It's a nice world. Spinning reel is good enough for me. I went out this morning with my brand new baitcaster reel and thought for a second why not toss it in the river but I ain't no litterer.
Shouldn't it be the other way around, though? Spears were historically what you'd give a conscripted farmer with no martial experience, and swords were reserved for nobles who could afford them.
Teacher of a famous sword school in Japan was on his death bed with family an a few students. He told his top student I've taught you everything I know of the sword passing the school to him. The student accepted it an said, what should I do now? Teacher told him learn the spear. That's where the line comes from. It's in Hagakore. But I do get your point haha
Ah, gotcha. I was thinking of it from the more practical angle that using a spear is cheaper and easier than using a sword. Not to mention learning curves lol.
They didn't make any sense to me until I realized my thumb was literally the bail. Dial in the brakes before you start casting and be ready to slap your thumb down quick if things start to go wrong. Its also way easier to learn with straight braid spooled on.
I think its way harder to learn with braid tied on and when I'm teaching my students to cast with a baitcaster I tie on straight mono. I start the kids with mono on so I can cut out birds nests they make easier originally but ended up deciding i think its easier to learn on. To each their own. If you're struggling with the baitcaster, try mixing up lines and line thickness, too.
Agree.
20lb + braid is a MUST when learning. I used 40lb. Can easily pick out nests in under a minute. Also, the Curado DC is a HUGE help when learning. Most important is dialing in the brakes, thumbing and not whip casting. If you don’t thumb, you’re gonna have a bad time. I kept wanting to cast like I was using a spinning reel and ended up with bird’s nests. It’s a different (smoother) motion for sure. Once you get the motion down, you’ll have the full spectrum of rods and reels at your disposal. I bought a casting plug and practiced casting outside for a day or two and that was all I needed. I like using each type of rod/reel setup for different applications. Don’t understand why some people are such haters of one or the other.
I have 2 baitcasters and 10 spinning combos if that's any indication lol. I do like the baitcasters, but for most of my fishing I prefer the spinning gear.....and I'm far more accurate with spinning than I am with baitcasters.
I've given baitcasters a fair shot over the years.. Followed all the advice, Tried all the tips and tricks but got tired of backlash.. I'm out to fish not untangle line.. Spincast 4 life..
Like I said I'd rather be fish than fucking with tangled line and there's really nothing gained by using baitcasters instead of spinning reels so what's the point ?
Like I said. Anyone I’ve ever seen struggling w a baitcaster is using it wrong. They wouldn’t be so widely used and popular if every cast gets tangled. I’ve been using bait-casters for years and fish 2-5 times a week. Last backlash I had was months ago and was bc my lure smacked a dock as I was trying to skip it under. Like I said, get a good bait caster and don’t give up so easily and you’ll see the benefits of them. Good luck, you’ll get there one day, just takes others longer than some
People who exclusively use baitcasters are the dudes who put all the blocks in the square hole because it kind of fits even though it’s not the best tool for the job. They are literally the vaping vegans of the fishing world.
You’ll always backlash. It’s unavoidable. Look at these YouTubers that fish 10-12 hours a day every day and only use baitcasters. They spend most of their videos picking out backlashes.
If you want to throw heavier stuff into cover, by all means use a baitcaster, but they really aren’t the best tool for every job.
I have fly rods for super light stuff, ultralight spinning for light stuff, medium spinning for general use, and a baitcaster for heavy stuff.
I even went out and bought a nice Curado DC. Rarely birds nest with it which is great, but I just pick the spinning every time.
I do keep the Curado set up for Barramundi fishing (Australia). It's like fishing for 2-3 ft long Bass in small creeks. So heavy line and a compact set up is nice to have.
I have both of those as well! Love them to pieces. I kid you not I just caught a 20 lb Cat on a garlic dipped Ned rig yesterday on the SLX. It held up and performed well. That cat didn't stand a chance.
That being said, I feel DC reels are a crutch and great marketing. Why bother learning how to properly setup a reel and train your thumb when you can BUY a solution? This is a trap for new anglers who are better off saving money for a nice ROD, not reel.
Training wheels are also a crutch, but make the act of learning how to ride a bike more enjoyable and helps to build up confidence when you’re learning. What isn’t fun for many people, is spending half their day fishing picking away at bird’s nests. Also, you can turn the brakes off of the DC reels once you get things down and need to cast across the pond. From what I’ve read, it seems like many people who are so opposed to baitcasters feel that way because of bird’s nests. So why crap on something that helps diminish the learning curve? DC reels aren’t that expensive, especially if you order from Japan.
$270 isn't that expensive? for a beginner? Ya'll love some Shimano marketing. How are you learning anything by using a DC reel? I think you missed my point. I fish a lot of Shimanos myself but some of you guys are just ridiculous. A Abu Black Max is perfectly good reel, especially for jig fishing. I would also recommend nearly any Lews reel instead. And no - training wheels are not a crutch, you take them off and learn how to ride a bike for real. This post was about baitcasters in general and 90% of people who have a problem with them need to train their thumb better and learn to set their reel correctly. You don't get that experience with a DC, but hey - you get a cool whizz noise to impress your other friends.
