Spinning reel or baitcaster?

sigp220.45

sigp220.45

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I'm a lowly, boatless bank fisherman. I grew up on a spinning reel, mostly because as a kid the idea of having to cut short a fishing trip due to a horrific birdsnest tangle on a baitcasting reel was too awful to contemplate.

Now that I am a big boy I am tempted to try a big boy baitcasting reel. I think the main advantage to me would be a longer cast from the bank. If I tangle it up, at least my Dad won't get mad at me. RIP.

What do you real (reel) fishermen use?

I'd ask this on a fishing forum but I don't belong to any and I'm sure its their version of 9mm vs .45 ACP.

If it matters, mostly I catch smallmouth bass.
 
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Over the years I have used both and fished from boat and bank. I prefer the spinning reel as I like the rod in my power hand, and reel from the left hand. For awhile I had a 5001 Ambassador (left hand retrieve handle), but still prefer the spinning. Actually, I prefer Fly fishing, with 4 Wt and 6Wt rods., but when too many trees around the banks I use the spinning, (mostly ultralight).
 
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I prefer level wind (baitcasting) for jigging and trolling, because there's less line twisting. Baitcasting reels also allow you to thumb the spool and control the distance, if you're trying to land you bait near the bank or other structure.

For pure distance, it's tough to beat a good spinning reel.
 
99% of my bass fishing was with a rubber worm on a level wind. I knew one fella that used a spinning real but he liked to throw out small/light weight Mepps spinners on 6 lb. line. It takes awhile to get the hang of them but they're worth a few birds nests here and there.
 
It depends. For me they're different tools for different jobs, but I'm pretty much a bass fisherman, and might have a half-dozen rods and reels on the deck at any one time, with another half dozen in the rod box.

But you mentioned smallmouth and bank fishing, so you're probably going to want to travel light. I'd go with a medium size spinning reel, on a light/medium 6' rod.
 
The horrific bird nest tangles with bait casters have not gone away despite much improved equipment! I still cannot cast well with one. I love them for trolling and bottom fishing but all casting requirements are met with spinning reels. I'm done fighting it.
 
I tried so hard to become a baitcasting fan - tried a few different brands ,but they aren't for me. When I go fishing, I want to fish - not become expert at untangling constant Bird nests. Spinning and spincast reels are all I'll use now.
 
I have a Daiwa "Black Gold" spinner with 10# on a 6' light rod and a larger Diawa BG with 20# test on a 10' surf rod. Pretty much covers all my fishing needs. I bought a boat when I first moved to Fla. I was so glad to be rid of it. Joe
 
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I've always used spinning gear and have no problem with distance casts.
I'm afraid I would rat nest a bait caster too so I stick with what I know.
 
I've fished extensively on both a casual basis as well as 100's of professional tournaments.

The two (2) basis rules I grew up with is this: (A) The lighter the line and the smaller the bait, go with a spinning real. The heavier the line and the heavier the bait, switch to bait casting equipment.

I never fish a 4" worm in 10-25' deep water on anything other that a spinning reel.

Like wise, a one (1) ounce jig in 40 foot of water, has to be fished on a bail casting reel.

Lastly, don't be afraid of back lashes on bail casting reels. Set your rell brake a tad on the tight side. As you get comfortable, slowly loosen the brake. Next, get comfortable with using your thumb as a part of your brake system and in no time, you'll be an expert with a bail casting reel.

Thanks and good luck
 
Since a couple of others have already mentioned it, I can't be accused of initiating mission creep. That said, I prefer to use flies. Once I transitioned from spinning gear, I have seldom gone back.

One of life's great pleasures is being out on our local lake in my float tube, hooking a small mouth bass, and getting towed around. Depending on time of year and consequent water temp, I can hook up on small mouth bass, large mouth bass, and rainbow trout. On the lake I fish subsurface, so I don't see the take. But I know what I have hooked almost immediately from the feel. The small mouth are the toughest scrappers. The trout are the most agile, and most likely to throw my barbless fly.

Of course being a fly fisher, and thus occupying the higher moral ground, I have to be a snobby elitist about it. So when I do go out on a friend's boat using spinning gear, I wear one of those mustache-large nose-horn rim glasses-bushy eyebrows disguises so that no one I know will recognize me and accuse me of angling hypocrisy for straying from the fly. One simply must maintain one's image.

Spinning gear-wise, I still use my old fiberglass rods and a Mitchell 300 or 308 reel, of which I have numerous. I realize newer gear may be better or more efficient, but I always felt that the Mitchells looked the way a spinning reel should look, and that has not changed from my childhood.

There is a parallel there with handguns. To this day I think a SAA with stag grips is the best looking revolver ever, and symbolic of the old west I saw at the Saturday matinees so many years ago. I have several. I never carried a single action on or off duty. DA revolvers and (now) semi-auto pistols are the choices.

But SAAs (and Mitchells) are still the best looking.
 
Fishin styles.

My Fishin started with my dad, when I was very young, and before spinning reels were even thought of.

My setup at the time, and my age, was a tiny Shakespeare reel, mounted on a bamboo pole, with eyes for the line, friction-taped onto it.

The hot setup in our area, at the time was, a Pflueger Supreme, bait casting reel, mounted on a True Temper, square, steel rod. Very few of our local fishermen could afford that deluxe, level wind, reel. The Pflueger Co. was, and still is, located, in Akron, Ohio, 80, or so miles North of our small town. They offered a moderately priced level wind reel, named the Akron. It became my first choice, for many years.

Much later, my two sons and I, unmercifully thrashed your Colorado streams, and surrounding trees for trout, with little success. In some circles, I believe that's called Tree Fishin.

By all means, I'd recommend that you try bait casting, and it's equipment. It's an experience you may not completely enjoy, but you'll certainly never forget. It will possibly increase your, derogatory vocabulary.

My ultimate suggestion; Do it while you can. I know from experience, Sadly All of my Fishin, equipment is sitting unused, as I can no longer go Fishin.
 
My big boy reel was a ABU Garcia Cardinal 152 spinning reel with a graphite ultra light rod and 6 pound test line. We fish for weakfish (sea trout) with a lead head and different colored grubs (throw different colors at them until we find what they want).
 
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Sadly haven't been fishing in years, I always used spinner. My last rod and Reel never was replaced , my niece and husband used it fishing . Some how a goose got tangled in the line and drug it up into a tree.
 
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