Until well into the mid-1970s my dad used an ancient South Bend level wind bait casting reel for just about all of his bass fishing.I never got the hang of the cursed thing and managed to run fast ...

Submitted photoCraig Nels (left), of Baldwinsville, and his 86-year-old grandfather Harry Bailey and their 5-pound largemouth bass. The photo was taken in 2004. Bailey is holding a spinning outfit.

Learning how to cast a baitcaster is a great way to level up your skill set and access a whole other realm of presentations, especially for bass fishing but for plenty of other applications as well.

How to Make Your First Cast. Now that you’re a bit more familiar with the parts of your spinning reel, let’s assume it’s spooled up with fresh fishing line and is ready to go.