Help settle a dispute

[bugmannj]

The last time I was out fishing with a friend, He made comment about my manually closing the bail on my spinning reel. I told him I do this to save wear and tear on my equipment, and prevents line twist. He told me that I was foolish that the reel was designed to close the bail when engaged, and that one of the features of the reel was an anti-twist system. He said it was like having air conditioning in a car and not using it. Who's right?

[rugman]

Bug u r right .I do the same .It saves the line.

[SurfJockey]

I'm on team manual.  Labor and bail flipping!  

[Capt. Carl]

i dont use a whole lot of spinning gear but when i do....i manually close the bail....just out of habit i guess....not sure if it saves the gear or not tho.

[bassnblues]

I do it manually because it's quicker and It's just habit.

[PeggyLee]

Been doing it manually for years:easier and faster and more control.

[Still Running]

 

[Luna Sea 5]

it I am casting, then I will auto it.. if I am dropping and using my hand to feel the line down, then I manual it.  Both are correct. 

[Pfishingruven]

Both are correct!

When I am casting lures, I close the bail by reeling in, mostly because I want the lure to start moving.  When I throw bait, I manually close the bail because I want the bait to stay where I put it.  Only exception is on my Penn Z Series Reels.  The bail locks open and has to be auto engaged to close.  A safety feature so that your bail can't accidentally close.

 

[Hotrod]

I read somewhere.. that if using Power pro  manual closing is a must..

[Bucktail]

I told Rod I would do an article on this a while back and haven't gotten around to it yet.  Don't worry, I'll get to it.  

In any case, the answer (unless you own an old Mitchell or Penn greenie or Z series) is always flip it manually! 

[Pfishingruven]

I am looking forward to reading the article!!

In any case, the answer (unless you own an old Mitchell or Penn greenie or Z series) is always flip it manually! 

You must work for Penn...since half of their reel series won't close unless you manually close them anyway .

 

[bugmannj]

I'm looking forward to that article also.

[Pfishingruven]

I read somewhere.. that if using Power pro  manual closing is a must..

I would agree with that Rod.  I have PP on my Penn 710Z and can't manually close it and I always have to take the extra second and make sure the line is tight on the spool.  If I don't I get loops and knots .

 

[kayak1]

WoW....and the world record bass was on the penn 710 with 20 pound mono....just not sure how he kept heavy line like that on that type of reel on a windy night no less.....

[Bucktail]

WoW....and the world record bass was on the penn 710 with 20 pound mono....just not sure how he kept heavy line like that on that type of reel on a windy night no less.....

Yeah, and throwing a Rebel minnow plug to boot!

[ped579]

I have always manually flipped my bails as that is the way I was taught years ago.  And now that I use PP exclusively it is second nature to manually flip.

[Kenny]

I flip manually as well...just a habit

[gottog]

With braided and superlines, manually closing the bail is better as you can make sure the line is sitting corectly and avoid tangles/wind knots.  Best bet is to cast, manually close bail and then a quick pull against drag to make sure the line is sitting where it's suppose to.  Becomes second nature after awhile.

Of course if you use bail-less reels, it's always manual

[ped579]