Spinning vs. Conventional

[Parapapam]

Guys,

I was reading Maineguide's thread....

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ad.php?t=25664

...and my question is pretty basic. What are the advantages of a Conventional reel over a Spinning reel and why do people go through all the trouble to learn how to use them for casting?

[CANAL RAT]

there lighter in weight some say they have more cranking power and a better drag . the main reason they are used are for casting distance with heavy lines.with to days braid you can have 50lb braid with a 12lb diameter super braids are very limp and some say make the spinning reel match the conv in casting distance and fighting power. i think that with todays spinning reels with there long cast spools and limp small diameter super braids spinning reel are just as good

[Nebe]

i like conventional because I look cool using it

in all honesty i dont know why i switched over..... they are harder to cast thats for sure.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Jezzuz you sound like Spence Nebe;

My reasons for throwing convench revolve around the ability to freespool in a hurry; i.e. eeling and jigging fast moving water...

Other than that; it is a slightly different rod position and casting style, so in the fall switching between my 1201M and VS250 and the lighter (weight wise) 1089 w/ 525 mag gives my broken down shoulder a break......

Also, I've been using convench as long as I;ve been using spin since I grew upon boats, and go between pretty easy; I learned to throw convench with a penn squidder... everything else is cake....

[Sweetwater]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Also, I've been using convench as long as I;ve been using spin since I grew upon boats, and go between pretty easy; I learned to throw convench with a penn squidder... everything else is cake....

I've thrown a squidder from time to time, and if you can manage that, yer a Convench god!

[Pete F.]

I think conventional are harder to learn how to cast but easier on your body, no whipping involved.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Not even Sweet; but I think thats the way to learn; when you can toss a squidder you can toss anything; I still use it as an eel stick in my skiff, with a squidder you cant reel all that fast.. perfect for eels....
I've upgraded to a 525, 6500Mag elite and 7000 in the suds....

[lurch]

I switched over because of fishing for largemouth bass...I have greater accuracy when fishing a conv because of the high tech thumb braking system. Dropping a spinnerbait into an "ambush hole" is much easier using a conv that a spinning reel IMO. I have just gotten use to fishing with a conv plus it is much easier to throw 5-6oz jigs with conv!

[eelman]

Originally Posted by Nebe

i like conventional because I look cool using it

in all honesty i dont know why i switched over..... they are harder to cast thats for sure.

You look so cool with that new rod to sling it on! That thing has more gold than fort knox!

Seriously, My opinion is that all the way around conventional gear is just better, stronger, more acurate.I have rods for different applications, so with conventional I can toss anything. I like the fact that everything is "infront of you" instaed of underneath like a spin rod, You seem to get more power out of the rod when you fish over the top.

The power thing is really dramatic, Steve and I can be on at the same time with 15lb fish, using the same lb test line and simalr rods I seem to get them in twice as fast, steve thinks its that the fish feels more pressure over the top than underneath, who knows, I just like it better

Its also the best way to go for fishing heavy jigs in the canal, or breachways, I would not want to work a jig in a humping current with spin gear, just wasnt made for it......

I dont have anything against spin fisherman! so please dont get the wrong idea! I just like conventional!

Plus " It looks cool fishing it" Thanks for that one Eben

[Parapapam]

Thanks for the responses.

I do a lot of eel slinging. But it is from a boat which I put pretty close to shore. Also my eels are usually unweighted since I spend most of my "casting" time in less than 20 feet of water. So I am not throwing a ton of weight long distances.

The only reason I could see to switch was the ability to use conventional gear in a light weight trolling application and still use the same reel to cast...sort of a troll/cast day of chasing bones or falsies.... Or am I not making any sense what so ever?

Although I like to look cool, I usally fail trying. So I'll save my $$$ and stick with my spinning gear....and avoid the headache of learning Conventional.

[snake slinger]

i like conventionals because you can use heavier line i use 30lb mono no problem.you have more cranking power there geared lower than most spinners.you get no line twist with convench.more line capacity.and if eel man uses em they gata be good.

[5/0]

I think that convench is the way to go while fishing the Canal,I like it for applications like drifting eels & chunk bait youre line rolls off the spool and the presentaion is more natural.They are also ideal for plugging and jigging,you can get a mega cast out to those hard to reach fish or you can get a extened drift on a jig.
You are able to cast heavy lures further and with more accuracy than with spinning.You can take out the brakes & change the factory bearings to ceramic and cast even futher.Conventionals can hold alot more line weather it be Mono or braid,I belive that have they a higher torquing strength than spinning.A convench looks like a smaller version of a winch,they are very durable and rugged,I dont mind dunking my convench in the water,in fact before my first cast I'll pure water on it so my line gets wet and it wont affect my first few casts.When I get home I can rinse off my convench and let it air dry.If I dunk my spin I know that when I get home it will need to be tended too,not a complete strip down but more work than I want to spend on it,unless you have a Van Staal things would be different in that respect.
I like to use spinning reels on the beach because most of the time that I go it's @ night and I use eels,stick baits,lighter plugs & sluggos.Spinning reels are alot more "user" friendly like casting,retrieving & untangling knots.vs a birds nest on a convench in the middle of the night.Everything has it's Pros & Cons,IMHO I think it's all preference,as to what kind of fishing you want to do what kind of bait you use & where you fish.

5/0

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Nebe

i like conventional because I look cool using it

Cause where women are concerned there ain't nothin cooler than a man in Rubber Pants and Moon Boots, holding a convench setup and covered in fish stink......thats Elvis/Beatles kind of cool

I use spinning because its what I'm comfortable with....been using it all my life.

I would like to try drifting bait w/ a convench setup though that makes a lot of sense the way the line comes off.....been trying it w/ the spinning gear and after awhile I've been getting some serious line twist.

[likwid]

Depending on which reels you use they convert very well over to offshore reels. (avets... 2 SX 1 MX... still looking for another SX)

[tynan19]

Nothing like free spooling an eel in the canal or any current and feeling the eel freak out and then your line starts peeling off your revolvong spool in one smooth motion. Turn the handle lift the rod set the hook. My favorite way to fish by far.

When using a spinning reel on the beach or drifting the line kind of bumps off the spool it is not a fluid motion. When you have a hit with spinning you need to step forward throw the bail and let the fish run. With conv. you just hit the clutch and free spool.

Had this conversation last night at the canal with 5/0.

[Sweetwater]

The greatest advantage of conventional, in my mind, is the ability to throw much heavier weights or lures (as in a beach application). The tension that is put on the line to throw 6 or 7 oz weights (say yer fishing bait of a beach) is just too great for spinning...it will rip your fingers up. Some people try these "trigger releases" but they don't work that well. In many applications, such as bait fishing sand eels you need heavier weights to hold bottom than what spinning reels allow.

Also, conventional reels can cast greater distances and have more retreive power than spinning reels.