Need recommendations for a new spinning reel/rod combo.

[Rogue Hunter]

Got out fishing for the first time this A.M....between the weather and busy work...ya know!

Anyway, after 10-15 casts, I thought, "how heavy and clunky" this rod/reel feels. So, after THIRTY years, I've decided the retire the Mitchell 300! It will be hung on the wall, and begin a new life as the focus of memories...Just like the first gun I purchased with my own money, the Mitchell will NEVER be sold or discarded. I bought it new. I think I paid $18 for it; that was big money back in the sixties. Mowed a lot of lawns, and did other odd jobs to get the money.

So I need to find a new open-face rod/reel combo. First off, I like/want a balanced rig! I want to use it for jigging and casting. So the balance point needs to be immediately in front of the reel. Of course, the balance of the rig depends more on the weight of the reel, than that of the rod.

I'm wondering what everyone has/likes. Tell me about your favorite open-face rig. What you use it for...jigging(jig weight), trolling, casting? What line weight is on it? What rod you have it paired with? Is it balanced...does balance matter to you?

I am willing to spend up to around $175...give or take!

Thanks,

Rogue Hunter

[msm1018]

A shimano reel, (great reels, all I use) St. Croix 6'6" medium light rod with some 6lb Maxima Perfexion line. perfect setup IMO.

[Lunker]

I agree. A nice shimano reel, and a st. croix rod, but I'd go with a medium action. They are more versatile, from pike and bass to panfish, a medium action will suffice. The St. croix rods are great, and have a good warranty, which I've used after breaking mine once. If you go with a rod like the premier(the lower end croix but still a great rod), it'll be around 80 bucks, then that gives you enough left in your budget to find the reel that fits you best.

[msm1018]

Quote:

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I agree. A nice shimano reel, and a st. croix rod, but I'd go with a medium action. They are more versatile, from pike and bass to panfish, a medium action will suffice. The St. croix rods are great, and have a good warranty, which I've used after breaking mine once. If you go with a rod like the premier(the lower end croix but still a great rod), it'll be around 80 bucks, then that gives you enough left in your budget to find the reel that fits you best.

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Yeah I have the 7' medium action St. Croix. I find its a little too heavy for sensitivity compared to a medium light but I'm going to Canada so I need a little more power and versatility. plus I bass fish with it too, great for pulling them out of the thick weed beds.

[gspman]

I'd get a St. Croix Avid 6'6" MF spinning rod and then whatever reel you can find with what money you have left over. That rod will be a good all around rod for casting & jigging. If you primarily cast & jig with lightweight jigs & cranks then I'd get the St. Croix Avid 6'6" MLF rod instead.

gspman

[bobO]

I would recomend a very good real Diawa Tournment series. and you could get a Gander Mountain GUide seriers 6'6" medium action rod for about a 150. Or a st. Croix rod if you wanted to spend a little more than that

[Wayne Ek]

I would suggest a Quantum Kinetic (size 20) reel and a Tour Edition rod. The Quantum reel should run about 69 dollars and the rod about the same. The reel has the best bail system on the market and the strongest drag system on the market.

[Ole #1]

A wise man once told me to spend my money on the rod, not the reel. Fishing is more about feeling and sensitvity, that comes from the rod. You can buy a really nice gander mtn guide series reel for $20 on up. I have have the competitor series reel and really like it. I will be replacing my older reels with guide series reels. I like St Croix rods, around the 7' range, medium/light or medium action. You can pick one up for around $90.

[polarsusd81]

I would have to agree with the opinions on the board about the rod, and Ole for the reels. Go to Gander and pick up a nice St. Croix rod and then pick up one of the Guide Series Pro spinning reels. My best friend is in town right now, and I just helped him decide on a new spinning combo, he went with a guide series rod as well, but that reel he got is very very nice, I am now contemplating going back to get guide series pro reels for a couple of my rods. You will not be dissapointed for 30 to 40 dollars on that reel.

Tom

[Quickstrike]

i am a huge fan of st croix rods and in your price range i would pair a st croix premier with a daiwa tournament SS reel. I have fished these reels for over 10 years and have never had one problem or complaint. no fancy bells or whistles but in my opinion they are one of the most solid reels one can buy. if you want a little more sensitivity i would also recomend stepping up to the avid instead of the premier although both are great rods.

[Mr.Perch]

Having retired my 300 and early graphite rod to kids bobber pole last year I can relate. I got a Fenwick HMG med rod 6'6" long with a Abu Garcia reel and use it for casting raps etc and jiging. It has been a great combo, last years models so it was less than $100 for the combo. I realy like the fenwick and have found a few others that were old model HMX for less than $40 and now have a lite and med lite as well. I put the eagle claw 9 ball bearing reel on them less than $20 at GM sale, this old guy has never had it so good.