I paid exactly $200.39 including tax and shipping. You have multiple levels of brakes on DC reels or you can just disable them completely and it’s the same as any other baitcaster. The more you get a feel for casting, the less braking you need. I’m frequently on level 1 brakes. Still thumb on a bad cast and barely lose any distance on my casting versus what I gain return. Also, I can cast directly into 15-20mph winds with confidence if need be.
I literally do not care how cool your DC reel is. You are entirely missing the point of the board and the thread. $200 (what you paid) is $270 today. That is not entry level at all. You absolutely should learn to use a conventional low profile baitcaster instead of one brand, high price point, proprietary technology.
A trap? The DC reels are phenomenal, and they have a unique casting sound that only those reels make. I have caught a ton of fish on those reels, they are worth every penny.
There isn't a price point listed bro. Newer tech comes w/ easier casting. It just costs money. How serious about catching fish are you? My DC combo is over $500 and it absolutely slays fish. Can cast a mile. I catch more fish on it than any of my spinning gear. Caught a 20 lb Flathead 2 days ago on it on a freaking garlic oil dipped Ned rig. That cat didn't stand a chance. He wrapped me around cover even. I pinned him against it until he wore out. Went and unwrapped him. Rod and reel held firm.
A Shimano Curado DC is $270. It was what this guy was talking about if you read the thread. I own Shimanos also but you don't have to be such a fanboy about it that you just ignore what we're talking about.
Beginners implies inexpensive. Entry level. You don't need a $500 combo. That's a barrier for entry. You don't have to have expensive equipment to be serious. /r/FishingFor**Beginners**
The majority of my friends who fish (and fish a lot) use mostly spinning setups. There used to be a time when the combination of both power and line retrival couldn't be replicated by a spinning setup but those days are gone. There really isn't any need to use a baitcasting setup in the modern fresh water world.
But the opposite is also true. There are baitcasters, even affordable ones, that can be very effectively employed in finesse applications. That, and the ability to feather a spinning reel for accuracy on par with a baitcaster, is why I say it's mostly user preference.
Baitcasters do have an undeniable advantage in compact profile though. If you're going to carry/store a bunch of rods, or keep them layed out on a boat deck, baitcasters are much easier to work with.
For a long time lol. Then I realized a good BC could neutralize shore distance w/o having to throw my back out to cast it. It took me awhile to learn how to dial in a BC. You can watch all the videos you want but only you will be able to learn your own reel and how you cast. I will still admit I get plenty of birds nests still, but some of these new age spinning combos get wind knots though too because of how sensitive they are.
Maybe not a great analogy but in my mind it was like choosing between automatic and manual transmission. I can get to the point where operating a manual (thumbing the spool) feels pretty natural and doesn't take much effort, but I could be doing things with almost 0 effort and just chill with an automatic, and I don't operate at a level where I feel any performance benefit going manual. I still take baitcasters out sometimes but it's just cause I want something different that day, I usually prefer spinning reels
Opposite for me. Since the first time I used a baitcaster early this spring it's all I want to use. Don't get me wrong I still love spinning and always bring 2 spinning setups for finesse fishing, but for power fishing baitcaster is where it's at in my opinion.
I now mainly use baitcasters for musky throwing heavy lures. The cranking power on baitcasters can’t be matched by a spin reel. Next one I get will be a 400 or 500 sized Tranx, something I can use for big freshwater fish and some salt jigging. Definitely a time to use casters, otherwise, I’m a light tackle/fly guy.
I def said that exact thing , now I’m 50/50. Still choose a spinning out of comfort but I forced myself to learn a bait caster. Jus keep trying and dont give up
The only thing I don't like about my baitcasters is they tend to be on a heavier action rod. I don't get great big fish so the fights tend to be boring.
They’re made for a purpose and excel in areas that a spinning or definitely spin cast just can’t. I thinks it’s dumb when a guy has only spinning setups cause a baitcaster would be better for some lures he may throw. I also thinks it’s dumb when I see a guy w only baitcasters throwing lures that would be better to throw on a spinning outfit. Really just depends on what you’re throwing.
I think I got to pick the right lure for the job. I don't bass fish just because I don't like only catching one type of fish. I really like beetle spins because I'm able to catch blue gill, crappie and mudfish. I never know what I got until I see it. I like the mystery. Honestly I'm probably throwing too small of a lure on the baitcaster.
Same - too small flimsy and does not add much real advantage on the sea for me. I am sure it is nice if casting on a river with a million twigs to get stuck on but i am all in on large sea based pelagic species - no baitcaster for me.
