Do I Need A Baitcast Combo?

[Flysmallie]

Jack if you want to give one a try for awhile let me know. I have a loaner I can let you use and then you can decide for yourself if you should pursue a purchase.

[Jack Jones]

I appreciate that offer Smallie. I'll keep it in mind.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Do certain spinning reels give baitcasters a run for the money in terms of distance? I mean, would I be better off just upgrading the spinning reel and/or line?

I would say no and yes. You could come closer with a spinning reel with a better lay and a larger diameter spool. The line can be important also, a soft line will give you better distance than a stiffer line. The stiffer line will want to pull back, the lay on the spool should stack so as not to bind and a larger diameter spool will keep the line closer to the lip in equal distances.

The BPS Johnny Morris Signature spinning reels have large diameter spools.

[Greasy B]

Yes defiantly get a bait caster. Do it for all the good reasons you'll get here but do it especially for the ergonomic advantage. 40 years of throwing spinning rods has wreaked havoc on my hand and wrist. The bait caster will allow you to maintain a much more natural hand and wrist position. In the past couple of years I've gone from 80% spinning to 80% bait casting and have seen I huge improvement in comfort and endurance.

[exiledguide]

Jack, anybody who says you need a baitcast reel is nuts. T Tom Mann, Billy Westmorland and Woo Daves 2000 Bassmaster classic winner fished a majority of the time if not all the time with a spinning rod and reel. I think fishing crankbaits and spinner baits you are better off fishing baitcasting reels. I also don't believe you need to spendhundereds of dollars on a rod and reel if you are if you are not a guide or a tournament fisherman we don't put the wear on a reel that they do. Of course, I know the experts will tell me I'm wrong but I never had any trouble catching fish on a big O or Jitter Bug fished with a Shakesphere or Fenwick rod on my Ambassadeur 5000 reel and stren line.

[David Unnerstall]

When I am using a baitcaster I know exactly where the bait is going. With spinning equipment I don't.

[Feathers and Fins]

No you do not. For the type of fishing you are talking about you really dont need one. Now if you got into Big fish ( Striper, Paddlefish or Catfish ) then i would say get one for the pure drag power of a casting reel. Im not talking basscasting reels but true baitcasters and there is a major difference in the to species. You hook up a bass baitcaster to say a Calcutta and see which one outpulls and outlast the other. The true Baitcasters will allow you to throw a bait as light as fractions of an ounce to as large as your rod and line will handle. Look up some of the youtube videos on California live bait fishing, guys are casting anchovies long distances and I have never seen a bass baitcaster that could do that with such a light bait without throwing it off, backlashing to hell or very short cast.

Every reel has its limitations and areas it excels and for what you are talking about a spinner is probably the best choice and most versatile reel. To be honest I do not even own a Bass Baitcaster, I have spinners that i use and when i get to a class that requires more i go to the true baitcasters.

[Mitch f]

I agree with Greasy, my wrist hurts after all day with a spinning reel but not a baitcaster. The side arm cast with a baitcaster is like turning a door knob. I think the accuracy is better with a Baitcaster as well. Now I do agree with Exile that there are some great fishermen like Woo Daves and Dion Hibdon who have certain cool tricks that they do with a spinning reel that are tough to do with a baitcaster.

[RSBreth]

I think the real question is do you want distance or accuracy?

If you want more distance for light lures stay with spinning and get a good 7' rod and larger spool reel - then spool it with braid or fused superline and use a leader or just tie direct.
If it's more accurate casts with a little heavier lures - casting gear is the way to go.
I use all three (fly, spinning, and casting), but my casting gear in rivers is more for quick accurate casts with heavier lures - crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

[Buzz]

You may not need a baitcasting rig, but they have uses that a spinning set up can't touch. They can be used for nearly all of the same lures that you might use on a sppinning rod, minus the super small cranks. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater, jigs, everything.I Guess what I'm saying is that they can be just as versitile as a spinning rod. If nothing else it fits in nicely with an all around arsenal.

Like Gavin said, fly rod, bait caster and spinning rod. I like to have an assortment even when I'm wading or cruising the banks. I always prefer to throw metal with my baitcaster and small to medium plastics with the spinning rod.Oh yeah, flukes on a spinning rod are a blast.

You can get a nice starter setup with a Pinnacle reel and a Lightning rod. Pinnacles are easy to set up and the Lightning rod is super sensitive. Both for under or close to a hundred bucks. Then you only need to decide on which line you want to put on it. That's been beat to death so you are on you own there.

Go ahead and take the plunge Jack, you will not regret it.