Bait cast reels

Most of my life I've used open faced reels for fishing. I've noticed on most of the pros use bait cast reels.

What are the advantages and disadvantages to using bait cast reels?

Most of my life I've used open faced reels for fishing. I've noticed on most of the pros use bait cast reels.

What are the advantages and disadvantages to using bait cast reels?

This appeared not too long ago and lots of wild statements and arguments flew back and forth. For me when I am fishing on a boat, I carry a light and heavy in each category: spinning, bait, and fly. It's easier to switch rods than to re-tie or re-rig. So I keep all of them rigged and fish with the most appropriate.

Criteria:

Spinning for far away, light, and light line

Bait for close in, trolling (line twist less of a problem), heavy line, heavy baits, and control. (Hint:Look at the places the bass fishermen are fishing in. HEAVY cover, structure, and snags.)

Fly for things that are too light to cast with either, and extreme control (you can falsecast to make sure before you drop the fly to the water)

Hope this helps

I just noticed the same thing. I was looking through a magazine last night and noticed that most of the hotshots were using baitcasters. However, if you look in a fishing magazine from 1975, you'll see all the pros using spinning reels. Maybe it's 'in fashion' to use baitcasters right now. You see similar things in other sports, like mountain bike racing, where the pros start using something for one reason or another, and then everyone uses it, whether it's good for them or not.

That depends on the person casting.

Ditto. And how many people use 4lb line or 1/8oz lures on a baitcaster?

Well, both my arms are strong. But being right handed, my right hand has more control. That's why I cast my spinning rod right handed, swap hands, then retrieve right handed. When I hook up, my left hand acts as the fulcrum (a few inches above the reel) and I can control the reeling in and drag with my right hand. Plus, I can guide the net onto the fish with the right hand, if need be. Seems very natural to me.

Using a baitcaster

This has been rehashed too many times to mention anyways...

A bird's nest in a baitcaster can be picked out. What do you do with one of those massively knarly line twist line clumps that come off a spinning reel after heavy use?

Feathering vs thumbing? Light-line vs power cable? noodle rods vs pool cues? Bass vs. Trout?

Just go out and have fun. If you aren't co-ordinated enough to fish a baitcaster, just stick to the spinning and spincast reels that were designed for the little girls...

Charles

P.S. In case you missed the smileys, I'm just kidding about the little girl thing. I think spinning reels have their uses, just as do baitcasters and spincasters. But baitcasters are certainly not 'old hack' (whatever the heck that is).

It all depends on what you are fishing for. I prefer muskie fishing to all other kinds, and one almost must use a baitcast outfit to handle the power of these fish. For large bass a baitcast outfit has more power to handle them. For smaller 'bait fish' species I prefer a light spincast, but a spinning outfit works well. Spinning gear can't be beat for certain light applications where sensitivity is required.

Huge fish = baitcast Medium fish = spincast or spinning Small fish = spinning or ultra-light spincast

Hope this helps

Ed in KY

Maybe you need more practice with the bait caster. Tighten the brakes and practice. Personally I don't care what people use. I am not trying to convert anybody. I use them both. I have both right and left hand bait casters, a total of about 9, about 8 spinning reels and some spin cast reels too. A nasty little nest every now and then is normal. Just like line twist with both the spinning reels and spin casters. If you get them often you need to find out why. Some reasons are, cheap rig, to much line on the spool, to little line on the spool, spool to loose for the size bait, casting into the wind without proper thumbing,hitting something and not having your thumb on the reel and just basically not knowing how to use it. They are not for beginners,It takes practice to master a bait caster. I can tell you this, you have more control over the bait with a bait cast reel. I can land a bait where I want it with very little entry splash. Every rig has its time and place. My father-in-law uses a spinning reel to flip but at the expense of control. This I say to you , If you can not use a bait caster then don't. If you don't have the patience to learn, then sell it. Fishing is all about getting out on the water, catching fish and having some good relaxing fun. So what ever it is you need to use to do that then fine use it. Even if its a cane pole with some line tied to the end. As far as the fashion statement. Lets set up some coffee cans and go a dollar a hit. You can use a spinning reel and I will use a bait caster. You will soon see why they are popular among the pros. Bait casters can be used with baits down to a 1/8 oz depending on the reel. If you are having to really rip the live bait off the hook to cast, get rid of the blue light special rod and reel combo that cost you 25 - 30 dollars and buy a good reel for around 70 dollars. A cheaply made bait caster could be your problem, I don't know. Why don't you sit down Saturday morning or Sunday evening and watch the fishing shows . I think you might find both reels are used. Spinning reels are great for fishing grubs or another swimming baits. You can stick your finger down in front of the bail in the line to make the bait pulsate. If you have problems fighting fish using a bait caster then why don't you get one set up for the other hand. I assume that this is what you mean when you use your strong arm to fight a fish with a spinning reel. Are your bait caster and spinning rod set up one left handed and one right? I wouldn't knock either reel . They both have their place on my boat. Use what ever gives you the most pleasurable fishing trip. After all that is what it is all about. Wishing you tight lines and a limit in the live well.

I can do the same with a spinning reel.

I'm just as accurate with my spinning reel as I am with a baitcaster.

Not important to me. At most I'll go through 50 yards of line in a day and I usually re-line before I go out anyway.

How do you mean it's 'easier on the line'?

Well, my rod holders are mounted horizontally on my wall, so the spinning reels actually hang better (instead of upside-down).

And speaking of upside-down, does it bother anyone else to see a little kid use a spinning reel with the reel on top and crank the reel