Bait Caster reel or Spin reel ?

[smidsy]

Hi All,

So I'm at a cross roads with my choice to go bait caster.

I recently went through the pain of learning how to use a bait caster. I'm still learning of course, and still get birds nests, but I got it to a stage where my brake is at 30%, with no tension on the reel, and just using my thumb.

I fish on a boat in coastal waters off of Perth, Cockburn sound, drifting for squid in 2 to 10 meters, with jigs hanging over, flicking a squid rod with a squid jig or a bait caster with a lure for a fish.

Or I might anchor & burley over a structure, like 5 fathom reef, usually in 10 meters.

While the bait is in the water, I wanted to flick lures repeatedly to keep me busy.

With lures in open sea, distance is everything. I got 18lb dangan braid on this combo, a Shakespeare Agility $80 ...

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Thing is, my distance is not good, and I'm kind of thinking, what's the point ?

I'm still suffering the odd bird nests etc, and casting shorter than if I put the same jig on my light squid rod ? I'm not using light lures so that's a limitation, I'm using metal slices, and sometimes a medium weight hardbody.

Either, I give up on bait casters altogether, or I put money into it, and buy a $200+ combo for lighter jigs and better casting distance (any recommendations) ?

Before I decide, I wanted to hear what more experienced bait caster users think, would I be wasting my money, and bait casters are more suited to river fishing ?

[Flex]

Total waist of time using a bait caster unless you require ultra accuracy casting snags.

Spin reel is so much more versatile. about 95% as accurate as a bait caster.
Bait caster is very 1 dimensional reel.

Larger bait caster like Lexa is gaining traction for bottom bouncing with 50lb line. but for lighter stuff spin is by far better option IMO

[stevej]

what lures are you casting around in 5-10m of water ?
probably a waste of energy depending on what your trying to achieve

[Lovey80]

Agree with flex. Unless you’re on a casting deck with the electric in the water needing to drop a lure on a dime around snags go spin reel all day.

[NAGG]

Love baitcasters .... when I'm not hating them .

With your style of fishing though - a baitcaster is the wrong choice & offers little or no advantage with your intended fishing style .

Baitcasters are really for when you need short accurate casts


Chris

[Dignity]

Agree with al above replies, my barra baitcasters (don't chase them anymore) were great for pin point accuracy etc but have been relegated to other duties. A couple for flathead trolling reels inshore and one on a bait jig rod for offshore otherwise it's all spinning reels now.

[Lovey80]

Agree with al above replies, my barra baitcasters (don't chase them anymore) were great for pin point accuracy etc but have been relegated to other duties. A couple for flathead trolling reels inshore and one on a bait jig rod for offshore otherwise it's all spinning reels now.

ha ha. Yep my calcuttas are on my offshore bait jig rods these days.