Anyone float fish with a baitcaster?

[misfish]

As for the baitcast set-up, I think in the right situation it's perfect. I hate freezing my hand off using a pin in the dead of winter, I can't change it up and chuck hardware with my pin, etc, etc

 

Gives you the comfort of wearing warm mitts. Something I would like. Got me thinking about trying this. I already have the reel.(won it a few years back from the southern byes) Just need to find a rod thats not to heavy to handle.

 

Any thoughts on a manufactured made rod that would suit my needs?

 

Can you buy a spiral wrap? I know theres the old walker rods,but that crazy heavy.

[misfish]

I'm not so forgiving. That puts those two idiots in the same category as the tuna rod/treble hook crew in my books.

 

When you're being paid to do a job, cheating is a lousy thing to do.

 

No dought. Just saying is all.

[kemper]

Gives you the comfort of wearing warm mitts. Something I would like. Got me thinking about trying this. I already have the reel.(won it a few years back from the southern byes) Just need to find a rod thats not to heavy to handle.

 

Any thoughts on a manufactured made rod that would suit my needs?

 

Can you buy a spiral wrap? I know theres the old walker rods,but that crazy heavy.

 

Lots of rods on the market that would do the job, but ever since I started building rods I've had a really hard time buying anything off the shelf.

 

Some that come to mind:

 

10'6" Convergence Casting (Shimano)

 

9'8" GLoomis STR 1163 C

 

The Loomis

 

STFR 1474 S or STFR 1363 S could probably be wrapped as casting blanks as well...

[spinnerdoc]

Gives you the comfort of wearing warm mitts. Something I would like. Got me thinking about trying this. I already have the reel.(won it a few years back from the southern byes) Just need to find a rod thats not to heavy to handle.

 

Any thoughts on a manufactured made rod that would suit my needs?

 

Can you buy a spiral wrap? I know theres the old walker rods,but that crazy heavy.

Maybe you can convince Spiel to finish a certain rod that he showed me at his place when I was there last...just kidding It was a trolling rod spiral wrapped for a baitcaster.

[spinnerdoc]

Anyone float fish with a baitcaster? Pros and cons. E.g., drag free drifts? Line twist? Ice issues, fun, whatever. I did search previous messages but got 500+ related messages. Thanks

I started of using a baitcaster, had some success with it, my thing was I had to load up on the amount of shots compaired to the float reel, maybe it was just me but I do get more distance from the float reel as opposed to the baitcaster. Plus side to me was you got some drag to help you out if your starting out.

[misfish]

My next question is this. Theres a back bone to all rods. Their meant to bend one way or another. Spinning/bait casting. Will a spinning rod break,if I go with a bait caster set up?

 

I have a 12'6" 4-8 wt,Convergence Casting rod

Edited October 28, 2012 by Misfish

[kickingfrog]

Yes rods have a spine.

[Spiel]

Theres a back bone to all rods.

 

That's a fallacy Brian, blanks do have a spine (or spline if you prefer) but in many cases there's more than one.

Usually one will be more dominant and I often build on either side of it depending on the customers desire, but more often than not it's built on the straightest axis.

 

Given all that mumbo jumbo how many people have you seen or know who fish there rod through a perfect 90* plane.....

[davey buoy]

My next question is this. Theres a back bone to all rods. Their meant to bend one way or another. Spinning/bait casting. Will a spinning rod break,if I go with a bait caster set up?

 

I have a 12'6" 4-8 wt,Convergence Casting rod

 

There will be no pistol grip?,not sure how much that will play into it.

[Christopheraaron]

There will be no pistol grip?,not sure how much that will play into it.

 

Personally I don't care for that grip, I like to hold the reel.

[Spiel]

There will be no pistol grip?,not sure how much that will play into it.

 

It doesn't.

[misfish]

That's a fallacy Brian, blanks do have a spine (or spline if you prefer) but in many cases there's more than one.

Usually one will be more dominant and I often build on either side of it depending on the customers desire, but more often than not it's built on the straightest axis.

 

Given all that mumbo jumbo how many people have you seen or know who fish there rod through a perfect 90* axis.....

