as I cast a full size walking bait on my 7'2 baitcaster. 

This is one of the few scenarios I use bfs, actually the only scenario for bass. Get a high gear ratio bfs reel and it will solve this issue, if you are using poppers a spinning reel will work fine, but small whopper ploppers buzzbaits, and pencil/cigar walking baits really benefit from a fast gear ratio reel, and this technology doesn't exist in reliable spinning reels quite yet

29 minutes ago, Bdnoble84 said:

I never did understand the right hand/ lh thing with baitcasters. Being a lefty ive always fished righthand reels.

Personal preference, I'm a lefty as well and fish RH as well, many of the older guys that are right handed fish RH retrieve as well because they grew up on it. Some RH guys are switching to LH retrieve.

[TnRiver46]

I like casting topwaters with a spinning reel but I much prefer the baitcaster once the fish is hooked 

[Firstoutfisher]

Removed some line from the reel and went back out today. I started pulling the slack out of my line when I flip the bail and that seems to have helped as well. Still having some of these slack knots but none have gone under the reel yet. I think with more practice I will probably be able to make the spinning gear work. It is just so much more comfortable to me than trying to work a topwater with a baitcaster. Although I will still use a baitcaster for heavier topwater anyway!

[Smalls]

I know some guys like to throw things like Ricos on spinning gear. I would rather invest in an MGL/SV type casting reel for light stuff like that. Specifically for the reason your  picture shows.

[islandbass]

I use spinning and casting for top waters such as poppers and walk the dog types. I can’t ever recall having that ever happen to me with my spinning gear. That said, I am 99.9% aware and mindful on the slack in the line before it gets returned to the spool. So maybe I’m just different in that regard, lol. A simple movement  of the rod by the hand/arms to one side or the other, whichever is more convenient in the moment, is almost always sufficient to eliminate the slack in the line before you start the retrieve.  Problem solved.  

[JoeDeal55]

On 10/21/2021 at 11:13 AM, PressuredFishing said:

This is one of the few scenarios I use bfs, actually the only scenario for bass. Get a high gear ratio bfs reel and it will solve this issue, if you are using poppers a spinning reel will work fine, but small whopper ploppers buzzbaits, and pencil/cigar walking baits really benefit from a fast gear ratio reel, and this technology doesn't exist in reliable spinning reels quite yet

Personal preference, I'm a lefty as well and fish RH as well, many of the older guys that are right handed fish RH retrieve as well because they grew up on it. Some RH guys are switching to LH retrieve.

I can reel with either hand just fine. But working the rod for walking baits and poppers and jerkbaits is impossible for me with my left hand. Too awkward by far. Especially since I bank/kayak fish. Have to twitch my rods at an angle. I will pass up really good deals on reels if its RH retrieve. So I only by LH retrieve reels now. 

[Plottman1974]

I used spinning reels for topwater continually and never had that problem.  Looks like you might be reeling in the line with a bunch of slack at the spool coupled with 15 yards too much line....you got a double whammy going on there.  I read in another post that you didn't have much of a problem the last time you went out.  Keep fishing and having fun!

 

I LOVE using super small frogs and poppers on a spinning rod.  

[PressuredFishing]

1 hour ago, JoeDeal55 said:

I can reel with either hand just fine. But working the rod for walking baits and poppers and jerkbaits is impossible for me with my left hand. Too awkward by far. Especially since I bank/kayak fish. Have to twitch my rods at an angle. I will pass up really good deals on reels if its RH retrieve. So I only by LH retrieve reels now. 

I understand, ya know I will say this, us leftys have been somewhat unlucky since we came into this world, scissors are right handed, gun magazine releases, computers have their keys specifically set up for right handed people, (The teachers never let me move the mouse from right to the left side so I use a mouse with my right hand very well)  BUT...  conventional casting reels are where we luck out