Does anyone use spinning reels for C-rigs or other non finesse techs.?

[Pro Reel]

Anybody? I'm going to try it this year. I have decided that since I cast to open water with C-rigs, that I want to try a spinning set up for them this year. Just ordered a 7ft Falcon lowrider in the Carolina lizard dragger model. I plan to put my cardinal 502 on it. It has a very strong carbon fiber drag and it's built tough. I don't forsee any issues with the reel not being up to the job and I actually think it might be easier to work a heavy rig with my power arm instead of switching to my left hand like I do with casting gear. I know, someone is going tell me to get lefty casting reels. Sorry, I tried it and hate it. A spinning reel feels very comfortable to crank with my left hand, but not a casting reel. So, does anybody else use spinning rigs for this or other traditional casting reel techniques? I have seen some pros use spinning rigs for heavy techniques but most use casting. Does anyone have a logical reason why one would be better than the other? It seems that a spinning reel might actually cast further than a casting reel with a C-rig set up. I plan to use 30lb suffix832 sinking braid, so line twist shouldn't be an issue and it shouldn't float up in an arc like traditional braid or mono. Any thoughts on this?

[Lipripper]

Let me know how this works. I havn't tried C-rigging for Bass yet. just Catfish and my spinning reel works just fine for that.

[Kal-Kevin]

I use to use only spinning reels for year then thought I better start using casting reels. after my last three years I plan to go back to more spinning reels then casting. I find it easier to use even with the heavy rigs, other then slop fishing. I like casting when I'm in the stuff, slop is hard on spinning reels and casting is more like a wench. 

[aaronr1971]

If anybody is interested in power fishing applications with spinning equipment,Get a hold of Swede.You can always find him in the florida section.I've personally fished bass tournaments with him for years and he doesn't use anything except spinning tackle.He does everything from flipping 1oz weights in grass to pitching 4" finesse worms in gin clear water and everything in between even c-rig.Hope this helps.

[-Shawn-]

Not much on spinning reels at all here. Baitcasters can do all the same jobs and are much more gentle on the line. which can get very expensive if you use top of the line Flouro. 

As a matter of fact, the only time Spinning reels even go in the boat are for folks that don't use BC's or if I am going to be fishing with 8lb line or less ( doesn't happen often.) 

I have been throwing a BC for 30yrs now and I just don't feel like I have the control with a Spinning reel.

I have a Prolite I use for Finesse, but I do want to get a Pixie.

[jesse1378]

aaronr1971 is correct contact Swede and tell him post up on here :D

[DBrooke]

I have, and do still. I like being able to keep a finger on the line when dragging it so I can feel everything. Just make sure it's a stiff rod!

[coldfront]

I think you have the thought process nailed...for me it's not so much about the reel...plenty of heavy duty reels out there in saltwater applications...

for me, it's about a long enough, stout enough rod for long casts/hook sets...the key here is you've got 'the braid'...

It will work...and if you like it better than baitcasting, I'm betting it'll work better for  you ...

[Ron Fogelson]

I think it must be a MN thing, 

I used to only fish with open face spinning gear; didn't even own a bait caster up until a few years ago.  There isn't anything they won't do that a bait caster can do as far as fishing.  Line twist is a bugger for new folks but only because they tend to keep reeling while the fish is pulling drag.  The only reason I switched is because the ergonomics of casting an open face is much harder on me than a bait caster.  When you are making thousands of casts in a day holding the rod/reel with your wrist bent down and forward on an open face took its toll; being able to palm a bait caster and having both hands on an even plane while reeling is smoother in the fight IMHO than having one hand up on the rod and the other down below on the reel handle.

AS far as casting farther,,,, I think you answered your own question as to why it could be better; using your strong arm.  IMO it's more to do with the right rod/reel for the job than if it is a bait caster or open face.  Again there is no valid reason one couldn't use only one type or the other for most every application in bass fishing as long as you take the time to find the right set up; rod, reel & line for what you intend to do.  It was just a physical need for me to change as fishing with an open face caused me to much pain any more.

