Do You Use Only Baitcasters Or Spinning Or Both

[Steve Ross]

Im trying to get all my rod and reels setup with lures for my boat and trying to figure out what lures are best worked with a spinning reel vs. a baitcaster.

Im just getting used to using baitcasters so looking for some input from those with experience.

At first I told myself I would never use baitcasters since Im so used to spinners but after learning how to use one I really like em.

Do any of you here use only one or the other or mix them up for certain lures?

[islandbass]

I just love how this subject appears every once in a while.

I can tell you you will get replies from all three camps

Those who:

1) Use Casting reels exclusively

2) Use Spinning reels exclusively

3) Use both Casting and Spinning reels.

I am in category 3.

While both reel types can perform adequately for a variety of applications, there will be a few in which one might excel over the other.

Spinning reels make things more convenient for the angler when dealing with lures that weigh about 3/16 oz and less and if you are using line from 6# test and less. One thing I love about spinning reels is their ability to effortlessly enable you to drop a bait vertically without having to manually strip line off the reel (with lighter weights). I don't know why, but it is a personal peeve to have to do that.

This doesn't mean you can't use a casting reel, but you might not have a lot of fun throwing a 1/16oz rooster tail with 4# mono-filament.

Casting reels excel with heavier weights (although there isn't much a spinning reel couldn't cast either) and heavier lines. Another special case I prefer casting reels is when dealing with current. I just love the convenience of a casting rod because I don't have to deal with a bail to make drifting line out with an open bail.

If anything, it would behoove an angler to be skilled in using both.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to reel choice. You have the crowd who would "never" ever use a spinning reel and vice versa. That's cool, that how they prefer to fish.

[Big Al23]

I use both. I just switched from a baitcaster to spinning for jig fishing, not because of the reel but because of the rod. I have a 6'6" Avid MH spinning that I decided to try a jig on. Well, the first day I was really sticking the jig in the bass. When using my Dobyns 683C casting setup I was not getting the hookset and losing fish. So, sometimes it is the rod you will feel comfortable with. When fishing moving baits, cranks and s/b's, I like the control of a baitcaster. If you try both, I think you'll agree a baitcaster is the way to go. I use spinning for small plastics, senkos, grubs, tubes and any weightless plastics I may put on. Topwater baits usually go on my baitcaster but sometimes I'll use a spinning setup with a lighter bait like a Rebel Pop R.

[jeb2]

I use both, but mostly BC's. Of the 10-12 rods on the deck, usually 2 are spinners. I use spinners mostly for drop shots or very light baits like small poppers.

[clayton86]

I use both but mostly casting gear my spinning rod is usually got light finnese baits on it or a tube. Last year I never used my spinning setups this year I'm finding my self using it more and more and plan on getting a few more spinning set ups for drop shoting and shakey heads

[Goose52]

Both.

In addition to the reasons listed above for using one system or the other, I'll add wind and darkness. Occasionally, I'll have to cast directly into a stiff wind and I'll usually get more distance, with fewer problems, with spinning over baitcasting. At night, I usually tend to use spinning rather than BC - when you can't see the bait hit the water, you don't know when to stop the spool on BC. You can somewhat do it by listening for the sound of the BC spool decelerating...but you just have fewer problems with spinning gear.

BUT, regardless of the technical reasons of why you would use one system over the other, I use what I feel like using. I like variety and using different gear and use of rods/reels can change on a whim, rather than what system has a 3.651% efficiency advantage over the other...

EDIT: I just thought of another condition when I favor spinning over baitcasting. Winter - at near freezing (or sub-freezing) air temperatures. The old "educated thumb" gets dumb quick when it's got one or two pairs of gloves on and/or is practically frozen - makes it a bit hard to control the BC reel. Also, spinning rods tend to have somewhat larger guides that take longer to "ice-up" than BC rods - you might get a few extra casts out of the spinning rod before you have to dunk the rod in the water to melt the ice.

[j.bruno]

Both have there places on my boat.

[K_Mac]

There are some who use one or the other exclusively. Like most, I use both.

Before super lines, line diameter was a limiting factor for spinning gear. Now with braid that no longer is the case. I still use spinning only for light weight/line presentations. That would include a shakyhead, drop shot, #5 Shad Rap or a floating Rapala among others, which makes spinning an important part of my bass fishing.

I prefer baitcast for most baits. I am not a fan of braid and baitcast allows heavier line and just suits me better.

It really comes down to preference. Use a baitcast rod and reel made for light line/lures and you can throw anything I normally throw using spinning. Use a heavy rod and braid, and you can punch heavy mats just fine with spinning gear.

[Red]

Only Baitcasters for me. I think that if I fished drop shot, or weightless wacky worms, or anything like that I would use a spinning reel, but I just don't throw that stuff. I will throw a weightless fluke every now and then but I have no problems casting it on one of my BC rigs.

Cliff

[Maxximus Redneckus]

both for me been fishing 30 + years and always have both

[endless]

Both here as well. I have 3 spinning and 4 casting.