 

 

Im going to give it a go when the weather is to cold for the bare hand Chris. I,ll be setting it up this week.

 

Thanks

 

Maybe I need to make a trip down with this rod,and get a rewrap.

Edited October 28, 2012 by Misfish

[kemper]

Im going to give it a go when the weather is to cold for the bare hand Chris. I,ll be setting it up this week.

 

Thanks

 

Maybe I need to make a trip down with this rod,and get a rewrap.

 

 

I wouldn't fish a spinning rod with a caster - the guides are wrong and you'll get a whole whack of weird torsion on the blank under load.

 

If you are serious about it, get it re-wrapped (or depending on the price, just buy a new stick) and do it right. I know I would prefer to build a whole new rod than tear down/rebuild a blank, its a whole lot of work and is very easy to do wrong...

[kemper]

That's a fallacy Brian, blanks do have a spine (or spline if you prefer) but in many cases there's more than one.

Usually one will be more dominant and I often build on either side of it depending on the customers desire, but more often than not it's built on the straightest axis.

 

Given all that mumbo jumbo how many people have you seen or know who fish there rod through a perfect 90* plane.....

 

 

Agreed, straightest axis for me.

 

I built one by splining, as far as I could tell there was no performance improvement but it drove me bonkers because the tip section wasn't all that straight so I was looking at a wonky rod all day...

[misfish]

I only asked,as when I had my first custom built (only have had two done,first was a lammy,second one well,very pleased) The builder showed me how the blank flopped/flipped,when he twisted it. When he had the blank bent just perfect,a little turn,it would curl over quick.

[BillM]

I'd probably use gloves instead of switching rigs to a baitcast setup.

[Rich]

Inferior to a pin, superior to spinning

[Sharkbait22]

Wow Snidley. Thanks for that response. I need to digest all this. Looks like great advice. I'm thinking of a

Avid AVC106MF2 10'6" M Fast 8 - 12 1 ⁄ 4 - 3 ⁄ 4 6.9 5 $260. Cheers

 

I used baitcasters floating for years now. I particularly liked the technique for big water, in winter, specifically the Niagara for me.

 

Years ago I met the chap who fishes the Saugeen with a baitcaster. We talked in detail because I also was running a baitcaster float rig. First off he uses a much longer rod than I would. I believe he uses a 14' rod. He also used at that time , an Abu C3 or C4 reel. Again just like BC, but in my opinion a really hack reel. Personally I used a Calcutta 201 first and then I moved to a Daiwa Millionaire 251 CVZ. The quality reel makes sense for casting distance and a good solid drag at low settings so don't cheap out here. If you fish in cold weather there is another major consideration and that is the line quide configuation. With most baitcasters the line guide on the the reel is a moving unit with a small hole to pass the line through. It freezes up quickly in winter and inevitably leads to blown casts and birdsnests. Very hard to keep clear, in winter. The Record, C3 and C4 Abu's as well as Daiwa Millionaire CVX and CVZ and the newer Luna have a much different configuration using two parallel bars that moves along the rail of the reel. This configuration offers a much larger pass through that is easy to keep open in freezing weather. This is a VERY desirable feature if you fish through the colder months like I do. The chap up north also does something very few anglers do anymore. He fishes with sponge not roebags. It must behave under water in a much different way than a roe bag because this guy does slay them and even though he does cover water the centerpin crowd can't reach he is still fishing a lot of the same water as the row anglers but with better results. The same can be said for using Glo Bugs at the 'geen, often works much better than roe especially in pressured situations.

 

When I started I used a 13' GL2 that I had converted to baitcasting handle and guides. It was a blank listed for up to 8lbs. and in my opinion it was too long and too soft. I then had a custom rod made up from a 1263 blank from Loomis. It was rated 8-12lb. and is the most common blank used in BC for this purpose. Too me this blank is way under rated at a max of 12lb. and to me it is a rod that was too stout but exactly the right length. I eventually sold my 1263 and I spent a few years looking for a 1261 or 1262 GL3 that I could make into a baitcast rod but never found either the blank or an actual rod tied that way. A 10'6" baitcaster rated up to 10lb line would be the ideal for here in Ontario, in my opinion. I believe ST Croix makes one in the Avid line and I see that St Croix.com is offering a Wild River 10'6" M power in their bargain room for $80 or$90. If one was on a budget or testing the waters out this might be a rod to look at as a Wild River rod is much softer than an Avid per it's line rating. Rapala also makes a baitcast floatrod I think rated Medium and that's probably why Italo was using one on his show. I've met him too and he is a very nice chap who made a mistake about 15 years ago that the perfect types won't let go of. He know's a lot about fishing, lure modification as well as boating and he is very willing to share his knowledge if you see him at any fishing shows (usually in the Rapala booth)

