Consider Me A Blank Slate. Let's Build An Arsenal!

[coots]

So as some of you have already found out, I just joined a bass club and am starting to get into "serious" fishing. That being said, all of my equipment is either old, the wrong kind that I've gathered at yard sales and whatnots throughout the years. So I thought maybe this thread will not only help me, but somehow in the future help some new anglers as well with "what rod for this", "what rod for that", etc.

 

So here's the chance. A "new" angler... on a "semi-budget" and is getting ready to get "semi-serious" with his fishing. So why not hash all this out right here and figure out the best setup to get someone started for certain situations. Now I've read an article about "How many rods do you really need?" and it was pretty enlightening about the subject. The end result is that you can "get by" with 6 rods in the boat and manage to do A LOT of fishing. If someone can come up with a 7th rod that just has to be listed as well, we'll talk it out. What I'm going to do is list out the 6 rods that he thinks every angler needs and then we will as a community offer what we think would be the best "for the money" rod/reel/line combination. After the debates we'll take the rod/reel/line most mentioned and make it the winner for that ROD/REEL/LINE and maybe even put the second choice under it that's a non-budget friendly version of the setup.

 

So let's keep this "Semi-budget" friendly. $125 for the Rod and $125 for the reel unless you want to add a non-budget friendly item that gets added separate. So a budget of $250.00 for the Rod and Reel combo. This should open up several nice rods and reels in a "budget" environment. So here we go!

 

 

#1 7-foot, 6-inch heavy-power baitcaster combo
Main purpose: Flipping, pitching, punching, frog rod and swimbaits
ROD
REEL
LINE

 

#2 6-foot, 9-inch medium-power baitcaster combo
Main purpose: topwaters and jerkbaits
ROD
REEL
LINE

 

#3 7-foot medium-power glass baitcaster combo
Main purpose: crankbaits
ROD
REEL

LINE

 

#4 7-foot medium-heavy power baitcaster combo
Main purpose: texas-rigs and jigs
ROD 
REEL

LINE

 

#5 7-foot medium-heavy power baitcaster combo
Main purpose: spinnerbaits, vibrating and swimming jigs
ROD 
REEL
LINE 

 

#6 6foot, 9-inch medium power spinning combo
Main purpose: shaky heads, drop shots, lightweight plastics or light jerkbaits and topwaters
ROD
REEL

LINE

 

 

[buzzfrog]

um,  could go so many way, bps PQ for baitcasting reels, for rod, veritas, academy h20 and maybe st croix mojo bass rod

[Dyerbassman]

Unless you have an abundance of cash for all of these set-ups, I would maybe start out with 3 rods/reels and master them before diving in on 6 or 7 at a time. You can still catch fish with 3 rods/reels. Maybe that's just me, though. I try not to overthink things and keep 'em simple. See what the guys/gals in your new bass club use for the lakes that you'll fish, and maybe build around that. Eventually you'll have a nice arsensal, but getting them all at once seems to me, at least, like overkill.

[coots]

I think my point is being missed. I'm not going to go out and buy all of these at once. I wish I had that money laying around.

 

This is to also help other new anglers that will have these same questions I have about certain rod types / reels etc. 

 

Example: What's the best rod / reel for Texas Rigging?

What's a good all around crankbait rod in this price range?

What should I use to drop-shot with?

 

Just being here the short time I have been, I see them all the time. Thought this might have been a good way to cover all those bases with 6 nice setups that someone could reference back to from time to time.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

RoadWarrior will likely post a link to his often quoted post from the past. Basically, 3 setups will allow you to productively fish any bass technique:

7' MH/F casting for jigs/plastics etc over 1/2oz

7' MH/Mod casting for cranks and other trebel hook lures

7' Med/F spinning for plastics etc <1/2oz

As you expand additions would depend on the type of fishing you want to do. I would add in this order:

6'9" ML/XF spinning for drop shot/finesse plastics

7'6" Hvy/F casting for flipping/pitching in heavy cover

6'3" Med/F soft tip spinning for small top water - Pop-Rs etc

7'6" H/F casting (soft tip) hollow body frogs

From there personal preferences for specific lures and presentations really dictate. For examlpe, my favorite spinnerbait rod is 6' with a near pistol grip even though a MH/F 7' is fine too.

