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Thinking about switching from spinning reels to bait casting reels. Do any of you that have used both have an opinion you would like to share? Also looking for opinion on a good bait casting reel if I do decide to switch? Must have a thumb bar and want as small as possible. Thanks in advance for your feedback!
How are you fishing? If your spider rigging you just need a reel that will hold line in my opinion. I use spinning and/or bale casters some may call. On your question I prefer spinning reels for longlining and bait casters w/line counters for pulling cranks. Almost any one reel can do it all. Just ease of operation with method if that makes sense.
Zebco 202. You can buy a whole bucket full for 100 bucks.
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Go to MS page on this site. Click on the Trolling 101 Sticky at Top. Go to page 154 I think. I just ordered 4 more an they are good reels.
I have used bait casters for years . I use quantum ultrex series I have them on my spiderrig rods and also on my power trolling rods .
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Thanks for the feedback guys..
If you're just tight lining and looking to avoid line twist, maybe a straight line reel would fit the bill. Inexpensive, drag line off easily for adding depth and very, very light and narrow for stacking on the boat carrier rack. I was skeptical trying a couple, but its all I use now just for tight lining.
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if you fish by yourself much you for sure want thump bar bait casters...i also use them pulling cranks with my line marked.
I've used both, but I must say that I prefer baitcast reels w/thumbars on my longer rods (>10ft long). Some I have are old Bass reels I still had & some are used reels I bought off the Personal Classifieds forum. Even if I hadn't had some lying around, or purchased any from the Classifieds forum, I still could have gone to a local bait/tackle store & purchased used reels from their consignment shelf.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cardsfan55
They aren't the smallest/lightest reels on the market, but their price was good and they do the job. They're not even the same brand, though they are roughly the same size & weight. They're all on 14' rods, and I've adjusted to using these outfits with little effort.
My point is ... like some others replied -- if they're specific to "Spider Rigging", they don't have to be the latest/greatest, & they don't all have to be of the same brand/style. Their main purpose is to hold enough line to do the job, and have a decent drag system for those times when a larger fish is hooked. The baitcast reels w/thumbars are heavier (for the most part), but they do offer less line twist problems & make for easier landing of a fish when using a long rod & fishing shallow. Although, my friends that use spinning reels for Spider Rigging usually just leave the drags loose enough on their reels, to where they can hand strip line off the reel to land a fish in the "long rod / short line" situation. The looser drags also help when a larger fish is hooked.
Now, understand that I only have 3 long rods, and I don't actually "Spider Rig" ... but, mostly "push" jigs/cranks. And I'm still in the fledgling stage of that, but the only real difference in the two methods that I've experienced is the speed of the boat ... not the rods/reels.
I've used both in my fishing career. I currently use bait casters, but most people still use spinners. I think the reason is they like the eyes on the rod facing down instead of up with the bait casters. I see no difference in performance. I like the thump bar on the bait casters when letting out line in shallow water. A flipping switch model would be a plus for this as it will re engage the reel when the flipping switch is released.
Most say the reel only needs to hold line when spider rigging. Not really true. Buy good reels. They don't break and will give you years of service. Cheap reels break and you wind up buying good ones to replace the junk.
BRM
One more note. I use left handed bait casters. I grab my rod with my right hand and when I hit the thumb bar, I can re engage the reel with my left hand and not take the time to switch hands with the rod. It's more like a spinner that way with the handle on the left. It works well for me. If you grab your pole with your left hand, you will want a right handed reel. I was told this when I bought my first bait casters from Grizzly Jig, and it has been good advice for me.
BRM
BRM I borrowed a left hand bait caster from a friend and tried it and since I grabsolutely the rods with my left hand it wasn't ideal. I totally agree with you about buying junk reels. The spinning reels I have are all the time having a screw come loose or something so I am going to replace them and think I will buy bait casters.
In my mind baitcasters always seemed like more sense....but I went with spin cast. And I feel like I made the wrong decision. In the spring when fishind in shallow water you can set the hoom, press the button to release the line with your thumb on the spool, point the pole in the air while adjusting tension on the spool with your thumb, all in one motion really. And that will get the fish closer to the boat WITH ONE HAND so you can use the net with the other hand....if needed. Try doing that with a spin cast. Wont happen. But u can strip the line off them but that takes 2 hands. So who gonna net the fish when your alone?
Thumb bar bait casters and like BRM said if you can find them with the flipping switch it's that much better. I have about 30 of them without the flipping switch. From cheap Shakespeare Alphas to high dollar shimano. They all work. Main thing is a decent drag and I find most bait casters the drag out performs most spinning reel drag's. And like BRM again, I see no difference in eyes up or down on detecting bites.
Now if you guys would all pitch in... and get me 8 of these, I would be forever indebted to you all. Armed with a quality 10 lb test or braid you now have a quality light weight bait caster line counter ready for spider rigging or trolling on a moments notice. I have fished with these with One of the best trollers I know who uses these, and they are the Cats Meow no doubt :biggrin
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I went just the opposite. I was using baitcasters and switched to spinning reels. I like the spinning reels better. I loosened the drag so that I can pull line off the reel as I need it.
Brm said buy quality reels and that's good advice no matter which style you choose.
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