Bait caster (Page 7): Always cast with the reel handle up.

Jim Kay Loc: Franklin, Virginia

Andy cacciatori wrote:

Once you learn you'll love it 😀 and you can cast further and longer than you can with a spinning reel and using deep running baits. I use both.
Here's a little trick when you cast turn you reel with your wrist so the reel is side ways and the line will flow alot easier and less change of bird nest and when you do get a nest crank over it with 3 to5 turns the handle. Then click it to freespoil and try to undo it it will work easier getting the line untangle
Good luck

Always cast with the reel handle up.

Tocino Loc: Folsom, Ca.

So what’s the advantage, spin vs bait caster? Do they cast farther? Better feel? They sure do look cool I’ll give you that but do they catch more fish or something?

Tocino Loc: Folsom, Ca.

I understand why people would fly fish, it’s quite an art with technique, presentation and all.

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

Danger25 wrote:

The one on top i see on rods on the bigger boats going out to the canyons for tuna and other bigger fish…i dont think ive ever seen the low profile ones. They must be more for freshwater.

I have that red one. I mostly troll with my bait caster, but I can cast with it, I just make sure to apply finger pressure on the line just as the lure hits the water. The biggest fish I've caught with that reel was a 17# salmon. I was after Walleye, it put up a good fight and it was a legal fish to catch at the time.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Tocino wrote:

So what’s the advantage, spin vs bait caster? Do they cast farther? Better feel? They sure do look cool I’ll give you that but do they catch more fish or something?

Just more fishing stuff to buy.

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

Maybe this will help answer some of the questions asked about why. First let me say up front, if you fish from the bank, or a small boat on a pond, or you are new to fishing or don't fish often, don't care what kind or how big a fish.... and you prefer a spinning outfit that's what I would use. The waters I fish get so much pressure that I have to invest a lot of time, money and effort to catch quality fish. I'm going to the CA Delta on Friday and the picture below shows the 8 rods that I rigged tonight for that trip. There is two spinning outfits and six baitcasters. You can see I have a Fluke on one and a Senko on the other (spinning rods)and both reels have braid line with a mono leader. I use spinning outfits to cast light lures on super sensitive light rods that allow for great hooksets when I sweep the rod. It takes a little longer to land a four to five pound fish but not so long that I exhaust the fish. My spinning outfits average $200 and my favorite worm rod shown in the pic was $250. These price points get the job done for me.
For me, it's the lure that mostly decides spinning or baitcasting. Going left to right first up is a jerkbait. I catch bigger fish on it, I need a long cast, and I need to comfortably apply an erratic retrieve and to handle at times a bone jarring hit. In the Delta, Stripers will often hit this lure. Next is a square bill and I want to burn this lure through shallow water for a reaction bite. Baitcasters have an advantage of higher gear ratios. One turn of the handle pulls in a lot of line. If I was going to Clear Lake I'd have a deep diving crankbait on. I couldn't even imagine using a spinning reel. Next is a spinner bait and I need accuracy. Splitting the V's on a laydown, right up against that pipe coming off the bank, right into that six inch channel through the tules. Once you get good with a baitcaster your accuracy goes through the roof. Next is a big swimbait that I'll switch to a glide bait later. Notice it is the only baitcaster with braid. Personally I do not like braid on my baitcasters. The pole next to the swimbait has a jig and it's a 7'3" Heavy rod. I have 17lb flouro on it and I'll be making short accurate flips into all kinds of nasty spots that could hold a fish. That reel has a 7 something to 1 ratio so when I get bit I can drive the hook home with that rod and get that fish out of there quick so it can't get back into that nasty stuff and cause problems. Back to my swimbait outfit, I will also use it for punching thick vegetation. That 65lb braid is the way to go. And last is a top water lure where long accurate casts and comfort on the retrieve and bite is so important. So I get all those advantages and I'm not paying more money compared to my spinning outfits. I mean there is a couple that are close to $400 but all the others were less than $200. Hopefully this perspective takes the pressure off feeling like you have to use a baitcaster but gives you an idea that there are good reasons to pick one up and take your time learning how to use it.

