Thread: Anyone using a bait caster for salt topwater lures ?

Originally Posted by Wildman

Is using an overhead setup for top water like using a 308 for long range? It must be similar...

That's spinning reels. The Standard, everyone has one, etc. Now everyone has wised up and moved to better options like 6.5s (overheads?)


Possibly. Or I may be as dumb as a stump

Originally Posted by gimp

That's spinning reels. The Standard, everyone has one, etc. Now everyone has wised up and moved to better options like 6.5s (overheads?)


Possibly. Or I may be as dumb as a stump

Um nah I think you have that backwards. I know a f ton of topwater guys and only one used a overhead, He even sent it to Japan to have the handle reversed and geared so it nests less. hes back on the Saltigas now.

I cant think of 1 advantage an overhead would have to a spin set for casting....happy to hear some though.

Originally Posted by Gibo

Um nah I think you have that backwards. I know a f ton of topwater guys and only one used a overhead, He even sent it to Japan to have the handle reversed and geared so it nests less. hes back on the Saltigas now.

I cant think of 1 advantage an overhead would have to a spin set for casting....happy to hear some though.

Yeah, you don't lose the energy on getting and keeping the spool spinning when using a fixed spool/egg beater. Only the line is moving.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

Yeah, you don't lose the energy on getting and keeping the spool spinning when using a fixed spool/egg beater. Only the line is moving.

Thats a great bit of technical reasoning mate

Originally Posted by Gibo

Um nah I think you have that backwards. I know a f ton of topwater guys and only one used a overhead, He even sent it to Japan to have the handle reversed and geared so it nests less. hes back on the Saltigas now.

I cant think of 1 advantage an overhead would have to a spin set for casting....happy to hear some though.

Aside from having less casting issues it is easier to work a popper or stick bait with an eggbeater winding and swinging to give action to your stick bait or popper sweeping or walkng the dog etc. There is some gear that is not outrageously priced such as shimano spheros or saragosa reels (upgrade kits better drag washers/bearings to replace plastic bushes are available) and rods like daiwa monstermesh and T-curve shimano etc that will get the job done ask on the for sales on www.fishing.net.nz you might dredge up some midrange 2nd hand gear for cheap.

Always something new to catch the fisherman.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Always something new to catch the fisherman.

Ha Ha yes indeed, I actually just tried to replace my broken rod and the new one is the exact same blank but the smaller rings so sort of a forced upgrade rather than chasing the bling.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Ha Ha yes indeed, I actually just tried to replace my broken rod and the new one is the exact same blank but the smaller rings so sort of a forced upgrade rather than chasing the bling.

Shame you haven't got the two side by side to compare.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Shame you haven't got the two side by side to compare.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

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Sorry. I meant compare performance. Doesn't look like that is going to happen. Although....you could probably fix that butt.

Originally Posted by Shearer

I have owned a couple of C3s and they do cast well but the drags are not up to the standard of the likes of the Calcutta when the heat goes on.

I wouldn't argue with that, just a good combo of left hand wind, value and longevity.

Originally Posted by Shearer

I have owned a couple of C3s and they do cast well but the drags are not up to the standard of the likes of the Calcutta when the heat goes on.

Carbontex washers will provide some oomph but sometimes you can find aftermarket drag upgrades to power-up the old girls instead which will be a more fundamental solution. But they are built for what they were meant for - Everyday fussfree fishing.

Leave the heavy duty stuff to the likes of the Antares, Metanium and Conquests if you are a Shimano fan.

Coming down firmly on the side of "I'm dumb as a stump" then....

Really I don't have any solid technical reason for preferring them, I just prefer the compact size of them and the ergonomics, and have found no real downsides for casting except that my cheap one only likes lures heavier than 10gm. I've found I can cast just as far as mates with spinning setups e.g. river mouth fishing for KY.

I believe that long distance casting competitions are the domain of free spool reels. That would lead me to believe that when set up properly they will cast further than a fixed spool (technical reasoning aside).
When I used freespools land based I was using mono line (which I don't now) and also your standard spinning reel of the day didn't cut it with a decent kingie on the end (perhaps with the exception of the Penn Spinfisher). A free spool reel would also hold a lot more line for it's size and gave the rod a far nicer balance due to the reel sitting so close to the blank.
Now, the use of braid and far better quality fixed spools have turned things around. I would still rather be using a freespool once the fish was attached to the end of it but for casting in all conditions you can't beat a good fixed spool.