Hey everybody!
Who can tell me a good rod and reel for use in freshwater? I mainly fish for pan fish and small bass. Beetle spins, small plastics and trout spinners are my usual weapons. I have always used spinning rigs(penn mainly) but I was thinking about a bait caster. Thoughts?
Thanks
I would only bother with a baitcaster if you plan on tossing a lot of somewhat heavy lures (crankbaits, carolina rig worms, etc). I have an Ambassador 5500 C3 that I’ve used for about 15 years that’s getting worn out (mostly due to neglect from saltwater use lol), but it was a good reel.
Personally I spend all my money on spinning reels unless I need something for catfish or heavier use.
Right now the Sienna combos are really good bang for the buck.
… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
I tend to agree with Redfish. Most baitcasters seem to handle heavier baits better. Some of the Revos or several other makes with the six pin systems in the side will adjust to throw somewhat lighter baits, such as floating worms. But, it takes a lot of practice to be consistent and not backlash with the lighter baits, especially in strong wind.
Also, depending on what lakes you are fishing, quite a few lakes now have a minimum size limit of 14" for bass. Pretty much any reel will wind in a fish of that size.
That being said, I currently fish almost 100% with baitcasters. I like the Pflueger Presidents and Supremes for bass, because they are lighter and calibrate more easily. I use pretty much all of the old style round Ambassadors for stripers and/or catfish. The round Ambassadors have a great smooth drag system, are very dependable and seem to last forever.
With the types of lures you are using spinning gear is the best choice. Level wind reels don’t work well with light lures…
I’ve often wondered if the pros in the tournaments throw baitcasters mostly because of sponsor donations, and wondered if the baitcasters are easier profit for the manufacturers/sponsors. They seem to be much easier to “geek out” and require a bit more skill to throw, but quite honestly I haven’t seen a huge amount of need for them.
I’ve owned several of them (mostly in the $50-100 range, just for the reel), and they were fairly good reels that lasted about as long as a good spinning reel, but I never really got any longer casts out of them.
They do a much better job at minding line twist, and are a nicer choice for winching in heavy fish. But other than that, I’ve never really felt a need for slinging a baitcaster.
… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
Thanks for the input from everyone. I think I will stay with the light spinning rigs, maybe just upgrade the beat up ones that I have. Can’t say the little 420SS and 4200SS have been bad to me. Thanks again.