Blackfish

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Funny that I have the opposite experience then you Dan... I have a Abu Revo low profile and a fish it on a Loomis GL2.. Maybe it's the Loomis rod but I don't get the feel like I do on my shimano stradic CI4 and challenger 731M.

I also like the spinner a lot better when casting lighter jigs since it casts lighter stuff easier and I always try to use as light a jig as possible.

The other thing I tend to do is use my fore finger on the line coming off the spinning reel with the same hand I use to cast to feel bites better. Can't do that with a conventional either, at least with one hand..

The one thing we can however agree on is the low profile conventionals and conventional rods definitely give you an advantage on larger fish over spinning. Much easier to pull and lift a big fish out of the wreck for sure... The shimano stradic does have 24 pounds of drag so it's very capable but the spinning rods just can't give you the leverage and comfort you get with a conventional...

I think the other thing we can also agree on is to be sure whatever rod you choose has a nice long foregrip... This really helps when you're trying to get some leverage on a bigger the fish... Move one hand up on the foregrip and lift as opposed to trying to lift the rod with only your wrist...

I can cast the bait caster as easily as any spinning rod.
I hold the rod in one hand palming the reel and use the same finger as you to feel for bites, difference is I won’t cut my finger setting the hook like happens ona spinning reel if you don’t slide the finger off.
I like vertical presentation most and find the bait caster gets the line off. Faster with less scope.
I don’t need to cast around as much as the boat is sitting on tiny pieces where you want the line to stay closer to the boat..

Another thing you will find is a 701 and 73m built as a caster have way more backbone than when built as a spinner.

Fore grip is needed on spinner because the handle bites you on a big fish.
No fore grip,needed on the bait caster as the reel,is palmed in my hand