The Baitcaster

[dhami013]

Before yesterday I viewed the baitcaster as a mechanism of sheer frustration. I've only heard the worst of exploding rat nests appearing in one's hand while casting. But yesterday I finally attempted to conquer this mechanical beast. AND I LOVE IT! Got a Daiwa megaforce with a twitching bar on an abu garcia 7' rod, and catching my first bass with it, which was a solid 3.5#, was exhilarating.

I got set in my ways with the spinning rod, glad I tried something new.

What's your favorite rod and reel combo? For what type of baits?

[Bluebasser86]

My favorite baitcasting combo to fish with is my 6' 2" St. Croix Avid with a Curado 50E. It's so light and easy to fish with and fun to fight fish with. As soon as my new 200e7 curado gets here and I slap it on my 7' 3" LTB I'm sure I'll have a new contender though.

[northern basser]

IMO once a person gets used to a BC, its hard to fish with anything else. For lighter tackle, live bait, and other species, a spinning reel has its place.

[Fat-G]

Dobyns Champion 735c paired with a Citica 200e.

[dulouz]

I felt the same way, I thought "why would anyone want to deal with backlashes?" Once I figured out how to cast a BC I loved it. My favorite combo is a 6'6" Medium/Fast Shimano Clarus with a Citica 201E, or my custom Batson 6'6" Light/Fast with Ctica 201E.

[Vinny Chase]

Wait till you throw a Curado

[L a r r y]

Wait till you throw a Curado

Wait till you throw a Revo

[SausageFingers]

I was hesitant to jump into baitcasters also. Now, I cant get enough.

My favorite setup is my Revo SX/Vendetta. I have an STX on a Vendetta as well.

[Avalonjohn44]

dhami013 - The daiwa megaforce is a good reel to start on, easy to cast and it casts a mile. I learned on the daiwa viento which is basically just a megaforce with more metal parts and that's what sold me on Baitcasters... Now I throw them even more than spinning reels.

My favorite combo is a 7' MH Veritas with a Daiwa Viento reel. I love that rod. Sensitive and powerful and light as heck. I use it for everything - Cranking, Spinnerbaits, Worms, and when it gets warm enough, topwater.

[agssebvtsece]

I love my baitcasters. I got a 3 rod setup I take with me. 2 baitcasters and 1 spinning. I just love fishing with the baitcaster. If it's setup right you shouldn't have any bird's nests.

[Vinny Chase]

Wait till you throw a Revo

It's all personal preference. IMO, the Revo is a smoother casting reel, but the Curado has a little more distance, and also handles lighter baits better.

Again, just my opinion from owning SX's and Curados

[1nstinct]

revo sx/ vendetta(6'9")= amazing

[collegefishing12]

Quantum Reax/ Powell Max 7'2' swimjig rod

[Rippinglips]

Revo sx / vendetta for the win

[bass or bass ?]

I don't use my spinning rigs very much anymore. I enjoy the challenges of bait cast and fly cast equipment and use them about 4 to 1 over spinning gear.

[bass or bass ?]

I don't use my spinning rigs very much anymore. I enjoy the challenges of bait cast and fly cast equipment and use them about 4 to 1 over spinning gear.

[B A S S E R]

only have one spinning combo left now. Started using bc's about 3 years ago now.

[dhami013]

Not that using a bait caster has anything to do with it but since I bought it and started using it, the smallest fish I've caught has been 2#. Pretty gnar

[Flangler]

Wait till you throw a Revo

I love my revo s!

[flippin and pitchin]

Good for you ! The fact you purposed yourself to learn to use a tool and develope your skills will pay off big time. When you go out and have confidence in your casting skills and it becomes second nature, the whole sport becomes so much more enjoyable. The equipment available today is a quantum leap above what I started with. That's awesome. My favorite set up is the one I have in my hand at that given moment.

[new2BC4bass]

I agree with the above poster. Love the one I'm using!

I started using baitcasters last year after a lifetime of using spinning reels. Now I have more BC reels than spinning. I use the spinning only when I have to which is either for light lures, or in tight places where my casting ability keeps me from using a BC reel.

Guess I would have to admit to being partial to my 50th Zillion or a Fuego. I've developed an affinity for MH rods. I like my Airrus Ultra and Zillion Flip and Pitch better than my medium rods or the one light I have. However, Saturday I spent most of my time casting an Alphas ito on a 7' Falcon Expert Medium. Light outfit! :lol:

I'm glad you gave BC reels a chance. It seems you came to love them right away same as I did. Have fun with them!

EDIT: BTW, I bought my grandson a Daiwa Procaster on closeout and mounted it on a Berkley Lightning MH rod on closeout. $47 total. (May have had to pay shipping on the reel.) I bought the reel based on good reviews I read about it from a couple forum members. Used it for practice last week in preparation for Saturday's fishing. It has been cleaned, lubed and had ABEC5 bearings installed. Everything about this el cheapo reel impressed me except for its size, and that wasn't enough to put me off. Casts great and retrieve is really smooth. Didn't try it before the upgrade. Should have so I would have had an idea how much it improved.

Before trying this reel I was sure any reel below $130 couldn't be very good. I believe that is what they call "prejudice". :D

[bman310]

I just made the switch last month to using a baitcasting rod with my brand new Revo STX for throwing Senco's, IKA's, and creatures. I simply love it! After a few hours of getting the STX dialed in and catching some quality bass. I used a Revo S on my cranking rod setup in the past and really liked it, but the STX puts you in a different world. Since I've gotten my Revo STX, I haven't been taking out my Dropshot rod anymore. LOL

Brian

[KC Bass Fanatic]

When I was learning to use a baitcaster back in the stone ages they didn't have all the fancified backlash control features. I was frustrated for a long time as a kid learning. Kind of like learning to drive a stick on your dads old truck. If you could drive that you could drive anything. With the new technologies today the learning curve is so much shorter, which is fantastic for anyone wanting to make the switch.

I fish Revos and sometimes Revos.