Pete Pokulok of Let's Talk Fishing answers questions about the benefits of using a baitcasting rod and reel, and on using spawn to catch late season steelhead.

Question #1:- from John in Bolton, Ontario.  Although I use spinning equipment for all of my fishing, I have been toying with the idea of adding a baitcasting outfit to my arsenal of rods and reels for use with heavier line. I'd like to use it primarily for pike and bass with 14 to 17 Ib test line, but I'm a little reluctant because of the horror stories I have heard about first time users.

I have heard of a number of fisherman who have bought a baitcaster only to pack it away in the back of a closet after using it only once because they couldn't master the reels with the dreaded curse of backlashes and birds' nests.

I really don't want this kind of problem after investing a couple of hundred dollars of hard earned money on an outfit only to wind up shelving it and would appreciate any advice you can offer. 

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