One popular misconception regarding catfishing are that you can’t use spinning reels. This simply isn’t true. While catfish is strong, heavy fish that frequently inhabit deep, debris-filled waters, spinning reels offer several advantages over baitcasters, although baitcasters are better if you’re wanting to throw big baits in heavy cover.
Spinning reels appears fragile compared to baitcasting reels and appear to lack necessary strength to handle big blue catfish and flathead catfish. Because of this, it make sense that a baitcaster would be the better choice. But there are some veteran angler who regularly take their catfishing outings with spinning reels.
They are not new anglers looking to save money, mind you. We’re talking about seasoned hunters that haul thousands of pounds of catfish out of water every year. Why do they rely on spinning reels?
It’s not due to ignorance. It’s purely from knowledge. Spinning reels is popular for many reasons, comfort being at the top of most anglers list.
Why Spinning Reels Work Well for Catfish
Spinning Reel Comfort and Design
Catching big catfish is about patience as much or more then quick reactions. They don’t run, they just hold and drag in deep water. Your thumb manages the line and your fingers grab onto the handle.
A spinning reel sit snugly in your hand because weight is balanced. You aren’t battling the reel as well as the fish. This design will make longer days on the water easier on you as you won’t get tired as easyly.
Line Management Near Structure
Spinning reels are also good at handling line management… Something that’s important when catfish feed near structure. Brush piles, submerged timber, rocks.
They all offer great places for fish to hide. And as they relate to these pieces of cover, they frequentlly get hung up in it. Spinning reels let you reel and pull line back in between your fingers, which is tough to do with a baitcaster.
Drag System Performance
With spinning reels, you can feel the tension right through your thumb and know exactly when your line is tight. This gives you that tactile feedback that prevents sudden shocks that snap line on hook sets. Companies like Penn and Shimano now makes spinning reels for heavy predators with improved drag systems.
While the Daiwa Saltiga series is overkill for most, the Shimano Sedona or Daiwa Crossfire lines offers smooth drag performance in the fifty to hundred-pound range. A good rule of thumb is you don’t necessarily need a high-end tournament model to pull on big catfish; rather you want one with a dependable drag that won’t chatter when it get put under pressure. In other words, consistency is much more important than raw power here as a jerky drag will break your line where a smooth drag tires out the fish.
Accuracy Over Casting Distance
It’s no secret that baitcasters puts out a bit more horsepower on a cast and can chuck a few ounces further then spinning gear. But I’m going to bet that most of your catfish fishing happen within twenty to forty yards, where you’re aiming for a hole in the bottom or some other current break. When you’re targeting specific spots like this, accuracy trumps range and spinning reels excels at throwing small baits on light line.
This lets you use lighter leaders which can be hard to see and therefore gives you an advantage when fish are spooky or water is clear. You can get bait down gently near structure without splashing and scaring the prey away. Tangling and twisting lines is the main problems when using heavy baits on spinning reels.
Preventing Tangles and Backlash
With any bait, without proper line handling, you’ll be out of luck and have a birds nest going. The trick is simple, it just takes practice and discipline. When you’re drifting bait, always use a swivel.
Palming the spool properly and keeping your line tight on the reel while bringing it in empty will take care of any mechanical problems that plagues beginners. When you pay attention to what the reel does and don’t fight it, it does exactly what it was made to do. Finally, cost is what will continue to make spinning reels relevant as high quality baitcasting reels tends to be costly.
Cost and Versatility Benefits
For just a little more, you can buy a spinning reel of equal quality and set up several rig for different situations. Think a spinning reel is too delicate for blues? No problem.
How about a lightweight one for channel catfish? Without breaking your bank you now have the right tools for whatever situation comes up. In the end, versatility pays off.
It is better to have the right tool for the job then one pricey tool that tries to be everything. Baitcasters do have their time and place; but don’t dismiss spinning reels as being inadequate for catching catfish. They has some distinct advantages in line control, drag smoothness and comfort.
When you get a handle on the mechanics they becomes an extension of your arm and the myth that they’re inadequate is simply wrong. Finesse wins the battle against force, turning what would of been a brute strength contest into a technical battle.
