FS Digest

So I know the baitcaster feeds line from the top and the spinning feeds line from the bottom. Because of this are there specific rods for baitcaster reels and vice versa or will all rods fit a baitcaster and spinning reel. I apologize in advance because this is probably a stupid question but I’m ordering online and I can’t see or touch them.

--
by techguyhotel

FS Digest

Best advice: go to a walmart and go handle some rods before you buy online.

It does matter what kind of rod and reel you pair, the backbone of a rod is made with fighting the fish in mind. If you put a baitcaster or levelwind on a spinning rod (or vice versa), the rod may break during the fight when otherwise it wouldn't have. I learned that the hard way myself.

I'd suggest getting a cheap Abu Garcia Blackmax combo just to try it, but you may find you just prefer spinners.

That said, knowing how to do both will make you a better fisherman on either.

The way I see it, baitcasters/levelwinds are lighter, have the potential to give you more casts in the same time frame than a spinner, and are easier to fight the fish than a spinner (especially when you're hooking into 30+lb fish).

Spinners are much, MUCH less prone to malfunction, though. Picking out a birdsnest for a half hour in a baitcaster/levelwind is usually the cited reason for spinner preference. I use both myself.

Just my two cents.

--
by BassShogun5

FS Digest

You need to match a spinning rod with a spinning reel and same for baitcasters.

--
by ShiftyUsmc

FS Digest

In both cases the reel is on the same side as the loops so you could use either type or reel on either rod, but the details of the rods would make it uncomfortable to use. The little finger hold on baitcaster rods would be facing up if you put a spinning reel on it. A spinning rod doesnt have anything specific to spinning reels and would perform fine with a baitcaster but wouldn't have the little finger trigger thing so the ergonomics would be weird. Soo yea they would work with either but there are little details that make them work better with their respective reels.

--
by tsbphoto

FS Digest

Baitcasting rods and spinning rods are two separate types of poles. Usually, spinning rods will be in 2 pieces that join around the middle, and will have larger, quarter sized line guides. Baitcasters will almost always come in 1 single piece and have much smaller line guides (about the diameter of a pencil). It’s important to use the right style of rod with the corresponding reel for a few different reasons. 1 is that the way a baitcasting reel is meant to be cast doesn’t work well with a spinning rod because it has the possibility of separating into 2 pieces mid cast due to the difference between reel styles. Another reason is that a spinning rod’s cast distance will be limited drastically by the small diameter of a baitcasting rod’s line guides, (And that a spinning rod will limit the accuracy and casting distance of a baitcasting reel due to the much larger line guides).

However, in a pinch you could use either reel for either pole if you’re careful casting and gentle with it.


--
by De_tarded

Aaron124 Loc: Arlington Ohio

If you have never used a baitcaster my advice is this... Ask a friend (if you know any that has a baitcaster or two) if you can borrow one to practice with them. I happen to have a buddy who had several he never used and gave me one to practice with. Then you can compare the two different types side by side and see if you like one more than the other. I recently started using a baitcaster this year and I am absolutely hooked on them( no pun intended). But I also enjoy taking out my spinner and throwing it as well so I have options and preferences on different baits for both combos. Good luck and I hope you figure everything out.