I never use baitcasting reels

[Captain Phil]

Being older myself, I have experienced the adverse effects of arthritis on my fishing.  I am right handed. When using a spinning outfit, I cast and crank by holding the rod with my right hand.  After some time my right hand gets fatigued and I start to get cramps.   I do not experience this with a casting outfit because I change hands after each cast.   I cast with my right hand then hold the rod with my left on the retrieve.   This balances the pressure on both hands instead of one.  Modern rods and reels are also much lighter which also helps.  When you are young, you don't think about these things. Some day you will. ?

[33oldtimer]

Yep, you get more aches and pains everywhere when you get old I think it helps me that I have used both spinning and spincasting reels from a young age. I reel in fish with my right hand with a spincasting outfit, but I reel a spinning outfit with my left hand and often switch back and forth between spinning and spincasting on the same fishing trip. It seems natural to me switching hands for each type.

[gim]

16 hours ago, optimator said:

Use what you like man. I’m primarily a baitcaster but I don’t think I’d catch any less fish with straight spinning either. 

I would. Certain applications require the wenching power of a BC and spinning doesn’t have that.  Less efficiency = less fish.

[BrianMDTX]

Use both. Like both. 
 

I mainly use spinning for wacky rigs, weightless Texas rigs and jerkbaits. But I fish those presentations a lot. I can skip a Senko a long way with my spinning rigs. 
 

Braid-to-leader was a game-changer to me for spinning. No more coils of mono coming off the spool. 

[optimator]

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I would. Certain applications require the wenching power of a BC and spinning doesn’t have that.  Less efficiency = less fish.

I didn’t say it would be easy. Or the gear would fit as well. But if I had to I could. But I don’t want to. 

[gim]

3 minutes ago, optimator said:

But I don’t want to

Neither do I.

[ironbjorn]

Years ago I watched Lake Fork Guy's wife (before the Googan stuff) fish a frog in heavy weeds on spinning tackle. She actually hooked up and landed them, weeds and all.

[33oldtimer]

I just started throwing top water frogs. I'm using a size 4000 spinning reel on a 7' heavy rod. I could pull in just about anything with that, at least it feels like it

[Koz]

On 5/21/2023 at 10:49 AM, Hulkster said:

Ive never used a DC reel but apparently they can be really good for either beginners or people that struggle with mastering baitcasting reels. might be worth a look. 

 I have a couple of Curado DC's and they are great for night fishing on my kayak in pitch black conditions just in case I don't thumb the spool in time.

[Ben77]

I started fishing spinning reels and loved them and still do but the last few years I ventured into baitcasting reels and I think the world of them. Just make sure you get the right one dial them in and have some fun!

[DaubsNU1]

On 5/21/2023 at 10:33 AM, Captain Phil said:

Being older myself, I have experienced the adverse effects of arthritis on my fishing.  I am right handed. When using a spinning outfit, I cast and crank by holding the rod with my right hand.  After some time my right hand gets fatigued and I start to get cramps.   I do not experience this with a casting outfit because I change hands after each cast.   I cast with my right hand then hold the rod with my left on the retrieve.   This balances the pressure on both hands instead of one.  Modern rods and reels are also much lighter which also helps.  When you are young, you don't think about these things. Some day you will. ?

 

Great point! I am left handed, and learned to fish holding a spinning rod in my right hand, and reeling with the left (I think that's all they had back in the day).

 

Got my first casting rod and reel, and they were set up opposite...casting with my left hand, reeling with the right.

 

This works really well as I get older....when one arm gets tired, I switch from casting to spinning.

 

I really hated casting rods when spooled with mono. When braid came out, and I managed to figure things out (i.e., less back-lashes), it was a game changer. Then found myself not liking how mono handled on a spinning rod....

 

Then I found this site, and spooled up my spinning rods with 10lb. bright yellow braid, to a fluoro leader. Again, game changer! 

 

My boat holds 6 rods...I normally take three casting rods, and three spinning rods. Covers all my needs!

