Baitcasting Rod and Reel

[riverrat56]

I'm looking to purchase a baitcasting rod and reel for bass fishing this summer, only can afford one, so it needs to cover my main 3 applications, buzzbaits, cranks, and spinners. What would everyone recomend for a rod and reel set up, need to keep it around 150 bucks, is that to much to ask for a decent set up, doesn't need to be great, only bass fish maybe 10 times a year. Would be looking at using 10-12lb mono, I'm just not comfortable with superlines.

[st.crioxfishin]

I would recommend a 6'6" to 7' rod, M to MH. I use a 6'6" Medium rod for cranks and spinnerbaits, although I throw a buzzbait with a 7' MH rod. I'd say its just personal preference.

For the type of rod I like St.Croix, but I can get them for cheap at the rod shop in Park Falls, Wisc. otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford them. But if you are not able to purchase those rods for cheap I would suggest a type of shimano rod, I've heard good things about them as well.

For the reel I like what pflueger makes, whether its the trion($100)or the purist($80) either of those reels would leave you with $50-$70 left to spend on a quality rod.

But thats just my opinion, there are so many options out there that you may want to shop around to see what fits you best.

[Captain B.R.K]

Where is that Dietz guy when you need an answer

I'll give you my two cent on my knowledge of bass fishing set-ups. I would stick to a 7 foot MH rod for bass fishing. The longer the rod, the further you'll be able to cast out and reach some of those hard to reach areas. Especially if you are looking to just crank, buzz & spinner bait with the rod, a 7 footer will be excellent. A MH rod will be best for you, especially if you are going to be working those lures around any type of cover. A medium action is fun to fight those bass on, but you'll want some backbone for setting the hook and work those fish to the boat so the MH will be better over a medium.

I know you can get into some decent combo's for $150. Take a look at basspro, they have a couple of baitcasting combo's that look like a heck of a deal.

I guess I have always gone with the more you spend, the better the quality and the longer it lasts * as long as you care for your equipment* theory! With that being said, if you are going to piece your combo together, then stick with some quality stuff. Shimano makes some great rods, take a look at their Convergence Series- is a IM-6 graphite blank with a limited lifetime warranty. If you are looking to upgrade from that, the Clarus rods (IM-7) can be found for around $60. You can get into the new Shimano reels for around $99-100 or take a look at the Pflueger series baitcasters.

Good Luck!

[Can'tFishEnuf]

Definitely check out the combos at Cabelas or Bass Pro. I got the Trion with a Fish Eagle II for $130. They have many good deals.

[redrocketangler]

Until April 15th Bass Pro Shops has a sale go to the HSOforum. I just got the shimano/extreme xps combo for $140.

Very nice setup. i also stick with the 7'0" MH.

The other option would be the flueger purist. Nice reel that will leave you plenty of money I picked up two last year and have nothing but good things to say.

[OnTheWater]

I'd pretty much have to agree with everyone. Get a 7' MH for sure; especially for the buzz/spinnerbaits. Also, if you ever get into plastics; you are gonna want to use that rod as well. I would agree with the basspro deals also; heck of a deal for $150. If you don't want to do the online/shipping part of it; go check out gander mtn's selection of rods. For a reel, I would say to check out a Pfluger trion. They are excellent for the $$$ and they have a wider spool that is great for making those long casts w/ your buzzbaits. Otherwise, if your lucky, you may be able to scrap up an old curado for real cheap; but good luck.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Quote:

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Where is that Dietz guy when you need an answer

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I'm going to have to agree with RedRocketAngler here. Both Cabelas and BassProShops have great combo deals where they give a pretty darn good deal. The 7' MH would probably be your best bet on an all around rod. I also like the 6' 6" length if you feel 7' is too long. Kepp in mind this is not the best set up for crankbaits and probably not the best set up for spinnerbaits. But it will be more than good enough.

If you wanted to hold the rod before you bought it.. I would take a look at the Shimano Clarus and a Shimano Cruxis.. this will be quite close to your $150, but a little higher.. the rod will have a lifetime over the counter exchange warrenty!

[Ole the Guide]

Gander Mtn has some nice guide series rods. I have a couple and they are not that expensive. With that being said, you can probably get a better deal buying a combo at Cabellas. I bought a Shimano super free curado and 6.6 MH rod combo for $149.00 last year! I love it!

Ole

[riverrat56]

thanks for the info guys, time for me to start looking.....

On the chance I can find a good deal, what would you recommend for a crankbait rod? something around 7ft with more flex in the tip? With as much as I fish for bass I would guess i could get away with just changing the reels around.

thanks again for the help

[Deitz Dittrich]

a very affordable crankbait rod and works quite well is the BPS cranking stick...

[Captain B.R.K]

I knew that Dietz guy was lurking around here

Would you agree that a graphite rod that doesn't have so much backbone is the way to go with a rod?! I guess I'm comparing like a IM-6 to a IM-8 as an example. The IM-8 is great, but if you are crankin' and a fish hits it, you don't have much give unless you are fishing with mono. Otherwise an IM-6 will give you a little more when that fish hits and less ap to lose.

Am I correct on this one??!

[beeflover]

Hey Riverrat: you might want to take a look at the BPS Prolite Finesse reel/XPS rod combo with a 7'ft med rod. Extremely $139

I just got back from the Bassmaster Weekend Series last Sunday at Tablerock, the boater I fished with was casting a wiggle wart about 10 yds farther than me with the Prolite Finesse reel. I had a Curado Bantam on a similar rod and we both had 8# flouro.

He said the reel was holding up good but just in case we will have a BPS here in MPLS to warranty these things soon.

I've never seen a baitcaster cast so far.

[zepman]

Does anyone use All-Star rods and if so what is your opinion on them. Where can a guy get a look at one. Been searching all over and can't seem to find a dealer or store that actually has one to check out. Any help on this would be great.

[river rat316]

Allstar just got bought out by berkely. Quality will probably go down initially, then they'll be ok

[NBR]

Riverat, I have 2 Rick Clunn combos from BPS and they are just fine for the purposes you mentioned.

[riverrat56]

Well after my first rod and reel (old Abu 6500C and Berkley Cherrywood rod) went into the drink on a carp fishing adventure I picked up a Mr. Walleye 6'10" Medium Fast matched with and Abu 6500C4 Limited Edition (metalic purple )

Started out with 12 lb mono and was not happy so I switched to 30lb Power Pro, rod has worked out great for every application and I have been significantly cut down on backlashes with some practice.

Thanks for the advice it helped in my choice, total cost plus line was $167