Spinning gets the nod

[Zcoker]

I have minimal to no backlash when using heavier braid 50#PP on all my Daiwa baitcasters. In fact, I cannot remember the last backlash with the 50 braid...and that's casting mainly in the dark all night out in the everglades. I did have backlash with 40# braid and under. The thinner braids would sometimes backlash so bad, making the reels useless. Aside from that, I try to hate baitcasters lol Spinning is a carry over from my salty side of life. I'm just so used to casting those and some of my setups were perfect for freshwater. So I use both. Rods can make a difference. I think. I find myself using my baitcasters more and more ever since I got some nice rods like Dobyns Champion line. Seems to cast/load the line even better or maybe it's just imagination lol All in all, the heavier braid is the ticket, imho. 

[DaubsNU1]

I've been running Shimano bait-casters since the early 1990's. Hated them with mono, lots of back-lashes and birds nests....then switched to Fenwick Iron Thread braid.  Game. Changer!

 

I'm still running the same old bait-casters, two Curado's and two Citca's...they are all spooled with 20lb Power Pro green braid.

 

Keep trying...once you get the reels set up right, you will be back-lash free.

 

[N Florida Mike]

I didn’t know anything about baitcasters when I bought my first ambassador back in the day. I put 12 pound stren on it, and went out in the lake , anchored, and kept throwing it with the wind until I could do it without a problem. The whole key for me was feathering it with my thumb. I never adjusted it on the inside( which is a good thing to do), but did fine tune it with the settings on the outside . After a half hour or so , I basically had it…

[SpinLight]

I haven't owned a baitcasting reel for about 60 years. Use what works for you and enjoy it. Since I don't fish in tournaments anymore and don't fish around a lot of heavy grass, pads or timber, I rarely ever use lines heavier than 10 lb. test. Most of the time, I use 6 lb. test or less. I don't throw heavy lures except for topwaters.

 

Since my primary lake is a spotted bass lake, I enjoy catching spots on high-quality light and ultralight tackle. They do break me off in cover sometimes, but they are a blast on light tackle. Occasional hybrids and stripers are fun. I haven't been spooled yet in freshwater. Saltwater is another story!

[Bankbeater]

In the spring I use baitcasters exclusively.  As the water warms up after the spawn I switch over to spinning tackle.  By July I am using baitcasters for jigs, Texas rigs, and maybe some punching.  Everything else is done with spinning tackle.

[Eric 26]

@ScottW I’m not trying to sell you on any brand baitcast reel but I will agree with those saying get a better reel. I currently have a budget priced KK and had a budget priced Piscifun which was a pain keeping adjusted. If you have a local shop see if they’ll take it as a trade in, if not sell it online and stick to one of the many budget friendly reels in the $99-$120 price range or even cheaper on this sites flea market page. Lastly I will suggest seeking any and all tutorials (including here) on setting up and casting a bait caster until you find the one that you best understand and practice.

[WRB]

I use both spinning and bait casting with success. I hate braid and FC line but use both at specific conditions.

.010 diameter is my deportation point, larger it’s bait casting and smaller it’s spinning.

The Braid I prefer floats and cuts through aquatic vegetation, the only reason to use it.

FC sinks with lower coefficient of line drag, good for bottom contact lures but...lower knot strength then mono. Can’t see any reason to use braid with FC leader.

Mono over .010D casting reels I use Sunline Defier Armilo Nylon. 

Under .010D spinning I use Maxima 5# Copoly line.

Tom

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Fishing is supposed to be fun. If mastering bait cast tackle is taking from the experience by all means move on with what you know and enjoy. For anyone reading that’s considering trying casting reels I strongly encourage you to do so. 

[JGD]

I have surfed this forum for sometime and rarely post. Started fishing in the early 70’s with a cane pole then quickly to a spin cast which I hated. Thought spinning and casting reels were for grown ups. Got my first spinning outfit a few years later, a Mitchell 300. Fast forward 40+ years and still use spinning gear. Saw no reason to change. In the last several years I mainly target the bigger bass in my area and to that end find my inshore rig works very well. I still use a lighter outfit but rather use the heavy one. At my age I’ll probably never pick up a casting reel. What’s that saying…what you don’t know won’t hurt you. Or maybe it can.

 

John

[Striper9]

Both baitcasting and spinning are both just tools in my arsenal. Use what works for you. You can do a lot with a medium powered spinning rod

[QED]

6 hours ago, JGD said:

I have surfed this forum for sometime and rarely post. Started fishing in the early 70’s with a cane pole then quickly to a spin cast which I hated. Thought spinning and casting reels were for grown ups. Got my first spinning outfit a few years later, a Mitchell 300. Fast forward 40+ years and still use spinning gear. Saw no reason to change. In the last several years I mainly target the bigger bass in my area and to that end find my inshore rig works very well. I still use a lighter outfit but rather use the heavy one. At my age I’ll probably never pick up a casting reel. [stuff deleted]

Shimano 30 Size BFS reel is about 4.6oz - super light and super smooth.  Stick with BFS for casting!