Spinning Rod Vs Casting Rod

There are two types of basic rods Casting rod and spinning rod. People have a great debate about spinning rod vs. casting rod. It is a tough choice when selecting between them during your shopping for a fishing rod.

Generally, your fishing skills and the fish species you are catching will determine the rod’s selection. In fact, it is your best choice to buy the rod according to your fishing environment.

Casting rods are suitably designed for spin cast and bait cast reels while spinning rods are suitable for spinning reels. Similarly, the casting rod can only perform some technique best, but the spinning rod can better execute other angling tactics.

About Spinning Rod

The spinning rod is designed specifically to work in harmony with spinning reels. So, if you use other rods, your fishing experience can become a disaster. Generally, the rods are made from fiberglass, graphite, or carbon fiber, having a PVC or foam handle.

The rod is available in different sizes to meet various fishing needs. Their length ranges from 4 to 14 feet, and the anglers commonly use the 6 to 8 footer sizes.

The guides lie on the underside of the spinning rod, pointing towards the ground. The eyelet gradually gets gigantic from the tip to base to enhance the line flow. The spinning reel also lies on the underside just above the handle.

About Casting Rod

Casting rods are typically made from graphite, carbon fiber, fiberglass, or composite materials. The rod size ranges from 4 to 14 feet in length, but anglers usually prefer to use 6 to 8 footers.

Casting rods have many guides, but they are small in size. Also, the eyelets and reel mount positions on the topside of this rod. You can quickly identify the casting version as a letter C is engraved somewhere in the model number.

A long casting rod design with a straight handle is typically for power fishing, bass tactic, and trolling larger fish. The guides are also huge to control a heavier line of the reels.

Shortt casting rods with a pistol grip can control spin-cast reels having a lighter line. The casting rod is suitable for beginners as it is easy to throw.

When to choose a spinning rod vs. Casting rod

Spinning rod

A spinning tackle’s primary benefit is the light lures you get with each cast because of how the reel’s design. As for the spool orientation, the line flows off freely in big loops from the spool without any resistance.

The first guide is enormous to reduce the drag because the loops spill off the reel. The spinning gear is mainly favored by fishermen who use topwater baits designed for any kind of surface baits.

It not only casts light surface buzz baits or plugs but also allows throwing light soft plastic rigs. The rods are often preferred for fishing bait. A giant spinning reel is the best choice for the heavyweights you will be throwing in the surf as it allows incredibly long casts.

The gear is not as powerful as the baitcasting rig, but it enables long casts letting anglers use lighter baits for fishing. For inshore and surf fishing, a long spinning rod is a go-to choice as it is light in weight and easy to handle.

Casting Rod

The baitcasting rig is an absolute leader with its laser accuracy and winch-like power. It is a great choice when the talk comes to using many popular fishing techniques.

Two of the most productive lures for bass fishing, jigs, and crankbaits get tied down more on the baitcasting rig. A baitcaster provides smooth operation and low profile mounting, making it a favorite when targeting bass.

The spool orientation design puts the angler in total control due to the direct in-line power and gives a solid feel when luring or hauling lunkers out of their lair. The baitcasting reel allows the angler to gain great casting accuracy.

Most of the models allow considerable fine-tuning that gives precise targeting. You can use any kind of lure having reasonable weight as it’s an excellent candidate for the baitcasting rig.

Difference between Spinning rod vs. Casting rod

The spinning rod is a user-friendly choice for any skill-level recreational anglers. The pair-up of the rod with a spinning reel is an excellent combination for fishing.

Casting rod is a popular choice for freshwater anglers with professional and intermediate skills. Likewise, you can pair the rod with baitcasting or conventional reels for a better experience.

A few of the difference is below:

Spinning rod

It is an excellent choice for beginners
Best for anglers that use the active fishing style that requires frequent casting
Fewer prone to tangling
Ideal for throwing small lures and live bait
Great casting precision in tight spaces
Quickly access and adjust the drag while fighting the fish
large eyelet loops

Casting rod

An excellent choice for Intermediate anglers
Provides accurate casting
Many rods design have a trigger on the reel seat that adds control
Ideal for throwing heavy lures, deep dropping, or trolling fishing styles
Best for technical casting style like a backhand, flipping, and skipping baits
Small guide loops

Benefits of spinning rod vs. Casting rod

Benefits of casting rod

Casting rod is a good choice for boats as you can troll the rod, anchor with, or down-rigger fished. Besides, the reels are easier to use with a rod holder that allows a controlled and measured release of line. The casting reel allows productive placement of cast when precision casting is necessary.

Benefits of Spinning rod

A spinning rod is an awesome choice for techniques that need multiple cast. As the spinning reel provides a straightforward and consistent approach to the angler. Thus, making it the best selection for beginners.

Can angler use a Baitcaster reel on a spinning rod?

Technically yes, but it is not a good choice, so it is recommendable. You can throw one on as a try, but the success rate is shallow; just do not expect much.

The baitcasting reel is likely to be backward, hampering your cast and retrieve ability in many ways. The reason not to put a baitcaster on a spinning rod is the large guide loops which is a mismatch as the baitcasting is designed for small guides.

Can angler use a Spinning reel on a casting rod?

Nope, it is a terrible choice, and you should not learn to put a spinner in a casting rod. Combining these two can put an unnecessary burden on the rod and reel in different ways.

The spinning reel would end backward. However, if you can pull it off by any trick and get the fish on lines, things will immediately go south. Also, the design for spinning reels is for large guide loops.

A few reasons to not put the spinning reel on the casting rod are:

It would put extra weight on the rod’s spin and break it
There would be an uneven displace of the line along the eyes and rod
Higher chances of wearing out and breaking off
Reel gears could not handle the change

Similar articles you may like:

Final Say

Lastly, we hope the above information about spinning rod vs. casting rod was enough for you. And now you know the difference between the spinning and casting rod. Furthermore, you should buy the fishing rod according to your fishing style and environment.