Big fish on spinning or casting ?

[Bird]

As I was fishing this morning with my 1st cousin, he was quizzing me with questions after he caught a respectable fish.

If you were fighting a giant Bass would you have more confidence in landing it on a spinning setup or baitcaster ?

I quickly responded - baitcaster due to the drag, smoother. 

Most of my bigger fish have come on casting gear.

What are your thoughts ?

[Pat Brown]

Either?  I have equal confidence with both - it's more about the bait I'm fishing and the depth/cover I'm fishing.

 

I have caught plenty of big fish both ways and both work just fine.

[gim]

Oh I don’t think there’s any doubt I’d rather have a BC in my hands with a big fish on the line than a spinning setup. More power, more control, more likely to land the fish.

 

I use both pretty equally in terms of usage though so I’m just as likely to catch one with either setup.

[LrgmouthShad]

It depends on far more than just the type of rod. The more weight I am using, the less confident I am that I am going to land that fish. It is more leverage for the fish. If I am using treble hooks, I am scared to death. If I am using a rod that I know to be a little less forgiving, I am more nervous. If the line tie blocks the hook point in any way, I am more nervous. 

[WRB]

It seems obvious that a bait casting combo would be preferred but there are other factors to consider using a spinning combo.

The 1st consideration is line and lure size.

Bass anglers use spinning primarily for line under .010D with 2500/3000 size reels and lures weighing less then 1/2 oz., with medium power rods.

However. If the spinning reel is larger 5000/6000 size that can accommodate line .016D and lures over 1 1/2 oz and MH+ power rod, that changes the debate.

The late Bill Murphy “In Pursuit of Giant Bass” often used a custom spinning rod with Cardinal 6 rear drag spinning reel and  15 lb mono line using unweighted live bait like crawdads or stitching plastic worms.

The answer is match the tackle to the goal  of catching giant bass.

Tom

 

[OkobojiEagle]

I have landed several 40"+ musky on finesse baits with 6lb Fireline and medium power spinning gear.  (because I back-reel)

 

oe

[GreenPig]

Either. 

[A-Jay]

Big fish on spinning or casting ?

We've all either done it or heard stories of crazy big catches on both gear.

And while mutants on spinning gear routinely seems more impressive,

it may not be The Best way to Go IMO. 

I believe it's important to define what we're calling "Big Fish".

For me and for the sake of this discussion that would be

LMB over 10 lbs and a SMB over 6 lbs.

This sizes seems to challenge me the most from hookset, through the fight

and hopefully into the net. 

I have only ever landed big LMB on MH & H casting gear armed with at least 20 to 25 lb mono/FC. 

And knowing what I know now, and while I might be able to do it,

I'd never honestly fish for those big mouth beasts on spinning tackle.

It's feels like bringing a knife to a bazooka fight. 

I have also been fortunate enough to land some very respectable

smallmouth bass on both spinning and casting gear.

As @WRB mentioned above, when the tackle is 'matched to the situation', 

both are equally effective in my mind. 

Finally, the biggest challenges for me when landing plus size bass on any gear, 

is to have a plan to land the fish in advance of hooking up and staying PATIENT !

Fish Hard

https://youtu.be/UYTzJHDCdMo?feature=shared&t=882

https://youtu.be/o9xew3tWuuU?feature=shared&t=1014

https://youtu.be/W2jqCf7BVAE?feature=shared&t=18

https://youtu.be/c8ncmrbV3-M?feature=shared&t=615

A-Jay

[BrianMDTX]

It’s an interesting topic. I’ve never seen anyone surf casting with a baitcaster lol. Big spinning reels and stout rods are capable of landing some huge fish. But that’s not really practical for bass fishing. 
 

I want to say I’d have more confidence with a MH or H baitcasting rig in my hands. And yet I’ve caught my two biggest LMB on spinning rigs lol. 

 

[Rockhopper]

I routinely catch large salmon and steelhead on a spinning setup 🤷‍♂️

[Deephaven]

I only use a spinning reel for presentations that won't work so well on a baitcaster.  Would rather be everything if I could.  Large or small fish I would rather use one 

[GRiver]

First I’ve got to get them to take my bait….. ether baitcasters or spinning rig, heck I’ll hand pull them in, f I have too..

[Reel]

A lot of people use modern spinning tackle to catch 300 pound tuna, so for me, there is no difference if you have the right equipment.

[Woody B]

The old saying "it's not the arrow, it's the indian"  comes to mind.  

Me and spinning gear are like oil and water.  We just don't get along.  Others are the opposite.  

[MN Fisher]

Either, but I'm still more 'fluid' with spinning gear having over a decade more experience with that than casting gear.

 

My PBs (listed in my sig) were all caught on spinning gear.

[Tennessee Boy]

My PB was caught on a 4000 spinning reel with 16# mono.   As others have pointed out, truly big fish (over 100 lbs) are caught on both.  There are no big bass.  They just seem big because we use light tackle to catch them.

[Dwight Hottle]

I have caught 7lb+ smallmouth on both spinning & casting gear. I’m comfortable using either one especially considering the only obstruction I have to deal with is the bottom because I’m fishing deeper open water. The only reason I choose casting gear is because of greater line capacity. But for largemouth I prefer casting gear because of the cover you have to deal with. As others have mentioned you have to match the overall tackle to the fisherie &  conditions. I do use mostly all medium heavy moderate or MH fast action rods for both species except for heavy action rods for largemouth when needed. 

[jbmaine]

Whatever you are most comfortable with gives you the best chance to catch fish with, big, medium, or small. I only use spinning and have had no trouble in the salt bringing in stripers, blues, sharks, what ever. 

[Craig P]

Either, doesn’t matter but I do feel like fish feel bigger when using a baitcaster.

[nso123]

For confidence, baitcaster is probably my choice. In reality, they are both plenty capable.  To me it comes down to having the drag adjusted and patience, but there is just a feeling that you can really “horse” one with the baitcaster. 

[Mike L]

Baitcaster 100% of time

 

I only keep a spinning outfit around for the kids 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[scaleface]

I only take one spinning rod  for lighter lines and lures. I would much rather hook  a big bass on   baitcasters. If I had heavier spinning equipment it probably would not matter much.

[J Francho]

I caught a 6' mako shark on spinning gear, so my take is as long as the gear matches the bait and the quarry, it doesn't matter. 

[Jar11591]

If all else is equal, casting, easily. 

[Bankc]

Definitely baitcaster.  They tend to be simpler, stronger, smoother, and just better made reels. 

However, having said that, pretty much any decent spinning reel is fully capable of reeling in a bass.  So I wouldn't have any worries.  Maybe a 30lbs striped bass would change my mind.  Maybe.  A 100lbs paddlefish, flathead or blue catfish, or one of those 200+ lbs alligator gars definitely would.  But I've never caught anything like that.  So nothing I've caught in the lakes near me have ever given me a reason to want to avoid a spinning reel.