Baitcasting reel
Also called baitcaster, casting reel
The reel that sits on top of the rod with a spool that spins as the line leaves it. More power and accuracy, and it will backlash on you.
On a baitcaster the spool turns during the cast, driven by the weight of the lure pulling line off it. That direct connection is what gives the reel its advantages: it cranks with real torque under load, it handles heavy line and heavy baits without complaint, and a practiced caster can drop a bait into a gap the size of a dinner plate at thirty feet.
It is also the reason for backlash. If the spool keeps spinning after the lure slows down, the line piles up faster than it leaves and you get a bird's nest. Modern brakes and a spool tension knob make this manageable, and your thumb does the rest.
The honest version is that a first day with a baitcaster involves picking out tangles. Most people are casting cleanly by the end of it. What you get in return is a reel that will pull a bass out of a laydown without flinching.
Set the spool tension so a lure falls slowly when you thumb the release, start the brakes near maximum, and back them off as you improve.
Common questions
Are baitcasting reels hard to use?
The first session involves some backlashes. With the spool tension set so a lure drops slowly and the brakes near maximum, most people are casting cleanly within an hour or two.
Related terms
Where this comes up
The guides that use baitcasting reel and show it on real gear.
Baitcasting reel is one of 206 terms in the glossary.
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