Trick! Convert Spinning Reels to Baitrunner Fishing Reels

[@williebourke9962]

Just leave the bail arm open .and leave your drag set as normal .When a fish takes you'll notice the line running ,and crank the handle and engage the fish .

[@KayakhacksFishing]

That works!

[@pa_maj.MARTINI-van-MAN]

I always set the drag to suit the line/trace I'm using or softer for soft mouthed fish. I use multipliers 99% of the time but would still prefer Baitrunner over a standard spinning real for pike, they work great for me and friends and seem to hold up well with fresh water use.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@racerx12003r]

I've done something similar to that, but never thought to count the number of turns as I loosened it. Thanks for another great tip.

[@eugenegress5896]

Your Right in Theroy, But the Average Person isnt going to go through all of that to Magiver a Standard Reel to Baitfeeder Likeness; You use Specific tools for Specific Purposes. You can Down size to Smaller Bait Runner Reels, according to Type of Species. Nay sayers.... ,I have seen many Salmon and Steelhead caught on small Reels , though not ," BEST " Choice. Finally, every reel can be Maintained, not complicated.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Good point!

[@eugenegress5896]

@Kayak Hacks Fishing Thank you for your Reply. What my wife and I enjoy most about Baitfeeder Reèls , is not the actual feature of what they do, but the ability of pulling line towards you ; Rod in holder, to retie a hook, leader, ect without having to flip bail over. Note: Kast King, Sharky 3 Baitfeeder reels, rear drag on lightest setting, is still not as Light as A Shimano, or Okuma Reel, BUT.... Iwill still buy them for their best quality bang for buck , and above mentioned feature I like. Your Method is valid , didnt mean to be harsh, or Rude. Have a Peacful day.

[@saxet9049]

Never gave it that much thought. Might try it. Thanks for the tip.

[@DanieHattingh]

This works very well. I'm always adding a tiny bit of drag every now and then with my fingers on the spool too - so I tend to err on the low side of drag and then increase carefully.

[@k9er233]

Good points. This has been the best way for me to work a reel. I learned how to 'palm' a single action fly reel for fighting bigger fish than the basic click drag could handle at an early age, as well as developing the 'educated thumb' for the old primitive level wind reels of the day. Backing off the drag on a primitive early spinning reel (mitchell 314, 1960's) and working the spool with my fingers when necessary just came naturally. Keeping the start-up smooth saves a lot of powerful lunging fish, especially when using ultra-light lines.

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

Great tip! I caught a 17lb 1oz Asian carp this spring on 6lb line in a strong current using the drag system on my spinning reel. Made for a fun day.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

bet that took a long time to get it in the boat!

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

Kayak Hacks Fishing actually I was bank fishing because the current was so strong so I walked down the bank as I nudged him in. Took about 600 yards!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@daviddaigrepont9485 That's a hike!!

[@FrankLadd]

I like it a lot. I just never thought the drags were that precise, but there is no reason they shouldn't be!

[@juliorojas8383]

I will try that this weekend. If the weather cooperates. Thank you for sharing.

[@On-PointAdventures]

Fantastic tip for those who want to make their spin reels alot more versatile.

[@Cogdellboy]

Good tip !! Tight lines .. Keep'em coming !!

[@barretharms655]

You can convert to a baitrunner but not a baitcaster. Just as you can convert a flywheel into a bait caster without line memory problems or you can add a hub to your baitcaster which does not turn it into a fly reel but it does turn it into a baitcaster without line memory problems. Yet I do understand where you're coming from you're just not going to have to deal with a small problem called Runaway spool.

[@floydaltonmiller]

When I am fishing I keep my drag set where I want it but I leave the antireverse in the off position. If the fish is fighting to hard you can just reel backwards.

[@BryconerFreelanceGuide]

Hey captain nice tip, I have a question, what about the switch to des engage the spool bail? so it will spin backwards when the fish is biting then you switch it on to stop the fish's run, in this way you will have the drag tension already set as desired. What do you think?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I find that if you do that, the line runs out too fast and ends up tangled.

[@jeffjackson5331]

Yep thats how i do it. Good tip for everyone. Thanks Steve

[@k9er233]

There is a very well presented video showing how to disassemble and service the Kastking Sharky III baitfeeder reel. It can be found on a channel by the name of 2nd Chance Tackle. Very informative and well presented. If you have good basic skills in working with tools and small parts, reels are actually not that difficult to disassemble, service, repair, and reassemble. Baitfeeders are definitely more complicated machines than basic spinning reels, but they can be worked on using mostly basic tools. The additional maintenance to keep them running smoothly is, in my opinion, worth the extra effort for what the reels are capable of providing to the angler needing this type of free spool reel mechanism for their fishing.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

thank you very much for the recommendation!

[@mrsamsebastian]

That is exactly what I thought when I tried to figure out why I would use bait runner. However, I didn't know they are pain in the neck when opening them,

[@SJBassin]

Good tip I usually have my drag preset I rarely need it to be looser or tighter than I start with. But with that said I am from the old school you set your drag at 15% of breaking strength and I have found that works well for me . If I needed a bait runner effect this would be the way to do it for sure. Thanks again

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jelly_fishing]

Great tip and nice idea

[@eduardocuellar5870]

Nice tip, will try it.

[@phonebooth7007]

You are the man didn’t even think about that good tip

[@thevernonposse]

I put my hand on the spool to set the hook then adjust the drag back I like the counting method I was just adjusting to how the fish was running but big fish can fool you sometimes and then start screaming

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Big fish did not get big by being dumb!