[RyneB]

#2- Revo SX with 50 lb Power Pro and a Kistler Carbon Steel

 

Kistler Carbon Steel,6-9 MH (fishes lighter than a MH)-$89. Hands down the best bang for your buck rod on the market

Revo SX-$159

Power Pro-$14.99

 

This setup will do anything you ask of it. I have thrown weightless Senkos to 1oz Jigs with it. Its just a solid all around setup. Even if you want to go cheaper on the reel, the rod is a bargain. I have a $100 Mojo Bass, $100 Veritas. This Kistler puts them to shame.

[buzzfrog]

if your buying a little at a time, a shimano compre 7'2 MHXF is what i use form my T-riggin, i do some lite C-riggin but dont do alot of that, I have it paired with the old Revo. nice setup cost me 200.00. I want to upgrade to a crucial soon.

[Arv]

Since the Endurance and Max are on a special right now I'd get one of those for each application and slap a BPS PQ on top. Power Pro braid or Sunline Sniper FC on the spool. Those would be my "budget" combos. If you can't get those rods, I like the Shimano Compre a lot at the 100 dollar mark. Still haven't tried one but I've only heard good things about the *** line as well.

[lmbfisherman]

This is what I would recommend and use - (Note: I renumbered the setups in the order of what I would purchase)

 

 

#1 7-foot medium-heavy power baitcaster combo

Main purpose: texas-rigs and jigs

ROD – Fenwick Aetos (150) or Shimano Compre (You might be able to find a clearance Cumara for that price range 150)

REEL BPS PQ – best $100 reel – in my opinion. 7 ratio

LINE – 30 or 50 lb braid, with floro leader or Yo Zuri Hybrid 12 or 14 lb.  (This is dependent on what is the type of water you usually fish.

 

#2 6foot, 9-inch medium power spinning combo

Main purpose: shaky heads, drop shots, lightweight plastics or light jerkbaits and topwaters

ROD - Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth (100) M/XF

REEL –  Shimano Sahara/Symetre (80-100) – You should be able to find the FJ model for the Symetere on clearance somewhere, since the new one was released.

LINE – 6 or 8lb floro

 

#3 7-foot medium-power glass baitcaster combo

Main purpose: crankbaits

ROD Shimano Compre or Clarus cranking (I know it’s not glass, but I can’t recommend one as I use a Clarus) – 80-100

REEL – BPS PQ 5 ratio

LINE – 12 lb copolymer like Yozuri or P Line or floro your preference.

 

#4 7-foot, 6-inch heavy-power baitcaster combo

Main purpose: Flipping, pitching, punching, frog rod and swimbaits

ROD Shimano Compre Flipping or Veritas (100)

REEL BPS PQ – 7 ratio

LINE 50 or 60 lb braid

 

#5 6-foot, 9-inch medium-power baitcaster combo

Main purpose: topwaters and jerkbaits

ROD Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth(100)

REEL BPS PQ – 6 ratio

LINE 30lb braid and leader – whichever you prefer

 

#6 7-foot medium-heavy power baitcaster combo

Main purpose: spinnerbaits, vibrating and swimming jigs

ROD Fenwick Aetos or Shimano Compre (150 or 100)

REEL BPS PQ – 7 ratio

LINE 30 lb braid with 10 lb floro leader

 

Another addition, ever since I finally took the plunge into Fenwick (Elite Tech Smallmouth and Aetos).  I quickly have become a fan, of course it's all personal opinion..but I find the Elite Tech to perform just as well as rods in the $200 range.  It is light and sensitive, a pleasure to fish with and enjoy it.  Further to this, my wife and the family went out to a local pond on Sunday.  She decided she wanted to try out my Fenwick Elite Tech to see what I was raving about.  (She is use to using my Avid Spinning Rod) She was like wow, this thing is light and I can cast much easier.  It doesn't seem stiff and she said I never knew I could feel the bottom so easily (weeds, muck).  So it looks like I will need to buy another spinning rod for her.  Since it looks like I lost mine when we go out, luckily she doesn't go out a lot.  But I wouldn't mind it!  To me since I can get the Elite Tech for 100 bucks regularly up here, it is the best 100 dollar rod you can buy.  Still I own other brands, because I believe each manufacturer has something that "stands out" just think I found my niche. (Fenwick, Loomis and Shimano)

[roadwarrior]

RoadWarrior will likely post a link to his often quoted post from the past. Basically, 3 setups will allow you to productively fish any bass technique:

7' MH/F casting for jigs/plastics etc over 1/2oz
7' MH/Mod casting for cranks and other trebel hook lures
7' Med/F spinning for plastics etc <1/2oz

As you expand additions would depend on the type of fishing you want to do. I would add in this order:

6'9" ML/XF spinning for drop shot/finesse plastics
7'6" Hvy/F casting for flipping/pitching in heavy cover
6'3" Med/F soft tip spinning for small top water - Pop-Rs etc
7'6" H/F casting (soft tip) hollow body frogs

From there personal preferences for specific lures and presentations really dictate. For examlpe, my favorite spinnerbait rod is 6' with a near pistol grip even though a MH/F 7' is fine too.

