it takes a good bit of skill to use a baitcaster but they are hands down the best all around reel. spinning reels seem to get tangled to easy and i cant seem to fix the tangle on them...but when it comes to baitcaster a trick i learned when they backlash is pull your line from the front and then find were the knot is and pull on it then pull the line again from the front and it should come right out

With bait casters I'm still not keen on the idea of running line along the pole. Especially braid, as I'm waiting to see it tear one of my poles apart sometime. haha. I'll go looking for a bait caster when I'm ready to set up a super duty salt water snub pole. The idea is to go for grouper or sturgeon. =D

Honestly i have no idea what you mean "running the line along the pole"
fishing rods do not get torn apart because because they are casting and they have braid. The drag should slip long before a rod explodes. Baitcasters aren't just for sturgeon and grouper with super heavy duty equipment. They actually make ultra light baitcasters.

I have several baitcasters and have really gotten used to using them for both light and heavier lures.  Many have more than one break system that helps throw the lighter lures.  Your thumb is also good safety when throwing with a baitcaster and it takes just a little practice to get used too especially in the wind.   I used to get alot of birdnests but have cut them way down.  You may want to grab a line pick if you are getting started.  They help undue the nests pretty good.    
 
I like the higher end Abu (Revo), diawa (del sol & zillion, shamano, jonny morris gold or elite, and Quantum PT.  I upgraded most of my poles and reels from spincasters over the last few years and use braided lines alot.  I agree that the type pole is also important for what lures you are throwing.    
 
Pat
 
Looking forward to froggin the slop. 

I really like the Revo STX.  I like the SX too and it is a little cheaper. 
I also have the Revo winch, and just grabbed a premier at GM last week.   They cast a mile and are really accurate when you need to hit the perfect spot.   I do alot of frog fishing on the shoreline and need to hit the holes.  Nice reels.  

Same here.   I caught a nice northern on Sara Lake last sping on the revo and it had planty of power to bring him in.   I think you will like the winch.  Nice and slow but powerful drag.  Have you tried the Diawa viento?   Just ordered one for 60 percent off.    
 
On another related issue, have you tried the new carrot stick poles.   Not bad.  Pole is nice and light.  I broke one in half which was my fault.   Hard set on a 3.5 LB LM in the thick stuff.  They replaced with new one.   
 
Pat  

Never fished a viento but if its as good as any other daiwa baitcaster it will be a heck of a reel. Daiwa makes a nice product. I have heard real good things about the viento overall i think you will be happy with it.

I have heard a lot about  carrot sticks tending to break but i have never fished one.

Hi guys, I am new here but would like to share a bit on reels. I generally prefer spinning reels when I am bottom fishing at lakes or rivers at night. The line out alarm wakes me up when I get a bite.

Baitcasting reels on the other hand is simply fantastic when it comes to casting lures. I have better control over the flight of the lure and I get get better accuracy especially when I have to cast into holes. I've found away to cast light 1 inch Berkley grubs. I call it Strip Flip. It is a combination of stripping (nothing to do with the removal of clothes but the action of pulling out line preparing for the cast when fly fishing) & flipping. That gets light lures to or close to places I want.  

Well, I actually gave up on baitcasters years ago. I bought one and I hated it. Was not able to cast and the birdnesting phenomenon is one horrible thing. It was only in recent years that I fell in love with baitcasters. Well, I found out eventually that the right setting is a good place to start. As you progress, even the wrong settings can be kinda fun.

I agree with Abu making some of the best baitcast reels.