There is room for both reels, but both reels are used for different applications, such as one used for light tackle and the other reel for heavier tackle. And yes once you learn how to use a baitcaster you'll have a different appreciation for them.Good luck with both.

Llunker, where are you located? I have an old Quantum 1310MG that would be great for learning because it is very forgiving and usually does not backlash bad. I used it to teach my dad, but now he wants to backlash my more expensive reels. It doesn't give the best distance, but it is a sturdy reel. If you live near Conroe texas I will meet you and you can have it. It just sits in my boat now and if someone can use it, I would be happy to give it to them. Let me know if you want it. I usually get to my boat about once a week and could grab it. Might as well learn to use one before buying an expensive one. I will say that baitcasters are what I use the most. I used to live in MI and had to fish light line (6lb) and was all spin cast. Now I hardly get out the spin casters for bass.

Me too. I look at a baitcaster and it backlashes. Hate em.

I use both.

you know there's a way to get rid of backlash easily right? for all that say they hate them because of backlash. here's the link... i can't go back to spinners, because baitcasters are a lot more accurate and can throw further... i see no point in using a spinning reel anymore. that's just me though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDI5kwR5zjc
check out for getting rid of backlash easily.

Thanks guys--I sent you a pm Slumpbuster

I have started out with an Abu Garcia Black Max--I think the rod and reel was like $50 with a 6'6" Med heavy action rod.

Not a bad littl set up but i think its at the low end of the market and it does backlash from time to time. I have really started mastering the cast and m,y backlashes are maybe 1 out of every ten casts now.

Just got back from SPI today and will go tackle AH or Hubbard Creek tonight.

Wish me luck---and WOW alot of you guys out there had something to say--really appreciate all your thoughts.

for me I like BC so far--but I think there are times i might use a spinner for different applications such as line size and finesse fishing

I use spinning because that's just what I grew up using. I would like to get me a baitcaster one day but it wouldn't matter either way because I can never catch anything

...for Bass Fishing as you stated... I would go with the Baitcaster. There are Pro and Con for both types of reels as mentioned before. You need to maintain a certain diligence with both in order to take advantage of the Pro. For the Baitcaster you kinda always have that "ghost" thumb ready to stop the spool should you miss cast. The spinning reel requires you to keep tension on the line while reeling in so as not to cause additional line twist.
I take both types of reels with me for most fishing. I default to the Baitcaster and make adjustments from there.

I use mostly baitcasters, but use spinning for wacky and drop shotting.

shimano citica and revo s works for me

One of Larry Dahlberg's (Hunt for Big Fish) main sponsors is Shimano. I love that show. He usually uses the Curado or Calcutta baitcast reels.

I use both spinning and baitcast.

If you plan to fish seriously you need both kinds. Lure selection and lake conditons help me deturmnie which I will use. Get a quality reel which ever you choose. A reel is a tool and you get what you pay for. I voted for the spinning reel because I think it would be esier for some one to learn to use.

IT depends where you or fishing and for what,stream or creek I use spinning(shimano),because you can get in some real close quarters and don't have to worry about backlash if you happen to grab a tree limb in your backcast,everything else I use shimano or abu baitcast

Llunker, it's not so much which kind of reel is better, because they each have different applications. baitcasters are generally used for your faster, cast-and-retrieve applications. spincasters are generall used for worms and jigs, the slower fishing applications.

but with that said, you can do a little more with baitcasters.

first get comfortable and learn to really control the baitcaster, then move up to a higher quality reel (I'm a lifelong abu user) like the pro max I bought 2 recently and 2 quantums, 2 citicas all at the same time.
I use mainly my 4 abu "round" reels (c-3's and a high end I dont remember the # of) along with the pro max and quantums, set up for the appropriate lures and type of fishing.
I will use one of my 2 spinners (1 shimmano/1 abu) for different types of light line/lure fishing i.e. roadrunners or small storm swim baits etc.
once you get to where the baitcaster is second nature and you are very accurate it should be the primary rod reel setup as you never know when the "big one" will show up and on a light spin setup you stand a much better chance of loosing it.
also if you use MH rods and learn to cast with them you will probably have fewer backlashes, don't hurl the lure use one smooth motion with alot of wrist in it (kinda like throwing a baseball) and I think you'll see an improvement in accuracy and distance with fewer "lashes".
just my opinion hope some of it helps.