Bass Pro Cheap Bionic Blade Spinning Combo

[TrapperJ]

Thinking about picking up my first spinning combo, that Bionic Blade combo they got for $49.99 in store seems to good to pass up.

 

Been thinking it wouldn't be a bad to give one a try especially throwing weightless senko's and other smaller type baits that i sometimes have trouble throwing with a baitcaster.

 

Would I be wasting my money? Or should i put my money towards something better?

[Blues19]

Is that the white or maroon bionic blade? I know they started making white bionic blade rods.  I got a shimano spirex with bionic blade combo back in the day, and the bionic blade rod is one of my favorites. It was one of the older maroon rods.  I do not know how the reels are though. I would go and play with it for a little bit. Make sure its something you feel comfortable holding, because after all day on a lake, spinning rods and reels get more uncomfortable in your hands than baitcasting because people typically hold the neck of the reel in between their fingers. If it feels pretty comfortable, decently light, and smooth, I would probably pick one up. Thats a good price.

[TrapperJ]

Yea its the new White Bionic Blade, I felt them last week in the store but didnt pull the trigger. Then this week i was throwing a weightless ocho on my baitcaster and huge backlash, and I'm like $50 bucks i could have grabbed a cheap spinning combo to try out and you didnt do it. ha

 

They still have some Medium Action in 6'6" for sell so I am tempted to snag one. I have had good luck with BPS branded stuff i just know these White Bionic Blades are still pretty new on the market.

[TrapperJ]

Dang to even sweeten the deal, based on the FAQ i should be able to use my VIP card and get 20% off as well since its a bass pro combo.

 

I was just wondering if this some jankey combo they threw together, its so cheap it just has my buyer beware flag going up.

[HeavyDluxe]

I fiddled with those combos on my trip to BPS.  They seemed like they would be 'ok'.  The rod felt like it's somewhere around the same sensitivity as their Graphite and Tourney series - nothing amazing, but (IMNSHO) more than adequate.  The reel felt reasonable, too. 

 

I think it would be worth a roll of the dice, especially at the price you'd be paying with your discount.

[TrapperJ]

I guess i could always give it a try and if it sucked trade it in next year at the next rod and reel trade in still make it out pretty decent on being a guinea pig to try this product.

[TrapperJ]

Here is the listing on the site for the rod only, but if memory serves me the combo doesnt have the micro guides.

 

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Bionic-Blade-XPS-Micro-Guide-Spinning-Rods/product/1209290947196/

[lmbfisherman]

TrapperJ, I asked someone this question a few weeks ago about the quality of the combo.  The guy came back and said the reels suck on the spinning version.  The rod is a good rod to have and has had no issues with it.  He said to get the combo (rod is worth the price), but get a better reel.  Like Symetere, Sahara or something that you can afford with a better reputation.  I hear the baitcaster isn't bad, I did hold one of the baitcaster combos, but it felt pretty heavy compared to my other setups. I also remember commenting in a thread with others who went to BPS and held one of these rods.  I can't remember the subject or thread.  I remember a couple of others agreed it was slightly on the heavy side.

[TrapperJ]

Yea i grabbed the baitcaster combo and i about dropped it was so heavy! ha

 

Glad to hear the rod is decent and like you said that would even be enough to justify the purchase.

 

Ok im starting to think I may make a run to BPS then hehe

[HeavyDluxe]

For alternative reels, the Pflueger Trion XL fights above its weight class and might keep the combo price down.  Look forward to hearing what you decide.

 

When I looked at that combo, I was on my first (ever) trip to a BPS... I had the joy of going with my son. Hope you have a good run to the store.

[TiNuts]

Is the rod the bionic blade or the bionic plus?  2 different things, with the blade being the better(more expensive) of the 2.  Maybe they're the same blank with different guides,I dont know, but I doubt it.

[TrapperJ]

Found the flyer it is the Bionic Plus rod and reel. The rod says IM6.

[jhoffman]

I bought one of the baitcasters so we are giong to find out just how it performs. An aluminum frame baitcaster for $60 is hard to pass up. When i barked about the combo they had not having lefties the guy told me that even though it looks like the same reel it was only made for that combo. I have no clue what that means, he could be full of it. Its going to be my topwater reel.

[TrapperJ]

yea if it was the same reel you think they would let you swap it out. So they probably used some lower grade materials maybe on the reel? would be my guess for the no swap reason.

[lmbfisherman]

yea if it was the same reel you think they would let you swap it out. So they probably used some lower grade materials maybe on the reel? would be my guess for the no swap reason.

