worth getting baitcaster?

[joe bag o donuts]

So I've wanted to get a nice high-quality casting reel mainly for the supposed improved accuracy and the faster retrieve rates. I fish mainly with worms with no weight.

So the question is can a baitcaster compare to a spinning reel when it comes to casting super light lures? Am I better of just getting myself a nicer spinning reel?

Hopefully that makes sense. Thanks

[jdw174]

You can cast weightless worms with a baitcaster as well as with spinning tackle..........with the PROPER setup, i.e. rod/line selection.  Also, it will require just a bit of practice to become proficient with that baitcaster

[New Bass Man]

A spinning outfit is better at handling super light lures.  Don't buy a baitcaster thinking you're get better performance with light baits.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Normally I would reply to this title with a "yes" but after reading your applications, absolutely not.  Spinning gear for light, unweighted plastics.

[Catt]

I throw weightless worms with my bait casting reels but one little puff of wind & you'll have a professional overrun  

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

Lots of guys fish light lures, including weightless soft plastics, on baitcasting equipment. I fish both spinning and baitcasting gear, too. BUT, spinning tackle is MUCH more user friendly when making light bait presentations. For me, finesse = spinning tackle; power fishing = baitcasting equipment.

[Guest DavidGreen]

I don't use spinning gear a lot but I just have to go with, New_Bass_Man, L-B-H, and RW on this one, spinning gear for sure on light weight finesse.

Tight Lines All!!

[Triton21]

What ReelMech said X 2.

Keley

[lubina]

I don't use spinning gear a lot but I just have to go with, New_Bass_Man, L-B-H, and RW on this one, spinning gear for sure on light weight finesse.

The same for me.

[MALTESE FALCON]

I LOVE my baitcasters and use them 90% of the time, but if you are just fishing unweighted plastics, you're better off getting a good spinning reel.

Falcon

Oh, by the way, WELCOME.

[Banor]

I am pretty unorthodox so I will have to disagree with everyone.  With the products out there these days there are plenty of baitcasting combos that can handle weightless plastics and light line just as well as spinning.   Now I have to say that I do not own a spinning combo, I've had more frustration with them than I care to admit.  I use 100% baitcasters.  I've fished along side plenty of guys who use spinning though.  I can tell you that I fish weightless senkos and flukes A LOT and I use a lighter combo with a 50MG reel and have zero problems (even in wind) with them.  My weightless rod is spooled with 6 lb Yozuri Hybrid and casts like a dream.  I can chuck those senkos a long way, even in the wind.   If it gets too windy to throw weightless it wont matter what you are throwing them with,  there are alot more productive presentations than a weightless plastic IMHO on very windy days.

I think the days are gone of equating finesse with spinning gear.  This will have to be one of the very few times I disagree with RW  

I will have to agree that for the beginning baitcast user, weightless presentations are not the way to go.  I'd stick with your spinning if that's what you are experienced with.   I think you would be wise to purchase a quality baitcaster and use it for heavier presentations to gain experience.  I think you'll be surprised once you become an avid baitcast user how much you dont miss your spinning gear.  After you get over the professional overruns  ;D

B

[Raul]

It is obvious that none of the nay sayers has ever fished with a Pixy.  :

[sal669]

I would say:

> if the lure/bait weights less than 1/4 oz = spinning outfit

> if the lure weights more than 1/4 o z= baitcaster.  

I know you can handle lighter lures with todays high end reels, but this is my "rule of thumb"

Just my $0.02

[Guest DavidGreen]

Raul,

Why would I want to spend $300 on a single reel (that isn't supported in the US), when I can spend less than half that on a spinning combo (that is supported in the US) to do the same thing.

"You see I don't agree that the difference between a man and a boy is the price of their toys"

Tight Lines All!!!

[Raul]

Cuz the Pixy scores 10 in the blingometer RM.  

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Different strokes for different folks.

Switching to baitcasters exclusively has probably been the single best thing I have done for me. I just plan and simple feel more comfortable in all aspects of fishing with a baitcaster in hand.

About weightless plastics ... they really aren't weightless. You just aren't adding extra weight. I don't know the numbers, but I estimate a 5" Senko weighs around 1/4 oz. I also occasionally throw 1/8 oz jigs, but once again when you add the trailer your approaching that 1/4 oz mark. Those are the lightest baits I throw.

Sure casting into the wind is a little more difficult, but with practice it becomes much easier. For me it's worth it. And as bshaner said, if the wind gets bad enough I can't do it with a baitcaster, I doubt that "weightless" bait would even be effective.

