Bait casting never again. Spincast from now on.

[USMCM16A2]

Folks,


Went to Castaic Lake for the first time in decades. I purchased a a new Shimano bait casting reel, and rod combo. Within 1.5 hours I had 3 birds nests. Like a bozo I had forgotten my back up, Ugly Stick spincast set up. So from this day forward only the Ugly. A2

[silvertriple]

Birdsnests aren't fun and takes a lot of time away from actual fishing. Did you play around with the settings to see if it helped? Model? Too light of lure/plastic? Just out of practice?

Spinning set ups are definitely easier but also can get tangled with repeated reeling of loose line onto the spool.

[USMCM16A2]

Silver,


Spin far easier to use. A2

[BillyGoatCrawler]

You’ll never learn to cast it if you leave it at home.

[USMCM16A2]

Billy,


Understood. A2

[BillyGoatCrawler]

Bait casters can be a ***** though. I saw a buddy get cut pretty badly by braid and a bait caster.. We were kayak fishing in the ocean and he was clearing a birds nest. Lure got snagged on a rock. He drifted and it cinched down on his finger. His hands were soggy so it made it cut in more.

[G-forceJunkie]

Any Luck? Castaic is my local lake but I usually get skunked. Hooked a few large mouth in the lagoon last year but thats about it.

[USMCM16A2]

G,


Talked with other land locked fisherman, and they said the bite has been a big fat goose egg. I fished off the dam, TONS of baby shad. But no bite. I might try Piru next week. A2

[castgold]

When you spool up your baitcaster or conventional reels, leave a little space on the spool so that the edges of it are exposed on the sides. That is where you put your thumb, not the line. A wet thumb on smooth metal is all the braking control you need to eliminate spectra looms from your life.

[the_tunaman]

There’s a time and place for spinning gear, but baitcasters are far superior and you should learn to master them. Practice at a local lake or park - great way to pass some time and it will you will become proficient over time.

Look at the Daiwa line instead - I hate Shimano baitcasters myself. Most of the Daiwa reels have magnetic cast control which really works, and will shorten the learning curve.

[stonefly-2]

Only just barely on topic here but i saw this recently and had to share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx85m_1De1Y

[edgerly779]

Give me a call T I have a boat with 2 4 stroke outboards. Fresh water oor inshore fishing or lobster trapping. I have a bunch of spin cast rods and reels and 20 salt water rigs

[CaptnCaveman]

Baitcasters have their place, especially in bass fishing. Flipping, and pitching lures in particular. But, you have to put the time in.

That being said, when a buddy of mine who fishes a couple times a year asked for advice about buying a fishing rig, I tried my best to convince him to buy a spinning reel. He bought a baitcaster and spent more time cursing and cussing than fishing.

[HighWildFree]

Even after using conventional reels for over 20 years I still get backslashes, which is why I bring at a minimum 4 rods on party boats, the bite can be over in a second and if one rod goes down I can just grab another.

[JackEllis]

I've had decent luck with baitcasters, but the key is setting the drag correctly. I use one to fish for sockeye in Alaska and the biggest problem is line not staying tight on the spool.