When I first started fishing in the 1980s, baitcasting reels were mysterious and a little bit daunting. The old-timers told us tales of monstrous “bird’s nests” and “backlashes,” which they euphemized ...

A baitcasting reel may not be the first choice for beginners, but virtually every enthusiastic angler should own at least one. They are better than spinning reels at distance casting, and many can ...