I'm finding myself reaching and using my spinning tackle a more these days, not sure why yet. Last tournament all my fish was caught on spinning tackle while flipping a gary yamamoto creature bait with light line.....
What's your thoughts on this, pro's and con's,,,,,,,
Ricky
My go to reel is a Quantum on a 6 6 berkley lightening rod, I'm always throwing a senko and its sensitive and strong...with all of my other baits in my tackle box...seems like I'm forever reaching for that darn senko...and usually wacky rigged to boot...I catch more fish wacky style thant t-rigged
I've noticed a conversion to spinning gear over the last couple of years, on the water and in the fishing forums. Seems as though the bass have been wanting finesse presentations much more during this timeframe. Thus, spinning gear and weightless soft plastics.
I personally have decided to work on slowing down and using more finesse tactics this season.
I like baitcasting because of the torque and power with which I can handle fish....Now for fishing docks, I like a spinning reel b/c of the ability to skip the baits under the docks better.
Catch em up
Brian
Last summer I started using spinning gear more as the summer got hotter and the fish got harder to catch. Have to do more of that this year.
My problem is I just want to catch BIG fish, I have cost myself places in many a tournament throwing a 1/2 ounce jig on 20 lb. test when a 1/8th on 10 would have probably got me a limit. I know that when we go to Cross I am going to spend time under docks with spinning gear.
papa :-[
Over the years I have lost alot of the feeling in my thumbs, so I have a very difficult time with bait casters now.
Because of that I have almost totally converted to spinning gear, with practice, I am able to use my index finger to contoll line feed and increase accuracy.
I beleive that newer spinners are just as good even in bringing in big fish.
Penn is my first choice in reels, then Mitchell, they suit my needs and budget.
Granted I don't cast as many times a year as yall do but I do put them to the test when it comes to salt water use and I have been very happy with spinning gear.
I like the subject and I'm sure with those diehard spinning and those diehard baitcasting outfit users this could become a heated arguement real quick. In my opinion there is a place for each. If your trying to chunk that bait into those hard to reach place some would say that you had better have a trigger on that rod. However other will say that they can be so precise with their spinning outfit they won't need that extra distance. I think its all a matter of how you have been socialized into the fishing world.
I personally carry both and let the fish tell me what they want to see. I'm big on my finesse fishing but occasionally I like flip into the trees and I have more sense of ease if I can muscle em out.
I personally carry both types when I am out. I like having the options and since I use a backpack it is easy to carry my extra rods with me. I actually use one of my old softball backpacks and it has two sleeves on the sides for the bats and I have found that for hiking in and shore fishing this works great for carrying any rods and reels I feel like carrying
We must be on the same page with this fishin' thing. I too use a backpack. Its seems my BPS storage boxes make a great base to support the rods, and also provide ease of use. Do you also use a fanny pack "wader belt" river fishin the smallies? lo lo lo
I keep fishing with my spinning gear while my buddy is taking the bird's nest out of his baitcaster
Sounds to me like your buddy may need a little more practice with that old thing lo lo
Come to think of it fishnchef I DO have a little fanny pack that I carry a little case of flies and panthers in just for those moments that I may get a wild hare and want to try something REALLY different out.. lo lo
That pack serves two fold:
It keeps me from floodin' those waders and it also keeps me from soaking too much of my tackle. After all they only hold so much. And that keeps my tackle from ruining, my time from not having to fix em and my wallet a little more full.
I must agree on the comments both have their place and alot is based on personal preferences.
I wouldn't trade my bait casters for anything, and was a die hard anti spinner kinda guy for a long time.
Now....well.... I am forced to look at it differently I guess... :surrender:
And they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. ;)
Now lets throw another one into the mix....how about those closed in reels like the venerable zebco 33, any opinions? :-\
There is a time and a place for everything under the ~sun
(where did I get so poetic at? :shocking:)
The same reason a golfer carries a bag full of clubs instead of just one is why both are equally important! You could get the job done with 1 club, but not nearly as good as with a veriety of clubs. Same thing with our rods and reels. We could catch some fish on just one, but not as well as if we change our "tools" to match a given situation!
Try throwing a spinnerbait on spinning and watch your line twist all over the place. At the same time, try throwing a weightless wacky worm on baitcasting with 20lb test :shocking: You could technically do it to prove a point, but in all day fishing, your best result would be :'(
I am just a finiky about my spinning gear as baitcasting. I like Pinnacle and Phluegur.
