Baitcasting reel
Also called baitcaster, casting reel
What is a baitcasting 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.
Baitcasting reel at a glance
- Mounts
- On top of the rod
- Spool during the cast
- Spins
- Which is why it can backlash
- Best at
- Heavy line, heavy baits, accuracy
- Learning curve
- An afternoon
- Brakes high, thumb on the spool
How does a baitcasting reel work?
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 practised caster can drop a bait into a gap the size of a dinner plate at thirty feet.
Why do baitcasters backlash?
The same spinning spool is 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.
It is worst with light lures and into a headwind, because both slow the lure without slowing the spool.
Should a beginner buy a baitcaster?
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.
It is the wrong first reel for a child or for anyone throwing quarter-ounce baits and lighter, and the right one for an adult who mostly fishes jigs, Texas rigs and crankbaits and does not mind an afternoon of practice.
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.
What this means when you’re choosing
- An externally adjustable braking dial, so you can add brake between casts rather than opening the side plate.
- A gear ratio matched to what you fish. Low 6s if it is your only baitcaster; save the 8:1 for a dedicated flipping rod.
- A low-profile body if you have average hands. Round reels hold more line but are harder to palm and to thumb accurately.
Baitcasting reel vs Spinning reel
| Baitcasting reel | Spinning reel | |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | On top of the rod | Below the rod |
| Spool during cast | Spins with the line | Fixed; line peels off the front |
| Light lures | Struggles under about 1/4 oz | Casts very light baits easily |
| Failure mode | Backlash | Line twist and wind knots |
| Time to competence | An afternoon of practice | About ten minutes |
Which to pick: Spinning for a first reel, for light baits and for anyone who wants to fish rather than practise. Baitcasting once you are throwing half-ounce and heavier baits and want the cranking power and accuracy.
The common mistake
Learning on a light lure
A baitcaster is loaded by the weight of the bait, so a light lure gives the spool almost nothing to fight and produces most of the backlashes people quit over. Learn with something in the middle of the rod's rating, around half an ounce, in open grass with a casting plug. Light baits come later, once thumb timing is automatic.
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.
What is the lightest lure a baitcaster can cast?
Most standard baitcasters start to struggle under about a quarter ounce, because there is not enough weight to keep line pulling off the spool. Finesse-specific reels go lighter; below that, use spinning gear.
Where this comes up
The guides that use baitcasting reel and show it on real gear.
Last reviewed . Baitcasting reel is one of 222 terms in the fishing glossary.