thinking about switching to bait caster

[ahaber122]

I have always used spinning reels and i am thinking about switching to a bait caster i go on a bwca trip every year and spend most of my time casting for northerns and smallies what kind of reel and rod should i look at i was hoping to get them both for under $100 together but i dont know if that is realistic also gear ratios and all that stuff is greek to me so some knowledge there would be helpfull too thanks

[ducksnbucks]

I have way too many bait casting combo's but I would say my best all around set-up is a 6'6" medium heavy rod with a 5.3:1 reel. I spool it with 14 lb mono which seems to work good for just about everything. I can throw spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, topwater, even weighted senko's in almost all situations. You can find a combo for around $100 it just depends on how fancy you want to get. It may not be a bad idea to get a 2-piece rod if you are going into the BWCA for taveling purposes. Good luck, hope you find what you are looking for!!

[Nick Kuhn]

I hear good things about the lightning rod shock for about $50 (it is intended for superline fisherman). As far as the reel goes another $50 won't buy you anything special.

It might be a good idea to watch for a deal on a combo. The rods are generally not the greatest, but it let's you get a little better reel for the money.

[chief]

I'll second much of Ducksnbuck's post.

I'll also tell you that, by spending a few more bucks initially, you'll be getting gear that will serve you well for a looooooong time.

A six and a half foot rod is a very solid entry length. General purpose casting rods are fairly blunt instruments. The lures you'll use with this rod make strike detection fairly straightforward--so there's no need to pay for sophisticated sensitivity or purpose. If you snoop around you'll have lots of options in the $60.00 range. Look for a rod rated for 1/2 to 1oz. lures, and/or described as medium heavy. But always buy a rod that feels right for you.

Casting reels, by definition, see a lot of wear and tear. There's no need for a high end model, but don't skimp here either. For around $80/$90 you can get an ABU Garcia 4600C3, or 4600C4. Millions of these are in use. They're simple, no frills reels that have all the features most folks need (thumbar release, ball bearings, and instant antireverse).

Reel gearing is expressed as a ratio that states how many complete revolutions the reel spool makes as the reel handle is rotated one complete turn. A lower revolution number signals a more powerful retrieve. This is useful for big, deep diving cranks, and/or big lures with a lot of water resistance. A higher number of revolutions signals more speed. This is useful for burning buzzbaits, and it's also useful for quickly picking up line and making more casts. Honestly, the differences here are very small and it won't make much difference to you if stick with a 5.3:1 or 6.3:1 ratio. (NOTE: there are also reels with very fast and very slow retrieve ratios, 7.3:1 and 4.9:1, but these are specialist tools beginners dont need).

Monofilament in the 14lb range is a solid choice. It's cheap and versatile, and its relative thickness makes it easier to dig out the inevitable backlash. As you become more skilled, a switch to a 30lb braid might offer more versatility.

Good luck. Have fun.

[popriveter]

I just helped a friend find a a rod and reel for this purpose in this range. I shopped around and the best options I found were a 6'6" Abu Garcia medium heavy rod + 5600BCX reel ($70 at Walmart, $75 at Fleet Farm) and the same rod with a TGC5000C reel ($90 at Fleet Farm.) He bought the combo with the 5600BCX and had to exchange the reel because the drag had a problem. I searched online for any complaints about drag failure on this model reel and couldn't find any complaints, so I think he got the rare dud first time around. On the bright side, it took him 5 minutes of fishing with this combo to catch his first muskie. He estimated it at 43" but I saw the pictures and it had to be 34"-36".

[chuckwagon]

For my first bait caster i bought a Abu Garcia silver max and have been casting with that and that alone for a year now. The combo was around 70 dollars and has not failed me or given me any grief other than those rookie over runs! I used some cheap 12# mono to learn on and switched over after a couple weeks to a 30# braid. On Sunday I bought a AG 5600c4 so I could handle a little bigger fish and am using it for strictly pike ... it does not have the magnet like the low profile reels so it takes a bit more thumb work to do your casting but after learning on my silver max it was not a big deal at all. I enjoy fish with bait casters more than spinning reels for the speed of retrieve and throwing baits. I would find a nice combo set for around a hundred and start there, I think you will enjoy the style of throwing baits and covering water! Good luck

[fishmounter]

I purchased my first bait reel, it was a Pfluger Puriest still used it under 100 bucks and has always worked great. Look and see how many bearings they have it the smoothness of the reel and can really make a difference.

[Brad B]

I just helped a friend find a a rod and reel for this purpose in this range. I shopped around and the best options I found were a 6'6" Abu Garcia medium heavy rod + 5600BCX reel ($70 at Walmart, $75 at Fleet Farm) and the same rod with a TGC5000C reel ($90 at Fleet Farm.) He bought the combo with the 5600BCX and had to exchange the reel because the drag had a problem. I searched online for any complaints about drag failure on this model reel and couldn't find any complaints, so I think he got the rare dud first time around. On the bright side, it took him 5 minutes of fishing with this combo to catch his first muskie. He estimated it at 43" but I saw the pictures and it had to be 34"-36".

I have heard both good and bad things about the Abu BCX reels. one cat guy had one fall apart after only one season. now on the other hand a person that is fishing say bass or northern will not be throwing 2 to 4 oz of weight with each cast. so it may hold up better as a bass or northern reel but don't use on cats if you throw a lot of weight. this is just my opinion. I run Abu c3's

[shizzy]

I have actually had pretty good luck getting rods at Pawn shops on the cheap.

my first bait casting rig was an Abu 5600C4 ($94) at FF and a $10 Pawnshop Berkley Lightning rod.

Also, if you arent afraid to clean and lube a reel, there are thousands of old Abu's on fleabay for decent prices. I have picked up dozens of them for between $20-$35 each. most just need to be taken apart, cleaned and lubed.