Your Tackle Choice

[islandbass]

15 hours ago, Mobasser said:

I've always enjoyed using both baitcasting and spinning tackle. On many lakes, both can work well for a variety of different baits.                                                            The lake I fish most often is an old quarry lake. The water is very clear, and deep in spots.                   Years ago, I started fishing this lake with heavier casting gear, and I wasn't doing well catching bass here.                                  At the suggestion of a friend, I started fishing this lake with a spinning rod and lighter line, along with smaller baits. I made this tackle choice out of necessity, trying to improve my catch rates. It's worked out well over the years.                                           Regarding your own tackle, have you chosen your gear out of necessity, or because you prefer one type of tackle over the other? Baitcasting or spinning tackle?

Yes. When I first started fishing, I tried out the “heavier” (relative to my neck of the woods) with very little success and it got frustrating at times. So I tried going with lighter line and noticed an increase in hooks ups, catches, etc. I became hooked on the finesse side that for the next few years, I focused mostly on finesse type things because it was getting me results. It was good and bad because I learned a lot but also realized I was also hindering learning other ways to fish, particularly the “power” side of bass fishing. I started in 2004. I finally forced myself to steadily get heavier in 2017. Finally paid dividends from 2018 on. 
 

With that said, I see both reel types as tools and will use them accordingly as needed. While, I can be as prideful as any other Joe Schmoe, I put that aside knowing full well the right tool for the job will help you get it right more often than not. 

[thediscochef]

Almost all of my gear is 6.2:1 spinning on 7 foot. I've never owned a baitcaster as I hardly ever throw anything over 1/8oz. I'll probably get one someday when I start getting into live baits or larger baits but for now my gear allows me to catch some heavy fish if I hook them (19.1lbs blue cat is the max so far on my bass tackle), but also the ability to fish for dinks through thick reeds and land at least something when others aren't. I think if I were on a boat I would likely want a baitcaster and heavier tackle but I'm almost exclusively on the shore for right now.

[Bankbeater]

They are tools used to catch fish.  I will usually start out fishing with baitcasting gear. If the bass don't like those baits I will switch over to spinning gear.

There are some days that all of my bass are caught on spinning gear, some days the bass are all caught on baitcasting gear, and some days I catch bass on both.

[mrpao]

Lately I've been on a finesse and ultra light kick. Hadn't really thrown a normal baitcaster in about two months. 

My local lake is pretty pressured from tournaments and weekend anglers. Also heavy summer time pleasure boaters and jet skis. 

Been having a blast with the lighter stuff.