Saltwater Baitcasting Reels: Pros & Cons, When To Use Them, Avoiding Bird's Nests, & More
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
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It's baitcasting reel time!
Do you use baitcasting reels for saltwater fishing?
We typically stick to spinning reels, but recently Luke has found a specific situation where he's found baitcasters to be more effective than spinning gear, plus we've been getting a ton of requests for more content about them...
So we put this roundtable discussion together with some of our Salt Strong Fishing Coaches and a special guest to discuss the pros and cons of baitcasters.
Here's a preview of what we covered:
- The best brands of baitcasters
- When baitcasters are more effective than spinning reels
- How to prevent bird's nests
- How to clean and maintain baitcasting reels to make them last longer
- And much more
If you're a baitcaster fan, or are considering trying them out, you're going to love this video.
Are you on team baitcaster or spinning reel?
Let me know down in the comments!
And if you want to see the show notes for links to what we talked about in this video, check out the blog post here: bit.ly/2HeAvuC
Want to stop paying full price for your tackle and get new inshore fishing spots every week? Click here to join us in the Insider Club: bit.ly/3nxs78T
im a multi use guy. for every spinning reel i have in my yak i have a bait caster. In general i LOVE my bait casters especially for their simplicity and ease of operation but sometimes you just need that spinning reel for certain situations and vise versa. If im going out inshore or fresh water and can only take 2 rods i will always have one spinning and one casting.
The explanation of which breaks effect which part of the cast was very helpful.
The one thing I'd add to the conversation is lots of right handed people hold the spinning rod in the right hand all the time, but cast the baitcaster right handed then reel with the rod in the left hand. So if your right hand or arm is tired it's nice to be able to switch and hold the rod in the left.
Thanks for the feedback and for watching!
Just bought a penn fathom 300 low profile baitcaster (my first). Left handed since I’m a spinning reel guy.
Excellent reels. My Penn Fathom Low Profile 200 is by far my favorite reel in my arsenal. It's funny as compared to my Curado DC's and my Lew's Custom Inshore, the Penn is a rather simplified design. It's both beefy and simplified and that makes it an exceptional reel.
I agree. I love my Daiwa Lexa 300 for live baiting and fast fishing. Especially in tight spots. It’s so much more accurate and quicker when you can thumb the spool. With 40 pound line …. I’m playing tug a war with bridge beast. May the best man win.
I disagree highly on that spinning will always cast farther - there's a reason serious surf casters and long distance competitors use revolving spool reels exclusively. As the line comes off the reel in spinning tackle, friction increases rapidly. That doesn't happen with a baitcaster. Baitcasters are not as good for light weight baits like 1/8 ounce jigheads and soft plastics, because of the revolving spool, but for anything with any weight to it baitcasters will outperform with practice.
Everything you said is true but there is something important you are not acknowledging, the level wind. I don't know any serious surf fisherman using baitcasters, only open face round reels or spinning gear. You can see this in casting competitions. Conventional multiplier reels do cast the furthest followed surprisingly closely by large, tall spool spinning reels often with a conical shape to avoid some of that friction you spoke about.
Anecdotally, in my experience this is followed by larger size spinning reels, then baitcasters/lw round reels, and then small spinning reels. Spinning gear is pretty heavily impacted by the line lay(as are all reels but you control that yourself on a multiplier reel and i have never had issue with lw/baitcasters) and spinning reels are uniquely effected by the size and height of the spool. Where as the level wind immediately limits the practical speed of a baitcaster as you actively have to slow down the spool to avoid birds nests more quickly than without the level wind.
A hat that reads Sodium on a Salt Strong podcast. Classic! This seriously cleared a bunch of learning curves hurdles for me about baitcasters. We need him on more podcasts
The Japanese have perfected casting light lures with baitcasters. I have a shimano aldebarron BFS. It casts 1/16oz jigheads 30 yards with 10# braid.
The answer, as always, is to tailor your equipment to your technique.
Reels are just like lures and rods in my mind. Different tools for different jobs. Personally, I can cast further with a spinning reel on average, but more accurately with a bait caster. I’m also more confident fishing around cover with a bait caster. I’m pretty new to saltwater angling, I grew up bass fishing in New Hampshire, but I’m totally going to get a saltwater bait caster to diversify my potential approaches and techniques I can use 🔥
Awesome! 💪 We're glad that you found the video helpful!
