I've not used a baitcasting reel before so I don't know how hard it is to master casting with it. But you'd probably heard mixture of horror stories of char bee hoon from baitcasters and others who swear you can prevent overrun once you're good with it. Personally, I do see baitcasting users with birdnest once in awhile regardless of experience.
With regards to the difference between spinning and baitcaster. I think some of the general differences are:
- Baitcaster will lesser spool resistance over long range than spinning while spinning will have less spool resistance over short distance. That is to say, a spinning is actually able to cast ultra light lures better than a baitcaster. But when a line is properly loaded with the correct weight on its end, baitcaster should be able to cast further.
- Baitcaster reel design makes it easier to implement dual speed; high speed for fast retrieval and low speed for cranking heavy sinkers. (Not sure if spinning reel comes with dual speed)
- A lot of anglers will agree that baitcasting reel is able to take more punishment than a spinning reel. The baitcasting reel is designed such that the stopping force is directly applied to the spool which is very robust while spinning reel has the line pivoted at its bail arm before the spool itself. You can should be able to see the bail arm being stressed if you applied heavy load on your reel such as trying to free your line from a snag.
- Baitcasting reel typically are better designed for higher capacity of line intended for long distance casting. Although spinning reels for surf typically come with wide/deep spool for high line capacity, it still suffers increasing spool resistance as line paying out digs deeper into the spool, as opposed to baitcaster reel where resistance is more or less constant throughout.
But with advances in designing both types of reel, you'll probably see the gap between the two closing in. High end reels are typical examples of such where more cost is put into minimizing the weakness of its inherent design as well as better handling of higher load.
I do not know much about BC reels.
I did tried casting a BC ... both onshore n offshore.
Somehow , I do not like the "feel"
One of the reason could be that I am too used to the normal spinning reels.
I have a certain level of confidence casting a spinning.
At least can do a straight cast even in crowded places.
Casting a BC requires a good arm strength ... which I definitely lacks.
Being right handed and Simon a left hander ... it's hard for us if either one of us goes for a BC.
We will face the problem having different setups.
We shared our tackles at times though we do have our own individual setups.
The most obvious reason which kept us away from a BC is what Peace mentioned.
Peace wrote:Personally, I do see baitcasting users with birdnest once in awhile regardless of experience.
The BC reel is kind of like a winch. Like yesterday's case ... while fighting the stupid cat, I can thumb the spool occassionally to add drag to the spool. the fight is somewhat more direct too.
Cons is that if not handled properly, its easy to char bee hoon.
the lure positioning can be very accurate too ... because u can stop lure flight with ur thumb.
rookie i dun use baitcaster nor i like BC cos i find tat is abit troublesome unless u can master it very well.
below here is a link for some info of how to use BC, hope its help u with some information of BC.
if u can master how to use it, i personally find tat BC in luring is like damn COOL n stylish.
Yesterday u ask me mah ... then I can tell u ...