Pferox69,
I use the little Zebco 33 underspin for crappie and bream fishing and they are a blast. ~sun While using light spinning rods 7-9 feet long with the underspin 33 those little guys can put up a great fight.......
Ricky ~an~
I will tell merila that since I don't golf, ~readit says here that I can have 27 rods & reels i the boat....... :roll2: and lets see what she has to say... ~b~ ~str
I personally like enclosed reels for my kids since they are just starting to become Lil' Anglers...less fuss for them.
It would just depend on the sitution I'm facing, hot summertime I keep both in the boat, I can downsize (spinning rod)in clear water or pitch heavy tackle (baitcaster) in the deep grass.
Keep them both and they will come to you....
I agree. Although I tend to use a spinning reel more often. I carry a baitcaster because I like what it gives me when I want to throw certain baits. I love them for jigs, and spinners, and cranks. But for some reason, probably weight of lure and line needed to throw them I like my spinning for texas rigged plastics, small topwater, anytime I am in the creek up to my ~shhh.
WAR
I've used spinning for years, always liked the control and touchy feel to them. I've recently just started using a baitcasting set though, so I'll give you my updated verdict on em' later this season. ~cf
I agree with alot of the replies. Both have their place. But I do use my baitcasters 98 % of the time.
Spinning just because im fairly new fisherman and im only 14. But I bought a quantum energy baitcasting reel and a shimano bastcasting rod 7 foot heavy. So soon baitcasting
I use a spinning reel for some situations, especially in the summer, when the grass is about 3 in from the surface. I like to use the spinning reel to "swim" the 10 and 12 in. Powerworms. Plus i use it whenever I texas-rig worms/lizards.
On the other hand, i take atleast 5 baitcasters. One rigged with a spinnerbait, crankbait/trap, tube, jig, and finally one with a topwater lure. :D
Plus i have a ultralight reel that i keep on the boat. So when i get a craving for some slabs... :-*
I like both, but each one has a different situation i use them in.
Tater
Sounds like we have a pattern here. Glad to see someone else using the "big" powerworms. A lot of the people I fish with think that they are too much. I guess I'll just let them believe that, and they can take the snapshots of me with my fish.
lo lo lo lo lo lo lo
It might be a little ~off~ but yesterday while on the airboat I saw a huge bass suck down a 1 or 2 foot cotton mouth in a boil and slurp.
Reel technology has come a long way too, back when I was a kid a spinning reel that would bring in a hawg was rare and was probably a rich man's salt water reel. Now you can find extremely small spinners that will bring in sharks and 50lb cats. With braided and super lines bigger doesn't always mean better.
I'll agree on each have a use but my Mitchell reels can do what ever I need. for speed it is there in the 300x, same as most bait caster, and I do have one baitcaster for the slop. I can get my line out the same distance that everyone else does so why change what works?
time and a place for both types of rigs...and not only the situation, but the amount of confidence that we picked up the right rig for that situation comes into play.
...but don't anyone even try to insinuate that a spinning reel can't haul a pig out of the slop...I did it for years before I discovered some of the advantages of a baitcasting rig.
if it's workin, don't knock it.
I like to use a 7ft berkley with a tarantula reel, economy package, I use it for bombing scumfrogs and throwing senkos/splitshot lizards and whacky worms. I did bust off 3 fish in Missouri last week, cost me a limit.... broke down and put some spiderwire on that bad boy. >:D
they both have a place in the boat.
Always was partial to Berkley rods...in fact for the most part, I only own 3 brands...Berkley, BPS and Fenwick...with a smattering of Shimano's and Cabela's thrown in.
I am too fish. I like a berkley rod with a shimano reel. Those tarantulas aren't bad STSP2200 for a spinning reel, 8 bb's 5:3:1 gear ratio and only $25 @ Wally World.
I have both because everybody says I need a spinning outfit. I have NEVER put it on a rod. I use a baitcaster exclusively and have never felt the need for the spinning reel.
Spinning for ultralite and finesse fishing works for me while dense cover and snaggy areas baitcasters. Both serve a purpose on the water. I last alot longer with spinning reels, while a baitcaster after casting all day wears out the wrist and arm. Maybe just me...
