I have both reels but really don't know the main benefits between the two. Been using Baitcasting reel for two years now and love it, also have a spinning reel on my other rod. Just was wondering your advice on the pros and cons on both.

Boy, has this one ever been discussed here! Unfortunately, the search feature here has never worked so finding any of those discussions is just about impossible now. I also own and fish with both and tend to use the spinning gear for lighter lures and finesse applications, while preferring the baitcasters for heavier lures and fishing through heavy cover where a bit of 'winching' might be called for. If you continue to use both you will quickly develop a preference for each in a variety of conditions.

I use bait cast, fly cast, and spinning rigs, but I find I use the spinning rigs far less than bait cast or fly cast. Just my preference. As Pegsguy stated, I use spinning to deliver light weight baits. If I'm going small I usually go with fly casting unless I need real depth.

my rule of thumb has alway been 10lb line and under spinning over 10lbs line baitcasting

Both have their specific purposes, so neither is better.

I use nothing but spinning reels never could get the knack for baitcasters asi always get a birds nest and spinning is a lot better for me and i use them for all lures

Think trade off: There is no better. It is all about what you need to handle the situation at hand in general a bait caster handles heavier line , and heavier lures and generally has more torque,and more accuracy but you give up distance. were as a spinning reel handles lighter line, lighter lures and gives more distance .
A bait caster is slightly harder to learn then a spinning reel .
some folks will disagree with all this with today reels and that is fine .

Here is a good example of when I prefer one over the other:
If i am fishing for bass in heavy cover I use my bait caster because distance is not a factor I need torque and heavy line to get the fish under control.
But if i am fishing for skittish fish my main concern is stealth, so distance and smaller lures and lighter line are my main objectives.

Hey rodtosser, how about when you just want to throw your rod in the water? LOL

Yep...I remember RT telling the story about how he got his username......great story!

i love top water lures no debate spin

Posted By foxman on 16 Nov 2012 05:57 AM
I use nothing but spinning reels never could get the knack for baitcasters asi always get a birds nest and spinning is a lot better for me and i use them for all lures

Sounds like you got the wrong baitcaster.  There's some that just birds-nest no matter what.  In fact, my first baitcaster was like that.  Then I picked up my father's one day and everything worked fine.  The only difference between his and mine is that his cost $80, while mine only cost $20.  With baitcasters, you have to invest more money, otherwise you don't catch anything but misery.

Bass or bass. when it comes to the tossing it really is all about style, I still cant hit a frog at 100 yards with either so I keep practicing. The spinning outfit costs less other then that I like the splash of the bait caster better.

Posted By the rod tosser on 25 Nov 2012 08:54 AM
Bass or bass. when it comes to the tossing it really is all about style, I still cant hit a frog at 100 yards with either so I keep practicing. The spinning outfit costs less other then that I like the splash of the bait caster better.

LOL!!!

I got so mad trying to learn to use a bait caster that I threw it in the river.My buddy cast his spinning rod in and fished it out for me.now I use bait casters 90 percent of the time and spinning reels the rest.Plus now I have him trying to learn to use a bait caster. got my work cut out for me on this.

It's as much personal and as much as lure choice. I'm a spinning reel guy as that's kind of where I started improving my fishing skills. Now I'm mostly baitcasting reel most of the time, since fighing and landing a fish with a baitcasting reel is so much more efficient. I will also say that a slipbobber set up on a baitcasting reel is very awkward.

Posted By BJsullivan on 13 Dec 2012 09:03 AM
I got so mad trying to learn to use a bait caster that I threw it in the river.My buddy cast his spinning rod in and fished it out for me.now I use bait casters 90 percent of the time and spinning reels the rest.Plus now I have him trying to learn to use a bait caster. got my work cut out for me on this.

Did it still work afterwards?  

Yes it did.used it 2 or3 more years and gave it to my buddy that fished it out just this past summer.PS,it was still on the rod when I threw it in,Glad I'm over the anger management issues.lol

I keep 14 rigged rods in the boat, 4 spinning and 10 baitcasters. spinning rods for dropshot, finess baits jerkbaits and senkos and baitcasters for everything else. you will never flip a 8-10 lb fish on a spinning reel or catch frog fish. reels and rods are like fishing lines, different sizes for each job some mono some flourocarbon and some braid. learn to use both you will increase your catch. good luck. Bent rods to ya. Scott