Spinning outfit vs baitcast outfit for smallies

[A-Jay]

On 3/16/2009 at 9:37 PM, Fish Chris said:

Hey UW, for me that's a no brainer..... Spinning, of course.

But then I have to be honest with you..... this is first and foremost because I am the worlds worst caster with a baitcaster. Heck, I'm not "great" with a spinning rod...... but I get my line out there in front of a big one, once in a while, in spite of this ?

I guess their are some things that would work better with spinning "even if" I were good with a baitcaster.... Like fly-lining a weightless crawler, or a 1" live dad, on the micro-light.

But then I'm the whacko that throws 6oz swimbaits on a spinning rod also.... so you will probably want to get some responses from "normal guys" before you make any decisions ?

Peace,

Fish

It's my parents fault, I'm telling you ?

 I miss @Fish Chris here on the forum

The man landed and photographed some of the biggest & most beautiful Brown Bass I'd ever seen.

 

As for this moldy thread, 

I use both types of gear often & effectively for smallmouth.

Simply depends on the presentation and the fishing conditions.

A-Jay

 

[Bird]

Oh wow, this is an old thread, back when we used cane poles. 

 

Anyway, fish the same equipment for SM as I do LM, even many of the same baits. 

A general rule for myself.....

Baitcasters for faster moving baits and all baits with trebles, and especially baits that I want moving apon hitting the water ( spinnerbaits Buzzbaits ).

Spinning for skipping ( flukes wacky rig )and slower presentations. 

BUT there's always exceptions. 

 

[Fallser]

When I'm not fly fishing which is most of the time, I use spinning tackle.  That's what I learned to fish with many, many years ago.  I've gotten use to casting and fighting fish with my right hand, my dominant hand, and reeling with my left.  I know the availability of left hand retrieve baitcasters has improved.  I catch plenty of bass with the fly rod and the spinning tackle.  No need to change at this point.

[Junk Fisherman]

I use both but more often spinning.

 

Spinning:  Tubes, Ned, hair jigs, spy baits, finesse swimbaits, blade baits

 

Baitcasting:  jerkbaits, spinnerbaits/chatterbaits, topwater, A-rigs

 

* I started throwing a dropshot on a finesse baitcaster last year and really like it.  It is great for pitching up against all the breakwalls I fish.  I also started using the finesse baitcaster for 4" swimbaits on a ballhead jig and I really liked that as well.  So while I used to be probably 80/20 spinning to casting for smallies, with using a baitcaster for DS and swimbaits that ratio will be closer to 50/50 moving forward.  

[MGF]

Me too...both. When the river is "higher" I use the BC more because of the baits I'm using. When the river is low and clear I'm using spinning more.

[volzfan59]

For 95% of my river smallie fishing, I only use spinning gear. 

[Cdn Angler]

I'm admittedly not great with a baitcaster, but bordering on competent. I'm money with a spinning reel though and I'll fish jerkbaits, swimbaits, small cranks, spybaits, tubes, drop shot, ned, wacky, even whopper ploppers and spinnerbaits on a spinning reel.  I don't really see any reason to switch to a baitcaster for things like normal sized jerkbaits/swimbaits, though obviously many prefer a baitcaster.  I can cast them a mile, accurately, the fish stay pinned, I don't need heavy line. No worries. 

 

The reality with SMB is that they will often bite bigger lures, so I've used a baitcaster chucking bigger topwaters (spook style baits) and a-rigs.  Trying to figure out deeper cranks, which would require a baitcaster and I think spinnerbaits would be better using a baitcaster and big smallies eat them up around here.  They still work fine on a spinning reel, but I think there'd be fewer line issues on 1/2 oz spinnerbaits with a baitcaster. 

[J Francho]

[bowhunter63]

Grew up in the North so 90 percent spinning. I use a bait caster for spinner baits and some times flukes 

[FryDog62]

Converted over to 100% baitcasting and fish a lot of river smallmouth. BFS, ML, Medium and MH. No regrets - -

[DogBone_384]

I use both, depending on lure, weather, etc., though I prefer B/C.

[N Florida Mike]

I use spinning more. I use them for soft plastics, which I fish the most with …I love skipping up under docks with them. I have a dedicated casting set up that is dialed in for spinnerbaits. I have a heavier casting set up that I use for Frogs, pitching etc. And would use for jigs, if I ever fish them.

[MickD]

Spinning for light stuff, (tubes, drop shot, Ned, small cranks, blades, wacky) BC for heavier (cranks about 3/8 oz and above, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, hard jerks).

