I enjoy creating this blog because it lets me explore the internet for various beginner fishing queries to produce an article that answers the topic and assists them. Today, we’ll address the most frequently asked question: Can You Use A Spinning Reel On A Casting Rod? While we’re at it, we’ll talk about whether incorrectly bending a fishing rod can cause it to break, which is a significant worry if you plan to mix and match your gear.
Casting Reel Vs. Spinning Reel
You might be perplexed if you’re a novice angler trying to figure out which reel to use on your next fishing excursion. Both spincast and spinning reels are suitable types that can suffice. However, each is better suited to various conditions to enhance your experience.
Using spinning reels are often more durable and well-built than spincast reels. It also provides you with more stable options to choose from. Whereas in spincast, the top reel spool is housed inside the spool, allowing you to use a lighter, less test line. However, neither reel is designed to handle a vast or heavy catch.
Spinning Reels: What Are They?
A popular reel in the fishing business is the spinning reel. They’re the most popular because they are helpful in various scenarios.
The drag adjustment is an open-face design on the top of the spinning reel. It has a metal bail that secures the line from unspooling. The bail ensures that the line is rewound evenly into the spool.
Additionally, the design enables effortless casting and pleasant handling. Because spinning reels are linked to the rod from below, they provide an ideal gripping position and good casting balance. Casting with a spinning reel is simple because of this.
Disengage the bail and squeeze the line against the rod with your index finger to prevent the cable from unspooling. Next, swing the rod sideways or overhead. Around halfway through the action, let go of the index finger. Finally, aim the rod’s tip to where the bait will land.
It’s worth noting that most spinning reels close the bail as soon as you start reeling. The issue is that the line constantly misses the spool on the first spin, resulting in a knot. Remember to manually return the bail to its initial position when you throw the line out.
What Are Spincast Reels?
Spincast reels have a button on them that allows the line to unspool freely when pressed. By far the most basic reel available, it can be utilized by beginners looking for something simple to work with that is also inexpensive.
Spincast reels feature a metal nose cone that conceals all of the reel’s major components. A button on the back switches the line between free-spool and locked. They have a drag adjustment system. This method allows you to properly manage the amount of resistance a fish feels when pulling on your line.
Remember how I mentioned spincasts were simple to use? Allow me to explain why. Press the spool control button, take a swing, and let go to make a spincast. When you let go of the handle, the line will shoot out where your rod tip is pointing.
Spincast Reel Parts
The overall simplicity of a spincast reel is one of its primary benefits. What sets this reel apart is that it does not offer as much as a baitcast or spinning reel. Here are some features you’d like to see in the top rotation of a spincast.
- Bearings are essential for the reel, but massive directions add little. As a result, with a spincast spin, attempt to get bearings between 4 and 8.
- Drive gears: This reel’s top gears are housed in plastic housing. As a result, it is inexpensive and provides a budgeted price. However, metal and nylon gears are also available for this reel type.
- Gear Ratio: If you have an excellent gear ratio between 4 and 5, it doesn’t matter if you have inexpensive gear.
- Line capacity: Spincast reels are developed for fishing or trout and are compact and light in weight. As a result, its line capacity is limited to 20 yards.
- Line Guide: Avoid using huge apertures or line guides, and keep it under 6mm.
- Drag: You don’t need much pain because most spin casters aren’t designed for bigger fish. This reel would be best suited to a weight of roughly 10 pounds.
Related post: 8 Parts Of A Spinning Reel
Can You Use A Spinning Reel On A Casting Rod? (It Will Not Cast As Far)
Suppose you’re thinking about using a spinning reel on a casting rod. You probably won’t be concerned about the other three issues I’ll discuss, but you should be worried about this one. Longer casts are advantageous to everybody.
When looking at a spinning rod, the first two line guides closest to the handle are significantly further out than the line guides further up the blank. This accounts for that line on a spinning reel that leaves the rod farther away than it would with a casting reel.
When fishing with a spinning reel attached to a rod not designed for it, you risk reducing your casting distance since the line can’t flow as freely or evenly. Instead, it must quickly bend toward line guides closer to the casting rod’s blank.
The friction caused by this immediate deflection will shorten the casting distance. Is it that important if you’re fishing for pleasure or panfish off a dock? No, I doubt it.
