My experience is that I can cast farther and with greater precision with a baitcaster.
That being said, you have to practice...
A LOT.
There is a tensioner for the gears.
You have to balance the tension for your personal style to avoid backlash, but still get a good distance.
Backlash is bad, very bad.
It creates the worst tangle you've ever seen.
A bad one
and you just have to cut the line out and respool your entire reel.
Most times you won't be able to just pick up your friends baitcaster and cast it without re-adjusting the tensioner (at which point they'll probably use you for cutbait).
However, it's well worth the practice.
When I regularly fished for bass I could drop a lure into a 2" square underneath a low hanging bush from 40' away.
You just won't get that kind of performance from a spinning reel.
From a technical standpoint, baitcasters generate less drag and friction on the line during the cast.
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/127/Russell Steen
Baitcasters will add excitement to your otherwise dull fishing excursion.
Tired of just relaxing in your boat and catching fish?
With the wonderful new backlash feature built into you baitcaster, you will have hours of entertainment that rivals a Chinese finger trap.
All jokes aside, baitcaster often have a higher gear ratio that gives your a faster retrieve than a spinning reel.
They are great for stuff like buzzbaits, larger crankbaits etc.
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/531/Dirty B
I agree that bait casters are more accurate, although with enough practice with a spinning reel you can be almost as good as a casting with a baitcaster.
Spinning reels will allow you to throw smaller and lighter lures.
Casting and retrieving are best suited for baitcasters though.
Spinning reels work better for dead stick presentations, vertical jigging and live bait, if you ever fish live bait for bass.
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/760/mplspug
I would suggest sticking with a spinning reel with the caveat that if you're fishing for a bigger fish (>10 lbs) use a baitcasting reel.
Benefits of spinning reel: simple to use can easily swap spools/lines if needed doesn't get easily tangled, which a baitcaster will Benefits of baitcast reel: more accurate can handle heavy fish (>10 lbs)
See this link: http://www.foundry35.com/blogs/blog/132873735-baitcast-vs-spincast-vs-spinning-reels-which-is-better-and-which-should-you-be-using
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/9052/elthwi
The thing i keep hearing is if you just practice enough you can place the lure wherever you want with a baitcaster.
Its the same with a spinner reel, you just practice.
I would almost bet i can Place it just as good with a spinner as anyone with a baitcaster
, i can Place my lure wherever i wanto
and i can cast anything from >1g - 120g with a spinner
but i will get fubar with a baitcaster on the lakes if i use a baitcaster below 10g and some wind.
I would argue during perfect condictions baitcaster wins, any other condition the spinner Wheel will win.
The baitcasters are more or less a Commercial thing, people need to buy new stuff and it looks cooler on the rod, its like Iphone.
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/6344/Bigdans
Spinning reels will clearly cast further and easier especially in the wind.
But once you learn to throw the baitcaster the accuracy will outweigh all the other downsides.
We focus on catching big fish and the baitcaster is stronger, while the spinning reel probably provides a better fight.
Read this article on fishing styles to help you.
Hope this helps!
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/12283/Todd Kersey
Google says: http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/reel_selection.html
http://setthehook.com/reels/reeldifferences.htm (link now dead: archive ) http://www.fishingtalks.com/when-would-one-use-a-baitcast-over-a-spinning-reel-278353.html#10
Hopefully someone with some knowledge of the subject will distill these into a proper answer.
For now I'm getting some ink in the page.
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/133/Mr.Wizard
bait cast can throw further than spinning reel.
The key point is if you keep getting bird nest, add heavier weights or sinkers, this will reduce your bird nest.
2nd point is bait cast does not have tangle knots like spinning reel where some knot form for unknown reason.
After you switch to bait cast and know how to use it, you will not go back to spinning reel.
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/11750/Richard
I'd like to see someone throw a 1/64 oz trout magnet for trout, crappie, bluegill, perch, rock bass etc from a baitcaster accurately over and over.
Trust me, I've tried it while my kids use all my spinning setups.
If you do all sorts of fishing and only have the cash for one type of set-up, get yourself a spinning reel + rod.
If you only fish for muskie/pike or big catfish get a big 5500 series baitcaster(i.e.
Ambassadeur) which are way easier to cast(once
you know how to use it) without backlashes than the smaller ones designed for bass, I have a small AG revo sx that is nice, does cast a little farther and retrieves faster but other than that
I dont see many advantages, you can be just as accurate with a spinner, I often get out on dams on the rocks to hit holes, it's much easier to fish vertically with a spinning set up, I've pulled my largest walleye out of deep holes in rocks close to dams
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/12949/Johnny
I have been looking at new rods and several people have suggested a baitcaster. I currently have a spinning reel that I am comfortable with but I would like to try a new rod/reel type.  What am I going to gain and lose from switching to a baitcaster?
What are the benefits of a baitcaster over a spinning reel for bass fishing?
outdoors.stackexchange.com
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outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/1549
outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/12/J Lundberg
It may be best to stick with a spinning reel unless you are fishing for bigger fish. Casting and retrieving is better with baitcasters and they can be accurate with practice. However, a spinning reel is simple to use and spools and lines can be changed easily. If you do all sorts of fishing and only have the cash for one type of set-up, get yourself a spinning reel + rod. Baitcasters are more accurate, whilst spinning reels allow you to throw smaller and lighter lures.
A baitcaster is more accurate and has faster retrieve. Spinning reels cast further and easier, allow you to throw lighter lures.