Conference wahoo::fishing

     1. Better drag system.
     2. (Can be) more accurate.
    
    --The Skoal Bandit

    In the salt, a conventional reel (like a bait caster) has more power
    than a spinning reel. No right angle bend in the line.
    
    Cap. Codfish

    	One other possible reason is it usually allows you to use larger
    and heavier lures than the same size spinning out fit (i.e. big
    spinner baits and top water plugs).
    
    	This is not to say you couldn't use a spinning outfit for the
    above, it just seems the bait caster is better suited.
    
    	RAYJ
    

    Well, I bought a Zebco baitcaster thru a "warehouse clearance sale"
    from Bass Pro last year, to replace the Johnson Century closed-face
    spinning reel on my otherwise nice graphite-boron rod (that I was
    lucky enough to get at Building 19� before I even knew what a good
    rod was - it just 'felt' right, and it was! - and only $15!)
    
    Anyhow, I figured I couldn't go wrong, the price of the reel was
    quite low, so if I didn't like it, I wouldn't be out a lot...
    
    My impressions are that using a baitcaster for heavy lures is ok,
    but *forget it* when tossing light stuff like unweighted worms or
    gitzits. They won't go far and you're almost guaranteed a tangled
    spool. The baitcaster does feel very strong, though, since you crank
    the line directly to the spool without going through the bail, like
    spinning reel.
    
    Watch what the pros use. They don't use baitcasters all the time! 
    I've even seen one pro using a Zebco closed-face reel in his show 
    (the truth!) and Guido Hibdon prefers spinning reels for gitzits.
    Billy Westmoreland seems to stick w. spinning gear, too. One of my 
    more experienced fishing pals says he sees no reason for baitcasters 
    for fresh water fishing at all.
    
    I'll continue to use my baitcaster with heavy plugs, etc, but when
    my wife goes fishing with me, off comes the baitcaster and on goes
    the Johnson, and she does quite well with it! (And I get to use the
    spinning gear)
    
    I wouldn't be in any great hurry to get one just cause it looks
    like everybody else is into them - they can be a pain in the butt.
    However, if you have the bucks to blow, and want a new toy, then, 
    why not..!
    
    Ed
    

    I use baitcasters when the situation calls for line heavier than
    8lb test.  The ability to thumb the spool means greater control.
    Baitcasters feel alot more solid to me than spinning outfits.
                                                            
    They do take a little while to get used to, but once you get used
    to them, you'll love them.  
    
    It's true that more pros nowadays are fishing spinning outfits than 
    in years past.  This is because the new gear is much nicer.  Better 
    drags, better rods and better reel design makes the new spinning 
    outfits much more suited for serious fishing.  
    
    I was looking a Daiwa/Alls-Star combo at the Worcester expo that
    was 'reel' nice... 

    don mac

     Ed, "hats off to you" for having the guts to say what all of us
    know is true, regardless of what Ray Scott and the good ole boys
    think! Hell, I love baitcasters and use 'em a lot, but let's face
    it, New England Bassin' ain't like Lake Okeechobee or fishing in
    the garbage they find in the deep South. I'd venture to say that,
    except for Flipping, you could do just fine with 2 spinning outfits
    - a light one and also a firm one for worming. If I never used a
    plug bigger than 3/8 oz, or a spinnerbait or worm weight or jig
    heavier than 1/4, as well as 4-6" worms and 3" grubs, I'd probably
    do just as well (or as bad). But then, there'd be less for me to
    send $$ to Johnny Morris's Bass Pro Shops to buy.
     I just flat LOVE to pitch plugs on a bait rod, but as Big Billy
    has proved, that isn't necessarily the best way or only way to go.
    Gotta go, I've got to call BassPro to order that Shimano Crankin'
    reel...
    
    --The Skoal Bandit

    Dem baitcasters are gud for gittin onder cypress limbs an gittin
    hong op in cypress roots. Spincastin is best for topwaters an skippin
    over de top ob moss. Dependin opon which kind ob fishin I'm doin,
    I may do both!
    
    A lot ob time if de fish am spooky, lak wen dey are on de beds,
    I lak to use a heavy baitcast plug wit a spincast rig. I can trow
    it furthur an I don hab to git as close.
    
