Rod Or Reel, Where Should You Put Your Money?

[retiredbosn]

We get questions here all the time requesting info on this or that reel/rod. Got me to thinking, where should we be recommending new fishermen to spend the bulk of their money, on the rod or reel? I've seen ppl with a 150 reel on a 40 rod for a t-rig set up. To me this makes no sense! The opposite for a reaction setup (think crankbaits). Again where is the logic? For presentations that demand sensitivity on a budget, put the bulk of your money in the rod, get a quality reel of course. But having a Revo premiere or Chronarch on a Sellus or ugly stick and thinking you have the most sensitive setup is silly. Equally out of balance set ups would be a high graphite costly rod with a plastic reel for crankin. When buying a set up put some thought into what its purpose is, if you need sensitivity then more money goes toward the rod. What are your thoughts on this?

[Arv]

Most of my set ups are about equal in price with a slight advantage to the rods. 100 - 200 on the rod and 100 - 150 on the reel. I personally feel like the rod is going to be more important in most cases, at least for most of the techniques I fish. I really like jigs and soft plastics, so sensitivity is very important. This also means spending a little bit more on line too IMO. The only set up that I feel like one could argue that you don't need as sensitive of a rod might be a cranking set up, but still, I like the sensitivity to feel the wobble/rattle on the retrieve, if it bumps into cover, is bouncing on the bottom, gets stuck on weeds, etc. Just my 2 cents.

[jerzeeD]

^ This. My rods are generally where the money goes, but dont buy a 200+ dollar rod and slap a 40 dollar reel on it. Most of my reels fall into the 80-100 dollar range (spinning reels), but the exception is my Pflueger Patriarch. As long as the reel is smooth, durable and flex free it should be fine.

[Dave P]

Contact baits = more expensive rods. Reaction baits, doesn't matter that much, IMO. Nice reels are always nice.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

I would say the rod is most important but a reel will always cost more. They just have more components and moving parts which require more engineering. So a 100 rod should be paired with a 150 reel if you are trying to match quality of rod and reel if that makes sense. I guess an example would be a $80 vendetta rod matched with a $130 revo sx.

[flyfisher]

I also like to balance rod and reel for about the same price. I do like nice reels though especially when it comes to fly reels

[iabass8]

I also dont know why people spend hundreds of dollars on reels and spend a fraction of that on rods.

[kickerfish1]

Both. The angler needs to pick a rod and reel that will accomplish the specific techniques needed. For that matter I would throw in picking the correct line as well.

I used to prefer buying nicer rods but now I spend equal on both or slightly more on the reels on average but part of it is doing external and internal upgrades.

[roadwarrior]

Reels make fishing fun, rods make it more productive.

Generally, the cost of my stuff is 2/3 reel, 1/3 rod, but 50/50 is a good mix.

[The Next KVD]

I'm all over the board in ratio. One thing though is my rod is atleast going to be $100. I'm a big fan of Abu Veritas rods but I also have a few custom made St.Croix Legend Elites, G-Loomis IMX and a Kistler Helium that run in the $200+. I'm also a diehard fan of the Shimano Citica E's but I have 4 very special Shimano Chronarch B's that I use. I tend to use my more expesive reels on the expensive rods and the $120 reels on the $100 rods.

[Loop_Dad]

I would say the rod is most important but a reel will always cost more. They just have more components and moving parts which require more engineering. So a 100 rod should be paired with a 150 reel if you are trying to match quality of rod and reel if that makes sense. I guess an example would be a $80 vendetta rod matched with a $130 revo sx.

I'm about the same as Bass Ninja. $100 rod + $150 reel. I don't think equal price between rod & reel means the same level of quality.

[SirSnookalot]

I only fish techniques that are fun to me, having the most sensitive rod isn't my issue I don't fish bottom baits more than 6 or 7 times a year, using braid gives me all the feel I need. I use 3 sizes of supreme spinning on 3 sized rods, 2 of 3 are actually inshore saltwater, these set ups work perfect for me. The average cost per combo is less than about $180. My SW combos average about twice the price.

[new2BC4bass]

This topic comes up every so often. No harm tho as most people don't look past the 1st page, imo. The consensus is the same every time.

Having said that, I like reels. I'd put a $300 reel on a $40 rod (if I could afford a $300 reel. ) Like others, I want the most sensitive rod I can afford for bottom contact baits.

[retiredbosn]

Reels make fishing fun, rods make it more productive.

I think this is the best quote here. I think we all suffer to a degree from reelmania; the desire to find that one magical reel that casts a country mile, drops a bait on a dime and retrieves smooth as silk.

[retiredbosn]

All of the posts so far are from experienced anglers who know that the rod is an important part of the equation. Some may argue the most important. And for the most part are in agreement, the reel will cost more, just don't spend all the budget on it and handicap yourself with a crappy rod.

[Bluebasser86]

I could argue it either way pretty easily but imo I'm going to drop more money on the rod than the reel, almost all of my combos prove that. The only exception would be my cranking rods, both of them are about 60/40 reel to rod but sensitivity isn't as much of an issue.

[fishking247]

i usually put my money more towards the rod. i strictly fish spinning tackle in freshwater and their are a lot of quality "cheap" spinning reels. it is more of a luxury thing to me fishing a high end ($150+) spinning reel. this isn't to say i always buy cheap spinning reels but if i had a limited budget i would rather have a better rod then spinning reel

when i fish saltwater a more expensive conventional reel is far superior to the rod. I still fish a lot of old glass rods bottom fishing saltwater but always spend the money on a high quality conventional reel.

[Dwight Hottle]

I had a buddy show up for two days of smallie fishing with a shimano stella spinning reel mounted on a bass pro 6 foot red rod with four guides on it. He purchased the rod with another reel on it as a combo for $40.00. I laughed my arse off. I like to match up 50/50 or 2/3 to 1/3. on most of my rigs.

[J Francho]

Most will say put the money towards the rod, however, reels are more expensive. $200 will get you a good reel that will last years, but you can get a great rod for around $100.

[K_Mac]

I tend to use as inexpensive of gear as possible that will do the job. $100 for a rod or reel is about where that happens for me. I do have a couple of rods that exceed that price point, and if money were no object I would upgrade the other rods before buying any higher end reels. I would have no problem fishing a PQ reel on an NRX rod...

[tholmes]

I also dont know why people spend hundreds of dollars on reels and spend a fraction of that on rods.

In my case, it's simple. I'm MUCH more likely to break a rod than a reel.

Tom

[jignfule]

$ into the rod

[rockchalk06]

For bait casting, the Reel. You can buy a decent rod for under 50 dollars. Buying a cheap reel will give you nothing but trouble. Turn you away from bait casting.

[Jake P]

I see rod sensitivity as more of an issue for inexperienced or new anglers. I know there's a difference in a broom stick and gloomis. But I think it is way over hyped for the most part. I have never had an issue with sensitivity from my bps graphite rods to my shimano crucial. Just my opinion though.

Money is better spent on a reel.

[SirSnookalot]

There really is no wrong answer. Where one puts their money may depend on the level of enthusiasm, budget, target species, conditions that will promote more wear and tear, and so on. It really isn't about catching fish, you're going to do that with whatever you are using. For some it's about value and for others it's about personal self esteem.