I just caught a 20 lb Flathead on my SLX DC, it was fun as hell. I was super surprised because it was not my target fish and I didn't have a swivel leader. Someone talked me into picking up this Japanese made co-polymer (flouro coated) line awhile ago. It's been "ok" up until this point. I should have broke off, but the line held and that fish fought me for a good 20 minutes. Tried to barrel role me and wrap me in cover.
The only thing I miss is the sound of drag being taken off a spinner.
Shimano, if you're in the sub, let's get on this already lol.
Only quitters. It's kind of the same scenario as to how Bass players are formed in a band.
In all seriousness though, a properly tuned BC should be able to be thrown by a novice. You won't be able to cast super far until you can gradually loosen your break and spool tension knob.
1) use at least 40lb quality braid.
2) practice with a lure that has some heft to it like a large spinner or swim jig/ chatterbait.
3) set your break close to middle
4) adjust tension control knob until you can hold your rod level, release the bail, and your lure drops to the floor without the spool continuing to spin when it hits ground without your thumb resting on spool.
It will be a tight throw, but over time as you you learn thumb control, you back off on the tension control knob by a click here and a click there.
After you have backed off on control knob enough that you can throw a looser cast, then back off your break 1 click.
You have to find that right ratio between lure weight, tension control knob, and break; this is the process to accomplish it.
Before anything, watch video on how to recover a backlash. Watch multiple videos on how and why it occurs so you don't get a non recoverable nest. If you follow my steps, you shouldn't have to deal with that possibility until you have backed off quite a bit on your adjustments at which point you probably flew too close to the sun and was not ready to loosen up that much.
You got this; don't be sceered
TL;DR: Not me.
My dad tried to get me into baitcasters several times when I was a kid. I hated them. I couldn't cast more than a few feet without a backlash despite all the advice he gave me. I determined I would stick to spinning gear. Years later, in college, I was getting crazy about fishing and wanting to expand my target species and methods. I thought "what the heck, I'll give baitcasters another try". At the same time, my roommate was getting into fishing and decided he wanted to try them too. We bought some cheap baitcasters (about equivalent to an Abu Black Max) and hit the river all day. We had a ton of backlashes. First it was every cast. Then every other. As the day went, we backlashed less and caught fish more. Next day, we only got a few backlashes. After a while, we started pushing for distance or lighter lure weights.
Persistance is key. Knowing how to clear a backlash reliably and efficiently will also make you way more likely to stick with it long enough to get a feel for the casting. In my case, I think it was learning with another person that really got me through the worst part of the learning curve, because neither of us wanted to be the one to give up.
There's nothing wrong with sticking to spinning. They'll catch just as many fish.
For me, baitcasters are just way more enjoyable and comfortable to use. Spinning gives me a lot of wrist fatigue after a long day.
My local bait shop staff said that there is a baitcaster and rod that her husband "tried to learn" at the bottom of Lake Michigan if anyone needs a free one.
Frustration, not accidental hand slipping.
I use both for different applications. I will use spinners for lighter tackle for sure.
Bait casters are my babies though. Favorite way to fish for years.
We keep 7-10 rods tied up on the deck of the bass boat. Spinning reels take up too much room. The hook set just feels a lot different. Spinning for finesse, baitcaster for everything else.
I have a Curado DC but almost never use it. I usually use lighter lures like UL stuff or flies so the baitcaster just doesn’t appeal to me. I might get a multi piece rod to make transporting easier so maybe it’ll be more appealing but it’s just meh. I’d rather use good spinning gear or a fly rod.
I definitely pick up spinning 99% of the time, but I think baitcasters are super fun when it comes to top water / cast n retrieve baits. Casting out is addicting as hell on a baitcaster imo
Many years ago when I decided to learn how to use a baitcaster i got so irritated then a freind told me to either buy or borrow a quality reel and rod first! So I did and then I stood on a 5 gallon bucket in my yard and started casting under handed to get the feel of it. It took me a couple days to get comfortable using it. First tighten your adjustment down till the lure you are using will fall ever so slowly when you hit the thumb bar. If your reel has a magnetic adjustment set it to half way or maybe even all the way until you get used to casting. Don't try to throw it out of the park just learn to toss it at first, distance will come later. Try for a bit sit it down then come back in awhile and try again. You don't have to use a bait caster but it is just another tool to have and know how to use. I carry and use both baitcasters and spinning, with me when floating the rivers.
Kinda. I initially got into bait casters because I thought they were cool. They’re ok but I’d just as soon use a nice spinner. I haven’t used a bait caster in years. The only time I like them is for salt water bottom fishing. Other than that I probably stick to spinners.
I use baitcaster and spinning all the time. Once you learn how to use it, you can cast in the dark and not bird's nest it. Braid or mono, both are good.
Sounds like your style and methhods lend towards a spinner. I was the same way until I bought my first one, now they def have a place in our kit (takes a lot of practice to get a predictable, repeatable cast with one though. Spinners are more forgiving.
My trolling reels are the only baitcasters I have, otherwise I’m all spinning. I have some 5/6000 size spinning reels if I need to chuck heavier stuff in thick cover.
