Over the years, and even decades, fishing rod and reels have for the most part remained the same.
When you go to buy a rod, reel or a rod & reel combo you pretty much have one of two options to choose from: a spinning setup or a baitcasting setup.
Yes, there's the famous "push button" rod and reel combos that many of us used as kids but we're going to leave those out of this article. Not to be fooled though, there's nothing wrong with ripping some lips on an old-school Zebco!
Moving on though... this means you're left with two options when selecting a fishing setup. Both spinning and baitcasting combos have their place in your fishing arsenal so which do you choose?
How about both?
Below we'll cover a few of the pros and cons of each, situations where one setup may be favored over the other, as well as a few reel suggestions for your next setup.
Spinning
Pros:
Easy to use
Best choice for light tackle
Generally cheaper than baitcasting reels
Can be used in multiple fishing applications
Much easier maintenance than baitcasters
Cons:
Lower casting distance and accuracy
Not great for heavy lures
Line memory becomes an issue for mono/fluoro
Typically heavier than baitcasters
Reasons to Choose a Spinning Setup
Great Option If You're New to Fishing
A spinning rod and reel is a solid choice for someone who is new to fishing. Compared to a baitcaster, spinning setups are much easier to learn how to use. Here's a few reasons to pick a spinning combo as a beginner.
They are easy to cast with
Spinning equipment is more widely available for all rod and reel sizes to meet the needs of the angler.
Most spinning reels are adjustable to suit the individual's preferences for which hand they prefer to reel with
Spinning reels do not require as much fine tuning as baitcasters (e.g., drag, tension, brakes)
Larger and fewer line guides on the rod which makes the initial setup process much easier.
Generally the cheaper option
Best Choice For Fishing Light Tackle
If you're fishing light tackle there is a good chance you already have a spinning rod and reel in your hand.
This is one of the great benefits of this setup over a baitcaster.
Baitcasters struggle to cast lighter lures (1/4 oz. or less) which makes spinning tackle a great option for these applications.
One route that a lot of anglers have taken over the years to to use braid for the main line and either a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. Most leaders range between 2 and 8 feet in length.
Not only does braided line solve the line memory issue with spinning tackle, it also has a much smaller line diameter relative to the same pound test of monofilament and fluorocarbon. For comparison, 20-pound test braid has roughly the same line diameter as 8-pound test fluorocarbon.
Using a similar setup allows for longer casts and improves overall sensitivity during your retrieve. Both being much needed advantages when fishing lighter tackle.
If you need help tying on a braid-to-mono or braid-to-fluoro leader check out "The Only 3 Bass Fishing Knots You Need" to learn how to properly tie the super effective Albright knot.
Our Top Spinning Reel Picks:
Budget friendly:
Shimano Sienna, 2500 (https://amzn.to/3PYM6vs)
Okuma Ceymor, C-30 (https://amzn.to/3vjVCl6)
Best of the best:
Shimano Stradic FL, 2500 (https://amzn.to/3PGma81)
Baitcasters
Pros:
Capable of making longer casts
Works great with heavy tackle
Lighter than spinning reels of similar size
Accurate short range casting (pitching, flipping)
Great option for larger game fish
Cons:
Steeper learning curve
Reel components need adjusted based on lure sizes
Not a great choice for light lures
Generally the more expensive option
Reasons to Choose a Baitcasting Setup
Built For Heavy Duty Applications
To get the most out of the larger and heavier lures (3/8 oz. or more) on the market, it may be best to consider using a baitcaster. Baitcasters are built to handle more heavy duty fishing applications.
Since baitcasting rods are generally stiffer than spinning rods, you have more "backbone" to handle the stress that larger lures can put on the fishing rod. The same goes for when you are hung up or have a fish on.
Whether you're hung up or you just got a bite in the middle of some thick stuff, a baitcaster will have your back.
Thanks to the line guides being on top of the rod, and there typically being more of them, a lot of the forces felt when you're fighting a fish is transferred to the rod. By leveraging more of the rod less stress is placed on the line when trying to land a fish.
They Allow For Longer Casting
When line is stripped off the reel of a baitcaster it comes off the spool in direct line with the rod and line guides. This feature alone gives baitcasters a huge advantage over spinning combos which are prone to accumulating line memory and line twist and ultimately affecting casting distance.
Baitcasting reels also have a few more features that edge out spinning setups that aides in an angler being able to make longer casts.
A baitcasting reel includes adjustable brakes and a spool tensioner. Both of these features allow an angler to fine tune their reel for the specific lure they are throwing for increased casting distance.
*** Understanding the Spool Tension and Braking System ***
This is often a confusing topic for anglers but hopefully this helps keep things simple...
The adjustable breaks on a baitcaster (beside the name on the reel above) are used to adjust the speed of the spool when casting. The spool tensioner is used to help with stopping the spool after a cast is made.
Having either of these two mechanical features wrongly configured can result in a backlash (or bird's nest).
If the braking is too loose it could mean backlashing during mid-cast. Not enough tension on the spool could mean backlashing when the lure hits the water due to the spool continuing to spin.
Worth noting, many anglers will compensate for a looser spool tension by using their thumb to control the spool once their lure has hit the water.
It takes some playing around with depending on the weight of a lure and if you're casting into the wind or not but understanding how to properly set these components will allow you to cast your lure distances you never thought was imaginable.
Our Top Baitcasting Reel Picks:
Budget friendly:
Abu Garcia Pro Max & Max Pro (https://amzn.to/3cPF6CH)
Best of the best:
Lew's LFS Series Pro Speed Spool (https://amzn.to/3zhVjrR)
The Part That Really Matters...
Some guys will say that if you don't use a baitcaster you're not really serious about fishing. Keep a watch out for that guy because they are probably still picking out a backlash while you're catching your 5th keeper on light, spinning tackle.
Our point is this... it all boils down to you as an angler and what you're comfortable with.
Ask people who fish a bunch of topwater frogs and they'll tell you to throw a baitcaster setup with a 7-foot heavy rod on 65-pound braid. Will it catch bass? It sure will!
But guess what..?
There's anglers out there fishing the same topwater frog and catching 6, 7, and 8 pound bass on spinning tackle.
Are there advantages to each setup?
Of course!
However, at the end of the day what matters is your confidence in your tackle and your ability to perform with it.
Happy Fishing Y'all!