WHY YOU NEED A SPINNING RIG – March 2019

SPINNING TACKLER IS THE most misunderstood kind of fishing equipment that is easily accessible to anglers.

Most anglers own spinning gear, but perhaps not many understand all of the benefits of using it. That’s a shame because there are huge rewards for those who understand using spinning gear for specific purposes.

Finesse Fishing: Finesse fishing can simply be defined as using smaller gear (lures, line) to catch fish when the pressure is high.

Daiwa pro Brent Ehrler said finesse fishing can be simplified by having a couple of quality spinning setups for important strategies like drop-shotting or using tiny spinners. In a Bassmaster blog, he wrote that some of his marshals think he is going to take out this huge arsenal of finesse fishing gear, but that he keeps it simple. He also notes spinning gear is not an extra.

“Spinning tackle is a must for any serious bass fisherman,” Ehrler said.

Casting gear will give anglers better accuracy with ¼- to 1-ounce lures but for anything under that, spinners are vital. You can throw them farther with little fear of the dreaded backlash.

Anglers who fish in smaller streams for species such as Guadalupe bass in the Texas Hill Country know of the need for spinning rigs and small spinnerbaits. A 1/32-ounce teardrop bladed spinner won’t do much projected from the spool of a casting reel.

Defying Wind: Speaking of backlash, perhaps the most advantageous reason to fish spinning reels across the board is they rarely backlash.

Even when you cast into or across the wind (sometimes you have to) they almost never fail. This alone makes them invaluable when brutal winds are bearing down on the Texas Coast.

Taking a heavy lipless crankbait and throwing it down the jetty wall or casting a spoon into an emerging slick on the bay can be a difference maker.

Without question the single most effective way to catch speckled trout and redfish in Texas is either a live shrimp or imitation shrimp under a popping cork. Spinning gear lets you throw it without fear of backlash retaliation and make super long costs-even in wind. That’s why most guides on the Texas coast have spinning gear as part of their arsenal.

No Pendulum Effect: For vertical fishing there is no comparison. Spinners win hands down.

There is somewhat of a “pendulum effect” when a lure encounters resistance from pulling against the round, rotating spool. The line on spinning reels falls freely and has much less resistance. This can make a difference on spooky fish who want lures to fall straight down, or when fishing down certain kinds of cover.

Anglers can best fish rock walls, pilings and jetties with spinning gear as it keeps the lure in line with the rod tip and allows the angler more control. If your fish finder shows bass on one particular rock you want to the lure to fall on that rock, not the one next to it.

In these situations, having a strong but lightweight reel can be the difference maker. The Daiwa Ballistic 2500 Spinning Reel is a prime example.

Made from Zaion which is harder than a carbon body reel, it is more rigid than standard reels but lightweight. So, when the reel is more rigid you will have less flex and less wear because of less flexing of the frame so the gears stay in alignment. The reel is also Magsealed so the water cannot get into the body of the reel where it can sit and cause corrosion.

This is crucial for the angler at the front of the boat who is pounded by waves trying to get that jigging spoon just over the right spot.

Adjusting Drag and Hands: Sometimes an angler realizes the fish they have on is not in sync with their drag setting. With casting reels, it is extremely challenging to adjust during a fight.

I’ll never forget hooking into a giant redfish while bass fishing. It wasn’t my target, but I was sure not going to turn it down. I had to adjust the drag or I would not have landed the huge fish, so I was glad I was using a spinning reel. It made my life a whole lot easier during that 15 minutes of tug-of-war.

In addition, most spinning reels are adjustable to switch for right or left-handed anglers. “I love that about spinning reels. However, I am in the minority. I am right handed, but I fish best with my handle on the left side,” Moore said.

Skipping: Sometimes you cannot accurately flip under cover. In fact, pitching doesn’t get that job done on certain occasions.

Skipping is a necessary skill for anglers fishing around docks and trees that hang just over the water’s surface. Anyone can pick up the ability to skip a lure in pretty short order.

It can be done with casting gear, but it’s not easy. Spinning tackle is tailor-made for this overlooked aspect of angling.

At the end of the day, fishing equipment is the tools that help us catch fish. Anglers who understand the various tasks spinning rods and reels can execute will catch more and bigger fish.

Isn’t that everyone’s goal?

 

 

 

—story by CHESTER MOORE

 

 

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