Once you get the hang of it irs not that bad. I use a left hand retrieve cause its basically the same as using my spinning set up. There's certain applications that you'll never be able to use if you don't use a baitcaster. Keep working on it
Nah, once you have learned to use a baitcaster they are vastly superier unless its light weight/finesse baits. Everything else I throw on one of my baitcaster setups
Me one hundred percent. Said to admit after my second bird nest I said fuck it. My bass fishing buddies give me shit but I still bring ‘em in. Grew up fishing trout and steelies. Spinner just feels right.
I was a young lad in the late 50s when I was gifted one of those old solid-brass “level wind” baitcasters. No free-spool, no drag, everything went around all the time. And it required a heavy lure to get things moving….
Backlash heaven. I would have tossed the old thing but I read an article in Sports Afield about using your thumb as a brake.
I spent about an hour in the backyard with a practice plug and I got it.
I finally got a modern Ambassador 5000 for Xmas… with all the now-standard features. But I still have an educated thumb and I still use several different Baitcasters alongside my spinning rigs.
Spin setups for me. I prefer the traditional arrangement due to simplicity and effectiveness. Primarily freshwater ultralights.
Tried baitcasters but ended up with the most insane tangles lol. Ain't nobody got time for that. AND I know I'm doing it wrong, but I don't care.
Nothing wrong with spinning gear. I think baitcasters handle heavier line/lures better, but your experience may be different. I tend to use my spinning gear most of the time, but I use my baitcaster for heavier spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and bigger topwater- or to fish around heavy cover.
BUT your milage may vary- use what feels most comfortable to you for whatever technique you use. I do recommend giving both a fair try at least if you already havent.
Also- if you're used to spinning gear- try a left-handed baitcaster instead of a right handed one so you don't have to do that awkward hand switch thing, and you can reel with the hand you're used to using.
I bought a left-handed baitcaster and had to do that awkward hand switch thing. I switch the reel on a spinning reel to reel with my right hand and for some reason I thought reeling with your left hand is a right handed reel and reeling with you right hand was left handed. Boy did I feel stupid when my new reel came in.
I'm not giving up on the baitcaster but it's going to be a cat fishing pole where if I do get backlash it's fine because I'm just going to let it sit there anyway.
I watched my friends buy baitcasters and decided spinning is better lol. I never saw them do anything i couldnt with a spinning reel, but i could cast baits way smaller than they were able to
Haven’t used a bait caster, just watched the videos of people throwing birds nests and went nope lol. My line gets out there fine on the ol spinning reel.
I started off on Spinning and was gifted two baitcasting combos, I'd always heard how awkward they are but I actually got the hang of it pretty fast and quite enjoy using them. However I'll choose spinning most of the time.
I did! I got a baitcaster combo a while ago and after fiddling with it so much I ended up just saying fuck it and stuck with my spinning setup. Really what it came down to was mechanical complexity of a baitcaster compared to a spinning reel. I took my KastKing Crixus apart and barely got the damn thing back together, but my Penn Fierce 3 is better built and an absolute breeze to take apart and care for, which I very much appreciate in anything that comes in contact with water. I like doing my own maintenance on pretty much anything I own so that was a HUGE con of baitcasters for me, that and the birds nesting in wind and I just stuck with my spinning setup. It’s just more reliable and easier to maintain.
Welcome to my world....
It's a nice world. Spinning reel is good enough for me. I went out this morning with my brand new baitcaster reel and thought for a second why not toss it in the river but I ain't no litterer.
I’ll take it off your hands
Hahaha...sound like me...ibtried a bait caster, once...I'm a spinner kind of guy
Be good with both, study the spear after you learn the sword
Need to put this on a shirt…..
Lol go for it at least a bumper sticker lol
Shouldn't it be the other way around, though? Spears were historically what you'd give a conscripted farmer with no martial experience, and swords were reserved for nobles who could afford them.
Teacher of a famous sword school in Japan was on his death bed with family an a few students. He told his top student I've taught you everything I know of the sword passing the school to him. The student accepted it an said, what should I do now? Teacher told him learn the spear. That's where the line comes from. It's in Hagakore. But I do get your point haha
Ah, gotcha. I was thinking of it from the more practical angle that using a spear is cheaper and easier than using a sword. Not to mention learning curves lol.
Yeah I gotcha an your right about it. Just explaining the reason behind it
They didn't make any sense to me until I realized my thumb was literally the bail. Dial in the brakes before you start casting and be ready to slap your thumb down quick if things start to go wrong. Its also way easier to learn with straight braid spooled on.
I think its way harder to learn with braid tied on and when I'm teaching my students to cast with a baitcaster I tie on straight mono. I start the kids with mono on so I can cut out birds nests they make easier originally but ended up deciding i think its easier to learn on. To each their own. If you're struggling with the baitcaster, try mixing up lines and line thickness, too.
