Baitrnner's or regular for surf and pier????

[DicedSix]

Hey guys,

I used to have two Okuma baitrunner's that I used for the surf and pier (until the lawn guys so nicely took them off my hands).. Anyways, I was wondering what you pier and surf guys do.

Do you use conventional spinners and just set the drag light so the fish can run?

Or do you use bait runner reels so you can let the fish run while sipping your beers...

Ive never fished surf or pier without a bait feeder switch and i was wondering what you guys do..

Thanks....

[Master-Baiter]

Hey guys,

I used to have two Okuma baitrunner's that I used for the surf and pier (until the lawn guys so nicely took them off my hands).. Anyways, I was wondering what you pier and surf guys do.

Do you use conventional spinners and just set the drag light so the fish can run?

Or do you use bait runner reels so you can let the fish run while sipping your beers...

Ive never fished surf or pier without a bait feeder switch and i was wondering what you guys do..

Thanks....

My answer depends on another question. Are you there for the "fishing", or the "catching"?

I no longer own any baitrunner style reels. (Stolen, not a choice) However, I do not miss them much.

I find that an un attended rod, and by un attended I mean it is not being held in my hands, leads to fewer hookups.

When I do place a rod on the rail, I tie it to the rail with something thicker than a shoelace, turn on the clicker, and may loosen the drag a notch or two,

But if I am there to catch, I will hold, and actively fish my rod. I may have others baited in the water, but they are tied down, and the reel drag is perhaps one or two settings less. I do keep my drags usually set at 25% - 33% of my line test, straight off the reel. So my 12 lb test reel has the drag set at about 3 pounds of pull, and by tieing it down, I don't really need to adjust it.

I am particular about how I tie a rod to a railing. I make sure it's a tight slip knot with a long tag end I can find easily. The knot will not come out unless the tag end is pulled. Makes it easy to get the rod quickly off the rail.

That's my method and preference.

But I still know you'll catch more fish with a rod in the hand than on the rail.

[jake in jupiter]

Learn to use conventionals, or at least that is what I did since my Okuma's clicker was so faint. But also I needed reels that held more line. I use circle hooks if I am going to leave it and leave them in freespool with the clicker on. When I am using a spinning setup I always have my hands on the reel. Now I have use the shimano baitrunner series and their clicker is loud enough to set it and forget it but with my Okuma Corronado it would be easy to be spooled if I wasn't paying attention. Though the nice thing about using spinners is the adjustable clicker tension on the clickers as opposed to a set resistance in the conventional star drag reels. Pay a little more and the leverdrag reels blow this idea out of the water.

If you are having to buy new reels get a couple of conventionals for your bigger reels. It will take some time to get used to it but it will be worth it. Magged Avets are awesome but expensive. Look at the penn 525-545 reels and some home magging.

[DicedSix]

So you guys are saying for the surf and pier to just use regular spinning reels and lighten up the drag? I like to bring three outfits when i go... I like to leave two out there and then i will fish around the shoreline with a smaller spinner....

I was looking at some baitrunner's but they dont hold alot of line.. So I was thinking of getting a couple larger okuma alumina's and learn to watch my rods instead of using the bairrunner switch..
I still dont know yet...