[briansnat]

After 40+ years of spinning I started with baitcasting about two years ago and I find myself using them most of the time. I love the feel and am getting to the point where I can cast nearly as accurately and much farther for distance with the baitcasters.

Getting a cheapie starter reel will only frustrate you as their anti backlash features aren't as good. I have five baitcasting outfits now. I'm not going to spend $300 to $400 on a reel so went for good lower end reels with top notch reps.

I bought a Shimano Curado for a great price at Dicks between a sale and my coupons I think it was $110ish. I really like the Curado. I also like the Diawa Tatula CT which I found for under $100 on Amazon. The best of the bunch though is the Lew's Tournament MB. Great reel. I think I paid $115 for it.

For baitcasting rods it's hard to beat the Berkley Lightning Shock or their regular Lightning Rod. Great rods in the under $50 range, but my favorite baitcasting rod so far is the Fenwick HMG that I picked up online for half what it usually goes for. It really pays to shop around for sales.

If you shop around you can park a Lew's Tournament HB or a Diawa Tatula and a Berkley Lightning Shock for well under $200. Go for a fast taper MH or M rod in 6'6" or 7". I found the medium to be easier to start with.

The final decision for me was choosing left handed baitcasting reels (I'm a righty). After a lifetime of spinning I was more comfortable using a left-handed baitcaster, cranking with my left hand and working the rod with my right as I've always done with spinning rods. I know baitcaster pros frown on this, but it works for me.