In article ,
(Bob) wrote:

Hello all...I am a newbie to the whole fishing scene, and I was
wondering what the big differences are between conventional reels, and
the bigger, beefier looking baitcasting reels? I've been told that
conventional reels really aren't that great to cast with (supposedly
it takes some fancy thumb work to prevent recoil tangles), but
baitcasting reels on the other hand have the word casting attached to
their name...what's the difference? Do they have mechanisms that
facilitate casting in any way? (not to mention that with most
manufacturers, baitcasting reels are a LOT more expensive compared to
their conventional models.)

What class of fish are you interested in angling for and/or are you
planning to fish offshore or inshore?

If you are fishing with artificials and will be making many casts you
would want a reel which casts easier. Also, if you are fishing inshore
most species will not require larger line capacities (around 200 yards
would be enough) and the line is usually 12 - 8 pound test.

Fishing offshore for larger species or around structure may require
larger line test and a larger reel to accommodate the the quantity of
line in the larger test. This type of fishing also requires less casting
as you are either dropping straight down or possibly trolling.

There are other factors but these may help you figure out what you need.

good fishin'

atljoe
--
"Atlanta Joe" aka Joe Webb
Flats fishing is Flat Fun!
Visit my site at http://flatsfisher.com