Never used a bait caster in saltwater fishing until going on a week long coastal
fishing trip in lower Texas. Most of the time we where wade fishing and after a couple of days
using a spinning reel I could barely move my arms then after a day of rest and practice
with a bait caster I was able to finish the week out fishing. I started using the bait caster and fished without
any fatigue to my arms or upper body. We were using the old school Shimano Bantam.
Awesome! Thanks for the nice comment! We appreciate the support!💪💪💪
I had a lexa 300 I did not like very much. I have a tranx 400 and I love it.
Shimano tranx reels impervious to anything except dunking!
I currently have Lews Custom Inshore, Daiwa Coastal SV TW, Shimano Curado K, Quantum Smoke Inshore “speed freak”, Abu ORRA S, and Lews HD 300 baitcasters for inshore use. My favorite is the Custom Inshore for several reasons. It may not be the best at everything, but it’s durable, predictable, solid, and the pricing is very competitive as far as inshore baitcasters go. I have no less than 3000 casts on any of them and time and again I return to the Lews. It might be different if I was throwing BFS lures or mainly targeted tarpon or jack crevalle. But for the Texas Laguna Madre, it really does well. Skipping lures under mangroves, crankbaits around rocks, spinner baits in muddy water, 1/2oz chatterbaits and a whole host of applications are best on a baitcaster over a spinner in my opinion. Just my $0.02 but I’ve thrown a baitcaster in saltwater since the 80’s and there are some scenarios where they really shine.
And just to say it, I throw spinning gear much of the time inshore. Paddle tails, jerk shrimp etc really work best on spinning gear.
Are you using the crankbaits, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits in the salt? What do you catch with those?
You have to pick th first knot around the standing line I call it 5he break knot. There may be several. Pull it out forward till it stops then the main
then lather rinse repeat.
I know I'm late to this conversation but, I use the Lexa 100 to 400 1st gen bait caster reels for saltwater fishing on a party/head boat in the NYC. I got it for weight savings many years ago. The same people who snickered at me are now the same people who switched. I totally believe I set that trend.
Thanks for the feedback!
I think a very simple thing to say about avoiding backlash is that the spool should not spin faster than the bait can fly. The bait begins to lose velocity the second it starts to fly and the spool may spin faster than the line can clear, causing the slack to be caught up in the spool and brought back around on itself. Of course one could always remove all brakes and use their thumb for a custom setting for each cast. Just saying.
I like both just depends on what I'm throwing, what I don't get with you guys is using 10lb braid. I can't stand braid below 15lb just a pain for me to tie. Most my spinners with braid have 15 or 20. Bait casters 30-50lb, this is primarily cause when I'm using a bait caster I'm pitching lures into thick cover and I want to be able to pull the fish out it without losing it, or throwing larger baits I do not want to lose to a break off. Good video
I also add I started with spinners and do use them more than baitcasters, I prefer left handed baitcasters as I'm use to reeling with my left hand from starting on spinners. Just food for thought for guys that use to spinners wanting to venture into baitcasters. To me if your right handed you cast with your right reel with your left you don't have to switch the rod between hands when casting and reeling like you do with right hand baitcasters.
I use both. I catch fish with both.
Thanks for sharing!
Love baitcasters for hard baits (topwaters, diving plugs) but use spinners for everything else.
We won't talk about the pronounciation of ShiMANo 😂. Really enjoyed this one guys. Thanks for all the great info. Tight lines to all 🎣
Glad you enjoyed it
I bought a daiwa lexa hd 7:4:1 baitcaster. Was thinking about running power pro braid 10lb, but I actually spooled on seaguar tatsu 100% fluorocarbon 20lb and I run it straight no leader. This thing will long range cast a 1/2oz spoon a mile with straight fluorocarbon already. I have it on a daiwa 7'1 fuego baitcaster rod. Got her dialed in and overcasting the spool is damn near impossible now. Thing is a beast and I usually take Lukes advice on spin reel setups. I absolutely love this baitcast though and its my go to for fast casting setups. One of my mains in arsenal right now. Super smooth and no tangles.
Great job guys. I think I will stick to my spinning reels though! I have tried baitcasters before and I just can't get the hang of them.
