Fly Fishing Vs Baitcasting – The Key Differences

Fly fishing vs baitcasting are two popular styles of catching fish that many have applied. However, some people question their effectiveness and wonder which approach suits their needs.

Understanding your confusion, this article will answer your wonder by presenting the pros and cons of each method.

Besides, there are various factors affecting your fishing performance, which are also included in the post. Keep scrolling down for further information!

What Does Fly Fishing And Baitcasting Mean?

fly fishing vs baitcasting

You need to comprehend the definition and operation of these two approaches. They are all used to catch fish, yet the way of using bait is not the same.

Fly Fishing

Is fly fishing losing popularity? Of course not, as thousands of people still follow this style nowadays.

This technique requires you to use an artificial lure called a fly, which imitates the appearance of small invertebrates like flies or aquatic insects. It is functional at attracting fish’s attention under the water.

When they intend to grab the lures, you will sense a strong movement at the rod’s tip and use strong force to catch species of fish from the water.

However, one limitation of the fly fishing method is that the lure’s mass is insufficient to overcome the air resistance as well as gravity.

That’s why you cannot launch it too far with only conventional gears. Alternatively, the specialized tackles should be used for a better result.

Baitcasting

Baitcasting, or bottom fishing, is one of the oldest and most popular techniques. It requires you to prepare a bait impaled on the hook.

Unlike fly fishing, the bait should be live animals instead of artificial ones, including small maggots, worms, etc.

Some people even use cheese, bread paste, grain, or even pieces of vegetables to attract fish.

Then, the bait will be weighed under the water with a ledger. Fishes are likely to notice its smell and feel curious to swim around.

When they bite the bait, a force will be transmitted to the telltale through the line, and you might sense a movement from the rod’s tip.

Although it sounds easy, the truth is not. The most important thing is that you must estimate the right angling to suspend the bait. If not, failure is looming.

What Is The Difference Between Fly Fishing Vs Baitcasting?

What Is The Difference Between Fly Fishing Vs Baitcasting

The biggest divergence between the two fishing styles lies in their techniques; you cannot apply the same skills and knowledge to them.

Apart from that, the usage of baits is another difference. As mentioned, one uses artificial food, while the other relies on live animals or vegetable pieces.

For more details, let’s check the following sections!

The Techniques

The baitcasting reel is placed on the rod’s top instead of being underneath, given the fly fishing method. Its placement should be parallel to the baitcaster pool, facilitating the fluorocarbon, braided lines along with monofilament to be in line with it.

Suppose you want to master baitcasting; it is essential to manage both the spool and line with precise angling.

Sometimes, your spool outpaces the casting line, rendering a problem called backlashing. This means lines tangle up together and create a mess.

However, this is not true for fly fishing skills, and you don’t have to worry about the tangling issue.

Yet, the fishing line of a rod is quite heavy, as it is equipped with line tapers that create optimal casting conditions.

But why is fly fishing so complicated? This is because when you release the cast, building up kinetic energy is compulsory.

This kind of energy helps push the bait far and establishes a rhythm in your motions so you don’t take much force and effort.

The Food For Fish

As regards fly fishing, the bait is an artificial lure, which is commonly regarded as the imitation of aquatic insects.

They are normally constructed by fly tying made of feathers, furs, thread, and other materials. Often, the lure strongly resembles potential prey to fishes, like reptiles, worms, etc.

When it comes to baitcasting, people usually use live animals as the bait. They believe small animals will more likely attract fish thanks to smell rather than an artificial lure.

Versatility

Versatility refers to how you could tailor the rod’s angling and tactics, thereby adapting to different fishing situations.

In other words, the angle of casting your rod is also important. So, if you think that you are likely to catch more fish by releasing the rod far away, this is a wrong opinion.

Watch the intructions here:

For this versatility issue, baitcasting seems better than fly fishing because you have a reel supporting the rod, increasing the chance of a successful cast.

The Spool Design

About fly fishing, the spool on a rod is fixed, and the gears don’t turn the rotor to wind in the line.

This design somewhat limits the torque’s rotation and reduces the spinning speed if you have just caught the fish. Consequent is the curbed effectiveness.

But you could alleviate this situation by using a lightweight limp line. It is able to endure the pressure of up to 60 pounds and manually close the bail after you have turned the handle.

For baitcasting gear, the reel employs a stationary spool instead of a fixed one. In this way, you have fewer difficulties pushing the thumb bar or spool button while remaining the lines to peel off.

In addition, there is more likelihood that you execute the spool properly and release the rod with greater precision. If you equip the rod with heavier lines, the casting distance won’t be hindered as well.

Frequent Fly Tackle

This refers to the difficulty of using fly tackle, which is mainly attributed to underutilization.