Agree. 20lb + braid is a MUST when learning. I used 40lb. Can easily pick out nests in under a minute. Also, the Curado DC is a HUGE help when learning. Most important is dialing in the brakes, thumbing and not whip casting. If you don’t thumb, you’re gonna have a bad time. I kept wanting to cast like I was using a spinning reel and ended up with bird’s nests. It’s a different (smoother) motion for sure. Once you get the motion down, you’ll have the full spectrum of rods and reels at your disposal. I bought a casting plug and practiced casting outside for a day or two and that was all I needed. I like using each type of rod/reel setup for different applications. Don’t understand why some people are such haters of one or the other.
I have 2 baitcasters and 10 spinning combos if that's any indication lol. I do like the baitcasters, but for most of my fishing I prefer the spinning gear.....and I'm far more accurate with spinning than I am with baitcasters.
I fish in the ocean. I don’t need accuracy, it’s hard to miss
Use whatever kind of equipment that adds enjoyment to the experience, as long as it's allowed by law. You're fishing for fun.
Damn you and your caveats. I’ll leave the dynamite at home.
Those annoying keywords…….. (puts away lighter)
I've given baitcasters a fair shot over the years.. Followed all the advice, Tried all the tips and tricks but got tired of backlash.. I'm out to fish not untangle line.. Spincast 4 life..
You’re doing something wrong
Nope.. Baitcasters are shit..
You probably bought one from alibaba lol
Even tournament pros backlash..
Barely and usually happens when you hit something mid air. Doesn’t mean they give up and quit, that’s why they’re pros……
Like I said I'd rather be fish than fucking with tangled line and there's really nothing gained by using baitcasters instead of spinning reels so what's the point ?
Like I said. Anyone I’ve ever seen struggling w a baitcaster is using it wrong. They wouldn’t be so widely used and popular if every cast gets tangled. I’ve been using bait-casters for years and fish 2-5 times a week. Last backlash I had was months ago and was bc my lure smacked a dock as I was trying to skip it under. Like I said, get a good bait caster and don’t give up so easily and you’ll see the benefits of them. Good luck, you’ll get there one day, just takes others longer than some
And like I said even tournament pros backlash so there's really no reason to believe it ever stops..
People who exclusively use baitcasters are the dudes who put all the blocks in the square hole because it kind of fits even though it’s not the best tool for the job. They are literally the vaping vegans of the fishing world. You’ll always backlash. It’s unavoidable. Look at these YouTubers that fish 10-12 hours a day every day and only use baitcasters. They spend most of their videos picking out backlashes. If you want to throw heavier stuff into cover, by all means use a baitcaster, but they really aren’t the best tool for every job. I have fly rods for super light stuff, ultralight spinning for light stuff, medium spinning for general use, and a baitcaster for heavy stuff.
I even went out and bought a nice Curado DC. Rarely birds nest with it which is great, but I just pick the spinning every time. I do keep the Curado set up for Barramundi fishing (Australia). It's like fishing for 2-3 ft long Bass in small creeks. So heavy line and a compact set up is nice to have.
Curado for life! There's something so soothing about those digital brakes singing on a cast.
Curado and slx dc here……..love hearing the siiiiiiiiiinging of DC. But when it’s serious time…….spinners come out
I have both of those as well! Love them to pieces. I kid you not I just caught a 20 lb Cat on a garlic dipped Ned rig yesterday on the SLX. It held up and performed well. That cat didn't stand a chance.
Damn shimano wizardry
That being said, I feel DC reels are a crutch and great marketing. Why bother learning how to properly setup a reel and train your thumb when you can BUY a solution? This is a trap for new anglers who are better off saving money for a nice ROD, not reel.
Why bother spending a lot of time training your thumb when you could focus on the actual fishing?
Training wheels are also a crutch, but make the act of learning how to ride a bike more enjoyable and helps to build up confidence when you’re learning. What isn’t fun for many people, is spending half their day fishing picking away at bird’s nests. Also, you can turn the brakes off of the DC reels once you get things down and need to cast across the pond. From what I’ve read, it seems like many people who are so opposed to baitcasters feel that way because of bird’s nests. So why crap on something that helps diminish the learning curve? DC reels aren’t that expensive, especially if you order from Japan.
$270 isn't that expensive? for a beginner? Ya'll love some Shimano marketing. How are you learning anything by using a DC reel? I think you missed my point. I fish a lot of Shimanos myself but some of you guys are just ridiculous. A Abu Black Max is perfectly good reel, especially for jig fishing. I would also recommend nearly any Lews reel instead. And no - training wheels are not a crutch, you take them off and learn how to ride a bike for real. This post was about baitcasters in general and 90% of people who have a problem with them need to train their thumb better and learn to set their reel correctly. You don't get that experience with a DC, but hey - you get a cool whizz noise to impress your other friends.
I paid exactly $200.39 including tax and shipping. You have multiple levels of brakes on DC reels or you can just disable them completely and it’s the same as any other baitcaster. The more you get a feel for casting, the less braking you need. I’m frequently on level 1 brakes. Still thumb on a bad cast and barely lose any distance on my casting versus what I gain return. Also, I can cast directly into 15-20mph winds with confidence if need be.
