Open Face vs. Bait Caster

[Toba]

During the summer I get out once or twice a week. I will fish for walleye when in need of a meal, but really enjoy bass fishing. I use a medium action IM8 rod now with an open face reel. I have always wondered about bait casters, but have seen friends spend way too much time swearing at their reels due to rats nest. What are the benefits and good uses for bait casters compared to openfaced reels? Sorry, I got long winded.

[Nick Kuhn]

Baitcasters are a little lighter, generally have better drag systems, allow for more accurate casting, hold more line, and generally have less casts where the lure fouls. The downside is occasionally you get a backlash and have to dig it out.

[waterbound]

Baitcasting reels are alot more efficient for casting lots. If you are jigging or casting light lures you will want a spinning reel. There is much less drag and you can cast farther or ligher lures and it just seems convenient to have easy access to the line. Baitcasting is kind of a pain to learn, but once you get the hang of it, you'll love it. I find it much easier to release the spool to make a cast with the press of a button rather than taking a hand off my rod to cast. My advice to you would be to have two different set ups, one for jigging with an open faced reel and one for casting with the baitcaster. Also, if you do buy a baitcasting reel my advice is to buy a left handed one (assuming you normally use your left hand to reel with open faced reels). The left handed reels will save you the trouble of switching hands everytime you cast and make it much more efficient. The selection of left handed reels isn't great, but they do make some nice ones and it's worth it in my book.

Also, you would need to buy a rod designed for baitcasting reels rather than just dropping a baitcaster on a spinning rod. Just something to consider.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I don't think you can cast light lures with a bait caster.

[deadeye]

I love my baitcasters but for light stuff its a lot easier to deal with a spinning reel. Most of the time my walleye fishing is done with a spinning reel.

When I'm using a bit heavier gear IE crankbaits, large jigs and rigs ect I will run the caster as it handles that stuff well and the drag seems better. I think one of the main draws for me is that I can horse a fish a little better with the caster too. If im fishing in heavy weeds it seems like I can really crank a fish out better with the caster vs a spinning reel.

[delmuts]

Toba. Each type of reel has it's place! Yes when throwing lite lures a spinning outfit is much easier. I can cast 1/8 oz. with mine without to much problem, but is simpler with the heavier weights. Yes you will get backlashes from time to time, but if you learn to use the reel,adjust it for different lure weights and conditions, you won't have many. It is easier to use heavier line, with out problems with the BC, and being able to feather the line and dropping just short of an object is a big plus.One thing though! If you do buy one; don't go cheap! There is a big difference.

As far as using a left handed reel vs. a right handed one; go try each out. I hold and cast a spinning outfit with my right hand, but can't stand to do that with a BC. Some people love a left hand reel. Try each and you decide!

[Wayne Ek]

I have a differant slant on the baitcaster Vs. spinning question, when it comes to fishing bass. Especially for the casual angler who only gets to fish 3 or 4 times per month. With the quality spinning rods and reels made today and the advent of braided lines I think you can use spinning rigs for just about any technique you would use a baitcaster for. With the possible exception of HEAVY cover flipping/pitching or frogging. Spinning rods now come in weights and lenghts comparable to baitcasting rods. And it's pretty common to see size 30 or 3000 reels in the stores, I'm even seeing size 40/4000 now. The drags on quality spinning reels are just as good as those on baitcasters and with a spinning reel you can flip the anti-reverse switch and back-reel to fight a big fish, something you can not do on most baitcasters.

[mozy]

Another pro of a baitcaster is that you won't get line twist. It is my biggest pet peeve with spinning reels, which is why I only have 3 spinning reels and 7 baitcasters.

[thedeadsea]

I like spinning for anything up to, and including medium pike fishing. If I am pulling cranks for walleyes I like the hold the rod vs. put it in a rod holder, and it is easier to hold a spinning rod for long periods because the weight of the reel is under the rod.

For laker trolling or any type of muskie/large pike fishing the casting reel is the way to go due to larger line capacity, better drag, and ligher weight in the larger reels.