Bait Case V. Spincast

[Smalliebigs]

I guess when you have graduated from Bronson's, Langley's and JC Higgin's baitcasters to Curado's and Z's like I have you get a different perspective.

While I'm not really in to spending a lot on spinning rods, baitcasters are a different animal to me and I love my Falcons. I'm sure there are others I could appreciate also that are in their class..

I couldn't agree more Wayne....Falcons are very nice and Happy Birthday.... You have probally have forgot more fishing than what I have learned so, I hope you had a good one today you've earned it.

[Mitch f]

I guess when you have graduated from Bronson's, Langley's and JC Higgin's baitcasters to Curado's and Z's like I have you get a different perspective.

While I'm not really in to spending a lot on spinning rods, baitcasters are a different animal to me and I love my Falcons. I'm sure there are others I could appreciate also that are in their class..

I like Falcons too, not too expensive but very decent. I dont cheap out on reels though, only use Shimano Curados and Chronarchs. I have some old Ambassadeurs that I use for Musky fishing that just won't die. But on the rods...IMO less than $100 is all you ever need anymore.

And now please forgive me as I retire to my new Guinnness Black Lager

[ozark trout fisher]

Where does my $25 spinning rod I bought at Walmart it into this conversation? Probably not "high quality", but it worked well enough for me to catch a whole bunch of smallmouth on it today.

Just my opinion, but I'd say ya'll are making this way, way too complicated.

[Mitch f]

Where does my $25 spinning rod I bought at Walmart it into this conversation? Probably not "high quality", but it worked well enough for me to catch a whole bunch of smallmouth on it today.

Just my opinion, but I'd say ya'll are making this way, way too complicated.

OTF, you hit the nail on the head... it's not just the equipment, it's the guy using it.

[junkman]

Yes broke out the vintage fiberglass fly rod today for the tip got broke off my graphite. put the zebco 11 trigger cast on and just got back from catching over 40 perch, three bass and one crappie. boy was fun for probably a ten dollar setup.

[tjulianc]

I found out a long time ago that I don't like to make do with crapy equipment. Few things in bass fishing are as frustrating as a POS baitcaster. That is why I primarily use Shimano Citicas and Curados. I've recently tried out some Pfluegers and Lew's baitcasters and they aren't bad reels either, if you get their higher end models.

Falcon, Powell, Shimano all make decent rods for under 100 bucks that I would recommend. Definitely stick with an all graphite rod.

There are a lot of good deals out there for those who take the time to search them out. I very rarely pay full retail price for my equipment.

[eric1978]

To me it's not a matter of whether or not a particular rod and reel will catch fish...they all will, of course. And a Pinto will usually get you from point A to point B. That doesn't mean I wouldn't rather drive a Ferrari. I find fishing with quality equipment more fun than fishing with junk. It's more arousing to the senses and makes for a more enjoyable experience...for me. That's all. It's more fun.

[Al Agnew]

Yes, it's the angler who is most important in catching fish, not the equipment. A $600 rod and reel won't make the poor angler catch a lot more fish. But...

Actually, if you ARE a good angler, there is a price point at which if you go far below it, you'll catch fewer fish, while if you go above it, you probably won't catch many more. Good equipment really does allow you to catch more fish. A really sensitive rod transmits the subtle takes and the bottom composition better when you're fishing slow stuff. A really lightweight rod allows you to make a lot of casts during a long day without getting as tired, so you are still fishing well at the end of the day. A lightweight reel has the same advantages, and a good reel, especially a good baitcasting reel, allows you to make more quality casts because you aren't battling backlashes.

But once you well into the over $100 range on baitcast reels, I don't think there is enough of a difference between a $120 reel and a $350 reel to justify spending all that extra money. The more expensive reel might be better, but is it nearly three times as good? A $120 reel really is twice as good as a $60 reel, but I don't think the really high end reels are worth that much more.

[dgames]

I am mainly a fly fisherman, so I am pretty ignorant on baitcasting equipment. I can cast a baitcast reel, learned on an ambassador in the 70s and still have one of the green direct drives (5000D) from that era. I have used it in the last few years catching bass on a farm pond.

I also have a cheap baitcaster (Quantum DSS400C) that I bought as part of an outfit really cheap at the Zebco garage sale in Tulsa a couple years ago.

I am trying to honestly understand, what will a $120 reel do that the cheap Quantum won't? Does it freespool easier so you can cast lighter lures? Is it mainly the anti-backlash mechanism that is so much better?

How will the $120 reel compare to my old ambassador?

[ness]

I am trying to honestly understand, what will a $120 reel do that the cheap Quantum won't?

You may want to ask Eric. Seems he's got something going on in his canoe that might explain things.

It's more arousing to the senses and makes for a more enjoyable experience...for me.