Yeah the play on words, it was like the BPS PQ Tournament combo I bought..it was on sale for 79.99 and I was like no brainer!  It's a PQ and a rod to boot!  I did put the PQ reel and PQT reel side by side and it seemed no different.  Until I read that the standard PQ was made in Korea this one was made in China.  Still it is basically a PQ but has lower quality bearings and other parts.  Still works fine, hopefully it will be as good as my standard PQ.  The rod that came with it is an IM8 Medium - Fast, but the way the tip acts it seems more like a moderate action.  The rod is also light as heck too!  For the price, I'm thinking this may not last long (break after a 2-3 lb bass) but I plan on giving it a test, as it does feel comfortable in my hands and the weight was awesome.  So even though it's a stepped down from the standard version of the PQ, I think I got a great bargain ESPECIALLY if the Rod also is a keeper.  If it breaks oh well, still was a good buy. 

 

So back to the original, it may still be a decent buy even with lower quality parts.

[RyneB]

I had intentions of purchasing this combo. The minute I picked it up I knew it wasn't for me. It was heavy and unbalanced. I felt like I was holding a big cat fishing combo. I felt the rod without the reel and it didn't feel too bad, but the reel just seems too big and overweight.

[TrapperJ]

Ok I bit the bullet since my VIP card worked 20% off, it got it down to $39.99

I'm a new owner of a bionic plus 6'6" spinning med combo.

Agree it does feel a tad on the heavy side.

Ill be sure to update after I get some fish to bend the rod.

I never have used a spinning rod/reel so for the price I can't complain about the price to get in the door to give it a test run, if I like it ill upgrade next year via the rod/reel trade in program.

[Jay Ell Gee]

Make sure to get some casting practice with it before you head out with it.

 

After learning on Citicas for the first few years, I was throwing rainbows with overhand casts on my first spinning setup for the first few minutes. It took a bit of getting used to.

 

I'm still not as accurate with it as I am a baitcaster.

[Hawghead]

A lot of the combos and sometimes even the reels that they offer are not the same as the normal BPS branded stuff they carry all year.  For example they have the Tourney series rods and reeds and the Extreme series rod and reel.  During the spring classic they will almost always have a reel or a rod/reel combo that is branded with the same name as an existing series.  It will typically have "Special Buy" or "limited quantities" on the add.  These offerings are NOT the same as the normal reel or combo that is available all year long.

 

They will occasionally have the "legit" items on sale, but you can usually tell pretty easily what the imposters are.

[TrapperJ]

yeah i remember the PQ Reels and the PQ Tournament reels

 

Bass Pro is sneaky.

 

I was toying with getting a legit combo but when i thought about what i would get i was talking about $130 vs $40 so i figured $40 bucks was a easier stab on the wallet considering what i have already invested in fishing gear this year. Buying two new rods and reels back during the trade in program.

 

So i keep going back to my original thought, the point of the purchase was that it was a cheap to try a new technique I currently in the past never considered.

 

I'm sure the Binoic Plus can catch some fish and I will be putting it to the test in my farm ponds first.

[lmbfisherman]

yeah i remember the PQ Reels and the PQ Tournament reels

 

Bass Pro is sneaky.

 

I was toying with getting a legit combo but when i thought about what i would get i was talking about $130 vs $40 so i figured $40 bucks was a easier stab on the wallet considering what i have already invested in fishing gear this year. Buying two new rods and reels back during the trade in program.

 

So i keep going back to my original thought, the point of the purchase was that it was a cheap to try a new technique I currently in the past never considered.

 

I'm sure the Binoic Plus can catch some fish and I will be putting it to the test in my farm ponds first.

Definitely let us know, would like to hear feedback.

[Flukeman]

yeah i remember the PQ Reels and the PQ Tournament reels

 

Bass Pro is sneaky.

 

I was toying with getting a legit combo but when i thought about what i would get i was talking about $130 vs $40 so i figured $40 bucks was a easier stab on the wallet considering what i have already invested in fishing gear this year. Buying two new rods and reels back during the trade in program.

 

So i keep going back to my original thought, the point of the purchase was that it was a cheap to try a new technique I currently in the past never considered.

 

I'm sure the Binoic Plus can catch some fish and I will be putting it to the test in my farm ponds first.

Bass Pro is not "sneaky" about it. You can clearly tell they are not the same, especially when it came to the PQ. I have 3 of the PQT that cast a mile, are smooth as butter, and have hauled bass out of the nastiest with no problems. For what I paid for them, if I got 5 years out of them they would be a bargain. With the aluminum frame these darn things will last forever.

Your best bet would be to give it a good work out, and if you don't like it, take it back. They have a good return policy and you can get a combo you would like better.

[jhoffman]

My baitcaster showed up today. I am impressed at this point. If I wasnt replacing bearing seals on my trailer in 15 I would tear into it and see the insides. I had the spool out, it reminds me of the older daiwas. From what I can tell there is no pinion gear bearing, just one on the spool shaft, one in the side plate.

[Capt.Bob]

If the rod is as good as the Burgundy blank rods even as far back as 15 years ago, the rod itself is a steel at that price, The Extreme and Bionic have been great rods and way under priced since their introduction.

[TrapperJ]

Yea I am hoping the rod at least pans out cause then i could just upgrade the reel at a later date.