Like Im sure a few more of us on here, I never made the switch to a baitcasting reel as I got older, I always stuck with a spinning reel like I learned to fish on. I have acquired a couple of really good casting rods/reels and would like to know the pros and cons of either one. I tried a casting rod a few times as a kid, and as you can expect, left my uncle with a large mess on the reel. I realize the reels of today are much more advanced as far as drag and backlash control goes. So should I learn to use the new reels or am I wasting my time?? I do bass fishing and saltwater also.

Thx,
Rod

i fish between 150 and 200 days a year. i own around 20 or so rods and one is a spinning reel. the spinning reel has 6 lb test line and it is strictly for gin clear lakes. With casting rods i feel there is all around better control, more power, more accuracy, and faster. The two advantages of spinning reels is casting extremely light baits and anyone can use them.

I love my bait caster. It ain't hard ta use and it's not a new one either. I throw it fer everything from walleyes ta northerns, bass and muskies.

learn on braided line. when it backlashes it stops dead in its tracks but it does not go very deep. you can also strip about 50ft out put a piece of tape around the spool and reel it back over it. This way if you do back lash you don't loose the majority of the line

if ya got em it cant hurt to try. i find you can cast much more precise and accurately. I would recommend spooling with braided line tho. in the event of a birdsnest its much easier to pull out than with mono. I say give it a shot

Rod, don't know what kind of casters you have but there are many now that make backlashes almost a thing of the past. If saltwater fishing w/ a popping cork the spinner is the only way to go. That's all we use the spinners for. A good baitcaster & rod is much easier to control IMO. I grew up w/ ambassador but after buying my 1st shimano curado about 20 yrs ago I haven't bought anything but shimano. Using one is like running a mud motor in deep mud, you get better w/ practice.

The best one is a shimano Calcutta. Others are curados and citori's. There's four altogether. Found em in the attic, belonged to my wife's ex. Lol

What kind of.rods did you find them attached to?

Shimano scimitar on the Calcutta, others say 'tackle plus graphite' and carbon

They're all garbage. Send them to me & I'll dispose of em for you. Because I like you, I'll even pay for the shipping.

Lol. Are those rods any good?? I know the Calcutta reel goes for about 300 new.

Put new line on the Calcutta & the best curado & have someone show you how to set the brakes on the inside. Start of w/ all the red brakes popped out & as u get used to casting it you can pop some of the brakes back in to free the spool up and cast farther. New line makes a huge difference in casting & backlash. I have started using power-pro on some & still use Stren clear blue/fluorescent 14 on some too. If you thumb the spool before the bait hits the water you should not have problems w/ backlash.
Haven't seen those rods but the reels are a good find.

By no means am I fishing guru but I taught my self bait caster reel with a ambassador 5000 reel to me it helped a whole lot!

Brakes??? It has a small knob next to the drag for brake adjustment, is that the same thing?

Never mind, found the red things.

Rod if you have someone around that is familiar w/ these reels have them show you the different adjustments & how to use them. If not give me a call sometime & I will talk you through it. I gotta get some sleep now. Lol

Rod,

I think I found the manual for my Shimano online somewhere. I remember reading about the brakes one time...because I was just about to toss that Calcutta. I had been casting 5000's and 5500's all my life and that Shimano was trying my patience! As I recall, you have to pull the side face off and push the brakes out or in one way or another. I think I put two in/two out and it has been casting practically "professional override" free ever since.

When you cast you must swing the bait. At anytime that you have slack in the line during your cast it will back lash. Think about it like letting out a winch and not pulling the cable at the same time. Easiest dummy proof way to set your brake is to hold rod up, let the bait free fall to the ground, if it keeps spinning after the bit hits te ground tighten your brake. Casting is kinda like hitting a golf ball, if you rare back and try and smash the shit out of the ball you fuck everything up. Also a side arm swing is what i see most people sucesfully use. Just take your time and don't get frustrated

Spool tension and brakes... Spool tension is what DDB explained. Use that method and just cast, cast, cast. Once i got confident in a baitcaster, i do not want to throw anything else. I use the H20 Xoress Mettles. Cant beat the quality for the price..

Great find on the reels. Made the switch to baitcasting reels a few years back and I'm glad I did. Just practice casting in your backyard and you'll figure it out..