Nope not just you Dimockcarp, I am the same with you I like the spinning gear for light tackle and finesse fishing. I think the bait caster wears us out faster, more because of the style of fishing it is used in. Heavy cover and a lot of wenching of fish out of this stuff ;)
One more option most forget about is a triggercast, great for smaller bass and crappies in heavy brush. Specially well designed for drop shot around sunken trees. I can get heavier lines and let line out very quickly. Sometimes easier to use in tight situations. Alot of experienced fisher's do not like this setup, but I've found they work rather well, and can be a middle man sorta speak.
It was a painful process learning to fish baitcasters as a kid on my dads garcia reals..but once I learned I will never fish anything else.. I like precision casts and I like Torqe. The baitcaster is my favorite.. I only use spinning on ultralight stuff..
I used to tell a buddy of mine never trust a man with a spinning real we were fishing a couple weeks ago and guy passes us by and he is missing a leg and fishing with a spinning real out of his boat.. The guy said he Just lost the biggest bass he ever seen.. As we moved on I said yup never trust a man with a spinning real then my buddy said.. Shoot You Should REally never trust a one legged man wiht a spinning real... I bou fell out of the boat from laughter..
i use a spinning. i am thinkin about pickin up a baitcast one though! but i heard it is kinda hard to use!
Like i said in my earlier post, i like to use my spinning rig to swim the big worms. I also use it to fish lizards the same way. The reel i use has pulled some big fish from the grass. As far as torque goes, it seems to pull the fish up as good as my other reels. I would like to have a rod with more backbone than the one i have it on.
I agree with Mike on the fatigue factor. I will switch to my spinning reel when i feel like im wearing my arm out. Which it doesn't take much nowadays, (too many sports related injuries).
As of right now, i have the same color lizard on two reels. One on my spinning reel, texas-rigged with a 1/8oz weight. The other is on a baitcaster, weightless t-rigged June-Bug Zoom Lizard.
Tater
Tater, what kind of rod you using on your spinners?
MIne go from medium all the way up to heavy, although the med heavy and heavy seemed to get a little pricie, they are beginning to sell a wider variety of rods for the more money conscious angler now a days tho.
there is no comparison the spinning reels are the ones to take to the dance. There are so many places a baitcast can't reach. with the spinning reel you can hit those spots that are often past by due to the difficulty involved in the cast. And then there is the line size and the finess that you can only get with a spin cast reel......Spinning in Oklahoma...Topcat..... :)
I think it depends on what you are comfortable with, I can not fish as well with spin cast outfits as I can with bait casters. I feel more comfortable with a baitcaster therefore I use it more and do a lot more with it than others would.
I have just started using a baitcaster after being a spinign guy for years. I can see some advantages, but it will take some time to get used to it!
I just switched my worm rod(T-rig and weightless) this year from a old (15 year) bps graphite 6 ft spinning rod with a Mitchel t 30(10 lb power pro line),to a 7 ft bps xps casting rod with a Shamano Curado 200BSF reel(10 lb power pro line) and I love it I get the same distance and accuracy with the added leverage of the bait caster, I carry the old one just in case but haven't had to pick it up yet this year.
I also tried using it with a blade bait for whit bass also but went back to a spinning rod ,while it did work my arm was hurting after a few casts, So they both do have their place.
I tried baitcasting a couple of years ago. After a few backlashes :'(, I threw in the towel :surrender:
After the lost fishing time that morning, I didn't see much the point in baitcasting. Always used spinning before, and since.
people say baitcasters are hard to use at first i was gunna try one but i think i will stick with my spinning :)
What is the trick to casting light weight lures with a baitcaster????
A good super free spool reel, line and rod. The best set-ups I can recommend would be Chronarch SF, Castaic SF with either Power Pro or Stren Magnaflex line. The rods I have good luck with in light lure application have been MH 6' custom from CountryKat, MH 6'6" Falcon Lowrider and BPS Extreme (Woo Daves) spinnerbait rod. These are my recommendations from personal experience.
Left Turn there's no trick just time and practice and a good quality reel. Super free's make it even easier. You must educate the thumb and ears. You'll get use to the sound of a reel with time and judge distance at night by sound.
Quote from: Bassfshr4e on June 09, 2005, 12:11:07 PM
people say baitcasters are hard to use at first i was going to try one but i think i will stick with my spinning :)
Bassfshr4e, I also felt a baitcaster was much harder to cast then my spinning gear. I grew up with a zebco 202 & then on to open-face reels. About 3 years ago I tried my 1st baitcaster & after 2 or 3 hours of nightmarish back lashes & over runs, short casts I reached my boiling point & broke the rod ripping the reel off of it & through the reel as far as I could in the lake! :'( Yes I had a tempertantrum ~bu If that wasn't enough 6 months went by & I did the same thing, yep another ~bu
I kept getting crap from my friends who liked baitcasters because I used open face reels & finally found one that let my try a few of his & showed my how to set it up right. I went out and spent more money then I wanted, but got a good rod & reel. Followed his advice and have been using baitcasters for 95% of my fishing eversense.