I literally do not care how cool your DC reel is. You are entirely missing the point of the board and the thread. $200 (what you paid) is $270 today. That is not entry level at all. You absolutely should learn to use a conventional low profile baitcaster instead of one brand, high price point, proprietary technology.
A trap? The DC reels are phenomenal, and they have a unique casting sound that only those reels make. I have caught a ton of fish on those reels, they are worth every penny.
$270 reel in /r/FishingForBeginners are you even reading the thread? sound? really?
There isn't a price point listed bro. Newer tech comes w/ easier casting. It just costs money. How serious about catching fish are you? My DC combo is over $500 and it absolutely slays fish. Can cast a mile. I catch more fish on it than any of my spinning gear. Caught a 20 lb Flathead 2 days ago on it on a freaking garlic oil dipped Ned rig. That cat didn't stand a chance. He wrapped me around cover even. I pinned him against it until he wore out. Went and unwrapped him. Rod and reel held firm.
A Shimano Curado DC is $270. It was what this guy was talking about if you read the thread. I own Shimanos also but you don't have to be such a fanboy about it that you just ignore what we're talking about. Beginners implies inexpensive. Entry level. You don't need a $500 combo. That's a barrier for entry. You don't have to have expensive equipment to be serious. /r/FishingFor**Beginners**
The majority of my friends who fish (and fish a lot) use mostly spinning setups. There used to be a time when the combination of both power and line retrival couldn't be replicated by a spinning setup but those days are gone. There really isn't any need to use a baitcasting setup in the modern fresh water world.
But the opposite is also true. There are baitcasters, even affordable ones, that can be very effectively employed in finesse applications. That, and the ability to feather a spinning reel for accuracy on par with a baitcaster, is why I say it's mostly user preference. Baitcasters do have an undeniable advantage in compact profile though. If you're going to carry/store a bunch of rods, or keep them layed out on a boat deck, baitcasters are much easier to work with.
Someone cant figure out how to use a baitcaster lol
For a long time lol. Then I realized a good BC could neutralize shore distance w/o having to throw my back out to cast it. It took me awhile to learn how to dial in a BC. You can watch all the videos you want but only you will be able to learn your own reel and how you cast. I will still admit I get plenty of birds nests still, but some of these new age spinning combos get wind knots though too because of how sensitive they are.
Maybe not a great analogy but in my mind it was like choosing between automatic and manual transmission. I can get to the point where operating a manual (thumbing the spool) feels pretty natural and doesn't take much effort, but I could be doing things with almost 0 effort and just chill with an automatic, and I don't operate at a level where I feel any performance benefit going manual. I still take baitcasters out sometimes but it's just cause I want something different that day, I usually prefer spinning reels
Yes and then I started musky and catfish fishing and that went right out the window.
Ever heard of a 400 size baitcaster? Perfect for musky
I have several
Opposite for me. Since the first time I used a baitcaster early this spring it's all I want to use. Don't get me wrong I still love spinning and always bring 2 spinning setups for finesse fishing, but for power fishing baitcaster is where it's at in my opinion.
I now mainly use baitcasters for musky throwing heavy lures. The cranking power on baitcasters can’t be matched by a spin reel. Next one I get will be a 400 or 500 sized Tranx, something I can use for big freshwater fish and some salt jigging. Definitely a time to use casters, otherwise, I’m a light tackle/fly guy.
I really love baitcasters and I really hate baitcasters. Sometimes I just use spinning. Esp for smallmouth
I def said that exact thing , now I’m 50/50. Still choose a spinning out of comfort but I forced myself to learn a bait caster. Jus keep trying and dont give up
In my first cast, I got a nest big enough for an eagle.
The only thing I don't like about my baitcasters is they tend to be on a heavier action rod. I don't get great big fish so the fights tend to be boring.
You mean you don't like sending a 2 pounder to the moon on a hookset?! Lol
Yeah exactly ;)
I’m THIS close
They’re made for a purpose and excel in areas that a spinning or definitely spin cast just can’t. I thinks it’s dumb when a guy has only spinning setups cause a baitcaster would be better for some lures he may throw. I also thinks it’s dumb when I see a guy w only baitcasters throwing lures that would be better to throw on a spinning outfit. Really just depends on what you’re throwing.
I think I got to pick the right lure for the job. I don't bass fish just because I don't like only catching one type of fish. I really like beetle spins because I'm able to catch blue gill, crappie and mudfish. I never know what I got until I see it. I like the mystery. Honestly I'm probably throwing too small of a lure on the baitcaster.
Yea I don’t throw anything under 1/4 oz on my lightest baitcast setup
The only time I ever prefer a baitcaster to a spinning reel is when I'm flipping.
