Actually I bet more people use spinning reels for throwing swimbaits than any other type of reel if you take into the account that plugs used for striped bass such as pikies, dannies, and such are really the first wake baits and there are probably far more surf fishermen than there are that target trophy bass. The advantage of using a spinning reels is the ability to go slow as well as casting in windy conditions. I would personally look at the Rainshadow SW1087 & SW1088. Both are 9'