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

NoCal Steve wrote:

Maybe this will help answer some of the questions asked about why. First let me say up front, if you fish from the bank, or a small boat on a pond, or you are new to fishing or don't fish often, don't care what kind or how big a fish.... and you prefer a spinning outfit that's what I would use. The waters I fish get so much pressure that I have to invest a lot of time, money and effort to catch quality fish. I'm going to the CA Delta on Friday and the picture below shows the 8 rods that I rigged tonight for that trip. There is two spinning outfits and six baitcasters. You can see I have a Fluke on one and a Senko on the other (spinning rods)and both reels have braid line with a mono leader. I use spinning outfits to cast light lures on super sensitive light rods that allow for great hooksets when I sweep the rod. It takes a little longer to land a four to five pound fish but not so long that I exhaust the fish. My spinning outfits average $200 and my favorite worm rod shown in the pic was $250. These price points get the job done for me.
For me, it's the lure that mostly decides spinning or baitcasting. Going left to right first up is a jerkbait. I catch bigger fish on it, I need a long cast, and I need to comfortably apply an erratic retrieve and to handle at times a bone jarring hit. In the Delta, Stripers will often hit this lure. Next is a square bill and I want to burn this lure through shallow water for a reaction bite. Baitcasters have an advantage of higher gear ratios. One turn of the handle pulls in a lot of line. If I was going to Clear Lake I'd have a deep diving crankbait on. I couldn't even imagine using a spinning reel. Next is a spinner bait and I need accuracy. Splitting the V's on a laydown, right up against that pipe coming off the bank, right into that six inch channel through the tules. Once you get good with a baitcaster your accuracy goes through the roof. Next is a big swimbait that I'll switch to a glide bait later. Notice it is the only baitcaster with braid. Personally I do not like braid on my baitcasters. The pole next to the swimbait has a jig and it's a 7'3" Heavy rod. I have 17lb flouro on it and I'll be making short accurate flips into all kinds of nasty spots that could hold a fish. That reel has a 7 something to 1 ratio so when I get bit I can drive the hook home with that rod and get that fish out of there quick so it can't get back into that nasty stuff and cause problems. Back to my swimbait outfit, I will also use it for punching thick vegetation. That 65lb braid is the way to go. And last is a top water lure where long accurate casts and comfort on the retrieve and bite is so important. So I get all those advantages and I'm not paying more money compared to my spinning outfits. I mean there is a couple that are close to $400 but all the others were less than $200. Hopefully this perspective takes the pressure off feeling like you have to use a baitcaster but gives you an idea that there are good reasons to pick one up and take your time learning how to use it.

Maybe this will help answer some of the questions ... (show quote)

Danger25 Loc: Philly/ Cape may New Jersey

Tocino wrote:

So what’s the advantage, spin vs bait caster? Do they cast farther? Better feel? They sure do look cool I’ll give you that but do they catch more fish or something?

Looking cool is all that matters . 😎

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Ivankast wrote:

I’ve had my bait casting reel for a month now give or take and I really like it but I had braid on there and let my son try it needless to say I will only run mono from now on lol

A small crochet needle goes a long way toward getting those knots out. Just keep the loops loose.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Fredfish wrote:

I was using mono back then. The TLD 20 holds 450yds of 30lb, or 745yds of 65lb braid. The TLD 25 holds 450yds of 40lb, or 980yds of 65lb braid. They also make a smaller TLD 15 but I never had one of those.

That's some serious gear there Fred wow 🎣😎👍

Deltadog925 Loc: Oakley California

Wow 😯
That’s some serious fishing gear you got there
Thanks for all your info
And good luck on your fishing trip
It looks to cool down some the next few days you know to that cool 82
Just right to be out fishing

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

HenryG wrote:

That's some serious gear there Fred wow 🎣😎👍

I used to troll inshore for Stripers, Blues, False Albacore, and Bonita. It was a bit overkill for that, but also went trolling for inshore Tuna on my friend's boats.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Fredfish wrote:

I used to troll inshore for Stripers, Blues, False Albacore, and Bonita. It was a bit overkill for that, but also went trolling for inshore Tuna on my friend's boats.

🎣🙂👍

Deltadog925 Loc: Oakley California

Fredfish wrote:

I used to troll inshore for Stripers, Blues, False Albacore, and Bonita. It was a bit overkill for that, but also went trolling for inshore Tuna on my friend's boats.

Just keep on fishing Brother
Hey Fred is your whether
Still ok for fish
I keep reading how cold it get over there
When do you say ok fishing done for awhile

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Deltadog925 wrote:

Just keep on fishing Brother
Hey Fred is your whether
Still ok for fish
I keep reading how cold it get over there
When do you say ok fishing done for awhile

We're just getting over our first cold spell DD. Getting back to the 60°s during the afternoon. I'll be going out tomorrow, and I don't usually pull the plug on the season until Thanksgiving. A lot depends on when we start getting snow. The Bass fishing starts slowing down and the Panfish start getting active when the water gets cold.