BaitRunner feature on spinning reel?

[mksmith713]

I've been fishing since I was a kid, using spinning gear exclusively.
While shopping for reels on eBay I've seen alot of reel that tout a "Baitrunner" feature.
It appears to me that this feature is nothing more than flipping the "freeerunner" switch on a typical spinning reel.
Is this the case or is this "BaitRunner" feature some different altogether?

[Norfolkboy]

A baitrunner is mainly used by the carpers. It puts the reel into freespool which means fish can take line without feeling resistance. When you get a run just turn the reel handle and it will disengage the freespool which just leaves you to play the fish like normal

[mksmith713]

So...in essence, it's no different than the little switch on any old spinning reel, that puts it in freespool?
Sounds more like a marketing gimmick to sell more reels to a specialty market.

[arc]

No mate the the baitrunner facility allows the spool itself to rotate while the bailarm is still closed , the anti reverse ( little switch ) can be still on only the spool turns until the handle is turned disconnecting the baitrunner and allowing you to play the fish on the clutch . The clutch stays at what ever setting you have it on whether the baitrunner is on or not .

Hi Captain Carp how are you doing Dan .

[mksmith713]

It still sounds as if you can achieve that with the free spool switch.

You know what they say about bells and whistles.
The more you have, the more things can go awry.

[Portland Pirate]

Originally Posted by mksmith713

It still sounds as if you can achieve that with the free spool switch.

You know what they say about bells and whistles.
The more you have, the more things can go awry.

The baitrunner design was probably one of the great leap forwards in reel design. It allows line to be released at a pre-determined drag. Leave a reel in free spool (free spool is a new term to me, I would call it anti reverse switch)and just see how long it will take to get a lovely birds nest, once a decent fish has made a run then suddenly drops the bait. The still revolving handle will just dump a load of line.

I use the bairunner facilty when I am Carp, pike and Bass fishing.
It has no use on a reel that is only going to be used for spinning. In fact as it tends to make the reel's a bit bulkier, it can in fact be a hinderance.

[mksmith713]

Sounds logical to me.
A feature that would be good in the kind of fishing I do.
I fish for stripers using a bottom rig with sinker slider and leave the reel in free spool so the fish can pick up the bait and run with it.
Being a wary species,if the fish feels any resistance, they'll usually drop the bait, so leaving it in freespool or flipping the anti-reverse switch gives the fish the opportunity to take the bait with little resistance.
It seems that the baitrunner feature would do the same thing but with less to worry about.
I may have to check this out.
Thanks for the input.