If you’re fishing with spinnerbaits or other lures that require a lot of water coverage, on the other hand, the cumulative effect of multiple casts at a shorter distance may theoretically result in fewer fish caught in a day.
Rod Damage Can Be Caused By Using The Wrong Reel
I’ll admit that I’ve never put a spinning reel on a casting rod, let alone a broken one. However, whether or not a spinning spin on a casting rod (or a casting reel on a spinning rod) puts the rod in danger of breaking when bent is a point of contention.
Construction Of Fishing Rods
Because all fishing rod blanks (the primary “rod” section) have a spine created during their production, this is a cause for concern.
A graphite sheet or fiberglass is rolled over a metal mandrel to create a hollow fishing rod blank. The result is a region of overlap known as the “spine.” This part is thicker than the remainder due to the overlap and is known as the “backbone.”
Because the side directly opposite the spine is thinner and bends more easily, aligning the line guides or “eyes” opposite the backbone of the rod blank is the goal when creating a rod. When a fish hits, the rod will bend to the softer side rather than the spine when it is struck.
Is It Possible For A Fishing Rod To Break If Bent Incorrectly?
Some say that putting a spinning reel on a casting rod or a casting reel on a spinning rod causes the rod to bend in the opposite direction than intended, against its spine, risking catastrophic collapse.
On that one, the verdict is yet out. Many people say that but don’t think it’s a big deal. I’ve seen a few responses on popular forums where skilled rod builders have weighed in on both sides of the debate. This is as unmistakably obvious as mud.
I tried to figure it out by bending one of our less costly rods in every direction, but there was no difference in how far it turned or if it was close to breaking.
I’m not sure I’d attempt it with one of my fancier St. Croix fishing rods. However, I’m very positive (much more than a hunch) that you’ll have the appropriate type of reel if you’re fishing with a high-end fishing rod.
Does it matter if the rod breaks if you’re starting and found this strange combination in your grandfather’s shed or put it together for a few bucks at a local tag sale?
A Mismatched Rod And Reel Can Change The Power And Action Of The Rod
I’m willing to believe this one. Fishing rods are painstakingly manufactured to satisfy manufacturer specifications for power and motion.
Power refers to the rod’s initial resistance to bending. In contrast, action is where it will turn along with the blank (a fast action would bend near the tip, an intermediate step further down towards the middle).
This is likely to alter if the rod is changed in any way. If you don’t trust me, try having a broken rod re-tipped. Compare it to an undamaged rod. The shorter one will feel different (and usually less flexible) than the longer one.
Suppose your rod and reel types aren’t compatible. In that case, you’re utilizing the rod in a way the maker never intended or designed. This isn’t always terrible, but it’s something to think about. All you’ll notice is that the rod performs a little differently.
This could be a deal-breaker for someone who relies on precision, but I’m betting that if you’re doing this, the rod’s power and action aren’t at the top of your priority list!
If You Use A Spinning Reel With A Casting Rod, “Everyone Will Laugh at You.”
You can “fake it ’til you make it,” but using a spinning reel on a casting rod will not deceive anyone (or vice versa). This isn’t fair because you’re utilizing this unusual combination because it’s all you could find and afford, but such is life.
There are lots of people all around the globe who can mismatch a spinning reel and a casting rod, who brave all of the dangers I warned about, and who catch fish regularly. It will work, but you will look ridiculous doing it.
You shouldn’t be concerned about what others think of you as an adult, but your children could. Bullying is prevalent these days, and while it might teach resilience, we shouldn’t intentionally set our children up for it.
Don’t be harsh if you witness someone using their rod in this manner. You don’t know what’s going on with them. It’s possible that this is all they can afford, or it’s all they’ve ever known. You can help or advise, but do so with kindness and without being a jerk. Jerks abound globally, so we fishermen and women must band together.
Conclusion
This article fully helps the consumers answer the question: Can You Use A Spinning Reel On A Casting Rod? While a spinning reel can be used on a casting rod, there are several reasons you should not. It’s one thing to pick up a few mismatched rods and reels at a garage sale and put them together to make things work, but you should never buy a mismatched rod and reel new. I hope you found this post as entertaining as I did. Let’s share and have fun together.
Related Post: Best Spinning Rod And Reel Combos (Top 10 Fishing Rod And Reels)
