Big Game Hunting

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In many ways, bait casting and conventional reels are a lot alike, but what differences exist determine how anglers make use of them in saltwater and fresh. Although they are both worlds apart from spinners, bait casting and conventional reels are nearly alike with each other. Is it possible for a greenhorn fisherman to tell the difference? Although some reels could be used for either use, non-spinners are actually meant fishing from a boat (vertically) or the shore (cast).

Before we discuss differences let’s talk about similarities. The axis on the spool on both types of reels is perpendicular to the rod and they spin when you cast or let out your line. They are aligned in this manner to allow smooth casting. If you’ve looked at spinning reels, you’ll find they are parallel to the rod – holding the line in place until cast.

Each also offers a crank handle, which is found on the reel’s side, and lefties or right-handed anglers can use them. A level-wind feature is present on each as well, offering a guide that moves forward and back across the spool. As you release or reel the line, it winds the line evenly, rather than allowing it to pile on one side or the other unevenly.

Onshore bait-casting reels are designed to maximum performance. A smooth release and protection against backlash are two major performance enhancing features. Bait-casting reels designed for saltwater include models like AVET’s SX, the Calcutta (Shimano), C3 by Abu Garcia, and the Saltiga Surf (by Daiwa). Backlash can cause a serious disruption in your fishing trip – it’s caused from your bait (or lure) hitting the water and coming to a sudden stop. What happens from here is a nightmare – your spool is spinning out of control, with no pull directing it. This causes it to wind back over the spool and create a mess that is often easier to cut out than work out. Ask any new angler using a bait-caster if they’ve ever had this experience, as it’s one they don’t soon forget!

If you frequently fight to drag fish toward a boat, a conventional reel does so very efficiently. This is due to the alignment of the reel, ensuring that all stress is on the fighting fish instead of the angler’s equipment. These reels are very comfortable, and require much less work, so use them with three-ways, jigs, live lining, and trolls. This includes the Daiwa Sealine, Shimano’s Charter Special, and the ever-popular Penn 113 and 114.

There are surely a wide variety of reels on the market, so of the most popular reels include: Penn 975 and Daiwa Sealine 30.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 at 7:03 pm and is filed under Hunting Gear. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.