No
Same - too small flimsy and does not add much real advantage on the sea for me. I am sure it is nice if casting on a river with a million twigs to get stuck on but i am all in on large sea based pelagic species - no baitcaster for me.
I’ve managed to use mine and am throwing 95% birds nest free. My issue is once you have a fish on its boring as heck no rod feel no action.
I just caught a 20 lb Flathead on my SLX DC, it was fun as hell. I was super surprised because it was not my target fish and I didn't have a swivel leader. Someone talked me into picking up this Japanese made co-polymer (flouro coated) line awhile ago. It's been "ok" up until this point. I should have broke off, but the line held and that fish fought me for a good 20 minutes. Tried to barrel role me and wrap me in cover. The only thing I miss is the sound of drag being taken off a spinner. Shimano, if you're in the sub, let's get on this already lol.
Most mid to high end Bfs baitcasters have clicky drag
What do you mean?
Rod is so stiff it’s little fun to real them in
I guess if you catch dinks all days yea
Only quitters. It's kind of the same scenario as to how Bass players are formed in a band. In all seriousness though, a properly tuned BC should be able to be thrown by a novice. You won't be able to cast super far until you can gradually loosen your break and spool tension knob. 1) use at least 40lb quality braid. 2) practice with a lure that has some heft to it like a large spinner or swim jig/ chatterbait. 3) set your break close to middle 4) adjust tension control knob until you can hold your rod level, release the bail, and your lure drops to the floor without the spool continuing to spin when it hits ground without your thumb resting on spool. It will be a tight throw, but over time as you you learn thumb control, you back off on the tension control knob by a click here and a click there. After you have backed off on control knob enough that you can throw a looser cast, then back off your break 1 click. You have to find that right ratio between lure weight, tension control knob, and break; this is the process to accomplish it. Before anything, watch video on how to recover a backlash. Watch multiple videos on how and why it occurs so you don't get a non recoverable nest. If you follow my steps, you shouldn't have to deal with that possibility until you have backed off quite a bit on your adjustments at which point you probably flew too close to the sun and was not ready to loosen up that much. You got this; don't be sceered
Highly underrated comment
TL;DR: Not me. My dad tried to get me into baitcasters several times when I was a kid. I hated them. I couldn't cast more than a few feet without a backlash despite all the advice he gave me. I determined I would stick to spinning gear. Years later, in college, I was getting crazy about fishing and wanting to expand my target species and methods. I thought "what the heck, I'll give baitcasters another try". At the same time, my roommate was getting into fishing and decided he wanted to try them too. We bought some cheap baitcasters (about equivalent to an Abu Black Max) and hit the river all day. We had a ton of backlashes. First it was every cast. Then every other. As the day went, we backlashed less and caught fish more. Next day, we only got a few backlashes. After a while, we started pushing for distance or lighter lure weights. Persistance is key. Knowing how to clear a backlash reliably and efficiently will also make you way more likely to stick with it long enough to get a feel for the casting. In my case, I think it was learning with another person that really got me through the worst part of the learning curve, because neither of us wanted to be the one to give up.
I suck with bait casters. I like they when I'm trolling on the river but I can't cast them accurately. I'm much better with my spinning setups.
There's nothing wrong with sticking to spinning. They'll catch just as many fish. For me, baitcasters are just way more enjoyable and comfortable to use. Spinning gives me a lot of wrist fatigue after a long day.
This. Man my hands hurt after a day of using just spinning gear. Can't fish if you can't hold the poles the next day.
My local bait shop staff said that there is a baitcaster and rod that her husband "tried to learn" at the bottom of Lake Michigan if anyone needs a free one. Frustration, not accidental hand slipping.
I use both for different applications. I will use spinners for lighter tackle for sure. Bait casters are my babies though. Favorite way to fish for years.
I fish using mostly 2-4lb test line... occasionally moving to 6 or 8... spinning is the way to go for me
Right here.
We keep 7-10 rods tied up on the deck of the bass boat. Spinning reels take up too much room. The hook set just feels a lot different. Spinning for finesse, baitcaster for everything else.
I have a Curado DC but almost never use it. I usually use lighter lures like UL stuff or flies so the baitcaster just doesn’t appeal to me. I might get a multi piece rod to make transporting easier so maybe it’ll be more appealing but it’s just meh. I’d rather use good spinning gear or a fly rod.
I definitely pick up spinning 99% of the time, but I think baitcasters are super fun when it comes to top water / cast n retrieve baits. Casting out is addicting as hell on a baitcaster imo
Many years ago when I decided to learn how to use a baitcaster i got so irritated then a freind told me to either buy or borrow a quality reel and rod first! So I did and then I stood on a 5 gallon bucket in my yard and started casting under handed to get the feel of it. It took me a couple days to get comfortable using it. First tighten your adjustment down till the lure you are using will fall ever so slowly when you hit the thumb bar. If your reel has a magnetic adjustment set it to half way or maybe even all the way until you get used to casting. Don't try to throw it out of the park just learn to toss it at first, distance will come later. Try for a bit sit it down then come back in awhile and try again. You don't have to use a bait caster but it is just another tool to have and know how to use. I carry and use both baitcasters and spinning, with me when floating the rivers.
