What Should I Buy And Be Using?

[CStormO]

I have just started fishing more this year, right now i have a old tackle box and old poles and want to get new stuff and buy it right. I fish mostly from a bank in small ponds or on piers. What type of pole, reel, like should i get? I have always used spincast, i never liked the spinning reels and never used a baitcast but would should i be using? My favorite lures are soft plastic worms or grubs.

[JigMe]

There are tons of reading materials on this site, I suggest you read some of the articles. Top left corner, check it out...

[Long Mike]

There is no "best" answer for you.  As said above, read, read, read.  You have a lot to learn, my young friend.

[skeletor6]

7foot mh/f rod with mono is a good start. Put a 6.X:1 gear ratio casting gear and it will be a decent versatile setup

[OhioBassNewcomer]

I just started bass fishing seriously this year and my first rod and reel was a low profile baitcaster 6.4:1 gear ratio and a 7 ft medium heavy/ fast action rod with 12 lb mono. Low profiles are great to get use to because you can fish with them all day long. I have asked a lot of questions on here too but as others stated there is a ton of articles on here. It can be overwhelming but start in sections. First only read articles on rods and reels and see which ones fit you best. Then look up different types of line that will suit your rod and reel. Then look up different rigs and techniques.

[EvanT123]

I just started bass fishing seriously this year and my first rod and reel was a low profile baitcaster 6.4:1 gear ratio and a 7 ft medium heavy/ fast action rod with 12 lb mono. Low profiles are great to get use to because you can fish with them all day long. I have asked a lot of questions on here too but as others stated there is a ton of articles on here. It can be overwhelming but start in sections. First only read articles on rods and reels and see which ones fit you best. Then look up different types of line that will suit your rod and reel. Then look up different rigs and techniques.

Excellent advice. Before I even joined the site I read threw page after page of threads it was a treasure trove of great information.

[new2BC4bass]

Welcome!  My daughter's boyfriend (and his father) use nothing but spincast reels.  I can't take to them.  Since you don't like spinning reels, then I would try a baitcast reel.  As already stated a 6 point something to one ratio is a good all-around reel.  Although you mention plastics as your favorite choice of lures, you didn't mention lure weights or type of cover you fish.  Nor did you mention a price range.  Give specifics, and you will receive specific suggestions.  Remember that there will be plenty of choices that would work for you.  Your problem is picking one or two. 

 

It has already been suggested you read through some of the articles on this site.  There are a lot of them, but none are very long.  Pick out what you are interested in first to read.  That is what I did.

 

It has been stated many times that a 6'6" to 7" Medium or Medium Heavy rod with a Fast action is an excellent choice for a first rod.  Since you like plastics, then I would suggest getting the most sensitive rod you can afford....whether that is a Berkley Lightning Shock or a GLoomis NRX is up to you.  You can pick up a better rod for your money if willing to buy used.

 

I recommend centrifugal reels to learn on...or dual brake reels.  They are a bit more forgiving then a magnetic only reel.  However, spend the necessary time learning to cast with one, and either style will work just fine.  Yesterday I did some practicing with my Ambassadeur Morrum Mag SX1600C round reel for the first time.  This reel is a dream to use.  Forget backlashes.   They don't happen.  Only reel I have that I can cast and forget about using my thumb.  Others can do it with different brand reels, but I feel certain I can guarantee that their spool tension will be more than I use.  A friend doesn't use his thumb on his Shimanos, but the first thing he does when using one of my reels is turn up spool tension.

 

The Bait Monkey said to say "Hello." 

[OhioBassNewcomer]

Excellent advice. Before I even joined the site I read threw page after page of threads it was a treasure trove of great information.

Thanks, I'm still learning a lot but thats what i did to learn new things. It might take awhile to read but its well worth it.

[CStormO]

Ok, definately gonna take some time to read some articles. As for lure weights, i honestly don't know. The stuff in the tackle box i have is older stuff that doesn't have a package or any markings that i can see. I never was really into fishing much before. It was more just a once in awhile thing and i know nothing about it really. But i want to learn all about it and find more out which is why i am here. Types of fish, where i am fishing are mostly bass, perch, sunfish and pike. I haven't caught a pike yet. I am kind of more interested in bass and perch so would prefer stuff for them. But should i buy stuff preparing for pike so my line doesn't break and things like that? Price range, really don't have one, i looked up the rods you said i can't see myself spending that much money on the GLoomis NRX yet. I did look around on the internet about rods and a lot of people had said the ugly stick. Wondering what your guys thoughts on those are. Also basically the idea for my post is that i am wondering what people would recommend to someone who has just gotten into fishing. I know there isn't a "Best" but i am asking peoples opinions and usually, not always, but usually the opinion that comes out the most is a good choice. As for baitcasting, would be interested to try it but not sure i wanna spend money on something i am never going to use again if i don't end up liking it. Is there any benefit to the different types of reels? Sorry i have lots of questions and they are scattered in the book i'm typing here, but thanks for everyones input and helping me.