 

 

[Bigassbass]

I love spinning rods and I use them all the time.  I have lots of sizes and lots of different rods to use from UL to Heavy.  I have one bait caster and I can throw it ok but honestly it's not easy to use, not my favorite so I rarely take it fishing.  If I was a carp or catfish catcher then I would use my bait caster for that kind of fishing.  Catching a bass on a med 7' rod with a bait caster ain't much to feeling the fish or even playing it in, more like catching a fish on a winch.  Salt water striper fishing is also what baitcasters were made for.  IMO

[fishingotaku]

Initially, for me, I like my spinning setup to throw finesse gear. I noticed I would use my spinning setup over my bait caster probably 90% of the time out on the water. It is a lot easier to cast. Though recently, I decided to try out BFS on a bait caster and I was hooked. I ended up purchasing a P5 Criffhanger paired with an Aldebaran. I cannot get enough of it. My spinning setup is a Whipsnake paired with a Lew's Pro spinning reel.

[Cbump]

18 hours ago, Bigassbass said:

I love spinning rods and I use them all the time.  I have lots of sizes and lots of different rods to use from UL to Heavy.  I have one bait caster and I can throw it ok but honestly it's not easy to use, not my favorite so I rarely take it fishing.  If I was a carp or catfish catcher then I would use my bait caster for that kind of fishing.  Catching a bass on a med 7' rod with a bait caster ain't much to feeling the fish or even playing it in, more like catching a fish on a winch.  Salt water striper fishing is also what baitcasters were made for.  IMO

?

[CrashVector]

I use mostly spinning reels, but I started fishing on spincasters.

 

I DO use baitcasters, but honestly, it's whatever you're comfortable with.

[bp_fowler]

I have mixed feelings about it.  Last year when I started out all I had was a $50 Walmart spinning combo.  Still caught fish.  Not a lot of fish, or very big fish.  This year I bought my first baitcaster as well as an upgraded spinning set up.  The reason being the old saying big baits catch big fish.  And if you want to throw big baits you need a baitcaster right?  It’s proven to be true in my case so far this year.   I’ve probably caught 80% of my fish on spinning gear, but all of my bigger fish were on the baitcaster.  However “big baits” is a relative term and since the waters I’m fishing are mostly clear and pressured so what I think is big reasonably could be handled by somewhat higher end  spinning setup.  That being said I’m still trying to learn the art of pitching and flipping jigs. I’m having a ton of fun doing so and for that reason alone I’ll probably always have at least one baitcaster in my arsenal.

[gim]

22 hours ago, Bigassbass said:

Catching a bass on a med 7' rod with a bait caster ain't much to feeling the fish or even playing it in, more like catching a fish on a winch

That’s the point. I’m not necessarily interested in giving the fish a chance to get off, so a wench is what I want. Especially around cover like weeds, docks, timber, etc I horse that fish out of the obstacles as quick as I can so it can’t wrap around something or get off. Once it gets into more open water, then it’s not such an issue.

[Motoboss]

On 5/27/2023 at 11:19 AM, Bigassbass said:

I love spinning rods and I use them all the time.  I have lots of sizes and lots of different rods to use from UL to Heavy.  I have one bait caster and I can throw it ok but honestly it's not easy to use, not my favorite so I rarely take it fishing.  If I was a carp or catfish catcher then I would use my bait caster for that kind of fishing.  Catching a bass on a med 7' rod with a bait caster ain't much to feeling the fish or even playing it in, more like catching a fish on a winch.  Salt water striper fishing is also what baitcasters were made for.  IMO

Your using the wrong bait-caster set up.

All my bait-caster outfits are every bit as sensitive as my spinning outfits.

Pair the right reel with the correct rod and you’ll find great feel as well as improved methods and presentations over spinning gear.

Try BFS and you’ll be amazed!

[haggard]

On 5/20/2023 at 8:01 PM, 33oldtimer said:

Wondering if I'm the only one who gets by without baitcasting reels?

 

No. While I prefer baitcasters for most applications, there's not much a spinning setup can't do.

 

[PaulVE64]

I've never used a baitcaster. I fish for river smallies and prefer a long fight on a windy day.