Spinning reel or bait caster?

[lostinthewoods]

SOOOOO

Which do you prefer? I usually use a spinning reel as I don't really get along with a bait caster. And by don't realy get along with I meal I have been tempted to throw the blasted thing in the creek and go home.


lost

[scoutinlife]

I use both fishing small to medium rivers I prefer spinning but big lakes or catfishing,musky,Northern Pike I go baitcaster the trick to a baitcaster buy a decent one and use heavy lures. I spent one summer years back and only used a Baitcaster now no problem! That first baitcaster I purchased Wally world cheap combo it's in a lake from a rage fit. ;D

[momo]

For most beginners, I recommend spinning reel over bait casters. Bait caster reels require more skill to use and many amateurs get their lines tangled up in a "birds nest" easily.

[deerhunter1362]

its really just your opion, if I am fishing a popper of something like that, I will use a bait caster but if i am using like a rubber worm or a tube I will use a spinning reel!!! ;)

[Ironclad]

This blog/thread thing dates back to 2007, but Im going to add something here anyway, in case someone reads it again, like I just did.

Best fishing trick My Dear Ol Dad taught me about fishing with a baitcasting reel, so you dont get that danged rats-nest, backlash mess all up in your reel... is to set the tension correctly.

Load up your rig with all the weight it is going to have...swivels,hook, bait,whatever... you're ready to sling it, right? Not yet!! Hold the rod up about 45 degree angle, and loose the button. If it just drops fast and hits the ground fast, then you need more drag set on the drag dial. If it doesnt move at all, then of course you need to loosen the drag dial, until the weight starts to pull it down to earth, slowly. And the best setting is to experiment until, when you let loose the button, is that the thing drifts down NOT slowly, but "just a little restrained", just with a little tension. Hope you know what Im talking about? Too much tension and youre going to constantly be slinging your bait off the hook before it hits the water. Too little tension and youre going to constantly be getting backlash all up in your reel. Experiment with this, until you know how to set that drag dial, and you will learn to love your baitcasting reel, and it will serve you better than those weaker/inferior spinning-reels.

And oh yea, always keep your thumb on the spool at all times with such a delicate tension, such a delicate tension that your wife would be jealous if she knew that you had learned to touch anything that gently!
This will help most of all, in avoiding the rats-nest, backlash mess.
--Ironclad

[backlash]

Can you figure out where my user name came from?:D
I use either now that I finally figured out the bait caster.

[Wyobuckaroo]

Fun, interesting read............

100% of my equipment it spinning reel. Both open and closed face reels.
99.9% of that is parts and pieces that came from garage sales. The kind of rods and reels you would clean up, assemble with a new line for kids to use. Not over $3.oo total invested in a rod, reel, line. If it gets destroyed, no big deal.

I do have some high quality open face equipment. Again garage sale bargains. And one new outfit. This is a LARGE open face reel, and heavy rod, on sale at Wal-Mart, that I use with a steel leader, big bait, for bottom fishing, for things that can pull back with authority. This rig has taken me for a couple "Wisconsin Boat Rides" (1)

Keeps me happy
Enjoy
Wyo

(1) A Wisconsin Boat Ride is where you catch a Northern, Muskie, Cat Fish big enough to require raising the anchor and letting the fish pull the 12' boat and 9 horse motor around the lake a little while before landing it.............

[RobJob]

One told me there's now way someone with a college education can learn to throw a bait caster. At the time I couldn't figure out what he was trying to say. Takes a certain "touch" that's only learned through lots of practice.

Those were some really good pointers by Ironclad.

[chickenfried]

I use a spincast and yes I do get teased sometimes for using a "kids" reel but I don't care. Fishing is supposed to be fun and I like a reel that lets me fish without a lot of trouble.

[bacpacker1513]

Mainly I use spinners. It's what I learned on and still enjoy them. Far and away the best for trolling IMO.
I spent a whole year using nothing but baitcasting and finally, using Iornclads technique figured it out. Even at that it still takes me a little while to refamiliarize my self everytime I use it.
In a SHTF situation I would go spin rig everytime, some thing in a medium action rod and 8lb weight line. That will handle quite a range of fish and situations with the proper drag adjustment.

[JohnNH]

Spinnner 60%. Baitcast 40%.

[Wyobuckaroo]

OK......... Y'all will get a kick out of this........
Spew alert........... Prepare to LYAOROF...........
It was a real sight.

I got this "average" size bait casting outfit at a $1 garage sale. The kind with the thumb button spool release and all the usual stuff.
Nice outfit. Cleaned up nice, and I thought sweet, this will be fun.

Didn't know what to use for line on it. Asked and got the generic side step answer "depends on what you are fishing for" No bloody help there.

I ended up putting a load of 20# mono-filament that I had on hand, put on my 3/8oz casting plug. Got it all ready, looked nice, I thought "this will be fun"

VERY first cast out across the yard it only went about 12' and I had the BIGGEST backlash I have had since I was a kid............. Oh Snap........

Well about 8 tries later, the score is backlash 8 casts 0.
Like was said, how in the world do I work this thing ?????????????

Wyo