new2BC4bass

Can't help much with the rod portion, but I would suggest a Pflueger Trion for the reel. I'd be looking at house brand rods from Academy Sports, Cabela's, BPS, etc. to see what rod would finish the combo within your budget. Cabela's Fish Eagle 50 (a $90 rod) is on sale for $54. Afraid I know nothing about $40 rods other than I like my old 6' Berkley Lightning. However, mine isn't powerful enough to be an only rod for bass fishing. Also check out the links in the sticky on best rods for $100 or less in here.

I tend to like longer rods, but if you are fishing from shore with any kind of brush, tress, etc. nearby, the 6'7" Medium with the same rating would most likely be a better fit for you. I am a fan of Fenwick rods, The 7' ML HMG is rated 1/8-5/8 oz. and a better rod than the HMX....from hearsay...at $10 more. I've got a few HMGs, but no HMX. I have zero experience with the new Tatula XT, but they have a 7' MF rated 1/8-3/4 oz. I do like my original Tatula casting rods a lot, but they were a more expensive rod. Never used a Phenix rod, but the Maxim 7'2" MF is rated 1/8-3/4 oz. You have a lot of choices. Remember that some rods....such as St. Croix and Abu fish slightly heavier than their rating while others fish a little on the light side. Notice that Darren has no problem fishing 5" Senkos on his MLXF.

My largest fish ever was caught on 8# Trilene XL that had been on the reel several years. I've got 3000 yard spools of 8# and 12# Silver Thread AN 40 that I figure will still have some line on the spools when I die. I've never worried about Nylon lines deteriorating to the point I couldn't use them. I change out line when the spool gets too far down....or in the case of spinning reels (normally) when there is more line twist than I feel like dealing with. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't get a severe case of line twist with a baitcast reel. They just aren't fishing the right lures tied direct. A lesson I learned the hard way. At least the braid had been used for a few years before I did it.

It is an Online store. TW sells the Primmus Xi XS for $224.99. I got my last two from manventureoutpost for $104.10. I posted about the reels after purchasing. A fellow member gave a link to the same company, but with a price of $98.65. Oh well. I know I got a hellova bargain at the $104 price. These reels and the Optimus Xi XS are hand tuned at the factory. Just great reels. Haven't an Optimus yet, but will when I can find one at a good price.

If manventureoutpost ever gets more Pinnacle Primmus reels in, and sells them at the same $104.10 price, I think you would agree they are a better reel than the Tatula...original or new CT. Of course they do list for a lot more than the Tatula so they should be better. Personally I like the Primmus reels better than my Curado 51Es.

Stopped again on the way home from work for a few minutes casting practice. It was one of two I had with me. Got it on a Techna AV. The Patriarch XT was on a Falcon Expert...both 7 footers. Both reels with 12# mono...tho not the same brand. Both casting spinnerbaits, but not the same brands. Distance on the water seemed about the same. Maybe slightly better with the Lew's and maybe a bit easier to achieve. Still getting use to it. Didn't make any adjustments to it yesterday.

Don't know how I missed this thread, but I thank you for posting the link. Long, but a good read. Some of its points were brought out in the TT fluorocarbon tests...such as stretch and knot strength. I've already proved to myself how bad it is when you have to break the line from a snag. Had to cut several more feet off. Makes me feel much better that I prefer mono/co-polymer lines. Also proved that I need to buy some Yo-Zuri Hybrid line.

Nothing "wrong" with mono, co-polymer, hybrid or whatever name you want to call it by. I used Trilene XL for a long time. I still use some, but wanted to try some different brands. I like Sufix Siege and Elite, Big Game, Sunline Super Natural, Spiderwire Ultracast Ultimate Mono, Silver Thread AN40 and Izorline XXX. Haven't tried McCoy yet, but it gets excellent reviews. Also have CXX, CX and C21 to try. A friend used 15# CXX on every casting reel at one time. Don't know about now. A bad mono would require some searching for. I've got Shakespeare Red Cast on a couple reels and have no complaints with it. I imagine its abrasion resistance isn't the best considering how manageable it is. Have 17# Tuf-Line on a 5001C. Heck, I picked up a 440 yard spool of 10# Triple Fish RX co-polymer at Ollies for $4. Heard of Triple Fish, but not RX co-polymer. You probably can guess that the majority of my reels have some form of mono or co-polymer on them.

It was suggested by members here that I use 30# on my MH jig and worm rod. If I ever have to re-spool the reel, I think I will drop down to 20#. BTW, that 30# will straighten out jig hooks. I've got 10# on a Daiwa 1500CU. I know the benefits of braid, but still prefer mono for most setups.

Lew's has too many models. I've got three different models yet don't have either of those. I am liking the Pro Z. I like the dual braking system of the original Tournament Pro, too. I don't have to have light, but it is always nice.

Congrats on the new rod. Out to be able to launch lures into the stratosphere.

Pfluegers are quite reliable as a general rule. Well worth their price. I would suggest going for quality over quantity. However, it needn't be too expensive. You can get a quality spinning rod for $100 or less. The company that is banned from here has rods well worth their price. I'm a fan of Fenwick and think the HMG is one of the better rods in its price range. If you can find one you are looking for on FFO, then you would not only be getting a good rod, but a heckova deal. I didn't see much on the FFO site right now. You have to check occasionally as available items change. Other nice rods in the $100 range are the Falcon Bucoo, Okuma EVX-A (the Concept C3-40X is on sale and gets great reviews), Shimano Compre, Phenix Maxim and possibly the Daiwa Tatula XT. I know nothing about the XT, but one of the original Tatula rods would make a very good rod for you. Love my casting models. I have zero experience with Lew's and Denali, but I'm sure someone good comment on their worth. If you want to keep price down, I can suggest the Berkley Lightning. I've had a 6' Medium for many years and still use it...when I bother to take spinning rods out with me. The Shock is highly rated, but I can't get past its looks. I've also read good reviews on the H2O Express rods from Sports Academy, but have never used one.

