Angler holding a rod fitted with a round baitcasting reel

How to Choose the Right Baitcasting Fishing Rod & Reel Setup

Baitcasters have a reputation for being hard to use, and for good reason. Most anglers' first baitcasting session ends with a bird's nest of line. But set up properly, a baitcasting outfit is one of the most accurate, powerful and satisfying ways to fish, and modern reels are easier to use than ever.

This guide covers how to choose the right baitcasting rod and reel setup, how to use a baitcaster (setting it up and casting a baitcaster reel), how to put new line on it, whether baitcasters are good for saltwater, and the outfits we'd recommend for bream, flathead, mangrove jack, barramundi, mulloway and more.

New to rods and reels? Start with our guides to the different types of fishing rods and the different types of fishing reels.

Angler holding a rod fitted with a round baitcasting reel

What Is a Baitcasting Setup?

A baitcasting setup is a baitcasting reel on a baitcasting rod. The reel sits on top of the rod, and its spool turns as you cast. You control the spool with your thumb, which is what makes baitcasters so accurate: you can slow the lure down and stop it exactly where you want it, right next to a snag, under a jetty or tight against a mangrove root.

A baitcasting rod is different from a spinning rod. It has a trigger under the handle for your finger, and smaller guides that sit on top of the blank. Always pair a baitcast reel with a baitcast rod. A baitcaster won't work properly on a spinning rod.

Angler on a boat holding a big black bream caught on a small hardbody lure

Why Use a Baitcaster?

  • Accuracy. Thumb control lets you land lures exactly where you want them, and stop them short of a snag.
  • Pitching and skipping. You can pitch lures quietly into tight spots and skip them under jetties and overhanging trees, which is very hard with a spinning reel.
  • Control around structure. The reel sits on top, in line with the rod, giving direct cranking power to pull fish away from snags.
  • Casting heavier lures all day. A baitcaster is much less tiring than a spinning reel when you're throwing swimbaits, hardbodies and vibes.
  • No line twist. The line comes straight off the spool, so it doesn't twist the way it can on a spinning reel.

When a spinning reel is better

Baitcasters aren't the answer for everything. For very light lures (under about 5–7 g, unless you use a BFS reel), casting into strong wind, surf fishing, and as a first reel for a beginner, a spinning reel is easier and better. Most anglers who use baitcasters also own spinning outfits.

How to Choose a Baitcasting Fishing Reel

Size

  • 70–100 size: BFS and finesse, for bream, trout and bass on tiny lures.
  • 150 size: the all-rounder, for bream, flathead, jacks, bass and light barra.
  • 200–300 size: more line and more drag, for barramundi, mulloway, big swimbaits and light jigging.
  • 400 size and round reels: for the biggest swimbaits, big barra and heavy saltwater work.

Braking system

The brake stops the spool spinning faster than the line is leaving it, which is what causes backlashes.

  • Centrifugal brakes (Shimano SVS Infinity) brake hardest at the start of the cast. They're easy to fine-tune with an external dial and are great with heavier lures and in wind.
  • Magnetic brakes (Daiwa Magforce) brake evenly through the cast, and are forgiving for beginners.
  • Digital Control (Shimano DC) uses a microcomputer to monitor the spool 1,000 times a second and brake only as needed. It's the most forgiving system there is, and still casts a long way. If you're nervous about baitcasters, a DC reel is the one to get.
  • BFS brakes (like Shimano's Finesse Tune Brake) are designed for casting tiny lures on ultra-light spools.

Gear ratio

  • Standard (around 6:1): crankbaits, spinnerbaits and big swimbaits, where you want power.
  • HG (high gear, around 7:1): the all-rounder, and the best choice for most anglers.
  • XG (extra high gear, 8:1+): soft plastics, pitching and working lures fast, where you want to pick up slack quickly.

Left or right hand?

Australia is mostly a right-hand wind market for baitcasters, so that's what most anglers use and what you'll find most models in. Plenty of anglers prefer to wind with their left hand, though, so they can cast and fight fish with the rod in their dominant right hand without swapping hands. Most popular reels come in both. Pick whichever feels natural to you.

