Does anyone use a baitcaster?????

[Mike Cooper]

I'm just not a spinning outfit person. I switched from spinning to fly rods several years ago, but my back isn't getting any better (have a lot of back pain from 3 separate injuries over the years). Casting a fly rod for a couple hours pretty well puts me at my pain limit for the day.

Thinking of trying one of my low-profile baitcaster reels on a light rod this year. I have a new Shakespeare Micro casting rod ordered and plan to put an low-profile reel with maybe 8# mono to see how light a lure (or slip-float) I can comfortably cast with it.

Any suggestions for a light/ultra-light baitcaster outfit?????

[carl hendrix]

MIKE; SORRY BUDDY;; BUT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE; EVERYBODY HERE USES SPINNING REELS;; REASON BEING;; ITS THE BEST ONE TO USE FOR ULTRA LIGHT LURES.  BAIT CASTERS;; NOT KNOWN TO THROW MICROS OR ULTRA LIGHTS VERY WELL.  I AM ALSO A DIE HARD FLY RODDER;  MY USUAL METHOD IS JUST ROLL CASTING MY LINE AND LURE.  VERY SELDOM EVER  ( PUT THE LINE BEHIND ME );; AND ;; VERY OFTEN;; I ALSO USE A QUILL FLOAT ROLL CASTING TO !!  IN MWAY OF FLY CASTING;; ITS ALL IN THE WRIST;; VERY LITTLE IN THE ARM OR SHOULDE R...  I HAVE ONLY BEEN FLY RODDING; SINCE I WAS AROUND 10 YEARS OF AGE; ( IM 65 NOW )  MY BEST REEL IS A OLD AUTOMATIC ; PERRINE REEL !!

[Mike Cooper]

Carl, what weight fly rod do you use?

My favorite is a 2wt (TFO Pro), but I have rods up to 8wt and one 8wt switch rod (11wt single hand line).  The quill float sounds interesting, I use a foam "strike indicator" that's about 5/16" diameter & 5/8" long.

[Slip Sinker]

Mike … absolutely love bait casters.... i use them regularly for LMB etc... I actually experimented somewhat successfully with a bait caster reel I own for light fishing the B’Gill… the rig ultimately comprised of this...

•  1.   Abu Garcia Silver Max Casing reel
•  2.  Berkley L Lightning Rod 5-6 Spinning
•  3.   6# Spiderwire Braid
•  4.   Weighted slip bobbers 3/16 oz and rigging
•  5.   1/8 to ¼ oz drop shot weight for rig

Looking on the shelf at my local suppliers and retail outlets the casting rod I had in mind would be 5-6 to 6-0 in length with a light fast tip and action. There were none to be had when looking for a casting rod… all were beefy with heavier actions. My goal was to put together a rig I could comfortably fish and find sport using a combination casting reel and spinning rod to fish lightly for blue gill.So Hello 5-6 Lightning spinning rod .

Casting UL jigs was a failure. The weight of tiny jigs was not enough to supply inertia on the spool of the casting reel. Nature of the beast. So I considered weighted slip bobbers and fishing gills with the drop shot 1/8 to 3/16 was minimum or birds nest resulted.

The flexibility and somewhat faster action supplied by the Berkley Lightning spinning rod supplied enough sport and bend in the rod with the medium sized gills. It felt odd at first without the trigger missing on the rod... something i got used to quickly

As I recall it was pleasurable experience fishing. Dropshotting was the most efficient application

 

[Mike Cooper]

Slip, I'm going to experiment to see how light I can go. I know I'm not going to get as light as I could with spinning gear, but I just can't get good results with spinning tackle. Back in the 70s I did a lot of spin fishing, but I guess my old fingers are just too insensitive to have a good feel of the line anymore.  I have an AbuGarcia Orra reel I'll try.

[Craig Thoreson]

As I recently researched I was considering a caster but ended up with a spinning setup for maximum castabilty of micro baits.

