$120 Spinning Rod And Reel Recommendations?

[CStormO]

Currently looking at the Berkley Lightning Stick Rod and Pfleuger President. Any one else have any other ideas?  I fish mostly from a bank in small ponds or on piers. My favorite lures are soft plastic worms or grubs.

[MCS]

You will love the Pfleuger, I have 3 including 1 president. They are the best for the money. Rods, I would probably go with a Powell Diesel in that price range. It is 69.99...if you can spend the 10-20 extra do it. The powell would be really good for the plastics you like to fish. There are some 4th July sales, Tackle Warehouse is 15% off so it might fit your budget.

[CStormO]

I have seen them both recommended in a few posts i might do that. I was wondering when looking at them, what size should i get with whatever reel? Does the size of the reel matter? Because from what i see they are all the same except for the stock line it comes with, and i would get some braided line instead anyhow.

[loudcherokee]

I love my Mitchell 300xe and I will soon be putting it on a lightning rod. I've been using them for years and I just don't think you can beat the sensitivity on a budget.

After the success of my Lews baitcaster, the Lews speedspin spinning real had peaked my interest. It seems to get good reviews everywhere.

LC

[CStormO]

Also, DSGs has $20 off a $100 order plus $10 off any rod or reel but i don't see any rods anybody has recommended in any of the threads ive seen there. Anyone see any that might fit in my budget?

[webertime]

So I know that the Pflueger is a good reel, but every pflueger spinning reel I've every had felt loose and worn out after a season (Supremes).  My older (19 year old first production run) Shimano Sedona feels and fishes better.  If it were me I'd get the Powell Diesel Spinning rod ($50 at Fish Ranger) and a 2013 Shimano Sahara 2500 ($68 at TW now) (older models on the auction site are substantially less and arguably better)and then pick up some line.

[CStormO]

I was looking there but they have $19 shipping so with it is the same as a place that sells it for $70 but free shipping. I will check out the Sahara.

[MCS]

I go bigger with my reels and most, guess the shimano guys just have small hands , I use a 35 or 40 size reel

It lets me put 8 -10 # line on no problem. Alot of the finesse folks will use a 25 size and run 6 or 8 # line. Weight really doesn't seem to make a difference and I can take my 40 size out and fish inshore too.

 

I have seen some good things about the Field and Stream rods at Dicks. But I don't know much about them. And then there is the Fenwick GT which are decent.

[HeavyDluxe]

FWIW, I'm increasingly feeling like the bulk investment should be made in the rod.  

 

If I were to do it again in that price range, I'd buy a $100 rod (***, Shimano, St. Croix, whoever) and stick a Pflueger Trion on it for $30.  My son has had one ('35' sized) on his rod for a year and it's perfectly adequate.

[CStormO]

What about the St. Croix Triumph 2-Piece Spinning Rods? Anybody know anything about those? It would be $100 with the $10 off the rod and $10 of the president reel and $20 off the order. The Abu Garcia Vendetta is also the same price.

[HeavyDluxe]

Take this with an appropriate grain of salt (one about as big as your fist might be a good start):  I would advise against 2pc rods.  In my limited experience, there is a noticeable drop in sensitivity compared to the 1pc counterpart.  If you're spending that much to get a rod, why sacrifice a significant portion of the performance that's supposed to justify the increased cost?

 

Now, if you have money to burn on the hobby or serious space/transport restraints, then a 2pc rod may make more sense.  However, if you're trying to buy a nice, quality setup, I think you'd overall be better served with a one piece rod at a given price point (and maybe sacrifice a bit of length in the rod to help with any space issues).

[Kevin22]

If you have $120 to spend then I would get a nice rod and cheap out on the reel for now. A pflueger trion and abu garcia cardinal are two cheaper reels that will work fine until you feel like upgrading. The rod is the most important part when it comes to spinning combos. A cheap rod is no good, a cheap reel can be good. 

 

I would suggest you look at the st. croix line of rods and find one in your price range, they are all good.. even the lowest end of their rods are great. 

[MCS]

I think Dicks carries the mojo bass for 100 bucks.

[skeletor6]

I would take a look at Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth series. The M/XF and ML/F are rods very highly reviewed.

[pbizzle]

Sorry to bring this back but I had to chime in

 

 

If you have $120 to spend then I would get a nice rod and cheap out on the reel for now. A pflueger trion and abu garcia cardinal are two cheaper reels that will work fine until you feel like upgrading. The rod is the most important part when it comes to spinning combos. A cheap rod is no good, a cheap reel can be good. 

 

I would suggest you look at the st. croix line of rods and find one in your price range, they are all good.. even the lowest end of their rods are great. 

He could go a head and get a triumph for like $80 and the president is only a $50 reel that you can find for about $40 easy. That puts it right around $120 - $130 for a great quality set up.

[kschultz76]

I'd highly recommend you get a St Croix Triumph 6'6" med fast spinning rod and a Pflueger President reel, or a shimano Sahara if you can afford. I have the same combo with the Pflueger President for my wife and I use it kayak fishing. It's a great setup for the cost, sensitive and easy to fish, and overall a better investment.

[new2BC4bass]

Dick's Sporting Goods carries Field & Stream Tec Spec and Tec Spec Elite rods that are quite good for the money.  The Tec Spec runs $60, the Elite $20 more.  They also carry Okuma reels and reels made strictly for them by Daiwa, I believe (among a few other brands).  No idea how any of the spinning reels they sell perform.  Okuma has a good name in some quarters.  Not here, tho, as most here are Pflueger or Shimano fans.

 

Your initial selection is a good one.  I got a 6' Lightning/Procaster for my grandson 2 years ago for Christmas.  He hasn't tried it as he prefers spinning, so I've taken it out a couple times.  Feedback from a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait is great.  I've got much more expensive rods that don't transmit the baits vibration as well.  Vibration can even be felt in the reel.  However, I have a feeling rod length plays a major part in that, but would need a longer Lightning rod in order to know that for sure.

 

Another rod that gets very good reviews is the Ethos sold by Academy.  Recently read a thread were the poster felt the rods were as sensitive as rods costing $100 more.  I have zero experience with them.  Just passing along what I have read, so take that with the proverbial grain of salt.

[McFurie]

I have a pflueger president and love it mounted on a 7ft veritas I hate I've had to veritas rods both have the tips replaced one snapped in half and one has guides falling out will never buy another one but the president is pretty awesome

[Capt.Bob]

On that budget I would buy me a BPS Bionic Blade rod, and a Shimano Sedona reel, for that price it would be hard to beat!

[DogBone_384]

Pflueger President and any rod that feels good in your hand. I have Abu Garcia Vendetta & BPS Carbonlite in 7' med, both of which I like a lot. The President is the smoothest spinning reel I own.

Good luck with your choice.