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Spinning or Baitcast?

December 28th 2009 00:18
Fishing reel
When the topic is fishing reels, a question that invariably pops up is, "Which is best--a spinning reel or baitcaster?"

There's no easy answer to that question and I could waste your time with all the usual stuff like "...it depends on where you're going to fish," or "...it depends on the intended species. Here's my take on the subject--get both!


Sounds like I'm copping out, doesn't it? The thing is, I've been trying to come up with some sort of answer to the question of which reel to use and just can't come up with a definitive response. I've read magazines, the Web, manufacturers brochures, and put in a lot of practical experience using a variety of reels--my own, those of friends who are kind enough to let me borrow their reel, and reels I've picked up from garage sales and Ebay. When I say I have more reels that I can remember at the moment, I'm not exaggerating!

In a perfect world, each reel has its place. I love my baitcaster and it shines around lillypads or when using heavy line.

My spinning reel casts further and allows me to throw lighter lures.

However, when I hook a big fish, even in crystal clear water, I always find it easier to reel with a baitcaster.

People are going to counter, "Oh, doesn't that bait casting reel get lots of bird nests?"

I don't worry about that. I've seen guys with spinning reels use cheap line or only half way know what they're doing and they have more tangles than I do with a bait casting reel. You have to figure, all that line lying around fishing holes has to be there for a reason!


So, if you're starting out, try a spinning reel and then six months later get a baitcaster!!



Remember to take the hooks outta yer pocket before ya sit down!



53
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Loosen that drag!

October 30th 2009 01:07
deep sea reel
Some reels last longer than others.


No matter what kind of fishing you do, if you're starting to think about hunting and think you're done fishing for the year, make sure you loosen the drag on your reel if you plan on putting it away until next season.

[ Click here to read more ]
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If you've been looking for a reel, you've probably run across the term "level wind." Exactly what is a level wind reel?

A level wind reel is a reel with a mechanism that winds the line evenly on the spool as you wind the crank. You usually find these around fresh water applications.

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43
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Penn Reels--now and for ever

September 23rd 2009 00:39
Penn Reel
Here's a good site I stumbled upon for Penn Reels.

I've never seen a Penn that didn't hold up well over the years. In fact, if you buy one new, you may think you're paying too much but you're probably making a life time investment that will hold up with very little maintenance.

[ Click here to read more ]
28
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New reel is super fast!

September 17th 2009 00:31
Daiwa Aggrest
Daiwa's superfast Aggrest
If you're looking for a fast reel Daiwa comes to the rescue with their new Aggrest™ 7.3 Hyper Speed reel.

For all the tackle junkies out there, rest assured, this is one sweet package. First of all, you get a 7.3-1 retrieve which means you're picking up 32" of line with every turn of the crank. Plus, the whole thing is encased in an aluminum frame for durability.

[ Click here to read more ]
29
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A little Mitchell history

September 7th 2009 03:44
An engraved Miitchell reel
When I can afford one of these it's "Good-bye work!"

If you read this blog with any frequency, you probably know I'm a sucker for old Mitchell reels.

[ Click here to read more ]
30
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Rapala reels

August 16th 2009 01:11
rapala spinning reel

It seems like I've spent a lot of time lately fishing with the same guy. Like most of us, he appreciates a good product at a decent price. Realizing that, it comes as no surprise he uses a Rapala spinning reel.

[ Click here to read more ]
38
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Good buys on reels

August 1st 2009 01:13
Michell 300 spinning reel
I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be doing this but, if you're in the market for a used reel, there are a couple Michell 300's over on Ebay for under 5 bucks. I guess that's USD--I didn't look because I'm not really in the market. If you look at these and start comparing, a 300 is NOT the same as the Mitchell 300X.

I would imagine that such a price means these reels need a little work but if you get one and invest a few dollars, you may have something because these old reels are like a tank! I have two of them.

[ Click here to read more ]
41
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How to mount a reel

June 12th 2009 00:48
Not all rods come with a reel attached. Here's a couple of clips to tell you how to mount a reel to your rod.


If you have a spinning reel...
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22
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The advantage of two speed reels

April 19th 2009 01:29
If you're a regular reader of Angling Fish, you've probably run across a post I made a while back about slow and fast reels. However, did you know there are reels on the market that incorporate the advantages of both?

Unless you're into saltwater fishing, you're probably not going to need or use a two speed reel but, it's nice to know they're out there.

[ Click here to read more ]
48
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Spincast reels--basic but good

March 12th 2009 01:01
Sometimes you fish a lot and forget what it was like starting out in the sport. Everybody has to start somewhere so, hopefully, an up and comer may see this post post.

typical spincast fishing reels
These are the spincast reels I have. The top reel, a Zebco 33, is the spincast I usually use. The bottom reel, a Zebco 808 has done duty as a surf reel as well as hauling in big catfish.
Although some anglers look down upon spincast reels, I'll go on record as saying I like them and even use one now and then. The biggest reason I got away from using spincast reels is because the one I grew up with and used for years finally wore out. Thanks to that old South Bend Spin Cast 63, I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for reels that most anglers sneer at!

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46
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Antique tackle addresses

December 11th 2008 00:47
I'm not really into antique tackle although I've mentioned old rods and reels from time to time.

For those of you who are into collecting or just seeing what that stuff in the attic is worth, here are a couple of links you may want to check out.

[ Click here to read more ]
52
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One thing that makes me mad is when you get anglers together they always start talking about stuff the average person can't understand!

If you're new to angling, it can be pretty frustrating.

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Getting rid of that dreaded birdnest!

October 3rd 2008 00:39
We've all been there--a mess of tangles in your baitcaster!

Professional over run--birdnest--friggin' mess--whatever you call it, here's a tip for taking care of it!

[ Click here to read more ]
60
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Some helpful tips for baitcasters

October 2nd 2008 00:14
Some anglers are a little put off by the difficulties encountered when using baitcasting reels.

I use a baitcaster about 60% of the time and LOVE it! Granted, it's a pretty expensive reel that a couple family members went together on and gave me as a Christmas gift. Recently, I bought a cheaper baitcaster and was less enchanted. None the less, a baitcaster is better when you want to use heavy line, certain applications, or big fish are expected. More importantly, the accuracy achieved with a baitcaster is incredible!

[ Click here to read more ]
49
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Pulling loops from your spinning reel

September 26th 2008 00:18
I thought this tip was too common sense to even mention until I saw this video on YouTube. (Goes to show what I know!)

Here's a way to get those loops out of your spinning reel.

[ Click here to read more ]
49
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A video about Alvey reels

September 11th 2008 00:41
Here's a video you may enjoy.

Alvey reels are made in Australia. I first became aware of them about five years ago when I saw one at a flea market. I wasn't sure what I was looking at and though it was an antique fly reel. It wasn't until I found this video that I truly knew what I had found and how to use it.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Fifty cent reels and a Ryobi update

September 7th 2008 00:55
The only thing better than getting eight reels for four dollars is getting TEN reels for four dollars! That's what I did the other night at the flea market but two of the lot were unsalvageable so, now I have eight reels.

many spinning reels

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More about line spooling

August 4th 2008 00:16
This post sort of goes along with yesterday's post about spooling line on your reel.

As I said yesterday, if you crank line onto you spinning reel as this product invites or the way it was described in the YouTube video, problems are sure to result!

[ Click here to read more ]
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How to put line on a reel

August 3rd 2008 00:43
I saw this video on YouTube and was just a little taken back. This works for SOME reels and not for others!


[ Click here to read more ]
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