[lunkerboss923]

I'm a firm believer in spinning gear. However, bass fishing is purely situational. Yesterday I was sure the bass would bite the jerkbait, jig, lipless crank, slow dragging an Ol Monster. All baitcaster driven applications  They, instead, wanted a tube on a medium light spinning rod. Never in a million years would I try a tube, but it called for it and yielded a good return. It's all subjective. I would understand the nature of the pond, creek or lake, then make your game plan  

 

These days companies are featuring finesse reels and rods. So it all boils down to what you are confident in. Do you like baitcasters or spinning reels? Never fished smallies, but every YouTube video I watch every angler has a spinning outfit. I believe you could probably fish with 2 spinning rigs one medium light (Ned rigs, neko rigs, dropshots and tubes) and medium fast (wacky rigs and shaky heads) and a medium heavy rod baitcaster for versatility. 

[billmac]

I use spinning only when I have to: Drop shot, ned rig, etc.  I don't like spinning reels, never have.  In fact, since a lot of drop shotting that I do is vertical, with a heavier weight for strong current, I'm not sure why I don't use a baitcaster for that too.

[leinad]

i use spinning gear 100% of the time river fishing for smalies. mf for shakey head , heavy ned rig and light texas rigged creature baits in  fast current , a ml for ds and neds and a lf for 1/16 ned heads.

[cyclops2]

Constant twisting of spinning line is a nuisance. But I carry 2 rods And stop & remove the lure to unwind the line.

 

Got smart long ago.  I made up spinners  That spin OPPOSITE to standard direction. I do not use a lot of spinners. 

[MIbassyaker]

Sometimes they want a presentation that I can make better with a baitcaster:

 

 

Other times, they want a presentation I can make better with spinning:

 

 

So for me it's not "vs"......it's "and".

[Bdnoble84]

If i can use a baitcaster for an application, i will use a baitcaster, so pretty much anything 3/16 and up. That being said, if i am wading and only have one rod and not set on fishing heavier baits, ill use my m-f spinning setup. 

[Darth-Baiter]

My lakes are multi bass species.  I’m not targeting smallies exclusively. 
 

Having said that.   I’m 50/50 easy between the two.  Easy. I love easy tossing a spinning setup. And the fish fight is so exciting. 
 

I don’t have any preconceived notions about either gear setup.  

[TnRiver46]

On 1/5/2022 at 10:35 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

My lakes are multi bass species.  I’m not targeting smallies exclusively. 
 

Having said that.   I’m 50/50 easy between the two.  Easy. I love easy tossing a spinning setup. And the fish fight is so exciting. 
 

I don’t have any preconceived notions about either gear setup.  

Same here. Largemouth and smallmouth can be anytime anywhere.
 

i will say Fighting a fish is easier with baitcaster, but getting fish to bite is easier with spinning. I like them both! And I usually have both with me 

[Swamp Girl]

On 3/21/2009 at 7:40 PM, Beardog said:

To my simple mind, the question is backlashes versus the dreaded loop.  Spinning, you will inevitably get the loops, which often require a complete relining.  With baitcasters, you will get the professional overrun, which requires a lot of blue words and some patience to repair.  However, skill can alleviate the backlash--nothing can overcome the physics of the spinning reel.  Educate your thumb!

If you aren't already a professional writer, you should be.

 

Sincerely,

 

A professional writer

[MickD]

On 1/4/2022 at 2:55 PM, cyclops2 said:

Got smart long ago.  I made up spinners  That spin OPPOSITE to standard direction. I do not use a lot of spinners. 

I have to admit, I never thought about the direction of spin.  If most spinners spin in the "standard direction," (which direction is that when viewed from the rear?  Is it the same in the northern and southern hemispheres? ) how do I make spinners that spin opposite?  Learn something every day!

[Gera]

I grew up with baitcasters and never bother with anything else, but moving up north taught me to love the spinning reel and the techniques that definitely work better on it. Also, now I enjoy working a reel and a rood on different hands depending the gear I'm holding and just the idea of that light line snapping because I didn't do my part correctly is very exciting. 

[Sphynx]

Depends on the time of year, there's times in the Columbia where you get to pick how you'd like to catch them, paddletail, poppers, spooks, Rat-L-Trap, jigs, worms, all work in the same area at the same time, I am pretty close to a 50/50 on baitcasting and spinning set ups, I like poppers on a spinning rod, but I like my spooks on a baitcasting rod...and if it's working at all, it'll be a topwater lure.