The three methods of catching freshwater fish are spinning, baitcasting and fly fishing. The reasons that an angler will choose one method over another usually fall along the following points of view related to the fishing gear used.
Spinning is a method that uses a reel with a fixed spool. The line is wrapped around the spool when reeled in by a rotating device called a bale. Conversely, the line is unwrapped from the fixed spool using the same mechanism when cast. Spinning gear works well for casting lighter lines and lures and is the easiest casting method for a beginner to learn. A new angler can quickly achieve good distance and good enough accuracy using a spinning rod and reel.
Baitcasting reels are smaller versions of conventional reels but the engineering is the same. The spool revolves with the line when cast. The spool actually revolves multiple times for each time the handle is turned. This enables a faster retrieve with this type of spool. Another terms for this type of fishing gear is baitcaster. People who use baitcasting gear do so because it can be used to make more accurate casts and lure placements once the techniques for this gear are practiced and learned. Baitcasting gear is typically used for largemouth bass or northern pike fishing where larger lures and heavier line might be needed.
Fly fishing reels, like baitcasters, are made of spools that revolve with the line. The difference is in the technique that the fly fishing spool supports. Where a baitcaster reel is built to cast the line each time from the action of the spool revolving, the fly fishing line comes off the reel until the fly fishermen has the length of unspooled line needed to continue working back and forth to place an artificial fly in the right spot on a lake or river. The reel is then used primarily to take up line as needed. People who prefer fly fishing gear simply prefer the whole art of working an unspooled line into the right spot to catch a fish.
Because these three methods and gear are generally associated with a type of fish, it is easy to forget that all three can be applied to most species of game fish. Trout do not have to be taken on a fly. There are spinning and even baitcasting lures and techniques that will catch them. Largemouth bass and northern pike can be taken on a fly. No need to wait until that once in a lifetime trip to a trout stream; learn how to catch a largemouth using fly fishing gear if that is your preference.
A good rule of thumb to have fun using the fishing method that you prefer is to first pick the water that you have fishing access to, learn what fish are in that water and then learn how to catch them using the method and gear you prefer.
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