It does take some practice to get it down, and over runs still happen but I like the increased casting distance, the fact that my arms are not as wore out after fishing as they once were from using openface reels & the increased hookset & fighting ability with this setup is much better then what I had been using.
When you are ready to try them out, get the best you can afford, set the spool tension so when you engage the release the bait falls to the ground but the reel stops spinning without over-running. Then start out pitching & flipping until you get a good feel with your thumb to help stop the reel before you try side arm or over hand casting. Once you are ready move to side arm & increase you casting distance while letting your thumb rest on the reel spindle to help prevent over runs & then move on to the over hand cast. When casting over hand, unlike spinning gear turn your reel one quarter turn left or right, what ever you feel comfortable with. I cast left handed & turn rod & reel one quarter turn to the right so the reel handle is my leading edge while casting over hand. I'm not sure why but this helps considerable with over hand casts.
Once you get a good comfort level on the above you can start backing off the spool tension, this will increase your casting distance yet again but beware less tension=more casting distance=bigger and more frequent chances for over runs.
If you have any questions or just want to chat about what works for you re-post & let us know how your doing.
P-E-A-C-E-!
Fogy
I would say use what ever your confident and confortable using would be the best thing ~shade
well, you know what. I don't think it makes much difference now days. some of the spinning reels now days are being built pretty darn tough and can handle alot. I think anglers also like the weight of some of the spinning reels altho the baitcasters are pretty light also. And using braided line on the spinning reels also helps. We are doing alot of crappie fishing this time of year here on Fork as it is just too hot to bass fish and I landed a huge bass yesterday fishing with my shimano solstace 2000 and I had sequar 8 lb flurocarbon. What a picnic and we saw the bass jump, i managed to get it to boat and hubby grabbing net, however, we knew a limb right below boat and gosh, under the limb and that was end of show. probably a 20 incher. GRR!
anyway, i feel if you are comfortable with the spinning, then use it. After yesterday, I need to get comfortable with my chronarch again. LOl conniek
I use mostly baitcasters,but I pitch with a spinning reel.It just makes things a lot easier.
i think it all depends on the type of fishing your doing. for lighter lures its normally easier to use a spinning reel so you can cast farther. with heavier to medium weight lures a baitcast reel gives you more control and accuracy. it really comes down to personal preference though.
when i first started getting serious about bass fishing, i only used baitcasters. im fairly new to using artificial bait, so this season i have been practicing my finesse fishing with spinning tackle. Today i caught a nice 3 pounder at North Park Lake here in PA on a bitsy bug finesse jig with a small yum crawbug. I always read that when the water becomes colder, the bass will strike more on a smaller bait, and that is why i chose to get into finesse fishing. now im HOOKED.
I started using baitcasting a lot more this year, and now I have no idea how I wasn't using it more. Everything about baitcasters to me is better, except skipping and really light lures.
I am a fan of the baitcaster....I have been baitcasting for at least 20 years...its just like driving a standard car or truck.....I would rather have a standard....its what I learned on...the same thing with baitcasting/Spinning...... it depends on what you learned on as to what method you prefer and feel most comfortable using.........
Topcat
i recommend learning both spinning and baitcasting. use spinning gear for lighter baits and finesse baits. use baitcasters for everything else. you cannot beat the accuracy of a baitcasting reel.
cya!
I have been predominately using baitcasting gear the last 7 years, fishing the Cal Delta you really have to go with the heavier gear and line, I use spinning gear for light drop shotting instances and crappie/sunfish only. The advances to baitcasting gear have been phenomenal the last ten years, fishing rods have become stronger and lighter, reels with super free have made cast lighter lines and lures so much easier now than ever before. Techniques such as flipping and pitching are performed much more efficiently and effectively with baitcasting gear. Newer lines such as braid and flouro are much better suited to baitcasters than spinning gear IMHO.
Skipping I will leave to spinning gear, however here on the delta most docks float on the water instead of being built over the water, so for the most part that is a mute point. I just wish that it didn't cost so darn much for good quality gear :'(