Best Bang For Your Buck

[Sbennett9]

Being the stereotypical broke college student, I'm looking for everyone's opinion on the best bang for your buck in both baitcaster and spinning rods and reels. I know that getting prime performance often costs top dollar but I am willing to look at companies that aren't as well know if they have a good product.

[MCS]

Look at pflueger spinning reels. The president is the best for the money bar none. But if you need to go cheaper I hear the trion is very good. I own 3 pfluegers in the 50 plus range and love all of them. If you can swing it my personal pick would be a purist. At the worst an Abu cardinal will get you through I still use my 653s from when I was a kid.

Rods can be tricky, don't go too cheap. I hate Shakespeare ugly stick. I love my Carbonlite and have some older Abu rods that are ok. I don't know much about the lightning shocks. I would check out Abu in the 50-80 range or Powell Deisel I hear good things about them and that may be my next rod.

As far as bait casting checkout Abu black max combo, Silvermax combo. I also hear some good things about the H2O casting reels from academy sports.

[Capt.Bob]

right now you can get a Legend Extreme for under $190.00 if you put a Lew's speed spool on that there step up from the laser, to the Tournament (not the MG), around $105.00, now even though it isn't TP you have a setup that would retail for around $530.00 to $550.00 for less than 3 bills, that my friend is getting way more than your moneys worth, and a rig that will put most 600 dollar rigs to shame!!  That is less than some premium reels cost alone, and that little Tournament Lew's is a performer that will compare with the premiums, and the Tournament Extreme is the top dog along with the Elite, when it comes to rods. while they have em the Lews paired with the 7'2MHM is a fabulous treble hook rig, and the 6'10MXF with a Lews would be a stellar finesse outfit that would please anyone. you can spend less, but won't get more dollar for dollar!

[Sbennett9]

Thanks for the info guys! I Have two of the pflueger president reels and love them. I have spent money on several different types of rods and such. Personally i figure that any of the IM7 or IM8 blanks in brands like the bass pro brand or gander mountain will give me pretty good sensitivity. The baitcasters are a little tougher for me to decide on though.  i will probably have to splurge a little on the baitcasters. Now here is a big question. Is there ANY two piece out there worth using? If possible I'd like to have one really nice two piece to leave in my truck but every one ive ever had has been terrible.

[shootermcbob]

I personally think best bang for your buck..if only buying new...is the bass pro Pro Qualifier baitcaster....on sale several times a year for 80 bucks. Spinning reels...lots of folks like the president...I prefer the shimano sahara...last years model is one sale at cabelas for 60 bucks. Cabelas also has pflueger president spinning reels for 40 bucks currently.

 

You can find some REALLY good deals here in the flea market as well.

[sarcazmo]

Bass pro qualifier bait caster by far!  I have a ton of reels, Helios, lews TP, lews bb1, Steez, TDZ etc.  Seirously the PQ is does everything the others do at a fraction of the price.  The Pro Qualifier Carbonlite Combo through BPS is probably the best value out there IMO.

[The Rooster]

Cabela's Tourney Trail rods are well made and many models are offered in 2 piece or 1 piece.

On baitcasters, I'd get an aluminum framed reel if you can spare the money. It is worth it for performance as well as not to have to buy it again later. Graphite frames flex under a load and can let gears become misaligned. This will shorten the life of a reel. That said, many graphite framed baitcasters can last a decent amount of time if you're not catching a lot of large fish. 1 to 2 pounders probably won't pose much of a threat to it, but that one time you lay into a good one that you really don't want to lose, and the reel flexes and causes problems during the fight, maybe preventing the drag from slipping just right, and the fish gets off, you're going to be sick. Bass Pro Shops has the Pro Qualifier on sale at $80, and the new Bionic Plus on sale at $60. Both have aluminum frames and are quality reels. The PQ has the history to prove itself, time and time again.

I'd say you're right on the rod sensitivity. That's been my experience. I've bought some rods in the $100 range and I've had some similar but costing a lot less. Sensitivity was not that much different as long as the rods were similar in feel and components used. Line choice makes as much difference as anything. A good fluorocarbon or copolymer line will make a decent rod more sensitive than plain mono line will. I've bought a couple of the Cabela's rods to try this year, the ones I first mentioned in this post, and paid $45 on sale and they feel very similar to my $100 Shimano Compre rods. I'd bet they do just fine on the water, but I haven't tried them yet.

[RyneB]

I think the Daiwa Lexa 100 is a great bang for your buck baitcaster for $139. The sale is over, but i have several buddies who use the BPS Pro Qualifier and absolutely love them. I have played with theres and it is a really nice reel for the price. I think they got them for $70 during the sale.

[Darren.]

I think the Daiwa Lexa 100 is a great bang for your buck baitcaster for $139. The sale is over, but i have several buddies who use the BPS Pro Qualifier and absolutely love them. I have played with theres and it is a really nice reel for the price. I think they got them for $70 during the sale.

 

x2 on the Lexa.

 

You can find one on eBay for around $105-115 (I bought mine off eBay). Super-thrilled.

 

So much so that I have also bought the Lexa 2000 Spinning reel. Will be putting up first thoughts in a new post soon. Suffice it to say. Winner. This from an owner of two Shimano Stradics.

[thehooligan]

x2 on the Lexa.

You can find one on eBay for around $105-115 (I bought mine off eBay). Super-thrilled.