In this aspect, fly fishing is regarded as the hardest handicap, as you must raise the ante with the purpose of catching your targeted fish, like tarpon, bonefish, etc.

Looking at the baitcaster, you have less trouble using the fly tackle, and it also enables great space for the baitfish’s placement. Hence, you could pull the fly to the target more simply with a large baitfish scale.

Quick Rundown On Fly Fishing

Quick Rundown On Fly Fishing

What is the advantage of fly fishing? About the negative sides? Below are some merits and demerits of the method of fly fishing that you should pay close attention to.

Pros

  • Artificial flies are cheaper than raw baits, especially traditional light lures, so you don’t have to worry about the cost.
  • The fly, when dropping on the water, does not make much sound and disturbs the fish’s environment, increasing the rate of catching fish.
  • The fly fishing line is made of unbreakable materials; you don’t struggle to handle it.
  • Once you get accustomed to the fly fishing rod, you can cast the fly over a long distance, thanks to its lightweight.

Cons

  • Unlike the artificial fly, the rod is expensive; this could prevent some anglers of middle-class budget from pursuing their hobbies.
  • Fly fishing does not come in handy if you want to catch fish in deep bodies of water.
  • The learning curve of fly fishing is steep, as you must practice a lot to improve your skills and angling precision.
  • The line of a fishing rod is heavy with line tapers.

Quick Rundown On Baitcasting

Following are the key advantages and drawbacks of baitcasting for you to consider.

Pros

  • When using a baitcaster, you could cast fishing lines of greater size yet don’t take much force like similar-sized rods of other fishing styles.
  • The baitcasting rod is less likely to buckle under pressure, even when you catch larger fish.
  • The combination of a baitcasting rod with spinnerbaits and crankbaits is feasible.
  • Baitcasting rods are well-known for perfect drag. They also allow you to slow down the released lure to avert spooking the fish.
  • The accuracy and line capacity are excellent as well.

Cons

  • When using a baitcaster, you must be good at two-handed fishing. If you only use one hand, the force is not evenly distributed to the rod.
  • Using a baitcasting rod seems easier than a fly fishing rod; however, it still requires a specific expertise level.
  • The problem of backlash and bird’s nesting is looming.

Is Fly Fishing Better Than Bait Fishing?

The answer is no. Both styles of fishing are recommended by experts, yet I suggest baitcasting for beginners because it is easier to learn.

Besides, if you are looking for not-too-heavy rods, baitcasting is a perfect choice.

However, suppose you want to challenge yourself a bit and find a fishing tool that is cheaper than other styles; fly fishing is the top priority.

That is to say, you must base your decision on your needs, as both methods have their pros and cons. Choose the one that satisfies your demand to the full. Good luck!

Will You Catch More Fishes With A Baitcasting Rod Than A Fly Fishing Rod?

Will You Catch More Fishes With A Baitcasting Rod Than A Fly Fishing Rod

The answer is no. Although a baitcasting rod is simpler to use, it doesn’t mean that you will likely catch more fish, which depends on several factors as follows.

The Location

If you want to catch more fish, choose freshwater bodies because there aren’t many waves.

However, suppose you crave the ocean creatures; the task becomes more challenging due to the wave’s unpredictability and water depth.

The Kind Of Fish

For grayling, trout, and salmon, cling to fly fishing because the rod is designed to catch these large fishes.

On the other hand, baitcasting is more suitable if you target smallmouth bass or other small-sized aquatic creatures.

The Local Time

Time is another deciding contributor to your success. The best time is the very late evening or early morning when the fish naturally feed and food is abundant.

You’ll see a school of fish flying around under the water during these periods.

The Level Of Expertise

The last reason lies in your fishing skills and capability. If you have good skills in sensing the gentle rod’s movement or knowing how to cast the bait correctly without disturbing fish, I’m sure you will catch a wide range of fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Makes A Baitcaster Better?

Great accuracy and perfect casting distance are two words for baitcasting.

Many experienced anglers prefer this style of fishing when wanting to catch a group of fish or strong game fish, like largemouth bass, because the baitcaster reels assist them a lot.

One more thing is that an artificial lure is less likely to attract fish than giving them raw worms.

Why Are Fly Fishing Rods Different?

Although the fly fishing rod is quite heavy, it is still much thinner and lighter than a spin-fishing one.

Intriguingly, fly fishing, along with spin fishing, are only two methods of using artificial lures instead of live animals.

The Bottom Line

This article has thoroughly explained the key differences between fly fishing vs baitcasting, as shown by the technique, bait kind, versatility, spool design, and fly tackle usage.

Both prove their effectiveness in catching fish, so you just need to choose the most suitable style, not the best.