Being a Texas angler, it is weird to think there is a place where people prefer to fish with spinning reels. I started with spinning tackle, but once I switched, bait fishing is the only time I ever would use a spinning reel over a baitcasting reel.
I agree I started using a baitcaster on top water but I also use spinning gear the bait caster I use a Shimano Calcutta 200gtb in fresh water use mono only always used it always will !!!!!!
I grew up inshore fishing for reds, speck and flounder with my dad. He always used a spin casting rig while i used a bait caster. My old man would always catch more fish than me, especially flounder fishing.
Incredible information. Very helpful!!!
What kind of oil did Bill say He used to flush his bearings? It kind of cut out at that point. It sounded like “sur plus oil” (it’s at 36:56)
Lots of great teaching points. Thanks!
I learned to use a baitcaster with my thumb i don't use the breaks or cast control it takes practice you start with cheap line until you get the hang of it ....
I'd love to see some more sheepshead related videos.... And maybe some spadefish videos?
I recommend the
13 FISHING CONCEPT TXZ 7.3:1 SALTWATER INSHORE BAITCAST
Thanks for the feedback!
What an awesome group of guys.
"Spinning baitcasters",
is that kinda like...
"catching deers".
Thanks guys
Really great information. I must add that the guy on top left of screen always looks so stoned...😀😀😀😀
I actually own a magsealed daiwa baitcaster, its the zillion HD from a few years back, use it on the boat and jetty and it's worked perfectly. Why doesn't daiwa offer any other baitcasters with the magseal option?
I lived in Maryland so I fished In both fresh and salt water now I in West Virginia love fresh water but still use spinning and bait caster like for musky and Northern Pike for trout I use spinning and small mouth but when I go back to Maryland I use a Baitcaster in Chesapeake Bay Shimano Calcutta 400 or 300gtb !!!!
Work on proper use of periods and commas when writing. It would make your insightful comments easier to read.
Laugh if you will but Piscifun Alloy M is a decent reel for inshore. Ive had shimanos, Lews, daiwa. The Alloy M can compete with them. Extremely good baitcaster for $80 pinches well above its price point.
How about links to the-best priced bait cast reels for inshore? Thanks
50 years old and have been using bait casters salt water fishing all my life. Different reels for different applications, will use a spinner time to time but mostly bait casters. And I’m a Florida boy.
OK Baitcasters- setting your adjustment knob. Keep you rod level drop the bait to the ground with no thumming. Then it hits it should only turn once no back lash. Adjust till you get this. Birds nest 1st thump the spool with medium pressure and crank line in. Do the two or three times, then pull line till first knot then duck pick the knots out. To prevent wind knots or backlash wet your braid with fresh water before use.
Thanks for sharing!
First thing. Bait casting reels for saltwater are not new. Shakespeare had the Sigma/ and or President reels in the ‘70’s. And you need to address that your references are more towards low profile casting reels as opposed to round casting reels like ABU.
Up here on Long Island, low profile reels have become very popular for Fluke ( flounder to you) fishing. Especially models that have a flipping switch. And a point of order when it comes to distance casting. The world distance casting records are set by round casting reels ( although modified for it). And round casting reels were the original surf casting reel. I happen to like the fact that the industry is catching up on left hand bait casters that allow you to use the same hands that most of us use on spinning rod and reels. Great discussion.
Everyone following skinner hahaha
@@jamesh7469 he catches fish in a rain puddle. Don’t knock it.
@@richardfuchs5131 I’m not knocking it at all, I love the guy. I was hunting on Ebay for an accurist today because I plan to use it for jigging lake trout in Lake Michigan. Maybe some fluke stuff too if I travel out that way
@@jamesh7469 sorry. Guess my reply didn’t read as intended. Wasn’t intended that you knocked him. But that he’s a really good fisherman.
I pretty much transferred from bass gear so bait casting was just natural. Fishing the Texas coast we seem to tend towards bait casting as well.
I love the analogies Bill uses. It really helps in understanding these details. As an avid bass fisherman, I really only use spinning gear for extremely light lures. I’m going inshore fishing next week for the first time ever and am really excited about it and want to have everything I can to my advantage. I’m curious if you guys have an opinion on the 13 Fishing Sport Concept Z baitcasting reel?