[@robertrardon8099]

Thanks for the video

[@LovingIdaho]

set the drag on the bait and snap goes the line . I had that happen a few times .

[@undergroundchuckeytennesse2526]

great tip...thanks...

[@jamesreed6558]

Good idea

[@Gypsyboy932]

Thanks!

[@harrisonwilson-ward9551]

Good tip

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Glad you think so!

[@1959ghostrider]

Yup this tip works just got to remember to do it lol...

[@en8718]

I dont know.... I just switch to the 2-way mode and apiece of cloth wrapped lightly over the line/rod. Otherwise I flip open the bail and attach the line to a $2 line counter and I'm done

[@rudyfisher7660]

Hey you can find them on wish.com they're reasonable and I use them for catfish and they work

[@miamiwax5504]

Amazon too. Probably cheaper on wish but you have to wait for a few months to get it.

[@10-7blue8]

@Balázs Rácz Kast king bait runners about 50$, Amazon .Great reels at great price. Good warranty. No counting and cranking on your drag. Just set your fighting drag on the front and your bait runner drag on the the rear. When a fish takes your bait just wait as long as you want to make sure the fish has it and then just flick the lever and you in your fighting drag. Try to keep your reel out of the dirt and sand ,rinse then off and they will be fine. ( won't have to take the sides off your reel.

[@alexandrosachilleas7162]

I had try that a couple of years ago and during fight...got exited, turned drag with wrong turns....drag to loose then to tight...fish took me in the weeds..lost snook 25lbs, fish of lifetime. Their is a reason for every reel....get a baitrunner. I have taken even Jack Trevalle on 12 lbs mono with small baitrunner and 4 pieces Ugly stick light travel rod. Provided you set tension right. But with light setup in Ocean ...if fish takes you too weeds.. forget it. Moral of story is i personally think every reel should have this feature. Casting lures or live bait...why not?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Good points!

[@FredFlintstone223]

I think that's a pretty cut and dry easy thing to do I think it would also be real easy in the heat of battle on a big fish to not hit your mark and get your correct drag

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yes, but if you set it at 50%, you have slack.

[@w.w.oklahoma6010]

Thanks for the tip!!! w.w.

[@johnandersen4036]

👍ol trick of the trade

[@frankc6430]

once the line is cast is good to loosen the drag when the reel is just going to be unattended so if a big fish decides to play he won`t be taking your whole gear just because your drag is too tight and another reason is because when the fish is hooked while taking your line the clicks noise is your warning ,there is nothing to convert but your habits !... the baitrunners just saves you the trouble to "remember" to count the turns to your regular drag on the front ,they are just setup from the start as you like it specially when surf fishing.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Great points! Thanks

[@b.75]

I think my dad already does this, how funny? 😂😂

[@Yelladog78]

Baitrunners are complex inside to and I personally believe they break down more due to complexity of design. I love the idea just not seen a really durable one from Penn, Shimano, Diawa, Okuma or the Chinesium specials

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yep. I gave up on them and will not purchase them any longer. Just waiting for failure.

[@didierhuaulme2457]

I have been using Shimano baitrunner reels for years, never failed

[@alexandrosachilleas7162]

I will never fish the ocean without my Shimano Baitrunners.

[@Yelladog78]

@@didierhuaulme2457 you must be the luckiest man on earth because they keep reel repair shops in business lol

[@Yelladog78]

@@alexandrosachilleas7162 ok

[@kevinsandells9933]

Some good information. Thanks

[@redwood1957]

I think that's the same fish you used last time. Kidding

[@paulsmith9497]

I've never seen value in baitrunners and I've never seen someone with a baitrunner not fiddling with the drag while playing a fish. So if you're going to be fiddling with the drag anyway just buy a better quality front drag spinning reel for the same price as a baitrunner.

[@peterchessell28]

Like everyone always has done.

[@gRosh08]

Well, that works when you have a CS10 reel. Ha! Thanks.

[@bradsvintagefishing4307]

I could see this going really bad. Like backing the drag knob off to far and during a bite having the spool come loose. As far as baitfeeder maintenance they are not that bad at all. There is a reason they make a baitfeeder. I feel and others may not agree, but this is bad advice in my opinion.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

True. If taken to the extreme.

[@jishnups3831]

Can you do a giveaway for subscribers

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I tried that, but it is too hard. Everyone has to make their subscriptions public.

[@barretharms655]

I was wrong you're not going to change anything. The only thing you're doing is talking in a way that people who drive automatics can understand. If you're the type of person who drives a stick shift everything you just said is Captain Obvious. In my book that just makes you a liar. But at least you do not mix up fly reels, hand reels, and casting reels. As the definitiocn of a fly reel is with a auto retract otherwise known as a clock spring. The definition of baitcaster is with a free-wheel for casting and a crank for retrieving, and if you speed up the hearing you call it a jig caster. I'm not even going to get into closed face. Definition for Handline reel, a rim to hold line that you are not using. Definition for spincaster, a real with a wire bail to capture and feed the line onto the spool that is retractable for casting. And you have made no changes you are only telling people the appropriate way to think about using the thing, because not everything in life is automatic.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thank you for your help

[@khtong847]

man, you call this a trick?😂😂😂

[@KayakhacksFishing]

There are folks who would not think of doing this. The trick is knowing how many turns to take on the drag to get it out of baitrunner mode. :-)

[@Legallyblindoutdoors]

Good idea