Coot, I like spinning reels just fine. I use both those and casting reels to float fish for steelhead. When using the spinning reel I do about what FFF posted. I will add that for my spools filled with superbraids lines, I like the way they float and mend. With mono filled spools I coat the lower 40 ft. or so with muscilan line floatant to help with keeping it from sinking, and making mends and line/float control easier. As for letting line out the spinning reel for an extended float downriver for aways, I use my finger as FFF described to slow down the float a little when my rig is in water where the surface speed is greater than the bottom current speed. In water where the current is close to unilateral top to bottom, I sometimes just leave the bail open, leave my finger off of it, stick the rodtip well out over the slot, and the line coils going thru the spinning guides slightly slow down the float's drift for a good presentation.

RT