Why use baitcaster reels

Baitcasters are used for a wide variety of applications, ranging from casting lures, to surf casting and big game fishing. The most popular use of baitcasters in North America is for freshwater fishing for bass. Spinner reels are also used for a wide range of applications, many of which overlap with baitcasters, including spin fishing, surf casting, and offshore fishing.

However, in general, they are not used for very heavy applications, such as big game fishing, which is a domain reserved for baitcasters. This raises another question: why are these two types of reels used for many of the same purposes, and is there a difference between them in how they perform in each scenario?

Baitcasters have better casting qualities than spinner reels — both in terms of distance and accuracy achieved. However, baitcasters are generally more expensive and more difficult to master than spinning reels, especially for beginners.

The reason for this immediately becomes apparent during the casting process: you have to use spool tension controlled by an adjustable magnetic tension system to slow down spool rotation during the cast.

A second way to control the rotation of the spool is by placing your thumb on the spool during the cast. This has the added advantage of enabling accurate control of the casting distance, which allows you to cast the lure to a very specific location, once you have mastered the technique.

All in all, baitcasters offer several key advantages over spinning reels, including longer and more accurate casting ability. On the downside, however, they are more expensive and harder to master. Many anglers use spinner reels as general purpose reels, and they are also a top choice for beginners.

In addition, spinner reels are incredibly versatile, which means they can be adapted to almost any type of fishing. The same reel model can be used for spin fishing, trolling, bottom fishing, live bait fishing, and many other purposes.

On the downside, their casting qualities are not as good as those of baitcasters, which is why some experienced anglers prefer casting vs spinning reels for specific applications.

For more information on any of these different fishing reel types and their uses, we recommend chatting with other fishermen, including us here at Van Isle Marina or the clerks at the tackle shops.

There are also many helpful videos and infographics online to help you get started. Looking for a new boat or yacht to start casting lines from? Van Isle Marina has a wide range of yachts for sale moored at our docks. Take a look at our selection online or come and see us in person.

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Obviously, reels have evolved exponentially, but most still utilize the same basic designs, and are broken into two general categories: spinning and baitcasting — both with individual advantages and drawbacks.

Just flip the bail, put a finger on the line and cast, close the bail, then simply turn the handle to reel it back in. Remember: clockwise motion with the handle.