Ave Loc: Okaloosa County FL

All great advice. Tune by hanging your jig a couple feet below your rod tip. Adjust your casting drag (small knob) your jig stays put. Now pop your rod tip down a bit. Back your casting drag off until your jig drops 12 to 18" & stops. Now go make some bird nests. Watch your jig until just before it hits the water and apply pressure. You do not want your spool spinning when the jig hits or your done for a bit. Once you get the hang of it your spinners will hate you. At least until it gets windy. Baicasters & conventional have unequaled drag, power & dependability. Easy to maintain & clean up in my opinion. But some people prefer spinners. I love both but a spinner is way more unforgiving on a hot bite. On the other hand baitcasters & conventional have more stopping power. It really just depends on you. Just don't be discouraged by the above pics otherwise you'll never try it. If you jig alot or are casting into the wind, after about 6 - 10 casts take one long cast & just reel it straight in to re-tighten the line on your spool. Even the best jack up their spools from time to time.

Jim Sargent Loc: Payson, AZ

When I first contemplated using a bait caster an acquaintance who fished tournaments regularly advised me to start with a very cheap one so I could throw it overboard in frustration, then move on to a better quality bait caster.😀

CamT Loc: La Porte, Texas

🤣🤣 that sounds about right ✅️

Steelhead Mickey Loc: NJ

Very good points & thanks for describing the "tuning process", something somebody new should know & us veteran anglers take for granted that they do...

tight spools,
Mickey

Ave Loc: Okaloosa County FL

We all started at that same point. The best thing we can do his help our neighbors feed their families.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

You will have to be more specific with what baitcasting reel you have to get really useful answers rather than generalities. Try updating your post. Thanks.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

That one looks easy. At least it isn't pulled tight. I wish I had photos of some of the reels handed to me on the charter boat.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Just a suggestion all: get a crochet hook as small as you can that will still hook the line. If I had to cut the line using braid, I would go broke. I (clients) have had as many as 20 backlashes in single day, some going deep into the spool. My clients were not particularly. They would backlash the halibut braid with the same gusto as the 14 and 20 pound mono. Guiding is a great gig, if you know going into it that you will spend more than 80% of your time babysitting adults rather than helping them catch fish. It's all good

4DaFryer Loc: Romeoville, IL

The BIG advantage of spinning and spin-cast reels is there is NO need to Tune for casting with any size, weight or lure.
Great for the average angler and newbies. Avoiding FRUSTATION while fishing is the key. NOBODY enjoys untangling and cutting a birds-nest while fishing. Baitcasting requires higher skill level and patience. No need for bait-casting gear when fishing for panfish. For BIG Fish, a bigger spinning reel should suffice for most situations.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Just a side note: Why do clients who can not even keep the tangles out of a spinning reel, insist on using a baitcasting reel to cast for salmon with? Just something to ponder.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

4Da only trouble with bigger spinning reels in the weight. Especially if you're doing alot of casting 👍

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

T B A once you get it set don't make the mistake than probably everyone has made. You want to get n extra foot or two. You put a bit more power in the Cast n oops. I like my casters because they cause less stress on my wrists. Baitcasters in general are lighter. I may be the only one that doesn't depend on my thumb. I tried it like I was told but never got the hang of it. If I'm using something that I want to sink I stop spool then release n let lure go down. Also tend to run my reels fairly loose. When you get a backlash finesse it out. If you try pulling hard you'll lock it in tight. Use good line at first but not the best till you get the hang of it. Nobody told me about that till I cut up alot of line. Good luck. 👍

Ave Loc: Okaloosa County FL

Always have a minimum of 3 rods per angler on your boat... if we target Pomps I have two identical go-to light (8 lb fast), one 12 lb med light & my light 8 lb baitcaster (All Terramax) my Spinners are Sustain's & my baitcaster (8 lb) is a Calcutta 210B. I'm ready for anything that comes along. Play your drag right, as long as it's hooked right, you can pull in the 3 ft man in the grey suit when the steals your rig. Yeah we get into alot of small Atlantic Sharpnose & Blacktips when we hunt Pomps. I love my baitcaster up to about 6 mph winds. Then its a spinner. Neither of them will I ever dog. They are my tools of choice & I work'em hard.

CamT Loc: La Porte, Texas

Grizz you are so right and for accuracy in casting your bait where you want it, you can't beat a baitcaster. With spinning reels it's easy to over throw where you want it to land.
Spin cast is easier to control your stopping point than spinning reels but my best control is with a baitcaster. With that said casting light lures is lots easier with spin cast or spinning reels IMHO

Ave Loc: Okaloosa County FL

Because the cool guys aren't using Snoopy rods.