    Coonass

    
    I find baitcasters work well when fishing conditions call for large
    lures and heavy line.  Fishing in heavy vegetation or in flooded
    trees are two examples.
    
    I feel that it is important when purchasing baitcasting equipment
    to avoid some of the least expensive models and always fill the
    reel with a high quality line.  The amount of line on the reel also
    will have a major impact on performance.
    
    Generally this type of equipment is for the angler looking for larger
    fish and is not suited for all lures or conditions.  It all comes
    down to a matter of personal preference.  I own and use both spinning
    and baitcasting equipment, each being suited to a particular set
    of conditions.
    
    Good luck.............
    
    Doug Adkins

re .0

   A couple years ago I was in the same boat you are and asked the same
questions.  I have found in the ensueing years that my baitcasters are
stronger, the drag is smoother, my casting is significantly more accurate
for distance ( marginally so for direction), with lots of practice, my
casts are longer (minimal line drag on the rod guides), and biggie is I
don't have the nearly the problem with line twist that I do with the
spinning gear.  As has been previously mentioned, baitcasting gear has
problems with very light lures, but I wonder how much of that has to do
with the stick to which the reel is attached.  It's a matter of the preferred
tool for the job.

   I have spinning gear and use it frequently, but if my lures are heavy
enough for the baitcaster, that's my preference almost every time.  I've
got better control of my line and what's attached to it.

Al

    At the Worcester Show I got one of my basic questions answered
    which is what is the difference between the modern baitcasters and
    those big old clunky looking ones from thirty years ago.  If you watch
    the bassmasters or shows like Hank Parker you will notice he uses an
    Ambassaduer Classic as well as the newer XLT's.  The sales rep told me
    there are two main reasons; more line and no magnetics.  The most
    important difference is the zero magnetics in the classics.  This
    equates longer casts.  He told me that even with the magnetics backed
    to zero there is still resistance from magnets with the classic
    baitcasters there is none.  He told me when you are proficient at using
    zero magnetics try the classic and you will feel the difference.
    
    Sounded right to me, anyone out there use a classic?
    
    Brian
                            

    I use a couple of the classic style ABUs, a Royal Express I and a 
    4600C.
    
    For tossing heavy baits I prefer these over alot of the newer style
    reels.  
    
    You can still get some new models without magnetic control, at least you 
    could the last couple of years, I haven't really scanned the 91 lineup 
    yet.  The ABU Lite for example was a newer style reel without magnetic 
    control.  I took all my baitcasters apart this weekend and cleaned and 
    lubed them.  
    
    While I had my Shimano 150mpx apart (~5 years old) I decided to remove 
    the magnetics since I don't use them.  This can be done on all magnetic 
    control reels that I've see opened up.
    
    donmac

<<the ABU Lite for example was a newer style reel without magnetic 

Don check again.  The abu lite has what is called MAGTRAX which is magnetic 
control.

I do have an old abu 5000 which was the original.  It is red with ivory reel
handle.  It was given to me when I was a kid when my uncle in Florida died.
It still works great.  I use it for crankin because it has a lower 
gear ratio, or the smaller handle makes it that way I am not sure what.

Nice reel you just adjust the manual tension or free spool it.  I learned how
to use a bait caster with this reel.  Boy was it tuff.

Bassin Bob'  

ps.  The free spool option is nice for pitching, but you need a quick thumb.

>>Don check again.  The abu lite has what is called MAGTRAX which is magnetic 
>>control.
    
    Are you sure?  I know the Lite Plus has magnetic control plus the 
    hookset switch.  But my Lite does not have any magnetic control -
    unless it is an internal feature that is totally transparent inside and
    out.  I took it apart, all but the gear case, last weekend and did not 
    see any magnets... 
    
    donmac - who sent his Quantum 1610 off to Bucko's this morning to get
             one of the thumbscrews replaced (love those lifetime
             warrantees)

Don I stand corrected.  I looked it up again and the lit only has a centrifgal
brake, I haev a lite Plus and it has the MAgtrax brake.

Bassin Bob