How important are bearings on a baitcaster?

First off, I mainly fish with spinning rods or fly rods, so be patient with my knowledge about baitcasters. I'm looking to buy one, maybe a shimano or a Lews. However my friend keeps bugging me on the lack of bearings on some of the reels I have looked at. I understand that the bearings help the reel last longer, but are they really that important? I could really use some info on this.
Rico:confused:

Don't buy a reel just because it has more bearings than another. yes bearings are important but its not so much the number of bearings that is important. If you look at some of the top selling reels many of them advertise up to ten or eleven bearings. Then look at shimano, probably their best selling reel the Curado it has five bearings total and these things will cast a mile and will last forever. The number of bearings isn't as important as the quality and the placement of the bearings being used. Shimano uses quality bearing and puts them where they are needed. Buy the reel you think fits your needs and your hands. Here i am writing an add for shimano and I don't even fish them,I use all Quantum but not be cause they have ten bearings but because I have had good luck with them in the past.

Important, but there are only a few that I give a RIP about.

When I replace bearings in a 10 bearing reel, I generally replace 3 or 4 bearings. The spool bearings and the knob bearing are the only ones I care about.

One spool bearing is attached to the spool usually. If you can replace this...some you can some you cannot, the replace it. If not, don't worry about it

The bushing/bearing under the removable plate. Replace it. the bearing under the tension knob.replace it.

Here is a great provider for them: [url]http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/CTGY/Fishing-Reel-Bearings?gclid=CPPvmLHwmK4CFcqf7QodzC2uJA[/url]

Later,

Geo

Thanks guys, that is some great information. I have a lot to learn:)

The two spool bearings are important,any more become less important as the numbers increase.I still use reels with no bearings and find they still work very well.
Jake