Many little kids start out fishing with a closed-face, push-button reel before learning how to cast a spinning reel. They’re great for beginners, but by age 5, I had both of my kids using a spinning ...

Almost every angler will agree there’s a learning curve to using standard spinning and baitcasting setups. Dealing with a tangled bird’s nest of lines is basically inevitable for new fishermen.

Casting reels are the foundation of many bass fishing setups. And you can do a lot with a good baitcaster, from skipping jigs to bombing frogs to winding spinnerbaits to winching in crankbaits. And ...