[harmon]

7ft, medium / fast action. You do not need a med/hvy for small ponds. Usually you want to be able to throw light lures, med, is the way to go. Reel is what ever you like, i would suggest ABU GARCIA, but there are a lot of Shimano guys on here that will steer you that route.

[ooga0341]

Like the others, a 6'6" - 7' Medium Fast, or extra fast rod will work for what you are doing. For Perch, I've only used small minnows on a spreader set up, but a 2in. grub on a lighter jig head should work also. Colors for grubs that I like are pumpkin w/ chartreuse tail, smoke with black fleck, and fire tiger. For bass start with 2 Spinner baits. I like white with chartreuse, white with red, and any natural looking ones. Topwater lures are really fun to fish with, once you learn how to do it. For topwater, try a buzzbait, or something like a Rebel Popr. Buy some 1/4 oz. bullet weights. A pack of 2/0 or 3/0 offset hooks. And a package of green pumpkin, or watermelon/red Yamamoto Senkos in 4". The grubs on jig heads will catch bass too. One of largest I've caught was on a 1/8 oz. jig head, with a chartreuse 3" Zoom Fat Albert grub, that I was bouncing of the bottom around a pile branches submerged about 7 feet deep. As far as a reel, use what you are comfortable with, but you should try a spinning reel or a low profile baitcaster. As far as line. 8-10 lb. mono should be fine, unless you regularly catch 7lb. bass.

Brand and price are your preference. Everyone here will give their recommendations, and they will all be different. If you want a set up for around $100. try a Berkley lightning shock, a Shakespeare Ugly stik lite, St. Croix Triumph. Match with whatever type of reel to the type of rod you get. Spinning reels: Abu Garcia Cardinal. any spinning reel in a 2000-2500 size reel will be fine, plus they are lighter. Baitcast reels, what the others said. Like the others, read the articles provided here. They are very good and informative, and have helped me a lot over the years. Hope this helps.

[Arv]

Welcome!  My daughter's boyfriend (and his father) use nothing but spincast reels.  I can't take to them.  Since you don't like spinning reels, then I would try a baitcast reel.  As already stated a 6 point something to one ratio is a good all-around reel.  Although you mention plastics as your favorite choice of lures, you didn't mention lure weights or type of cover you fish.  Nor did you mention a price range.  Give specifics, and you will receive specific suggestions.  Remember that there will be plenty of choices that would work for you.  Your problem is picking one or two. 

 

It has already been suggested you read through some of the articles on this site.  There are a lot of them, but none are very long.  Pick out what you are interested in first to read.  That is what I did.

 

It has been stated many times that a 6'6" to 7" Medium or Medium Heavy rod with a Fast action is an excellent choice for a first rod.  Since you like plastics, then I would suggest getting the most sensitive rod you can afford....whether that is a Berkley Lightning Shock or a GLoomis NRX is up to you.  You can pick up a better rod for your money if willing to buy used.

 

I recommend centrifugal reels to learn on...or dual brake reels.  They are a bit more forgiving then a magnetic only reel.  However, spend the necessary time learning to cast with one, and either style will work just fine.  Yesterday I did some practicing with my Ambassadeur Morrum Mag SX1600C round reel for the first time.  This reel is a dream to use.  Forget backlashes.   They don't happen.  Only reel I have that I can cast and forget about using my thumb.  Others can do it with different brand reels, but I feel certain I can guarantee that their spool tension will be more than I use.  A friend doesn't use his thumb on his Shimanos, but the first thing he does when using one of my reels is turn up spool tension.

 

The Bait Monkey said to say "Hello." 

I agree 100% with this.

 

Biggest thing here will be your price range. I usually recommend the BPS Pro Qualifier/Carbonlite Combo to beginners. For 160 bucks its a great deal on solid equipment. But that may be more than you want to spend. I've heard a lot about eh Academy H20 Mettle as well though I've never handled one.

[roadwarrior]

It's going to boil down to your price range. Generally I would recommend a 6 1/2' - 7'

spinning rod and Shimano spinning reel. Specifically, take your time and buy "gently

used" in our Flea Market. A great combination would be a St. Croix Avid AVS68MXF

($125-$135) and a Shimano CI4 (~$150).

[CStormO]

I have been reading up on stuff and again thanks for your guys help so far. I was wondering what sites you guys recommend also for buying stuff. I would go to cabelas or a bass pro shop or even gander mountain but there are literally none around here. I have been looking at kmart, walmart, meijer(not a great selection really) dicks sporting goods, dunhams and ***. Are there any other good sites? I am looking at cabelas and bass pro shop online also just can't go to the stores.

[smr913]

There is a very popular online retailer that a lot of users on here use. I'm pretty sure it is against the forums rules to post that stuff. I will send it to you as a PM however.