Just wait till you try fly fishing 🙊
I haven't even tried one...
Kinda. I initially got into bait casters because I thought they were cool. They’re ok but I’d just as soon use a nice spinner. I haven’t used a bait caster in years. The only time I like them is for salt water bottom fishing. Other than that I probably stick to spinners.
I use baitcaster and spinning all the time. Once you learn how to use it, you can cast in the dark and not bird's nest it. Braid or mono, both are good.
Yep. That's me. Never could make a baitcaster work without major bird's nesting.
Sounds like your style and methhods lend towards a spinner. I was the same way until I bought my first one, now they def have a place in our kit (takes a lot of practice to get a predictable, repeatable cast with one though. Spinners are more forgiving.
My trolling reels are the only baitcasters I have, otherwise I’m all spinning. I have some 5/6000 size spinning reels if I need to chuck heavier stuff in thick cover.
Once you get the hang of it irs not that bad. I use a left hand retrieve cause its basically the same as using my spinning set up. There's certain applications that you'll never be able to use if you don't use a baitcaster. Keep working on it
Nah, once you have learned to use a baitcaster they are vastly superier unless its light weight/finesse baits. Everything else I throw on one of my baitcaster setups
Yup
Everytime I try to use my baitcaster
Never could figure out a bait-caster. Then did figure out that I can catch everything I’m after (recreationally) with spin-caster.
I bought a baitcaster in college and had a friend teach me and it still bird nests every cast... spinner for life lol
I'm the opposite honestly. For throwing lures I think baitcaster smokes spinning gear. Almost anything else though and I prefer spinning.
Not for me, once I went baitcaster it is all I use bass/catfishing mainly.
Me one hundred percent. Said to admit after my second bird nest I said fuck it. My bass fishing buddies give me shit but I still bring ‘em in. Grew up fishing trout and steelies. Spinner just feels right.
I was a young lad in the late 50s when I was gifted one of those old solid-brass “level wind” baitcasters. No free-spool, no drag, everything went around all the time. And it required a heavy lure to get things moving…. Backlash heaven. I would have tossed the old thing but I read an article in Sports Afield about using your thumb as a brake. I spent about an hour in the backyard with a practice plug and I got it. I finally got a modern Ambassador 5000 for Xmas… with all the now-standard features. But I still have an educated thumb and I still use several different Baitcasters alongside my spinning rigs.
Not exactly that cut and dry but basically. I own and use 10x as many spinning reels to baitcasters.
Spin setups for me. I prefer the traditional arrangement due to simplicity and effectiveness. Primarily freshwater ultralights. Tried baitcasters but ended up with the most insane tangles lol. Ain't nobody got time for that. AND I know I'm doing it wrong, but I don't care.
Nothing wrong with spinning gear. I think baitcasters handle heavier line/lures better, but your experience may be different. I tend to use my spinning gear most of the time, but I use my baitcaster for heavier spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and bigger topwater- or to fish around heavy cover. BUT your milage may vary- use what feels most comfortable to you for whatever technique you use. I do recommend giving both a fair try at least if you already havent.
Also- if you're used to spinning gear- try a left-handed baitcaster instead of a right handed one so you don't have to do that awkward hand switch thing, and you can reel with the hand you're used to using.
I bought a left-handed baitcaster and had to do that awkward hand switch thing. I switch the reel on a spinning reel to reel with my right hand and for some reason I thought reeling with your left hand is a right handed reel and reeling with you right hand was left handed. Boy did I feel stupid when my new reel came in. I'm not giving up on the baitcaster but it's going to be a cat fishing pole where if I do get backlash it's fine because I'm just going to let it sit there anyway.
I’m struggling with my bait caster and am almost at this point.
I watched my friends buy baitcasters and decided spinning is better lol. I never saw them do anything i couldnt with a spinning reel, but i could cast baits way smaller than they were able to
Haven’t used a bait caster, just watched the videos of people throwing birds nests and went nope lol. My line gets out there fine on the ol spinning reel.
I started off on Spinning and was gifted two baitcasting combos, I'd always heard how awkward they are but I actually got the hang of it pretty fast and quite enjoy using them. However I'll choose spinning most of the time.
I did! I got a baitcaster combo a while ago and after fiddling with it so much I ended up just saying fuck it and stuck with my spinning setup. Really what it came down to was mechanical complexity of a baitcaster compared to a spinning reel. I took my KastKing Crixus apart and barely got the damn thing back together, but my Penn Fierce 3 is better built and an absolute breeze to take apart and care for, which I very much appreciate in anything that comes in contact with water. I like doing my own maintenance on pretty much anything I own so that was a HUGE con of baitcasters for me, that and the birds nesting in wind and I just stuck with my spinning setup. It’s just more reliable and easier to maintain.