I opened the thread figuring you were going to ask something about the reel. Roadwarrior has a sticky on the best rod. If your trout are anything like those in my area, then you would best be served by 2 rods. A Light or even UL and a Medium. Also be aware that St. Croix rods run a little heavy.

Very nice combo, my friend. Congrats.

I didn't bother to check out the specs, but you have to remember it is a saltwater rod.....not a bass rod. My ML Redbone has the same rating as several of my MH bass rods.

Yup. Helios Air is a fine reel. Got mine within your budget, but don't know if you can find one right now at that price.

Went fishing there once. Was one time too many. At least in the area I fished. It was in the northern part if I remember correctly. Water had been drawn down. Only holes I saw were where a bridge had been removed. Shallow otherwise...1-3 feet. Water was clear with a mud bottom visible. Not one green plant to be seen. About the ugliest place I've ever seen to fish. I've heard there are some nice fish there, but tough fishing. Also further south than where I was at. No visible life ....plant, minnow or anything else where I went that day. Zilch. Well lots of ugly mud.

Do you know anyone else that uses a baitcaster? I'm assuming not. I know you aren't the only guy from Maryland on this site. Keep an eye open and maybe you can find another member that lives near you. We are all willing to help whenever we can. I've had two guys get in touch with me....one local and one with daughters in the area he visits. Letting someone who is proficient with a baitcast reel try yours would eliminate whether or not something is wrong with your reel. Might even have you casting like a pro...well....better anyway. Takes time to get good with one.

When I moved from spinning reels to baitcast reels, I would have had to be inside the barn to hit the wall. Yes that rod should cast a weightless 5" Senko. My only experience with Abu rods is a ML spinning rod and a MH casting rod. Although I like the spinning rod, I wouldn't use lures on its low end rating. The casting rod is rated 3/8 to 1-1/4 oz. and barely casts a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait a decent fishing distance.

As Onvacation said, a good spinning outfit is going to be less expensive than a good baitcasting outfit. Also the spinning reel is going to be much easier for you to cast with. Sorry about your disability. Glad to hear you want to get into the sport of fishing. Even on days the fish don't cooperate, it makes for a relaxing and enjoyable day. I'm a fan of Fenwick rods. Feel you get good value for your money. They offer many of their rods in 2-piece models. An Eagle or HMG (on sale) should do the trick. Here is a possible combo from Cabela's both in 7' and 6'6" 2-piece models. http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1325659&type=product&MDK=dynbanP_SLb&MDC=cat105740280 Also it wouldn't hurt to post a Want To Buy ad (WTB) in the Flea Market. Might be surprised at the number of people willing to help you out with a nice deal.

Abu rods normally run a bit heavier than listed. However, your weights should be well within the rod's capability. I take it you are using an overhead cast since you said the lure is slamming down 15-20 feet in front of you. First I like to cast with two hands when possible. Second I like a sidearm roll cast. It helps to smooth out the cast and to keep the rod tip loaded. 20# braid is not what I would be learning on. If I were going to use braid, I would use 40# to start off. 20# braid can dig in causing problems....not the least of which is snapping a lure off if the line suddenly stops. There is a reason why people don't like to use braid with big and expensive lures. I've snapped a 1/2 oz. jig off using 30# braid when the line wrapped around the tip. Have you gone through the stickies on "How to cast a baitcaster"? Lots of good information. Also do a search as there are quite a few "How to Cast" threads.

Thanks. Been buying gear for the past 7 years. Actually have too much now, but it is tough to quit. Bait Monkey has a choke hold on me.

But that wasn't the title of the thread. The subject title was "rod & reel setups". Hope no one got upset because I mentioned something other than Lew's after the OPs original comment on Lew's reels. A few of my setups....for the OP Curado 51E and Smallmouth 6'10" MF TD-Z 105H and older 7' ML HMG Fuego and Cumara 7' MHF PXL Type R and Falcon Expert Light Curado 201E and Endurance 723 Zillion 50th and Diablo Spec R Primmus and 704CB Glass Purple Alphas and 7' MLR Tatula Helios Air and 7'3" MHF Hammer Chronarch 100B and 6'10" Quantum Tour Edition Unmentionable A and 7' MHF RX7 Rainshadow Morrum SX 1601C and Falcon Expert 7' Medium TD-Z 103HL Type R and 7'6" HF Zillion T3 1016 SHL and 7' MHF Aetos

They are good rods at the full price. Just ordered the GT72MFCB yesterday. Third rod I've bought from them. One went to my son-in-law. He loves it. Course it is the best rod he has ever had so....... I've got 3 or 4 of the HMGs. Good values. I think you will be pleased. I take it you are looking at the GT73MHF as one of them? Fenwick's Aetos and Smallmouth rods are also great rods for the money. Love my Smallmouth 6'10" MH-MF, 6'10" MF and 6'9" M-XF rods.

From what I have read, many use the 50 size for much more than finesse. However, I am just like you. I view them as reels for lighter baits and use them as such. Both my Curado 51Es are spooled with 8# mono and sit on Medium rods with the Smallmouth 6' 10" combo being a favorite. Therefore I can't be of help other than to say "Try it, you might like the results." Many do. I think tomustang fishes 15# CXX on his. Maybe he will read this thread and chip in with his opinion.