Freshwater Fishing Gear Buyer’s Guide – The Baitcast Reel
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We continue our Freshwater Fishing Gear series as we attempt to remove the fright of purchasing fishing gear from the beginning fisherman.
I did it the way most people do, I bought tackle that looked great but was altogether wrong for the business at hand. With the huge selection of reels and rods on the market, not to mention the tons of jigs, tackle boxes, fishing nets, line weights and other fishing gear; how could a beginner not make a few inappropriate and costly purchases?
We began our series on freshwater fishing gear with the reel; including the spincast and spinning reels. Now we will address the Cadillac of the fishing world the Baitcast Reel; also referred to as baitcaster, baitcasting, casting reel, and a conventional reel.
Casting reels accommodate much bigger lines; thus allowing for longer casts than any of the previously reviewed reels in the same size range. Fishermen regularly use line in the 15- to 18-pound-test range.
The design of the baitcast allows for on target casting, getting the lure precisely where you want it. They use very sturdy drag systems to slow larger, stronger fish and are meant to be used with heavier lures.
The baitcast reel is the desired reel for catching Wide-Mouth Bass, Salmon, Barramundi and more. Because of its casting accuracy it is great for fishing in water where snags and tangled line can be a problem or for casting under low standing bridges and walkways.
The baitcaster has a rotating spool with the line spooled the same way as the line as it plays down the fishing rod. They have a center pin and the disks are engaged by a series of external pins that exposes the line. Many are made from composites, but most are still stainless steel, often with brass pieces in certain sections.
The baitcast reel attaches on the top of the fishing rod, for this reason it is more awkward to handle and requires more training than either the spincast or spinning reels. For this reason it is not a great entry level reel for young children or the novice angler.
The occasional weekend angler who will only fish occasionally has many lower priced alternatives available, why pay for what you won’t use. The baitcaster excels at casting; do you really want to spend that kind of money if you are just tossing your line into the water so you can sit back and enjoy a cold beverage?
A top of the line example of baitcast reel is the Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Elite Baitcast Reel, priced at $220. It is one of the finest Bass Pro Shops exclusive reels, a true world-class baitcaster–sleek and fast, light and strong, virtually effortless in its handling, and best it is priced well below other baitcaster reels in its class.
We will continue with Fly Fishing Reels when our “Freshwater Fishing Gear Beginners Guide” series continues.
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