Baitcasting reels we use

We carry a massive range of Shimano baitcasters. Here's how the range steps up:

We also carry a massive range of Daiwa baitcasters, including the Daiwa Tatula TW, the inshore saltwater Coastal TW and the Steez. Browse all baitcaster reels.

Close-up of a black bream held over the water with a small hardbody lure in its mouth

How to Choose a Baitcasting Rod

Choose the rod by the lures you'll cast and the fish you're chasing. Look at the lure weight rating first: a baitcaster casts best with lures in the middle of the rod's range.

  • BFS rods (2–8 lb, up to about 10 g): bream, bass and trout on tiny plastics, blades and hardbodies.
  • Light to medium (6–17 lb, about 3–18 g): bream and flathead on plastics and hardbodies, and bass.
  • Medium heavy (10–20 lb, about 7–28 g): mangrove jack, barra, snapper and school mulloway.
  • Heavy (15–30 lb, 14–56 g): big barra, mulloway and big swimbaits.

Most baitcast rods are between 5'8" and 7'2". Shorter rods are more accurate and better for pitching and skipping. Longer rods cast further and suit open water.

Baitcasting rods we use

The Best Baitcasting Setups

Here are the baitcasting outfits we'd put together for the most popular kinds of fishing.

Bream, trout and bass (BFS)

An Oceans Legacy Insight BFS (IST-B601UL or B702UL) or Yamaga Blanks Blue Current III 69/B with a Shimano SLX BFS, Curado BFS or Calcutta Conquest BFS. Spool with PE0.4–0.6 braid and a 4–8 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Bream and flathead on plastics and hardbodies

An Oceans Legacy Insight IST-B642ML or B702ML (6–12 lb) with a Shimano Curado M, Bantam or Chronarch 150. Spool with PE0.8–1 braid and an 8–12 lb leader. See our soft plastics for flathead guide.

Mangrove jack, snapper and school mulloway

An Oceans Legacy Insight IST-B642M or B642MH (10–20 lb) or a Shimano Staaten 621BC with a Shimano Curado K, SLX DC or Daiwa Coastal TW. Spool with PE1.5–2 braid and a 20–30 lb leader.

Angler holding a river mulloway caught at night on a soft plastic swimbait

Barramundi, big mulloway and swimbaits

An Oceans Legacy Insight IST-B722H or B722HH (15–30 lb) with a Shimano Tranx 300 or 400. Spool with PE2–3 braid and a 40–60 lb leader.

Baitcast jigging offshore

Small baitcast and overhead reels are also great for light and slow jigging from a boat, where you drop the jig straight down. Try an Oceans Legacy Origin Longfall with a Shimano Grappler Baitcast or Ocea Conquest CT, or the Ripple Fisher Selfish SEB, a sensitive baitcast jigging rod. Browse our jigging rods.

How to Set Up a Baitcaster

Take five minutes to set up your baitcaster before you cast, and you'll avoid most backlashes.

  1. Tie on the lure you'll be using. The setup depends on the lure weight, so reset it whenever you change to a much heavier or lighter lure.
  2. Set the spool tension knob. Hold the rod out at about 45 degrees and press the thumb bar. Tighten the tension knob (the small knob next to the handle) until the lure doesn't drop at all. Then loosen it slowly until the lure falls slowly and the spool stops when the lure hits the ground, without spinning on.
  3. Set the brakes. Start with the brakes at about two-thirds of the maximum. You can back them off as your casting improves.
  4. Set the drag to suit your line.
  5. Make a few gentle casts and adjust. If you're getting overruns, add a little more brake.

How to Use a Baitcaster: Casting a Baitcaster Step by Step

  1. Reel the lure up to about 15–30 cm from the rod tip.
  2. Turn the reel so the handle faces up, and hold the rod with your thumb resting on the spool.
  3. Press the thumb bar to free the spool, keeping your thumb on the spool so the line doesn't come off.
  4. Bring the rod back and cast forward in a smooth motion. Sidearm and overhead casts both work. Smooth beats hard: you don't need to force it.
  5. Lift your thumb off the spool as the rod comes forward, around the 10 o'clock position, and let the lure fly.
  6. Feather the spool lightly with your thumb as the lure travels, to keep the spool from getting ahead of the line.
  7. Stop the spool with your thumb just as the lure lands. This is the most important step. If the spool keeps spinning after the lure hits the water, you'll get a backlash.
  8. Turn the handle to engage the reel, and start your retrieve.

