Has anyone here ever tried and given up on baitcasters?
Not all baitcasters are created equal. I've used them over 40 years & have had some I just couldn't adjust to function reliably with the line I wanted to use. I've found it takes some experimenting with line, lure the tension nob & patience to "get it right". Never give up!
Yep but I came out of the coma.
I know quite a few fishermen who tried baitcasters at one time or another and later saw the outfits sitting in the corners of their garage collecting dust. When I asked why they quit using them they always say how frustrating it was. The interesting thing is that these guys are not lacking talent. They all are capable of doing plenty of other things that are more challenging!
I heard that your better off puttling heavier line on baitcasters and that helps with not getting as bad of backlash. From what most people ive talked to recommend usimf 30lbs or so in braid or 15lbs in mono
L.W.
Loc: Spokane Valley, Washington
I have a baitcasting outfit thst i tried a few times. Like others mine is setting in a corner . At my age 79, I don't need the headache . For me Spinning outfits work great 99% of the time.
All I know is from personal experience using baitcasters. I used the old Abu Garcia 4500 to the 7000. Adjustment was critical & light lures were pretty much out. Now I use an assortment of shimano's & Diawa's with the Abu reels for heavy stuff. I'm not saying I don't have an occasional professional over wind
(backlash) but line & lure matched with the rod with good adjustment has afforded me many days of backlash free casting. I mostly use 15 to 20 lb power pro braid. Practice, practice, practice. If you take a bait caster on a fishing trip & carry your spinning reel for a "just in case" you are not mentally prepared to use your baitcaster. Use a baitcaster & your head. I'm just a guy who loves to fish. I'm heading for ontario next week to pester the smallmouth. I'm taking 5 baitcasting rigs & 5 spinning rigs. I love them both.
I’ve had a few bait casters over the years. Never really bonded with them. Some people swear by them, not me. I love spinning outfits. I would rather spend my time fishing then fooling with backlashes.
I hate those dam things spinning reel is what i like
If you seriously want to get good with a baitcaster, do yourself a favor and spend the money on a decent reel.. one with both centrifugal brakes and an external magnetic brake. I actually like the BPS stuff... carbon lites, pro qualifier, even their bionic reel has magnetic brakes. Crank out the brakes, tie on a whopper plopper 90, adjust the tension knob so it has a controlled fall and your in business... Make sure you use your thumb to stop the cast right before you hit the water. I've tried all kinds of lines and I personally feel power pro 30lb is the easiest to learn with. (it's pretty easy to untangle if you mess up)
I love using a baitcaster and I’ve only started this spring, it’s spinning reels I don’t like at all. I much prefer a spincaster to a spinning reel but baitcasting is my favorite. I find that the lighter the lure the more break is required, the spool tension is set to just drop each bait as needed. The thumb is the real trick to successfully using this tool.
Still getting my daily chuckle out of the replies to this topic. Thanks so much to all you "Rationalization Rangers" out there for sharing how you utilize your fishing efforts, both on and off the water.
---best (funniest) tip thus far......use bigger (diameter) line.... easier to untangle !!!! That was fuuuunny.
I'll be chuckling over that, the next time I flip my BAIL on my next flawless cast. LOL !
Actually, I think it might be a "bale", rather than a bail, anybody know.... anybody care ??
They all have their place, there is a reason people take the time to learn a bait caster... larger baits, more cranking power in a much lighter package but most importantly, cast control. I use both spinning and bait casting set ups regularly and there is no contest as to accuracy or the ability to land a large bait softly and precisely... the debate on which is better is absolute stupidity, it's like arguing which is a better tool, a hammer or a saw? It's also a debate normally perpetuated by people who can't use a baitcaster... ironically...
Can...... just don't like 'em.
You call the argument stupid AFTER you say "there's no contest"...huh ? I say, obviously there needs to BE a contest ?? When ? Can it be here in Oregon ? You can pick the lure/bait, you can pick the target. As the old song goes..."anything you can do, I can do better, better than you". I will buy the beer(or your favorite soda) for the event....loser buys dinner at a fine establishment. I live in Oregon, Medford, near the Rogue River. Anytime you get a break from fiddling with all those knobs and fussing with the tangles,...come visit, see Crater Lake, we'll check out some lakes or the rivers & streams around here (have a lake boat and a drift boat for the river)...test that skill-set you seem rather overconfident about. Don't worry about losing the bet.... you kinda lose your pompous attitude when you get humbled by your surroundings.
And if you were to win....an unlikely event.... you get a fine meal AND an incredible experience...no license required to fish Crater Lake ! Long hike down & back up, but outrageous memory.
Looking forward to hearing about your "plans" ! (And of course, your rationale behind the "hammer and saw" analogy...uh ..they do DIFFERENT TASKS ! Duuuh. Your level-wind, "baitcaster" and my spinning reel.....same task, dude. Gotta work on those analogies, guy, ESPECIALLY to a retired woodworker/carpenter like myself ! Lol'd alot during this missive, thanks for that.
They do different tasks.... well, atleast you got the point... I got some 6oz swim baits I'd love to watch you throw on your surf caster...
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