So much so that I have also bought the Lexa 2000 Spinning reel. Will be putting up first thoughts in a new post soon. Suffice it to say. Winner. This from an owner of two Shimano Stradics.

Definitely interested in a review of the lexa spinning reel...

[HeavyDluxe]

Look at pflueger spinning reels. The president is the best for the money bar none. But if you need to go cheaper I hear the trion is very good. I own 3 pfluegers in the 50 plus range and love all of them. 

 

Couldn't agree more... I bought a Trion reel to put on my ultralight combo.  I like it so much that I almost bought an upsized one for another combo I was putting together.  In the end, I got another Pflueger President to match one I bought last year.  I did buy a Trion for my son's combo for this season.

 

In terms of bang for your buck, I don't think you can go wrong with either of these depending on your budget.

 

There are lots of good options in the $50 range, including from makers like Shimano, etc.  Stick with a known manufacturer and spend what you can afford.  You won't go far wrong, I think.

[The Rooster]

Couldn't agree more... I bought a Trion reel to put on my ultralight combo.  I like it so much that I almost bought an upsized one for another combo I was putting together.  In the end, I got another Pflueger President to match one I bought last year.  I did buy a Trion for my son's combo for this season.

 

In terms of bang for your buck, I don't think you can go wrong with either of these depending on your budget.

 

There are lots of good options in the $50 range, including from makers like Shimano, etc.  Stick with a known manufacturer and spend what you can afford.  You won't go far wrong, I think.

At $40 I don't think the Trion can be beat. Shimano has the Solstace at that price but I haven't fished it. I've had a Trion that's been going for 5 years now. It's now my loaner reel and as such it's lately been abused since all last season, but it took it and still works just fine. I've not seen another $40 reel do that yet.

[JunkYard814]

Plueger President on a Berkeley Amp would be my budget set-up

[new2BC4bass]

Plueger President on a Berkeley Amp would be my budget set-up

 

Excellent choice!

[J Francho]

Keep your eyes peeled to the Flea Market board here.  Tons of smoking deals to be had.

[deep]

Baitcasters: Shimano Citica D (~$60 used)

Spinning: Shimano Symetre or Sahara- older models (~$50 used)

[clayton86]

Keep your eyes peeled to the Flea Market board here. Tons of smoking deals to be had.

Yup or eBay I just picked up a Abu villain rod for 95 shipped from the flea market and a 3rd gen STX on eBay for 142. I checked eBay yesterday there was a 3rd gen Revo S for 89.99 BIN with free shipping I woulda jumped on it if I wasn't broke.

I'd keep checking the flea market and eBay though you can get some killer deals

[Arv]

Casting reel - BPS Pro Qualifier

Spinning reel - Pflueger President

Spinning/casting reel - Shimano Compre

I think that gives you the best bang for your buck, depending on your budget. I personally think the best bang for your buck rods are in the
150-200 dollar range

[new2BC4bass]

Casting reel - BPS Pro Qualifier

Spinning reel - Pflueger President

Spinning/casting reel - Shimano Compre

I think that gives you the best bang for your buck, depending on your budget. I personally think the best bang for your buck rods are in the

150-200 dollar range

 

OP didn't specify lowest price....but best bang for your buck.  A $600 rod or reel could fit that criteria. 

[new2BC4bass]

I love my Fuegos and Zillions, but my absolute best buy for money spent was a Curado 51E...$98 shipped on closeout.  Wish I'd had the money for about 5 more. 

[fowlskies]

I picked up a Citica 200e on clearance for around $60.  On ebay they are around $80-$100 and at that price (especially at $60) I don't think they can be beat.

 

I've never used one but people are always raving about PQs so there must be something to it, although I imagine they are not better than the Citicas.  (disclaimer: I am NOT part of the Shimano legion)

 

I think next yrs offseason purchase may be a Lexa 100, I've heard a lot of good things about them too.

[lmbfisherman]

I picked up a Citica 200e on clearance for around $60.  On ebay they are around $80-$100 and at that price (especially at $60) I don't think they can be beat.

 

I've never used one but people are always raving about PQs so there must be something to it, although I imagine they are not better than the Citicas.  (disclaimer: I am NOT part of the Shimano legion)

 

I think next yrs offseason purchase may be a Lexa 100, I've heard a lot of good things about them too.

I have two of them (Lexa 100), I paid 89.99 with reel trade in plus onsale at the Spring Classic.  Then I just picked one up today from a local tackle shop who had it on clearance (says he doesn't sell them much) and bought it for 74.99!  What a sweet deal! Now I'm broke, kind of stretched this one, but couldn't pass it up.  LOL  Such a sweet deal!

[ColdSVT]

id score a discound legend extreme and put a lew speed sppol, shimano citca or abu revo s on in and call it good!

[BassCats]

While on a tight school budget your best bet is to buy used or if you live near an academy get the H2O mettle reel. Then get a cheap berkley lightning rod. this will suffice till you graduate or get more money. As for two piece rods, well there aren't any good ones. My budget set up I keep in my vehicle is a abu black max and a berkley lightning rod. 

[0119]

4600C3. $80. Will last forever. Super easy and cheap to fix, as if it'll ever need it.  Better than a cheap low profile, it is slimmer width wise and more comfortable just not fashionable.  Customizable to the hilt if you desire.  The definition of bang for the buck and it spits in the face of blingy posers.