What Is The Difference Between A Baitcaster And A Conventional Reel?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Conventional reels generally

have lower gear ratios than baitcasting

and spinning reels, meaning the spool will crank slower but will also have greater torque for pulling in large fish. Two-speed reels offer the best of both with a low gear for more torque and a high gear for faster line retrieve.

Is a Baitcaster a conventional reel?

Moving on to the more technical reels, these are used with larger lures when bass fishing or large baits offshore where you need a lot of strength to cast your bait and fight big fish. These are what we would call a baitcaster or conventional reel. Conventional reels have what is called a

level

wind.

Why are baitcaster reels better?

Baitcast reels

can handle heavier line and actually allow for longer casts than spinning gear in the same size range

. … A small spinning reel has a smaller, more narrow spool, which has a hard time with large diameter lines. Small baitcast reels can handle these lines and provide greater casting distance.

Can you use a conventional reel on a casting rod?

The only thing about using a spinning reel on a conventional rod is that you will get

more “line drag” on the eyelets

, and therefore not as much distance on the cast because of the way the line spools off the reel, but if you are only throwing a little way, and not trying to get past the “far sand bar” it won’t matter.

What is a Baitcast reel used for?

What are baitcasting and spinning reels used for? Baitcasters are used for a wide variety of applications, ranging from light spin fishing, to surf casting and big game fishing. The most popular use of baitcasters in North America is for

freshwater lure casting for bass

.

Are Baitcasters hard to use?

Here’s the quick answer: Yes,

baitcasting reels are relatively hard to use for beginners

, since it takes a lot of practice to learn how to control spool rotation while casting. If not done properly, this results in backlash and birds nest formation.

Why do bass fishermen use Baitcasters?

spinnerbaits, or fishing in heavy weeds where you need strong line, Nels recommends baitcasters

because they have more torque and handle heavy line better

. … Baitcaster’s are also more comfortable when pulling the rod tip down to side, as you would when fishing a jerkbait or Zara Spook.

What is a conventional reel used for?

Conventional reels are generally used when trolling for

large offshore fish

including marlin, sailfish, big dorado, wahoo and large tuna. These reels are also a good choice when targeting particularly large freshwater fish such as great northern pike and lake trout.

Are conventional reels hard to use?

Learning how to use

a conventional reel is not difficult

and it gives the angler another tool to get the job done more efficiently. Learn to use one while bottom fishing from a boat or dropping baits back behind a boat to get a feel for using a conventional.

How much line should I put on a conventional reel?

Casting reels should be

between an eighth of an inch from the top and all the way to the top

. If you get too much line on them, you’ll get a weird sound when you cast. Spinning reels should be all the way full, right to the top. If you get too much line on them, the line will jump off the spool in coils.

How long should my fishing rod be?

A

short (6 feet or less)

rod is ideal if you want to make short, accurate casts. When pinpoint accuracy is less critical, a long rod (over 7 feet) is the way to go. Dingy or dirty water and heavy cover are two situations where short-range accuracy is part of the recipe for success, and a shorter rod can really shine.

Are Baitcasters worth it?

The biggest consideration is that

baitcasters are more accurate but generally lack distance

, whereas egg beaters will outcast baitcasters at the cost of accuracy. Baitcasters also can potentially have a heavier drag, but that’s only really a consideration for game fishing.

Which of the 4 types of fishing reels is the easiest to use?


Spinning reels

are the most popular reel type world wide.

Not only are they very easy to use, they are also very dependable and highly versatile. Because of this, many anglers like to use them as general purpose reels, as well as for specific fishing applications.

Can you put a baitcaster on any rod?

The baitcaster on a spinning rod

will make the rod bent in the opposite direction to how it

was constructed and you may break it on a heavy fish or snag. Rods are spun pieces of graphite on a mandrell which are epoxied and baked in an oven. It makes absolutely no difference which direction it bends in.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.