Practice tip: practise in the backyard or at a park with a practice plug or a sinker of the right weight before you go fishing. Start with short, gentle casts and build up.

How to fix a backlash

Backlashes happen to everyone. Don't pull hard on the line, because that makes the knot tighter.

  1. Press the thumb bar to free the spool.
  2. Press your thumb firmly on the backlash, then turn the handle a few times with your thumb held down.
  3. Gently pull the line out. The loops often come free.
  4. If it's still stuck, pick out the loose loops one by one until the line pulls freely.
  5. Add a little more brake or spool tension before your next cast.

How to Put New Fishing Line on a Baitcaster

  1. Thread the line from the spool of new line through the rod's first guide, then through the reel's level-wind guide (the little moving guide at the front of the reel).
  2. Tie the line to the spool with an arbor knot. If you're using braid, put a few wraps of mono or a small strip of tape on the spool first so the braid doesn't slip.
  3. Keep tension on the line as you wind. Have someone hold the spool of new line with a pen through the middle, or pinch the line between your fingers.
  4. Wind the line on evenly. The level-wind does this for you, but check it's filling the whole spool evenly.
  5. Stop about 3 mm below the edge of the spool. An overfilled baitcaster is much more likely to backlash.
  6. Tie on a leader with an FG knot or double uni knot if you're using braid.

Braid is the most popular line on baitcasters: it's thin, strong and casts well. See our braid and fluorocarbon leader ranges. We're happy to spool your reel for you in store.

Angler sitting on a riverbank holding a mulloway caught on a lure, with the rod in hand

Are Baitcasters Good for Saltwater Fishing?

Yes. Many of the best baitcasters are designed for saltwater, and they're very popular for barramundi, mangrove jack, bream, flathead, snapper, mulloway and offshore jigging. The key is to choose a reel built for salt water, and look after it.

  • Choose a saltwater-ready reel. The Shimano Curado K has a specially plated pinion gear and a breakwater wall to keep water out. The Curado M, Tranx and Daiwa Coastal TW are all built with saltwater in mind.
  • Rinse it after every trip with a gentle spray of fresh water. Don't use a high-pressure hose.
  • Back off the drag and let it dry before you put it away.
  • Service it regularly, especially if you fish salt water often.

Baitcasting FAQ

How do you use a baitcaster fishing reel?

Set the spool tension so the lure falls slowly and the spool stops when the lure lands, set the brakes to about two-thirds, then cast with your thumb on the spool, releasing as the rod comes forward. Stop the spool with your thumb as the lure lands.

Is a baitcaster hard to use?

There's a learning curve, but set up properly, most anglers get the hang of it in a session or two. Reels with Digital Control braking, like the Shimano SLX DC and Curado DC, make it much easier.

What is a BFS reel?

BFS stands for bait finesse system. BFS reels have ultra-light spools and special brakes that let them cast tiny lures, from about 1–2 g up, which normal baitcasters can't cast well.

What size baitcaster should I get?

A 150 size is the best all-rounder, for bream, flathead, jacks and bass. Go to a 200–300 size for barra, mulloway and big swimbaits, and a 70–100 size BFS reel for finesse fishing.

Can I put a baitcaster on a spinning rod?

No. Baitcast rods have smaller guides on top of the blank and a trigger grip. A baitcaster on a spinning rod won't cast or fish properly.

Are baitcasters good for saltwater?

Yes, if you choose a saltwater-ready reel and rinse it after every trip. Reels like the Shimano Curado K, Tranx and Daiwa Coastal TW are built for salt water.

Get Set Up

If you're thinking about getting into baitcasting, come and see us at Level 1/154 Stirling Highway, Nedlands. We fish baitcasters ourselves, and we'll help you pick the right rod and reel and spool it up with the right line. Call us on (08) 9389 1337, or browse our baitcaster reels, light and estuary rods and fishing rods.

Free shipping on orders over $150* (under 3kg, exclusions apply) Australia-wide.

— Compleat Angler Nedlands
Tagged: baitcast reels baitcast rods baitcaster baitcasting bfs fishing guide oceans legacy shimano
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