Over the years, I’ve invited a number of fishermen who are fairly new to bass fishing to join me for a day of fishing on a nearby lake. Most of my invited friends would bring a spinning outfit or two for the days outing. I too always have a spinning outfit or two at the ready, but I often have two or three casting outfits also rigged and ready to go. Many years ago, I added the bait casting rig (nowadays more often referred to as a plug casting outfit) to my arsenal. Still, surprisingly many bass anglers today seem to prefer the open-faced spinning rigs over bait casters.

Interestingly enough, casting reels originated here in America in the early 1800s and were developed by George Snyder, a Kentucky watchmaker and silversmith. The casting reel and rod ushered in a whole new era of fishing techniques and lures. Prior to the casting rig, early Americans were limited to fly fishing gear, which came from the “old country,” but the casting rig broadened our fishing opportunities and techniques considerably. Spinning gear also originated in Europe and made its debut around the late 1940s or 50s and quickly became one of the most popular and commonly used fishing rigs.

Probably one of the reasons the open-faced spinning rig is so popular is its ease of casting and use. Unlike the casting reel, an open-faced spinning reel does not have a revolving spool; the line on a spinning reel comes off a stationary reel in loops when cast. Spinning outfits are quick and easy to learn to cast and fish, but early casting reels were much more difficult to cast and control, and that no doubt kept many from getting into casting. Casting reels have revolving spools, and the early reels were extremely difficult to cast without creating annoying backlashes. That being said; however, today’s casting reels are much more user friendly and with a little instruction probably as easy to cast and use as a spinning reel.

So, if you can catch plenty of fish with a spinning outfit, why bother with a casting rig? It is true that with the wide range of spinning outfits today, you can utilize a wide range of lures in a number of different situations, and in fact, sometimes, the spinning outfit is even the best choice, but there are times when a casting outfit may be the best choice. Casting tackle is especially good for certain bass fishing situations where a little heavier, tougher outfit is needed. Casting rods are built heavier, especially in the butt section, and can cast heavier and larger lures easier. This same tighter and more robust construction makes fishing weed cover and surface cover a more successful endeavor.

For example, a casting reel spooled with 20-30 pound mono or braided line with a weedless soft plastic frog can be cast right on top of thick lily pads and easily jerked or pulled through the pads into an opening where a strike is likely; the heavy outfit makes it more likely to work the fish out of the pads for a successful landing. Even when working deeper weed structure, a Texas-rigged lure or a Carolina-rigged lure can be worked more effectively through the weeds, and more power can be exerted on the hook set, sinking the hooks deeper and hopefully preventing a lost fish.

Another advantage to the casting rig is after you’ve learned to cast, you can actually place your lure more accurately right where you want it-say right next to a stump; this is accomplished by controlling the line with your thumb as it leaves the revolving spool. It’s also true that the stiffer action casting rods are better for working certain lures creating a more desirable action.

I’m a great believer in versatility when it comes to fishing; the more equipment you know how to use the more likely you are to connect with your quarry, and casting gear offers some distinct advantages over spinning gear, but you can bet I’ll have some of both fishing outfits rigged and ready to go.