Baitcaster reels are used heavily in tournament fishing, where the targets range from heavy hitting fish like smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as musky, pike, salmon, and other heavyweight fish.  The reason that so many tournament anglers use these types of reals is because they have the durability to last.  The best quality baitcast reels are built from high quality materials that usually have a price tag associated with them.    The price tag comes from knowing that you are going to cast smoother, and not have to handle the reel with near the finesse required when using low cost, low quality reels.

photo credit: Podknox

Baitcasters used in saltwater are often a lot more expensive than freshwater fishing reels, because of the types of metals used to produce them.  These metals have to resist the incredibly corrosive nature of saltwater, and the abuse that most anglers put their gear through.  Not maintaining the reel in the ways that you are supposed to, mainly cleaning them after each saltwater fishing trip, you are going to put them through severe stress.  The metals used in saltwater baitcast reels are built to withstand this extreme abuse.

As you can see, baitcasting reels come in all different shapes and sizes, with incredibly varying levels of quality going into each.  Getting used to using these reels is one of the toughest tasks that anglers face when they begin using them, but spending the money on a quality reel that will stand up to the abuse you’ll put it through as a beginner is going to be key to ensuring you learn how to properly use them, as well as making sure that the reel is going to be around for you to enjoy for  along time to come.  Spend the money up front, and the baitcast reels you buy will pay you back fishing trip after fishing trip.