Baitcaster virgin

[fishingkidPA]

I recently got a baitcasting reel. I always used a spinning reel. i fished about 10 times for largemouth with it and always brought my spinning reel too. And i never caught a single thing on my bait caster. I was throwing inline and offset spinners, also some rapalas and frogs, and poppers. Then i would down size with my small trout spinners on my spinning reel and i would get bites and catch some. This was right before fall so where they just not taking big baits or was i doing something wrong? thanks. and any soft plastics you suggest? ive used senkos for smallies when nothin else was workin so i think they will work for largemouth. But any soft plastics i will look into. thanks

[BadKarma42]

Are you asking if you didn't catch any fish because you were using a baitcaster?

[fishingkidPA]

not necessarily, sorry if it mislead you. was i doing something wrong though? i fished it like me spinning reel, maybe it was just my lure selection...

[FL_Sharpshooter]

I sometimes do something similar to what you're doing, except with baits.  I'll use a certain color then switch to something else and wonder why I don't catch anything.  Fact is that I just catch more stuff with my other jig because I use it the most.  If I used both equally, I would probably catch equal fish.  Maybe you're just not using them long enough to give them a chance?  Just a thought.

[JigMe]

not necessarily, sorry if it mislead you. was i doing something wrong though? i fished it like me spinning reel, maybe it was just my lure selection...

I threw pretty much the same thing on baitcaster, as I would on a spinning reel. Reel is not going to affect your chance of catching a fish. The temperature might be too low, the presentation is not there, or need to try a different lure, etc. There is nothing to do with the reel, but it is how you work your lures.

[fishingkidPA]

I sometimes do something similar to what you're doing, except with baits. I'll use a certain color then switch to something else and wonder why I don't catch anything. Fact is that I just catch more stuff with my other jig because I use it the most. If I used both equally, I would probably catch equal fish. Maybe you're just not using them long enough to give them a chance? Just a thought.

thats really good advice, i had never thought of that! from now on when im bass fishing i will just leave my spinning reel at home and really give my other one a chance. and i got a question, i found some of my dads old rapalas. i have 3 floating ones with small lips and some rapala countdowns, they look like the floaters but heaver, still a longer body but thicker. Are they any good?

[MFBAB]

The floating Rapalas are one of my fav baits ever, caught my first bass on one.  The countdowns are great too, I use them almost exclusively for Trout on the White River in Arkansas but never tried them for bass, no reason really.  The CD is just a sinking version of the original, they are great on the river because you can keep it in contact with the bottom (as you drift) where the fish are holding very easily.  Good luck with the baitcaster, you will get some backlashes at first but once you get used to it you will love it.  Line twist will be a thing of the past compared to spinning tackle and you will be able to control your casts infinitely better, especially with the heavier lures

[BassThumb]

What kinda rod are you using for your baitcasting setup?  It will help narrow down which lures to suggest.

Regardless, I would suggest a 3/8 or 1/2 oz. white spinnerbait as the best lure to throw when first learning how to bass fish with a baitcasting tackle.  The lure is easy to cast and somewhat weed and snag resistant, and will catch at least a few bass wherever they exist.

[fishingkidPA]

What kinda rod are you using for your baitcasting setup? It will help narrow down which lures to suggest.

Regardless, I would suggest a 3/8 or 1/2 oz. white spinnerbait as the best lure to throw when first learning how to bass fish with a baitcasting tackle. The lure is easy to cast and somewhat weed and snag resistant, and will catch at least a few bass wherever they exist.

6'6 medium action. and for the white spinnerbait, what kind of  blades should it be, and gold or silver blades.

[BassThumb]

Single gold colorado is a good place to start.  They cast like a bullet because they have less wind resistance than a spinner with tandem blades.

[fishingkidPA]

Single gold colorado is a good place to start. They cast like a bullet because they have less wind resistance than a spinner with tandem blades.

thanks!

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

Took me awhile when i first got my baitcaster to catch something on it for some reason.First fish ever on it was on a frog.Now i have 5 different baitcasting setups lol. After you get good with them you will find you use them a lot more than your spinning reel usually. Couldn't tell you how many fish baitcasting tackle has produced for me now. They're one of the most important assets in this sport .Keep trying.You  should probably just start off with a crankbait or spinnerbait to get your mojo working.Lol the first 10 fish or so i had ever caught on that baitcaster were on topwaters. Now that ive bought more rods and they all have their own purposes, that first set up eventually became my topwater rod lol. May i ask what # test you are using and what type?

[fishingkidPA]

12 fluorcarbon

[Hamby]

Bad choice of line for trying to learn how to use a baitcaster. 10-12lb mono, or 30lb braid would be a lot better. I wouldn't go much higher than 30lb braid because it's a medium power, but any less and you'll have a harder time clearing backlashes.

[fishermantony]

When I started I wouldn't use anything but 30lb braid, mainly because I was scared I couldn't cast with out disaster with the other lines.  That was a good suggestions to start with braid or mono.

[J Francho]

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] J Francho.