 

And I will add another suggestion: Spend all of your money on just one combination this year.

Buy another when you can and so on. Quality equipment that is properly maintained will last

practically forever.

[.RM.]

IMPO.......

I would use the information you can gleen from the other memebers of your club.

After all its their tourney schedual/lakes that you are fishing.

Not a one of the guys here has taken that fact into consideration in their recomendations.

You joined to learn about lakes, techniques, rod/reel systems, baits, then angling frienships. They will know what you need more than any forum.
Just an honest .02¢

 

[Mr_Scrogg]

On 6/5/2013 at 7:24 AM, roadwarrior said:

And I will add another suggestion: Spend all of your money on just one combination this year.

Buy another when you can and so on. Quality equipment that is properly maintained will last

practically forever.

^^ THIS

or, keep an eye out in the Flea Market here. Sometimes you can come across KILLER deals on quality used gear. I saw a Loomis BSR852 go for 130 less than a week after I sold mine for 175. Alot of it is finding the post at the right time. But do ask about condition if it isnt posted, always ask for pics, and try to buy from higher post count, reputable members.

[coots]

I like all of the suggestions so far. The Shimano Compre seems to be a very popular rod for the price, along with the *** series, Veritas' and the BPS reels are all the rave in that price range.

 

Honestly, in respect to the 'ask the guys in the club' deal... most of them are very tight lipped when it comes to talking tackle, gear.. what they're using etc.

 

It's like we're trying to win the Bassmasters Classic sometimes... SUPER nice guys.... but don't ask what they be fishin' with or anyhting lol.

[coots]

Not to double post, but the idea of used stuff is fine with me too.

 

When I first joined here, I hit the Flea Market and bought a BPS Johnny Morris SIg Series Reel 7:1:1 for $80.00 TYD. It's in fantastic shape, brand new basically. 

[scaledriver]

I try to wait until the holiday sales come up at BTD or TW usually they are around 20% off sales. You save and get more for you money.

[sarcazmo]

I really think as far as value is concerned its almost impossible to beat a pro qualifier carbonlite combo from BPS.  Unless you buy used of course.  

 

This was my first baitcasting combo and I love it.  Still use it today and catch just as many fish with it as any other combo I have.

[BassOnKlinger]

Thanks for starting this thread. It's exactly what I've been looking for.  I'm new to bass fishing as well and these are exactly the same questions I kept asking/researching.  Luckily, my own research hasn't lead me too far astray as my setups are pretty much right in line with what's been proposed. 

 

I do have one question though concerning reels.  I keep hearing the new Quantum Smoke 150 casting reels are phenomenal.  Is this the case?  Also, I'm constantly hearing Scott Martin talk about Okuma Helios casting reels and have read decent reviews on them as well.  Are either of these a good, long-lasting reel?  At $200 each, I'd sure hope so. 

[sarcazmo]

Thanks for starting this thread. It's exactly what I've been looking for.  I'm new to bass fishing as well and these are exactly the same questions I kept asking/researching.  Luckily, my own research hasn't lead me too far astray as my setups are pretty much right in line with what's been proposed. 

 

I do have one question though concerning reels.  I keep hearing the new Quantum Smoke 150 casting reels are phenomenal.  Is this the case?  Also, I'm constantly hearing Scott Martin talk about Okuma Helios casting reels and have read decent reviews on them as well.  Are either of these a good, long-lasting reel?  At $200 each, I'd sure hope so. 

I LOVE okuma reels.  Lightweight, funtional and innovative IMO (the braking system).  They can also be had for CHEAP on ebay.  Just bought me a komodo to go with my 2 helios.

 

TBH though if I were you I might wait for another BPS sale and buy 2 pro qualifiers.

[QUIENYO]

Please, anyone new to fishing; remember that professional anglers are paid well by their sponsors to advertise their products. I'm not saying that that those products are bad, just consider that when pushed by the guy wearing the company shirt, it's not exactly an objective opinion.

[dam0007]

Ok so the point is to point a beginner in the right direction gear or brand wise? I'll settle it here 6 $250 combos. 6 *** or St Croix premieres paired with 6 curados.

[dam0007]

... even mire budget friendly BPS Extreme or Bionic Blades.