Spinning reel for Flats??

[zzammon]

I have really been enjoying catching Channels the last couple years and am ready to start trying for the Flatheads in the MN river. I have a cheap heavy duty pole and spinning reel with. I want to use it for the Flats too, at least to start. Do the flatheads hit it hard and self set the hook like channels? My reel does not have a clicker, am I going to miss flathead bites because of that? Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Mr Special]

The initial bite will vary from fish to fish. Sometimes that will hammer it screaming out line ,other times barely move and times run straight at ya.

If you are going to dead stick-em just make sure to have a good rod holder. There's times that they've hit so hard i could barely get the rod out of the holder.

They are quite a few economical reels out on the market with baitfeeders on them. Or you can always just back off the drag on the spool, but remember to crank it back dwn before setting the hook. I've made that mistake a few times lol

[slipperybob]

I've used a large spinning reel for years and it just depends on how you want to set up and the mood of the fish. I rarely loosen the drag to "bait feed." Most of the time, I'm holding the rod.

[Gordie]

You might not miss a fish but you might lose your reel.

a flat head can grab and run like crazy or hit so hard they almost pull the rod out of the rod holder.

You can however loosen the drag way up and hope it is set light enough for them to take line / I have done this years ago when I first started fishing cats with the old Mitchell Garcia 300's.

basically what Mr. Speacial is talking about

[zzammon]

Thanks. I think i will try a combination of your suggestions. I will loosen the drag just a little more in case a huge one grabs and runs, I will also make sure my rod is secure.

[jamjumper]

out of curiousity...do most of you prefer bait clicking spinning reels or baitcasters. I have been using my baitcasters abu garcia 6500c reels with good success, but i do like fishing with spin rigs for other species. which way do most guys go? what kind of line are you running on your spin rigs if you use them?

[Mr Special]

I have both baitcasters and spinning reels with bait clickers.

I used abu C7000 for my personal setups, i like the stronger/louder clicker, lower gear ratio and line capacity.

For my spare or anyone else fishing with me, i use Saltstrikers "Okuma" with baitfeeder mainly 50series.

Just bought an 80series for ocean fishing

For line run 65-80 superlines, such as Powerpro, Sufix for Tug-O-war in HiViz

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Yeah you're going to want a clicker or baitfeeder option if you're targeting flats. It can be done without one, but for me at least I lost a lot of fish that way.

Okuma and Cabelas Salt Striker are good baitfeeder spinning reels.

[Gordie]

Bait Casters are probably the first choice for most.

My top three reels are Garcia 7000,Garcia 6500c3 and a Shimano corsair not sure what the size is I dont use it much.

I do have a few spinning reels but the best one that have found and I have had it for almost 27 years is a 650 Shimano Bait Runner. It has a somewhat loud clicker but I have given it to my oldest son and he loves it.

Line is 65-80 lb tough line its a super braid and I have had great luck with it.

[Mr Special]

I love the older vintage reels.

I tell ya what, I honestly think a lot of older reels were made better. I have a Penn704 "probably made in the late 60's" that still works great and I still use it.

Some have told me to stop using it as it maybe a collectors piece, but its one of the luckiest reels i own.

[jamjumper]

Thanks fellas. I have been using 60lb powerpro line and my abu garcia 6500c baitcast reels. The set up has been working well but am always curious what others like to run with and why. I may be getting a spin cast set up heavy enough for paddlefish, so I may get a bait clicking reel for that just to toy around with it.

[catnipmn]

Spinning reels are great if you need to or want to cast a long ways or just like them. For bait casters the Abu 7000 is very nice and easy to use. I like my Penn 320 GTi check it out you may like it? Put some 80Lb PP on it and you have a crane in you hands.