The debate about fishing with a baitcasting reel versus a spinning reel isn’t really much of a debate. Today’s tackle and tactics are rod and reel specific, so there is a time and place for a baitcaster and a time and place for spinner. Sure, there are situations where either delivery system is appropriate. But I choose a baitcasting reel or spinning reel to match the lure or bait I’m using. Knowing when to use a baitcaster and when to use a spinner is key to getting the most out of any fishing tactic.
Baitcasting Vs. Spinning Reels
What Is a Baitcasting Reel?
A baitcasting reel is a fancy winch. To retrieve line, the reel handle and the spool rotate on the same plane. Baitcasting reels are low-profile with the spool close to the reel seat for a more comfortable grip. And baitcasting reels have a sliding level wind that guides the line onto the spool as I turn the reel handle.
A series of gears between the handle and the spool determines how many times the spool turns for each handle revolution. The reel’s gear ratio contributes to working fast or slow lures.
To allow the line to leave the spool when the anti-reverse is engaged, friction plates between the spool and the handle produce drag pressure.
To cast a baitcasting reel, I disengage the spool release, hold the spool with my thumb, swing the rod, remove my thumb at the end of the arch and let the lure fly. As line leaves the spool, I apply light pressure with my thumb to prevent the spool from turning faster than the line is leaving the reel. Baitcasting reels use a casting brake and spool tension knob to help control spool speed.
What Is a Spinning Reel?
With a spinning reel, I turn the reel handle to spin a line guide that wraps line around a stationary spool. The spool moves up and down to lay the line on the spool. Friction plates between the spool and the rotor allow line to leave the reel when the anti-reverse is engaged. To cast the reel, I hold the line with my pointer finger. Then, I flip open the bail to disengage the line roller and swing the rod. At the end of the arch, I remove my finger from the line and line leaves the spool. When my lure hits the water, I close the bail to engage the line guide.
When to Use a Baitcaster
A baitcasting reel excels when speed and accuracy are important. With a baitcaster, I release the spool and cast using one hand. To cast a spinning reel, I hold the rod with one hand and open the bail with my other hand. One-handed casting allows me to make faster casts.
Casting a baitcasting reel is more accurate because I stop the line from leaving my reel by mashing my thumb onto the spool and the lure drops into the water. To do the same thing with a spinning reel, I have to hold the rod with one hand and stop the line with my other hand.
I use a baitcasting reel to cast to structure, like throwing a frog to a river bank or landing a lure in dock pilings. When I’m sight fishing, firing off a fast and accurate cast delivers my lure before the fish sees me.
Even in situations where a baitcasting reel or spinning reel work equally well, I prefer a baitcasting reel for the comfortable one-handed operation. And a baitcasting reel sits on top of the rod providing a smoother retrieve with less effort than a spinning reel.
When to Use a Spinning Reel
Casting accuracy and comfort make a baitcasting reel my go-to for most inshore, nearshore and freshwater fishing. However, spinning reels have their place.
First, spinning reels are user-friendly. Casting a baitcasting reel requires an educated thumb to control the spool speed. As the wind conditions change or I change the size or weight of my lure, I have to adjust the casting brake to prevent an overrun. Even with years of experience and thousands of casts, I occasionally have to pick out a dreaded backlash tangle.
With a spinning reel, the fixed spool allows the line to leave the reel and flow freely through the line guides. A baitcaster’s spool is under slight pressure and requires a heavier weight to cast. The spinning reel allows me to cast a lighter lure or live bait without risking a tangle. Also, the absence of pressure on the line makes a spinner cast farther.
The biggest danger is creating a tangle called a wind knot. Retrieving line without tension creates a loop on the spool. On the next cast, the loop catches the line leaving the reel and causing a big mess.
When it comes to fighting a big fish, a spinning reel is more powerful than a baitcasting setup. On a spinning set up, the reel and the line guides are on the underside of the rod, providing more power to pull up against a fighting fish. A baitcasting reel and line guides are on top of the rod, forcing downward pressure to twist the rod.
Bait Finesse Systems
So my rule of thumb is spinning reels for light lures and weightless baits and baitcasters for everything else. Of course, rules were made for breaking.
The latest generation of Bait Finesse System (BFS) baitcasting reels use a large arbor spool and super sensitive casting brakes to cast impossibly small lures. Developed in Japan to finesse finicky bass, these rod and reel systems offer the advantages of quick, accurate casts while reducing the threat of a backlash.
Baitcaster Vs. Spinning Reel on Saltwater
Saltwater was off-limits for baitcasting reels. Spinning reels had greater line capacity and fewer moving parts. In the last five years, improvements in design and materials have introduced baitcasters to the salt.
I use baitcasting reels to sight fish for redfish and cobia, cast twitch baits for speckled trout and work structure in search of striped bass. Large format baitcasting reels provide greater line capacity and greater drag pressure to battle fish up to 100 pounds.
For me, spinning reels are best for small lures and light baits. When the fish are finicky, I use a spinning reel to tickle a tiny jig. Spinning reels are perfect for casting a live eel at a cobia or lobbing a tiny crab at a foraging bonefish.
The latest generation of saltwater-specific baitcasting reels allow salty anglers to use the best tool for the job without sacrificing durability or line capacity.
Preference Plays a Part
Even though baitcasting reels are faster and more accurate and spinning reels are more nimble and easier to use, some people prefer one style reel over another. If I could only own one fishing reel, I would buy a spinning reel because it is more versatile. A spinner can do everything a baitcasting reel can do, but a baitcasting reel will always struggle to cast a light lure. Plus, a spinning reel is easier to use.
As a kayak angler, I prefer baitcasting reels because they are easier to lie on my kayak deck. With the reel on top of the rod, the baitcasting rod requires less space than a spinning rod with the reel lying on its side. And, the baitcasting reel is elevated off the deck while the spinning reel is lying in the water and fish slime.
So there’s no reason to debate an ultimate winner in baitcasting reels versus spinning reels—each system has advantages depending on the tactic. Choosing the best reel for a specific tactic results in more, bigger fish in the kayak. And there’s no arguing about that.
Get the most out of your fishing rod by choosing the best reel system. | Feature photo: Ric Burnley
Problem solved If your right handed by a left handed bait caster.