[Ron Fogelson]

I think it must be a MN thing, 

Swede is from MN as well 

[DBrooke]

I'm LIVING in IL, from the south, up until 2 years ago I wouldn't even pick up a BC. That being said I still C-Rig with a spinning rod, with 15# power pro. I also make my c-rig out of braid. I started doing this because of the rocks I c-rig on always destroyed the leader and I lost one nice fish during a tourney.

[-Shawn-]

The Diam of 15lb Braid makes it Very NON abrasion resistent. 

[Stump bumper]

I am a big fan of spinning reels for anything but slinging cranks and spinnerbaits all day, but with smaller cranks like wiggle warts I can throw them a lot further with spinning gear. I like the 20lb power pro since it cast as easy as 8lb mono and with C-rigs the flouro/braid really transmits the feel of the bottom better than a stiff baitcasting rod IMO and with the braid you still set a hook as well with even a 6'6" med heavy rod. I am going to try the sinking braid this year.

I also like spinning reels for working jerk baits since I can twitch a lot slower with spinning reels than baitcasters, I just use the rod a lot more with the spinning reel than I do with a baitcaster and in colder water where I need a longer pause, the spinning reels work better for me.

I have never been to MN though did spend a lot of time in NY.

[DBrooke]

The Diam of 15lb Braid makes it Very NON abrasion resistent. 

Not so bad verses using the mono, the mono would always get broke off in the rocks on me.

[-Shawn-]

The Rods I use to C-rig are the same ones I use for Weedless swimbaits, so they have 50lb braid.  and use 15-20lb Flouro or Co poly for the Leader.   I do have to stop and think about the Line difference when setting the hook though. 

[Swede]

Did somebody mention something about spinning gear?    Yep Ron - might be a MN thing, but I like to think of it as a walleye thing.   

I carry spinning gear in my boat and if you happen top find a casting rod - well that just means I have company in the boat for the day.  There aren't too many things I can't do with a spinning rig, but there are things a casting rig does better and vice versa.  Deep cranking with those big 20+ ft CBs, fishing heavy swim baits, punching through mats with 1oz+ lead are all examples of things I'd consider a casting rig the better option.

I fish pretty much anything else with spinning gear including carolina rigging.  Cranking and plastics are my go-to techniques in grass infested lakes here in FL.  Many times I like what I call a "light carolina rig" because of the grass (hydrilla) here which is nothing more than a carolina saver with a 3/16 or 1/4 oz bullet weight above it and the hook/bait/Parasite Clip at the end of the line.  I've found that the weight comes up and over/through the grass clumps much better with the lizard/worm/craw floating along behind. 

You can do much the same thing with a split shot (replace the caroilna saver and bullet weight with a lead split shot) for super slow falls of the bait.   

Most times I'm fishing Cajun Red 12 pound test mono line or 20/30 pound braid.  Any other questions let me know.

[coldfront]

swede,
what's your set up for fishing frogs in the slop?  (have guys in my club using spinning gear for this too)

[Swede]

30 or 50 pound test braid.  Medium heavy rod with some backbone and descent size reel (Shamano Stradic 4000 or 5000 or comparable) with gear ratio in 6.0:1 range or better.  Want to get a bass up to the surface on hook set and keep it on top coming to the boat/net.  If the bass gets its head back down in the weeds, who knows if you'll get it to the boat or not.  It's at these times I depend on a good trolling motor to close the gap between the location bass is at and location boat is at.  I'll have one rod rigged this way next tourney   

[coldfront]

It's at these times I depend on a good trolling motor to close the gap between the location bass is at and location boat is at.  I'll have one rod rigged this way next tourney 

zero difference here between spinning or baitcasting...

[Swede]

Agreed - not much difference at all.