Back Close

How to Catch Fish How to Tie Fishing Knots Fishing Gear and Tackle How to Fish with Lures How to Fish with Live Bait Fishing Safety Fishing Tips When to Fish Types of Fishing Fishing Terms Fishing and Conservation Fishing Resources View All

When to Saltwater Fish Saltwater Bait and Lures Saltwater Fishing Tackle Types of Saltwater Fishing Saltwater Fishing Gear Saltwater Fish Species Saltwater Fishing FAQ View All

Best Freshwater Fishing When to Freshwater Fish Freshwater Bait and Lures Learn About Freshwater Fish Species Best Freshwater Fishing Gear Freshwater Fishing FAQ View All

Fly Fishing Basics Fly Fishing Flies Fly Fishing Gear Fly Casting View All

Ice Fishing Basics Ice Fishing Gear Ice Fishing Techniques View All

Boating Basics How to Boat Boating and Water Safety Choose Your Boat Use our Boat Explorer Tool Get on the Water View All

Select a state to find fishing and boating information:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho

Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri

Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania

Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Get A Fishing License

Get started fishing today, purchase your fishing license online, check regulations and more.

Spinning Rod vs Casting Rod: What’s the difference?

Alycia Downs

1/21/2021

There are very specific differences between a spinning rod vs casting rod. Each is intended for a certain purpose and style of fishing. In this article, we’ll cover a variety of characteristics that make each rod unique plus functional cues you can use to decide whether a spinning rod vs casting rod is right for you.

Spinning Rod

Spinning rods are a user-friendly choice for recreational anglers of all skill levels. They are paired with a spinning reel which is a great combination for fishing with light lines and tackle as well as live bait. Here are a few of the features and benefits of the spinning rod vs casting rod.

Great for beginners
Best for active fishing styles that require casting frequently
Ideal for casting live bait and small lures
Less prone to tangles
Offer great casting precision when skipping baits around structure or in tight spaces
Easier to access and adjust drag while fighting a fish

Casting Rod

Casting rods are commonly referred to as “baitcasting rods” and are paired with either baitcasting reels or conventional reels. Baitcaster reels are popular with intermediate and professional freshwater anglers as they require a bit of a learning curve to use properly. Here are a few features and benefits.

Great for intermediate anglers
Best for precision casting, many rods feature a trigger on the reel seat for added control
Ideal for casting heavy lures, trolling, or deep dropping fishing styles
Allows for technical casting styles such as backhand casting, flipping and skipping baits

Spinning vs Casting Rod: Which is Right For You?

Choosing whether to go with a spinning vs casting setup can come down to fishing style or personal preference. If you’re in the market to purchase, you should learn more about the different types of rods and how to choose the one that’s right for you.

How to, Rods, Reels

Alycia Downs

Alycia Downs is a freelance content creator and avid sportsman who contributes to numerous publications promoting tourism, fishing, and outdoors. Alycia is a member of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association and is actively involved with conservation and fishing non-profit organizations. Visit her personal blog at tideandtale.com or on Instagram @tideandtale.

Latest Posts

The largemouth bass is the most popular freshwater game fish in the U.S. Learn more about how you can identify a largemouth bass, where to catch it and what bait and lures to use.

Go To Fish Identifier