What reels are better bait cast(conventional) or spinning for catfish

**Bravo123** · 03-18-2012, 04:39 PM

Spinning or baitcast

**Daddy Wolf** · 03-18-2012, 05:08 PM

My reels of choice these days are older Penn Jigmaster 500 reels, made in USA.

They handle from 20 pound test to 60 pound test monofilament line easily, have a quick take apart thumb screw for ease of maintenance and spool changes that allow for line size change in minutes and are surprisingly easy to cast and manually guide line on once you get used to them.

I have 8 Penn Jigmaster 500 reels and am buying 2 more from a friend for a total of 10 of what I consider to be the best Penn conventional/baitcast reels used in both fresh water and salt water.

Here are a couple of them.

As far as which kind of reel is better for catfish it boils down to a matter of choice and which type of reel you're most comfortable with, what species of catfish you are targeting and what line type you use.

Roadrunner_331 · 03-20-2012, 09:08 AM

I like baitcast and spincast for catfishing.

**JERMSQUIRM** · 03-20-2012, 01:07 PM

the minute i learned to use a baitcast i went to them 100%. i still have a few small spinners for other species but for channels and other catfish the baitcsat is more compact and better IMO.

**glassprorob** · 03-20-2012, 01:12 PM

I am voting spinning, just because that's all I've used. Ive tried baitcasting, but they just aggrivate me!

**poisonpits** · 03-20-2012, 11:57 PM

i have and use a lot of differant reels.long poles for bank fishing with plenty of room shorter,7 to 8 foot rods for boat,and 8 to 10 foot spinning for fishing river with limited casting room.to me theres no one kind fits all just use what works best in the situation im in.

**MAX1955** · 03-21-2012, 12:54 AM

I use both, depending on where I'm fishing. I prefer baitcasters.

**CJ21** · 03-21-2012, 01:34 PM

I pefer baitcasters!

**scaredycatfishin** · 03-22-2012, 04:32 PM

i used spiining till I was 3 then learned to throw a baitcaster and never looked back

**plainsman** · 03-22-2012, 08:01 PM

I reckon its personal preference. I used a cane pole at first, then borrowed a casting reel. Later I got a spincast, and caught a lot of fish on it. I wore it out and went to get a casting reel, I got some more spincast, and then some conventional reels, I got a UL spincast for crappies, and a couple more, then got a heavy one given to me, another heavy salt water given to me, and bought a Shimano 4500B spinner, so I have about 6 of them spinning reels. I have more conventional reels now, only 2 are level wind, its a matter of personal preference and fishing style. They all have their good and bad points. Spinning reels are good for me on a windy night when I can't hear the bait hit the water. Casting reels I can throw out there pretty good. Spincast are simple. One can throw lighter weights with a spinning reel. The reason I like casting reels now is when I'm trying to reel in a fish and its trying to pull line off, I don't get line twist. I have heavy enough line so if I need to I can add some drag with my thumb. I don't care for level wind so much due to just more stuff in the way for line to tangle up on, and takes more inertial to make the mechanical stuff go. More to go wrong, and more in the way to get out a backlash. I like open top reels, some like closed top.

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