Depends on the baitcaster, a 200 size shimano dc reel with 150yds of 30lb absolutely slays inshore kayak and wade lure fishing, casts farther, can cast into wind, can flip and pitch docks and structure easier, but strictly for slot red, flounder and trout. The occasional bull red will likrly smoke a baitcaster, it just has less line capacity
A redfish peeling off 150 yards of 30lb braid? I don't think so haha
Been waiting to see a vid on this subject..thanks guys
Get a little crochet hook for backlashes. Big help.
Great tip thanks for sharing!
Welcome to saltwater baitcasters.. catching up with the rest of the world outside USA. Only a couple of decades behind lads 👌
Americans have been using baitcasters in saltwater for decades. I have books from the early 90s with information about baitcasting gear for inshore saltwater fishing, and back in the 90s and early 2000s growing up I had friends who swore by baitcasters for both fresh and saltwater. A lot of people just don't use them because spinning outfits have a much shorter learning curve and they don't want to put in the effort that's required in order to learn how to cast a 3/8oz (10g) lure 25 to 30m into the wind without getting a massive birds nest.
I definitely miss it up to between spinning and baitcasting. Still prefer baitcaster for the mangroves.
Hi the show was awesome and now I am Brazilian who live in Florida and if is possible talk more about de trip to Brazil and by the way I fish too the most i use is spinning reel but im switching to baitcaster thank you guys!
I recall using Pflueger Supremes. Your 'educated thumb was your only cast control. And the handles spun backwards as the spool paid out the dacron line, during the cast. And your thumb was also the drag. Had to watch your knuckles, on the reel handle, as the fish made runs...lol
Jeeeez. What decade was that?
@@jamesh7469 These particular reels were my grandfather's, and built back in the 50's. After he passed away, they were passed on to me. I actually started 'cutting my teeth' learning to cast these classic baitcasters during the early 70's (my teens). At the same time, I was also using a Garcia Ambassador 5000 and first generation Lew's BB1. Still use all of them, today. Caught my first tarpon (40#) with that Supreme, on a red/white M52 sinker Mirr-o-Lure, '73, Crystal River.
Do a video on what fish you can eat and how to cook them.
Zillion TW HD has magseal please do a review for saltwater
Okay. How about gear ratios? Thats something important to the green angler.
21:46 you can find a 7oz spinning reel for less than 99 bucks.. the daiwa legalis lt, for about 70, the exceller lt for about 80 (shimano sahara also) the fuego lt for about 99 to a 100 (i believe the nasci is around that ballpark) and those are excellent reels!!
i mean, buck for hard earned buck, you get better bang for your money on the spinners market. i mean, i also own and love baitcasters, but tbh a baitcaster south of 80 dollars is likely crap and a spinner, could be crap, but can also be a gem.
Lews speed cast lfs, daiwa fuego, shimano slx, abu revo x, and others can be had for less than $100.
I just picked up 2 lews laser mg gen2 for less than 100 bucks (onsale for $40 each). They're great so far.
What would be a good rod and reel for stripper fish. Surf and inshore. Thanks
So much info... brain is full. I'll be re-watching the last half of this video in preparation for trying out a baitcaster. Will there be baitcasters appearing in saltstrong tackle shop?
Good for you. They definitely have a place for anyone who wants to use heavier line, throw heavier baits easier, or make really targeted casts at nearby structure
I find for myself I use both spinning & bait casters I too learned to use top water first on a bait caster then I went into fresh water trout fishing and things change so now lures from 3/16 to 5/8 i use spinning rod from 5/8 on up I use a bait caster I had to for musky & pike large mouth bass i need a caster everything else i you a spinning gear !!!!!!!
Penn dropped some good baitcasters for saltwater and they aren’t really that heavy compared to other reels like the Tranx or Curado 300k
Probably gonna get one tbh for fishing heavy structure and heavy braid
Been a Penn user for a long time and those reels look great. My offshore conventional Penn and my casting Beach, Peer and Snapper combo is the Penn Fathom 15 which is by no means a compact baitcaster, but works very nicely for slinging larger plugs and cut bait rigs.
