I have owned one for a couple years now. I use every once and a while, though im not very good with them. I have always wondered what make them so much better than a regular spinning reel? what are the advantages of using them?

The two main advantages for me are more variety with actions/tapers and the ability to use heavier line/lures with a smaller reel

To add More casts can be done in a hour vs a spinning too. Hence more chances to catch fish.

The reel is like a winch, gives a lot of power to get fish out of heavy cover. Notice how the setup is similar to a winch on the front of a truck.

 

Spinning can do it but not as well.

Ability to use heavier line.  Given the same retrieve speed the number of casts should be be pretty similar, but in spinning the retrieve speed is often varied on purpose.  I never saw a disadvantage in pulling fish out of cover with spinning gear, a good trick is to grab the spool with your hand and pull them out with your rod, don't reel them out.

Law of physics might say a casting reel is mechanically superior but these days technology has made the spinning reel viable.  Besides how much mechanical advantage do we need to hunt a animal with a pea sized brain and tiny compared to our own physique.  I prefer to work most lures with a casting combo. But I'll always prefer to fight a fish with a spinning combo. To me its more comfortable.  We are lucky to have so many choices.

I'd say its more control and precision placing the lure where you want it. I picked up my fist baitcaster a few weeks ago and the ability to drop a lure in the water with little splash is really cool. When I cast with spinning I have a heck of a time not getting a big splash. Sometimes I get lucky so i am sure it can be done on demand. Besides B/C look cool. Lol

For me it all came down to getting tired of the line on my spinning reel constantly coiling and twisting after making cast after cast.  Now I have since put braid on my spinning reels and they now see some use again, but I still prefer my casting reels.  I like the fact that you can cast and cast and not get any line twist. Also, I like the speeds available on casting reels.  You will have a hard time using buzz baits, frogs, etc on a spinning reel b/c you have to reel so fast, or at least you will get tired a lot quicker.  At least that's my .02 cents.

Law of physics might say a casting reel is mechanically superior but these days technology has made the spinning reel viable.  Besides how much mechanical advantage do we need to hunt a animal with a pea sized brain and tiny compared to our own physique.  I prefer to work most lures with a casting combo. But I'll always prefer to fight a fish with a spinning combo. To me its more comfortable.  We are lucky to have so many choices.

Wise words, you must the Yoda of bass fishing!  LOL

When fishing the heavy grass the last rod I am going to pick up is a spinning combo. Right now use a 7ft 6in heavy/fast with 65lb braid, when a good fish gets into the thick stuff you will appreciate every bit of the winching power.  To make it a whole lot more interested make it a 36 inch snakehead in the thick stuff.....

Most of the replies here have been because of the ability to "hoss" one out of the thick weeds. This is absolutely correct but its also the control of the cast.

A bait caster is a "caster" of the bait.

A spinning reel is a "chunker" of the bait.

With the bait caster you can "work" the bait in flight left or right, long or short. With a spinning reel the only thing you can do is stop it.

  YMO