lake fishing with baitrunner reel

Are you for real?

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niteowl,
 
no problems at all.  plenty of guys do just that in lake michigan on the piers.
 
not a ton of PA guys fish baitrunners because they are somewhat specialized.  Most just fish their normal gear.  Baitrunners can be great for what they are designed for.  I think that would be a great day.  Go to trout run and go down the lake 50 yd, set up with a nice chair and a carp style rod holder.  Toss out some fresh skein on a bait runner and sit back.
 
thanks
rick

You seen it??  I did it LOL in the pig pen a few yrs back....they are fast...

The definitive version imho is the Shimano Aero GT which is expensive.  The regular Shimano Baitrunner is quite durable and has a decent drag.  It has a poor line lay which somewhat limits casting distance.  The smallest size seems kind of big for steelheading. The Okuma Epixor is relatively inexpensive and comes in several sizes.  Mine was very smooth but I ruined the antireverse by getting line wrapped around in there.  I'm not sure this would not have ocurred with other brands though.  I've no experience with the Penn models but other Penn reels I've used were satisfactory.

Penn 4000

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=Penn+4000&category0=

Penn SS reels are quality but you might want to avoid the graphite series.
The rod holder would be ok-Fox pod is just a little unusual term
The alarm is probably not needed-you will know when there is a steelhead on.
I think bringing English carp fishing style to Erie might work but just do what others are doing probably works best.

If you try to fish from shore, you will have people walk into the lake right in front of you. a couple of years ago, My Dad, who is 84 yrs. old can't wade, so he took a chair down to Trout run. walked a little ways down the beach, and threw in. About 5 minutes later a couple of guys walked into the lake right in front of him.

Interesting topic.  As has been mentioned, as far as quality baitrunner spinning reels go, Shimano is tops with Diawa right up there.  Okuma is a notch down, but still good reels for the money.  I've had the UK style Shimano Aero GT baitrunner reel for years and it has held up well, but both drags are rear drags and front (main) drag reels are smoother. 

I recently got a standard Shimano 3500 BTR baitrunner as well as an Okuma Avenger ABF 30.  The BTR has about as smooth a drag as ya could want on a reel, but the line lay sucks (especially with braid line) compared to the Aero, but the BTRs are durable workhorses----the toughest you can buy.  The Shimano Thunnus is their higher quality baitrunner available here in the states and have heard nothing but mostly good things about them.
The ABF 30 has held up well so far in the few months I've been using it and have landed numbers of hard-fighting carp on it-----I gotta helluva deal on this reel at $25, on markdown. It does not have as smooth a drag as the Shimanos tho. as it is a lower budget reel of course.  Same good deal on the the BTR 3500---$70----both reels new.

There are on-line tackle dealers here in the states now that carry some of the Euro/UK tackle, reels and rods, and rod pods, etc., etc.  Here are a few links:
http://www.wackerbaits.com/
http://www.bigcarptackle.com/store/home.php
http://www.royalcarp.com/Scripts/default.asp
https://www.resistancetackle.com/tackle/3/carp-fishing-tackle/
http://www.scorpiontackle.com/

There are plenty of choices out there now and it takes some shopping around to decide what is for you.  WackerBaits and Big Carp Tackle have the best and biggest selection and offer excellent service (especially Wacker), as I've dealt with both. 
Have fun spending your money and tell 'em pacarper sent ya if ya do.

For what it's worth, I have a Cabela's saltstriker baitrunning reel.  I like it.  I use it for saltwater fishing and catfishing.  I have never used a different one, so nothing to compare it to.  But it works great, and is constructed to keep water out, which is nice for saltwater use.