[vern]

I have to agree with the Shimano & St. Croix fans here. You could get a Shimano Sahara 2500 for about $60 & match it with a medium action St. Croix Premiere & still be in your price range. Shimano also makes some very nice rods. A medium action Shimano Compre rod will cost about $80 & match up well with some of the reels already mentioned. - Vern

[slick814]

While all but one of my reels is a Shimano, and a variety of rod brands, I have to say that my "go-to" combo since I got it last year for Father's Day has been my Pfleuger President spinning reel on a Cabela's Fish Eagle II rod. 6'6" med./fast... has been great for jigging, running live bait spinner rigs, cranks, you name it. I love the sensitivity and action, and it's got plenty of feel too. Nice thing about it is that Cabela's sold it as a combo for $120... might be a bit more this year, but shouldn't be too much.

One thing I can say, though, is that I'd highly suggeest getting a one piece rod if you can get it in the length/action you want and need. I think that you lose a little of the feel in a two piece compared to the one piece. Just my humble opinion there....

[fishlakeman]

For $100, I'd go with either the Fenwick HMG or the high end Gander Mountain rod that just came out (the $99 one) and pair it up with a Shimano Sahara. 6'6 med action is the best all around action for dealing with multiple species. I love the St Croix Avid rods, but feel there Premiers are bulky and not as sensitive as the 2 listed above.

[Ryan Berger]

either fenwick HMG or Shimano Clarus rod,, and a Pfluger Presidential reel,, I have both setups and love them,,

[bob56468]

For about the same money, around $75-$100, check out a Berkley Series 1 Rod. The handle is nice and thin and it's a 1 piece rod. If you go with a medium action rod, it will have all the sensitivity you could ever want. I have 2 St Croix rods but prefer my series 1 Berkley rods over the St Croix.

As far as the reel goes, I'll have to agree with just about everyone in this post. Get a good Shimano reel and you won't be disapointed.

[TSCTSC]

What about the ugly sticks? ... like the light action ones for 27.99. Have been using it to catch pike 28 inch, crappies, walleyes, bass etc. And they do not break.

[pippylongstokens]

a fenwick hmg and a shimano reel

[SuddenlySummer]

If you had your Mitchell 300 for that long please go pick up a new one and try it out. They are smooth as silk and are under 40 bucks. When Cabela's had a sale of them when they first came out with the new version a few years ago I picked up 10 of them and gave them out as presents. Every buddy of mine that I gave it to use it as their primary reel. They are a bit heavy but as long as your rod is balanced to it I bet you'll be happy.

I own Shimano Stradic's and other reels pushing $200 apice but I can't get over that every person I fish with use that $30 reel I gave them. And they don't use it for my sake.

Spend the money on a light, balanced and sensitive rod. St. Croix or whatever.

BTW: That reel will probably last you another 30 years.

[slick814]

Rogue -

Cabela's is running a special on the Pfleuger Solara combo for $54.99... rod & reel matched for each other. It's about $25 off regular price, so it may be something to check out.

[Dano_the_jigasaurus]

The Gander Mountain top end rods are made by St. Croix and are very nice there reels are made by Pfluger and are also nice. They are much less in price than if brand named. Inexpensive good equip.

[Rogue Hunter]

Thanks for all the replies.

I've been out of town all week and was just now able to read everyone's posts.

Although I always dreamed of having a Fenwick rod--they were "the name" to have in fishing rods thirty years ago--but now that they are made outside the U.S., I'm not so inclined to buy one.

One additional question about rods, but I'll start a new thread for that.

Again, thanks for all the replies.

Rogue Hunter

[pippylongstokens]

the fenwick hmg may be made outside oif the country but are one if the nicest rods you can find, my dad has one and it is like the nicest rod ive ever felt for walleys and bass abd stuff.

[federline]

I've got St. Croix, Ugly Stick and Gander Mtn. I like them all, but like the St. Croix the best. It is ultra sensitive, and has a very nice progrssive loading characteristic. The Ugly Sticks are better in their heaver models. And the Ganders are good all-around sticks. I use Shimano and Pflueger spinning reels, stay away from the lower end Shimano's, you get what you pay for. Some of the Abu's have some inherent engineering design flaws, look at them very closely before buying (like the bail won't clear the spool when it is fully extended).

[The Yeti]

Check out Midwest Rod & Reel. You can order what you want and choose thread colors etc. I recently got mine. 6'6 medium light with at Sahara 2500. It's a pretty sweet setup. Very light too.

I also have many St.Croix's. Good stick. 6'6 medium light with a shimano would be ideal for you.