[carl hendrix]

HI MIKE;;; I HAVE SEVERAL FLY RODS I USE... 2 OF THEM ARE T F  O IN 3 WTS;;  2 FROM BAS PRO IN 5 WTS; AND  2 MISCELALEANOUS IN 8 WT; ( ONE IS A FIBERGLASS ROD FROM DAWAI  ITS FROM THE  1970 ERA AWSOME ROD TO !!)  HINT;; JUST LAST YEAR; I CHANGED ALL OF MY FLY LINE FROM COURTLAND-- TO SUPER FLY LINE !!  A HECK OF A LOT BETTER LINE !!  CHEAPER TO !!    OK;; AS FOR THE QUILL FLOATS;; WHEN AND IF I CAN GET THEM ;; ITS OUT OF A PORKUPINE QUILL;; AFRICAN QUILLS ARE ACTUALLY BETTER; BUT EXPENSIVE !!  ITS THE LENGTH; PLUS THE WIDTH THAT MAKES THEM BETTER TO USE. AMERICAN ONES ARE RATHER SHORT; AND THIN;; WONT HOLD UP MUCH WEIGHT !!  A PIX OF MY QUILLS ARE ON MY PIX PAGES.  ONCE BALLANCED CORRECTLY;; IF A FISH  COMES UP FROM UNDERNEATH; TAKES YOUR BAIT; THE QUILL;; LAYS DOWN ! SET THE HOOK ! HE;S GOT IT !!  AS FAR AS I KNOW OF;; THEY ARE THE MOST SENTIVE  FLOATS.. NO;; THEY DO NOT CAST AS FAR AS SOME;; OR AS ACCURATE; IT DOES TAKE SOME GETTING USE TO;;; BUT ;; ONCE YOU EXPERIENCE SEEING THEM RACE ACROSS THE WATER; THEN SHOOT DOWN LIKE A RUN-AWAY TORPEDO;; ITS JUST FUN TO WATCH !  I HAVE GIVEN AWAY; AT LEAST 200 OR MORE  IN THE PAST 2 YEARS !  BRUCE CONDELLO;; LEO;; LORD OF THE FLY RODS; JIM GRONAW; TONY LIVINGSTON; KEITH RITTER;  ALLEN MORGAN; DICK TABBERT;; ARE JUST A VERY FEW WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEM.  THE PREFERRED ONES; ARE AROUND 7 TO 9 INCH LENGTH;; AND FAT ! HOPEFULLY AS BIG AROUND AS YOUR FINGER !

[carl hendrix]

MIKE;; GO TO MY PIX PAGE 11 FOR A BETTER LOOK AT HOW I MADE UP SOME QUILL FLOATS

[Mike Cooper]

Took a look at them and they look good! I might have to see if I can find some quills.

[dick tabbert]

Personally I wouldn't even attempt a baitcaster. If your using a float you may get some more distance but I really don't think you'll be happy with the casting part as far as distance. Now if your doing it so you don't get that spinning rod birds nest we all love so well then you'll be happy all day once you learn to cast it with the bait caster there is a learning curve..

[carl hendrix]

MIKE;; BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE FLOAT BENCH GROUP;; STARTED BY KEITH RITTER !!  HE MAKES SOME REALLY GREAT LOOKING AMERICANA FLOATS;; CORN COBS; SKEWER STICKS; GOOSE QUILLS;; YOU NAME IT

[Mike Cooper]

Got the Shakespeare Micro rod and tried my AbuGarcia Orra with 8# line & 1/4oz weight. Was able to get about a 35-40' cast but decided to order a Pflueger Trion spincast reel (#6) to try on the rod. Will probably end up with my fly rod(s) most of the time anyway.

I did order a couple packs of the Thill Shy Bite floats to see if I can cast them with the fly rod.

Warm weather predicted for next week and I just got an order of waxworms, so I plan to hit a couple farm ponds with decent size 'gills soon!

[Mike Cooper]

Shimano makes some great reels!

I had one of the first models with magnetic cast control (can't remember the model name/number) that was advertised as impossible to backlash with the magnetic control set on maximum. I could actually fling a lure without thumbing the spool - and no backlash! (but not much distance either)