Thread: advantages/disadvantages

What are your preferences as far as spincast reels compared to baitcasting reels. Based more upon a surf fishing environment...lol sorry I'll try to back off the posts after this one!

I assume you mean spinning reels like the Penn 650 rather than spincast such as the Zebco33. The advantage of spinning reels is that they are easier to learn to cast than traditional bait cast, they don't backlash (but they do get wind knots) and they are more efficient casting into the wind and with lighter lures than the baitcaster. On the other hand, I'd much rather fight a big fish with a baitcaster than with a spinning reel---the baitcaster whips them a lot quicker and the drag is easier for me to adjust.

If you are talking about the actual spincast reels, my only objections to them are that they normally have an inadequate drag and they don't normally hold enough line for my peace of mind. They would be fine for whiting and such, but if a big redfish ate your bait, you might be left with a handful of gears and twisted metal pieces. Yeah, yeah, I know about the tourist who caught a monster king on a rental spincaster, but I don't think I'll make one a part of my pier cart cargo---I'll save 'em for my freshwater pond.

I beg your forgiveness in advance for assuming you meant one kind of reel over another, but by the time that revelation entered the dim recesses of my brain, I'd already typed the above answer and didn't want to destroy such a marvelous creation. From your previous posts, I expect you know full well what you were asking about spincast reels. I think I've got cabin fever. I need to hook up to a fish that will make my drag sing to me.

Baitcast reels have been the 'backbone' surf reels for over 50 years.
Once guys figured out how to 'mag' them to get better casting distance a whole new door opened up for them.
IMHO if you wanna go heavy, go baitcast.
If you want finesse, so spinning.

I too believe you meant spinning reels and not spincast reels (like Zebcos ;-)

You are correct gentlemen, I did mean spinning reels, not the old Zebco spincast types. Once again thank you for the plethora of information!