Posted: 3/10/2012 3:22:43 PM EDT
| I have used spinning reels all my life. My gear is old and tired, zebco Rhino rod and a mitchel 440A spinning reel at least 25 years old. I need a reel with the crank on the left side. Any suggestions? |
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Unless you fish ALOT with heavy baits and have a good amount of time to spend learning how to cast, get a spinning setup.
I have my bait casters and love them. I use them a lot, but honestly, i haven't found a single thing that bait casters can do, that i can't do with a quality spinning reel. Line twist isn't that big of a deal and can be easily minimized. Also, i don't find casting distance to be much greater with the casting gear. |
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Quoted:
I have used spinning reels all my life. My gear is old and tired, zebco Rhino rod and a mitchel 440A spinning reel at least 25 years old. I need a reel with the crank on the left side. Any suggestions? What's wrong with your Mitchell? I have two Mitchell 300s that are over 50yrs old and work fine. Damned things just wont wear out so I have a really good excuse to get a new one 
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Quoted: Unless you fish ALOT with heavy baits and have a good amount of time to spend learning how to cast, get a spinning setup. I have my bait casters and love them. I use them a lot, but honestly, i haven't found a single thing that bait casters can do, that i can't do with a quality spinning reel. Line twist isn't that big of a deal and can be easily minimized. Also, i don't find casting distance to be much greater with the casting gear. What about distance/location advantages of baitcasters? I currently fish primarily on a lake with little cover, so distance/location casts aren't that important. I use a spinning setup. I fished with a baitcaster when I was younger. I don't own a baitcaster now. I imagine if I start fishing in tight places, I'd consider buying a baitcaster. |
| It all kinda depends on where you are fishing and the conditions, well at least for me. If I am fishing on beach in the surf and its windy like most times then I will use a spin cast, if I am offshore and I need the extra line or in the bay anywhere then the baitcaster. It is all situational for me. cant really go wrong with either, I just like the extra line bc's hold |
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The Pflueger President is the best bang for the buck spinning reel hands down. Should only be $60 at most stores. I also like the Shimano Symetre.
If you like reeling with your left hand there are not many options to choose from in bait casters. I do have a couple Diawa Black Max reels that are set up for lefties. They work pretty good. I don't ever cast them though I only use them for bottom bouncing trolling because they have flippin switches and I set up the lefty on the left and a rod with a right reel on the right. |
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If you got 20 years out of a reel, you really aren't fishing a lot. Go with a spinning reel. Though baitcasters are a bit like riding a bike, they're not as easy as the spinning reel so less memory required to keep your edge honed.
I would suggest a Flueger Presidential. Its a nice reel with quality features and feel for a moderate cost. I'd mate it up to an IM7 rod which will both last and improve your placement over the limber graphite Ugly Stick/Rhino. You don't really give up anything on bend or sight judgement, pick up your feel, and improve your hook set. That ought to last you another 20 years or so. Tj |
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Get both.
Both have there place. I'm proficient with both, but tend to fish more with a spinning rod. IMO, I tend to get a better feel with spinning rods while fishing plastic worms and small jigs. They are my confidence baits, and use them more than anything. I use baitcasters also, but for heavy work or fast action baits like buzz baits, jerkbaits, top waters, or large spinnerbaits. |
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I prefer spinning reels. Most spinning reels come with the handle placed on the left and can always be moved to the right side if need be. If you ever plan on selling your reel, the market is smaller for left handed casting reels.
I currently use all Shimanos; 3 Stradics and they work like charm.. Just imported a Japanese Domestic Shimano to experiment with too... |