Handling light line?? Got my 50 MG spooled up with 6 lbs test

[roadwarrior]

I am pretty unorthodox so I will have to disagree with everyone. With the products out there these days there are plenty of baitcasting combos that can handle weightless plastics and light line just as well as spinning. Now I have to say that I do not own a spinning combo, I've had more frustration with them than I care to admit. I use 100% baitcasters. I've fished along side plenty of guys who use spinning though. I can tell you that I fish weightless senkos and flukes A LOT and I use a lighter combo with a 50MG reel and have zero problems (even in wind) with them. My weightless rod is spooled with 6 lb Yozuri Hybrid and casts like a dream. I can chuck those senkos a long way, even in the wind. If it gets too windy to throw weightless it wont matter what you are throwing them with, there are alot more productive presentations than a weightless plastic IMHO on very windy days.

I think the days are gone of equating finesse with spinning gear. This will have to be one of the very few times I disagree with RW

I will have to agree that for the beginning baitcast user, weightless presentations are not the way to go. I'd stick with your spinning if that's what you are experienced with. I think you would be wise to purchase a quality baitcaster and use it for heavier presentations to gain experience. I think you'll be surprised once you become an avid baitcast user how much you dont miss your spinning gear. After you get over the professional overruns ;D

B

Wrong...

We have NO disagreement.

For those that have a high preference for baitcasters, own high quality equipment and are VERY skilled, I have the greatest admiration. For the rest of us, spinning tackle is a more reasonable (NOT BETTER) option.

8-)

[joe bag o donuts]

Thanks all for the replies. Looks like I'll be sticking with my ultralight for finessin.

However, I still might pick up a nice baitcasting combo for when I need something like a crankbait or spinnerbait. I'll probably go with a Abu Garcia S or SX, but I have no clue as to picking the right rod. Would my best bet be to go hit BPS and find one that 'feels right'? I'm over 6' if that matters...

Thanks again!

[Red]

i have 2 spinning rigs and 2 baitcast rigs....i havent used my spinning gear in a while now...i really like my C3's and can cast all the baits i carry with me just fine, including weightless plastcis and a 1/4 oz spinnerbait....i have also noticed that i am much more accurate with my baitcasters than i am with my spinning rigs.  my C3's are spooled with 12lb trilene XT.

Cliff

[newbiebassfreak]

if your a spinner raised like me you will hate the baitcast for lightweight. there is no competiionat casting distance or side skipping. if you try to throw near as close with 3/16oz or less backlash heaven is all i can say. i would say a minimum of 1/4 oz and probably 1/2oz lure for learning the jist. there are some heavy plastics though such as senkos and Fat Ika,s which are managable on baitcasters.

[Banor]

Wrong...

We have NO disagreement.

For those that have a high preference for baitcasters, own high quality equipment and are VERY skilled, I have the greatest admiration. For the rest of us, spinning tackle is a more reasonable (NOT BETTER) option.

8-)

Sweet, I dont have to use up one of my few disagreements with RW on this one

B

[Raul]

Wrong...

We have NO disagreement.

For those that have a high preference for baitcasters, own high quality equipment and are VERY skilled, I have the greatest admiration. For the rest of us, spinning tackle is a more reasonable (NOT BETTER) option.

8-)

Ok, blingometer aside, if I remove the baitcasters that allow me to to cast the really itsy bitsy stuff then the remaining baitcasters I would be left with can "cast" the itsy bitsy stuff, I know I can do it with lots of thumb, skill & tinkering with the brake settings, even with that, the results are far from desirable, it 's not worth all the trubble ----> spinning gear will cast them istsy bitsy stuff without all that thumb, skill & tinkering with the brake settings.  

Is it worth getting a baitcaster for that ? not worth it if you are not going to purchase a reel designed for casting itsy bitsy stuff.

[Guest avid]

for the longest time I was obstinate about not using spinning gear.

I have a loomis cr721 paired with daiwa td-z.  This featherweight casting outfit can cast just about any anything.  

I took pride in the fact that I could cast a weightless zoom finesse worm without backlashing (most of the time)

But, after I took my head out of butt and bought a quality spinning outfit, life with finesse worms became much easier.

I still love my little 721, and for split shotting etc, it's the bomb.  but when it comes to weightless finesse fishing spinning gear is really the only way to go.

[DRat]

I like Raul's answer, but I bet you will do better whit a spinng reel.  I like my Stella fb's. ( sinning reel with bling Raul)

[nycgrip]

i have a daiwa fuego,and combined with my kistler helium 2, 7ft, medium fast rod, i can get  3" senko out 30ft, 4" about 50ft with little or no head wind. oh and spiderwire 15pnd test which is 4pnd diameter.