It becomes quite clear when considering rods. Spinning rods, which are normally shorter and lighter, will be used with spinning reels. Casting rods, which are often longer and heavier, are used by conventional or baitcasters. Some people wonder if they can use a conventional reel on a spinning rod. The answer is totally yes. Fishing may be done using a spinning rod and a standard reel. Some fishermen manage it with no issues at all. However, doing so has a few drawbacks, and the worst that may happen is that the spinning rod might occasionally break.
First of all, let’s take a look at a spinning rod and what kind of reel is suitable for this rod. Then we will dig into the conventional reel, about its advantages and disadvantages. The last thing you may be most concerned about is whether we could use a conventional reel on a spinning rod.
What is Conventional Reel On a Spinning Rod
A specific kind of fishing rod is a spinning rod. It comes in a variety of sizes, including a heavy spinning rod and ones with light and medium actions. The force of a bite on the line causes the spinning rod to bend when used for fishing. The handle of the spinning reel is in the angler’s non-dominant hand, which is underneath the rod.
A good thing about spinning rods is that they tend to make fishing more manageable for a starter. Amateur anglers use spinning rods because it is fast to reel fish with them and line tangles are avoided. Unlike bait casting reels, the spinning reel is quite a straightforward mechanism, and that makes a spinning rod easy to use.
Conventional reels are used for freshwater, inshore, and offshore saltwater fishing. They come in a variety of sizes and are used by a wide spectrum of anglers. These adaptable reels may be used for a wide range of fishing methods, including jig casting, trolling, deep-drop fishing, kite fishing, pier fishing, and more.
Compared to baitcasting and spinning reels, conventional reels often have lower gear ratios, which means the spool will turn more slowly but with more torque to draw in larger fish. With a low gear for greater torque and a high gear for a faster line retrieve, two-speed reels give the best of both worlds. Anti-rust bearings are normally standard equipment to prevent seawater corrosion as traditional reels are mostly used for ocean fishing.
In a boat when rods are being trolled, anchored with, down-rigger fishing, or employed in other ways, casting rods are often preferable. Traditional reels provide for a measured, controlled release of line to get your bait out and are simpler to use in a rod holder. Although much may be done with any reel type, casting reels can enable excellent placing of casts with backhand, “flipping,” and skipping baits in situations when precise casting is required.
Although traditional reels work well for many different forms of fishing, there are a few drawbacks to be aware of. Many do not have a level-wind function, so to make sure the line winds evenly on the spool when reeling in, you must physically move the line back and forth with your thumb, which can be challenging for novice anglers.Conventional reels are also more challenging to cast because they lack the centrifugal or magnetic braking system that baitcasting reels use to lessen backlash. The hand you like to retrieve with will be one of your first limiting factors when choosing a reel since, unlike spinning reels, a conventional reel’s handle cannot be switched from one side to the other.
Using A Conventional Reel On a Spinning Rod
When using a conventional reel on a spinning rod, there might happen 2 disadvantages: rod prone to breakage and difficulty in tackling big catches.
Spinning Rod Will Break More Easily
The direction of the bend is one of the main distinctions between a spinning rod and a regular rod. Fishing rods can only bend in one direction.
A rod is more likely to break when bent counter to its normal bending direction. When a spinning rod is used with a standard reel, exactly that occurs. The spinning rod will be forced to bend the opposite way by you.
Difficulty in Fighting Big Fish Due to Spinning Rod Guides
On a spinning rod, the guides are positioned differently than they are on a regular rod. Ordinary rod guides are positioned such that the line won’t contact the blank. This is done to prevent friction and line abrasion, especially while battling a large fish. On a spinning rod, however, this is not the case.
In contrast to traditional rod guides, which are positioned at the top of the blank, naturally spinning rod guides are positioned at the bottom.
Because of this, if you use a spinning rod instead of a conventional rod, the spinning rod guides will be positioned backwards from where they would normally be. Additionally, spinning rods typically have fewer guides, which is a concern.
The lines will probably touch the blank since there are fewer and farther-spaced guidelines.
Additionally, because spinning rod guides are made to withstand a drawing away pressure from the line rather than a pushing force when the guides are used upside down, it is more likely to cause damage to the guides.
Therefore, if you want to use a spinning rod and traditional reel, always check that the guides do not appear to be in danger of breaking or bending.
What Rod to Use for a Conventional Reel
It is significant to note that some fishermen pair their traditional reel with various types of rods. This is explained by their taste and knowledge. They somehow find using a spinning rod and traditional reel to be more handy or easier.
However, it is often advised to use a normal rod together with a traditional reel.
This is mostly due to the significant drawbacks mentioned above, which are primarily based on the compatibility issue. Using a spinning rod on your conventional reel is acceptable if your only available rod is a spinning one and you aren’t now able to afford to purchase a conventional one. You just can buy one if you already have the budget later on.
Conclusion
Using a conventional reel on a spinning rod is totally fine if you can’t afford to purchase a conventional one already. But in many instances we hear the phrase “right tool for the right job” and the same can be applied to fishing. This is mostly due to the significant drawbacks mentioned above, which are primarily based on the compatibility issue.