Fly Fishing vs Spin Fishing: Which is better?? (Trout Fishing)

FLY ROD vs SPINNING ROD: Which do you think is better??

Fly fishing is a technique that has become near and dear to my heart over the last 5 years or so. However, I've been spin fishing for far more years than I've been fly fishing. So I feel as if my relatively recent experience with both puts me in a good position to be able to use both and figure out which is more effective!

SPIN FISHING: Spin fishing excels at being easier to pick up and become proficient at. The casting makes it such that you can move large sections of water and hit small areas of creeks that may be difficult to cast with a fly rod. The draw back is the lack of versatility. You can only really imitate bait fish or large bugs with ease, but that's not really what trout eat most of the time.

FLY FISHING: Fly Fishing is more difficult to become proficient at, but once you get to comfortable level with the fly rod it can be way more effective. The reason being is that trout just eat bugs and fly fishing easily imitates their main foot source. Fly fishing also has the versatility to imitate baitfish, nymphs, or any sort of bug that fish may want to eat.

All in all I was surprised at how badly the spinning rod lost to the fly rod. Rainbow trout do typically favor bugs, but even so the fly rod out fished the spinning rod 10 to 1 almost. Now granted these were wild trout and stocked trout may be different, but either way these results should speak for themselves. Spinner fishing is usually a crazy effective technique and one I used for years.

Let me know if you want me to make another video with stocked trout, brown trout, or brook trout in the comments below.

Thanks for watching! #fishing

[jimmymani]

Which is better... whichever one puts the biggest smile on your face and warmth in your heart.

[anytimefishingandoutdoors]

I fly fish for trout on streams and rivers, I use bait-caster or spinning rigs for lakes. I don’t discriminate different styles of fishing, they all have their advantages.

[lyledahlberg]

I am 79 years old and have fish for trout since I was seven. I’ve used all methods that I know of. I think flyfishing with my Flyrod is great fun and sometimes it seems to be the only way to catch fish but I think spin fishing is much more versatile and let’s face it you can always Tie a afly onto your Spooner or spinne Or use a bubble and throw the fly as far as you want to. That’s my two cents.

[EngineeringHooksets]

I feel like most fly fishermen think that the only lure spin fishermen use is spinners. I lived in Colorado for a few months and I caught a lot of trout spin fishing with 2-inch jerkbaits and micro softplastics on a 1/32 or 1/16 oz jig. Those are way more effective than spinners IMO and would be a better representation of what spinning rods are capable of.

[FishingWithLardAlmighty]

It has to be tough making these comparison videos because so much depends on the water conditions and the mood of the fish. Today they wanted flies, but you may go back to the same creek next week and smoke them on spinners. I think knowing how to fly fish AND spin fish, and when is the best time for each, is the key to being a truly proficient angler. Great video, thanks for taking us along!

[gamblerfishin]

Definitely a ultra light spinning guy. Grew up on it, and i’ll always love the feeling of catching a fish on a spinning rod! Getting into fly fishing has taught me a new appreciation for fishing as a whole, and I will say, it’s definitely super fun and in some cases way more effective! 100% worth getting into if you’re a serious angler and want to try something different.

[_Challengerr]

I have been fishing using spinning gear for about 17 years. I have been fly fishing for only 2 years, and I feel like I have caught the same amount of fish in those 2 years that I would have on spinning gear. And I’m a guide so I fish a lot

[richdoyle]

I used spinning gear for decades but started to slip into fly fishing in the late 90s. Though I enjoyed it, as arthritis took its toll on my body, I find myself using spinning gear once again. Both are enjoyable, both productive and both addicting. Great vid and discussions.

[seanlincicome]

Neither is better, they both have a time and place. Both are about having fun and being outside, if its what you have and it gets you out its the best. I am a die-hard fly fisherman but recently have expanded to spinning to be able to adjust when needed or to change it up and try new things.

[chasinbowsnbrowns]

I agree with your assessment totally . The only advantages I see spin fishing having is that you can really launch it further and get into the undercuts a lot more effectively! I do see guys on the water using spinning gear on the water and it’s usually quality over quantity! I’ve actually tried experimenting exactly as you have and found that fly fishing overall is more efficient and requires more skill making it a much more rewarding way to fish ! Oh by the way, awesome job landings those beautiful bows !! Tight line buddy

[OHCreekFishing]

I’ve trout fished with both and have had around the same results on both, i think I sheerly depends on the scenarios of which you are fishing!

[matthewbutcher]

Learnt to fly fish first, did this for me. Then had to learn to spin cos my wee man wanted to come out fishing with me. "The things you do for your kids." Love doing them both!! Brilliant video, thank you.👍

[pointlesspanda]

Just starting fly fishing yesterday, and found it to be much easier than spin fishing. Could be my teacher, but it’s so much more smooth

[chaseeigsti]

love your videos, every time im feeling burnt out or discouraged you inspire me to get back out on the water.

thanks for the content

[FlyFishingbyRobert]

Nice show! A fly rod can be the best tool to present something in the strike zone and that is not talked about enough I think so great that you point that out 👍

[corvus]

I'd say they would be about the same effectiveness depending on conditions, but spinning is WAY more convenient, versatile and flexible in terms of places where you can use it, kinds of lures you can use, and types of fish you can catch

[EasternPaFishing]

Great video! Definitely makes me want to get better at fly fishing. I think if you used a smaller spinner (1/16 or a 1/24 oz) with a silver blade you would have caught just as many with the spinning rod. Can't wait for more dope fishing content in 2023!

[terekswildadventures]

Typically I run a spin fishing set up and a fly fishing set up when I’m out on the water. To me it seems that is the best way to catch the most fish. This was a great video to watch love the content!

[brandom]

When you get good at fly fishing and when you learn to pick up specialty methods like euro nymphing, you will catch way more trout in rivers and streams than with spinning gear. However, when trout fishing in lakes and ponds, fishing with spinning gear is usually more effective but you can still do well on the fly when they’re not hunkered down deep.

[winterwolf]

I do both types. I use them depending on where I’m going or what I’m doing. For me I feel like it’s more of a personal preference. I do have to say that a spinner is used so much on trout that most don’t hit it anymore. Besides most fish have their own preferences of what to eat that day so always good to bring a variety of lures