I was excited to see the new compact baitcasting reels from them debut this October. I recently got to play with one at Tarpon Outfitters in Holiday FL and it is remarkably smooth. It's a bit confusing as they too carry the legacy Squall and Fathom brand names in their product line, but the smallest Fathom looks like it would be a great reel. An ounce heavier than other reels in that class, but feels solid.
Marine grease
Thanks for the comment!
Still a little confused... It seems no one in all the videos on baitcasters ever talks about the star drag why not ? It influences a percentage of drag as well as the pins the magnetic and the spool tensioner do right ? I've adjusted my Abu Garcia Revo 4 SX as I've heard on every video but still how does the star drag fit into the mix ? When do you adjust it ? If you adjust it to the what you think will hold the fish my cast is 2 feet Nay Nay Nay !!!
No. The star is for drag once the reel is in gear. When the reel is out of gear the drag has no effect on the spool.
I HAVE A SPEED DEHFONTE (SPEED DEMON ELITE ) WHICH IS A FRESHWATER REEL. CAN I PUT A HEAVIER LINE, LET SAY 20LB BRAID, AND USE IT IN SALTWATER.? BY THE WAY THE REEL IS A KASTING KING REEL 10:1 RATIO. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW THE ANSWER.
I used a regular speed demon when I was trying out baitcaster for one season In brackish estuaries throwing Zara spooks with 20 and 25lb braid. Caught a lot of stripers 24-28” so yea it works. But I landed 40”er in the cape cod canal that was too much for the drag so I had to lock it down and that blew out the main gear. I’m a spinning guy except for jigging an accurist s3 inshore, so I didn’t experiment with casting baitcasters after the speed demon blew up
Is it necessary to get a baitcaster made specifically for saltwater? I have an Abu Garcia Revo S that I really like. I'd like to use it inshore. What are your thoughts?
I use mine inshore. Many of the "bass fishing" baitcasters are just fine for inshore. I have lews classics, lews reactors, lews speed spools, abu revos, shimano slx....all supposed freshwater that work great inshore. Same approach with rods. I love the inexpensive diawa Arid-x rod for salt and fresh.
Nope just clean ur reel after using, although some saltwater models do benefit from having longer handles, more drag, slightly better bearing.
Most of Salt Strong's YT videos are educational. This one, maybe not. To each his/her own on this one. I prefer baitcasting reels but use spinning gear without prejudice. Both will catch fish!
On a more pragmatic note..using a line pick for removing knots and backlashes has proven very helpful to me over the years…
Best,
Craig
Diawa does have baitcasters using mag sealed bearings!
What modes?
@@jamesh7469 zillion TW HD
You can definitely use a baitcaster on saltwater. Just make sure the wind is on your back.
Great Video. Great information.
Fish off texas against Florida any day of the week. TEXAS WOULD KICK ARSE
Baitcasters are for boats and offshore fishing. They will get ruined on the shoreline. They aren’t sealed like a spinner and will get sand and mud in them. How come nobody talks about this?
Hey! Check out the blog post on our website. You may find more info there. If not, comment and ask and one of our coaches can respond directly. bit.ly/2HeAvuC
I think these guys are fishing in the gulf. Fishing in boats with small waves and small tides. People wading in the surf , getting slapped by breakers, who get salt spray on thier glasses and hats most times out may need more corrosion resistance.
Can you eat snook? My buddies catches a lot in FL.
Sure can! I cut mine into steaks, rub Everglades 'All Purpose' or their 'Chicken & Fish' season, with some butter, and throw them on the grill...
Very good to eat!!!!!
Yes when in season, and slot check FWC website for what that is depending on where you live in FL. SW FL is only catch and release due to red tide issues. Atlantic 28” to 32” is slot, season reopens Jan 31st
Joe has a really hard time faking his attention 😂
Dude let someone else talk geez!
Blah blah ! Blah blah ba blah
You can feather a spinning reel lol it's not hard at all.
That was the worst explanation I ever heard on how baitcasters operate and function. I think that guy just turned off anyone whoever thought of using one lol. Hell, I'm glad I already know how baitcasters operate and how to use them, because that guy almost made me want to stop using them.
It was actually painful
I didn’t like the basketball analogy tbh
Don't start trying to turn people towards baitcasters. I enjoy being the only person within 100 miles using my casters. I enjoy the strange looks. I enjoy laughing at all the other anglers to afraid to try........