Anybody use bailess spinning reels? Also called manual pickup spinning reels.They are very popular on the East coast, but I have never seen any around here or in any stores. Fishermen on East coast claim they are more trouble free and don't have to worry about bail closing during casting and breaking off lure and also less parts to break. Some of the reels are modified standard reels mostly Penn reels and some are high end factory reels like Van Staal and Zebaas. I have modified 2 old spinning reels to manual pickup but haven't had chance to fish them, just took them out casting and they worked OK, just have to get use to putting line in roller.

GTOK

Manual pick up is quite common 10 years ago,they modified Mitchell 302.386,396 to add on the roller.After cast you have to use hand put line on roller.Try it for yourself because some like it,some don't.If I fish using live bait it's OK to me.