 

Baitcast floatfishing offers a competent caster a much superior method of getting your cast to places where even the best caster with a pin can go. You use more weight and slip type bobbers or very large set floats (Drennan Pikers and big Raven slip floats are most common but the Big Thills are good too. The best floats however are made from the handle of an aquarium net. That compressed foam handle is bright white for visibility on extra long drifts, has a big hole through the middle to allow your weight to drop the bait quickly and floats enormous weight. The handle itself is heavy so as to enhance casting. They are cheaper too.All of this is good). The other thing about casting rods over noodle set ups is that you can effectively use alternatives to roe bags and flies. I use Hot Shots, Quickfish, Spin and Glows, Blades and big jigs with a baitcaster float rod and although you could use the same gear on a pin setup the overall delicacy of a pin rig here in Ontario makes these methods less than ideal. Today when I use a float rig it's always on big water and I now use a 9'6" rod Fenwick Techna. 10'6" would be better but I can still effectively fish my 9'6" rod for floating and chucking lures without a float so the transport issue is somewhat mitigated.

 

For anyone interested in floating a baitcaster I would suggest a 10'6" med light rod, a round baitcaster with the Abu/Daiwa line guide set up and big floats with lots of weight. It won't work well everywhere but it can really change up the way you fish and will produce better results some of the time in some of the locations. Feel free to contact me and I will share what I know of this fishing method

[Sharkbait22]

Thanks for all the response guys. Much appreciated. I have some things to think about. Questions forthcoming.

[Bondar]

St.croix avid at peters in St.Catharines $160 10'6 , this was a month ago I saw them worth a phone call maybe

[Snidley]

That's a good deal for a 10'6" Avid. A comparable Loomis would be over $300. Hopefully its the lite line rated version. Petes is such a great shop even with Pete gone.

[thalweg]

Sold my pin years ago..went bait caster and never looked back. I find it far superior in almost every circumstance. Unmatched versatility. A quality baitcaster will pay line as smoothly as the highest quality pins even in sub zero conditions. I find most folks who got pins upgraded from a spinning outfit (rightly so btw) because its better than spinning. But more likely felt they saw everyone else using it. Pinning in my opinion is far over rated method. If the fish are on a horizontal highspeed bite...try throwing hardware on a pin. Ain't gonna happen.

 

Casting distance, further assistance of quality drag (yes and the super sensitivity of using your thumb in tandem), complete removal of line twist, throw any bait/presentation you wish, light weight (if you spend the bucks on quality), reduced hand fatigue (can use gloves with it) faster retrieves with more casts per hour....the list of benefits go on and on.

 

A bit of practice with the weights completely off. Yup you'll get the occasional birds nest first couple go arounds , but after that, pure steelhead fighting bliss.

 

Oh...and I long ago abandoned super whippy float rods and sub 4lb leader material. Simply foolish in almost 99% of all circumstances. I now run 10 pound main and 8 pound flouro frog hair leader in most conditions with rare occasion of 6 lb tippet, and upgrade to 12 pound and 10 pound tippet in turbid conditions.

 

I like putting the boots to the steel. Maximum pressure for a violent fight that you can truly feel....instead of pansie footing it down the bank hoping for no break off. In fact this year I'll be trying to boat flip them like a fat bucket in the slop

Edited November 1, 2012 by waterrunner

[BillM]

We've got a hero here folks.

[Spiel]

We've got a hero here folks.

 

Guess I'm a hero too.

[BillM]

Guess I'm a hero too.

 

If you come off like that guy did, then I guess so. Although I don't think you would.