Casting

7'M-MF Crucial. Curado 200E5, 10# Trilene flouro -Cranks

7'6 H-F E21 Carrotstix, Browning Citori, 50# Sufix 832- Frogs

6'6 MH-F PQ, PQ, 50# PowerPro- Jigs

7' MH-F Carbonlite, Carbonlite, 15# P-line CXX- C-rigs and topwater walking baits.

Spinning

7' M-F Browning Citori, Pflueger President XT, 10# Sufix flouro- Chatterbaits,Spinners

6'8 M-XF Carbonlite, Pflueger Supreme, 10# XPS CarbonGold flouro- Shaky

6'6 M GanderMountain Tournament combo, 10# Trilene flouro- Wacky

[The Rooster]

Both. I switch off based mostly on what rod/reel will effectively present the bait the best, but sometimes it's for no other reason than my hand just got tired holding the rod in one position and the other will allow it to rest. Also I cast baitcast right handed while spinning is left, so if my casting arm gets tired, then I switch. And like Goose said, sometimes it's just a whim. I'm a tackle junkie, so I get both just cause I like both.

[SirSnookalot]

I can see the desire to use b/c for catching bass, however it has little interest for me. I avoid the conditions as much as possible where I need a rod with more backbone to pull fish out timber or vegetation. I do own 1 b/c, Avet mxj for drifting and trolling, for offshore fishing, the same size rod has more backbone than my spinning but I do not like the way the reel twists on top with larger fish. I use spinning 100% of the time for all my freshwater and inshore saltwater fishing.

Where I fish spinning has the popularity, probably 100-1, last guy I saw with b/c was Bassn Blvd., I don't see more than 2 or 3 bait casters in an entire year of fishing.

[ww2farmer]

Both.

[jignfule]

I gotta have both. I fish a variety of ways and can't imagine using just one or the other exclusively.

[Diablos]

I fish 7 rods. 5 baitcasters and 2 spinning rods

I use the 2 spins for most weightless and lightweight soft plastic applications.

My 5 baitcasters are set up for: swimjig, pitchin/flippin, topwater, crankbait, carolina rig

[BassinMidWest]

Baitcasters are great for anything heavy enough to throw on em. Jigs, texas rigs, c-rigs, spinnerbaits, top waters, cranks, jerkabtis, etc.

I use spinning rods only when I have to. Light rigs such as shaky heads, drop shots, and split shots rigs are better suited on a spinning rod.

[Steve Ross]

Great replies you all...thanks for the input

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I can see the desire to use b/c for catching bass, however it has little interest for me. I avoid the conditions as much as possible where I need a rod with more backbone to pull fish out timber or vegetation. I do own 1 b/c, Avet mxj for drifting and trolling, for offshore fishing, the same size rod has more backbone than my spinning but I do not like the way the reel twists on top with larger fish. I use spinning 100% of the time for all my freshwater and inshore saltwater fishing.

Where I fish spinning has the popularity, probably 100-1, last guy I saw with b/c was Bassn Blvd., I don't see more than 2 or 3 bait casters in an entire year of fishing.

"....I do not like the way the reel twists on top with larger fish."

A spiral wrapped rod eliminates this problem. You get the best of both worlds.

[SirSnookalot]

"....I do not like the way the reel twists on top with larger fish."

A spiral wrapped rod eliminates this problem. You get the best of both worlds.

I worded that wrong. I meant the entire rod turns and twists as the fish is fighting, hard to hold it steady

[Sam]

Steve, you use both, depending on the technique you are using.

I flip and pitch with both;throw Senkos with both; shaky head with both; drop shot with both; and the list goes on and on depending on the size of the bait and the techinque I want to use.

Just match up the line test and bait weight with the rod specifications and go out and experiment.

That is the fun of bass fishing.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Spinning, bait casting and even fly fishing tackle each have their time and place in bass fishing. Each is capable of a certain level of flexibility but none can do it all. The individual has to decide if they have enough flexibility to suit there personal needs.

[Darren.]

For me it is about 90% spinning, 10% baitcasting.

My bread-n-butter spinning outfits:

Shimano Compre 6'3" M/xfast with a Shimano Stradic 1000FI

Shimano Compre 5'9" M/xfast same reel as above.

Both spooled with 10lb yellow PowerPro, and a variety of leader material, from mono to copoly to fluoro. I just love the smaller size reel. Have hauled in bass in the 6 lb range with no issues whatsoever!

I kayak fish most of the time now, and I prefer the shorter rods, and spinning (for me) is by far easier to work with when in a sitting position. I will use baitcasting gear occasionally, but seems less and less now-a-days.

To each his/her own as for preference. Heck, when I do dock fish I've been known to break out my graphite and fiberglass long poles (from 10' to 20') and float fish! Talk about fun. No reel, just a length of line. Lift and net, no simpler than that!

[northern basser]

Mostly bc, but spinning gear definitely has its place. Light baits, tight spots(shore fishing with thick trees and brush on shore), skipping under docks and drop shot rigs would be some of the situations were spinning gear excells.

[endless]

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