Advice Needed For Beginner Rod/reel Selection

[crankcaster100]

Hello everyone. I am very new to bass fishing and am looking forward to fishing this year and will be purchasing some rods and reels for the upcoming year

Basically I want to purchase 3 good reels like the Ci4 Shimano or the Quantum kvd

What about the pflueger patriarch?

My real question is what would be the best rods to match up for jigging / crank baits / top waters / plastics

I hear St Croix are great but don't want to spend more than 100 per rod

[rippin-lips]

You are going to hear a lot of different 'opinions'

on what is the best choice. If you can, take your reel/s and mount them on some rods. See what feels good to you. Just because someone else likes it, doesn't mean you will. The $100 rod catergory is pretty competitive. In no particular order you can check out...

*** black

Denali Jadewood

Mojo bass

Abu Veritas

Here's what I like

Shallow cranks med/mod

Mid-deep divers med hvy/mod

Jigs med hvy and a hvy

Plastics med hvy

Topwater med

[crankcaster100]

Thanks rippin

I am counting on the opinions

I do appreciate the advice

[kschultz76]

You're considering very expensive reels and limiting your rod budget to a much lower limit. I'd suggest that you consider scaling back to less expensive reels and put extra money int your rods, especially for any rods used for bottom contact or finesse tactics where sensitivity counts. If you can work it in your budget to get something like a St Croix Avid or Legend Tournament Bass for those techniques I feel it would be a better investment then their 100 dollar offerings.

Look for good reels that are on sale now or will be shortly as new reels come on the market.

[black94gt50]

Check fishing shows, this time of year where I live are when fishing shows are going on. You can usually score some good rods that are usually in the 100$ range on sale much cheaper. Also check sites like t warehouse, they usually have some rods on sale for a good price.

Here are some examples of lengths and tips I use. Keep in mind everyone has different preferences.

7'0 medium heavy moderate tip- shallow cranks, smaller lipless cranks and hard jerkbaits

7'3 medium heavy moderate fast tip- spinner baits and top water with single hooks

7'3 medium heavy fast tip- jigs and Texas rigged worms and Carolina rig

7'6 heavy fast tip- flipping and punching

7'8 medium heavy moderate tip- deep cranks as well as bigger lipless cranks

I think there are several choices in the 100$ range you would be happy with, as well as reels in the 100-150 dollar range that you will be happy with.

[mjseverson24]

for jigs and plastics I would go with a7'2" MH/XF shimano crucial ($150.00) and get a good deal in the near future on a curado G7, or the daiwa t3-B or tatula type R. for crankbaits I would go with either a kvd cranking rod, or the shimano compre reaction series rods for about $100.00 then pick up either a lews BB1 or a curado G6 or 5 on sale again. for topwater and jerkbaits I would go with the 6'8 st croix mojo bass jerkbait/ topwater rod, and pait it with either the curado or a lews tournament MG in the 6:1 or 7:1 ratios. In my opinion I would not spend the cash on those higher end reels right away, I would invest that money on another rod and reel for frogs or a-rigs or c-rigs or just get another jig setup. 

 

Mitch

[crankcaster100]

Thanks guys for the info

I haven't read enough on these boards and didn't know the importance of the rods

I'm set on spending more on the reels so I'll have to make more grocery runs to get my bps cards for the rods

I always pick up a $20 card at the grocery store and have over $600 now and should have another $300 + by the time the snow melts and warm weather

This is my trick to keep my wife from getting mad about spending a lot on fishing gear

[Jigs 4 Pigs]

Basically I want to purchase 3 good reels like the Ci4 Shimano or the Quantum kvd

What about the pflueger patriarch?

 

 

Are you talking about casting or spinning reels?

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

Take a close look at the Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth series.  They can be purchased at the $100 mark from fishusa.  I personally think you will be hard pressed to find a better rod at that price.  Look at the new Fenwick HMG 7'2" Medium Moderate-Fast for crankbaits or a Crankin Stick or the one of the Denali Jadewoods.  You didn't mention what depth you will be fishing crankbaits.

 

I like my 6'10" MF Fenwick Smallmouth for an all-around rod in its listed weight range.   If you are limited to purchasing from BPS, then I guess you would have to eliminate the Smallmouth series from your list.  A shame!  They normally sell at their listed price of $130 at most stores.

 

Any Shimano reel from the Citica up is highly recommended. I've no experience with the Quantum KVD, nor have I read any reviews on them.  My Patriarchs are the XTs.  Not only do they cast well and look good, but they have a very durable finish.  I have read reviews on the regular Patriarchs, and feel it would also be a good choice.

[crankcaster100]

Casting reels

Crank baits under 10 ft

What kind of line for cranking and jigging?

[masterbass]

Crankcaster, have you thought about the carbonlite/pro qualifier combos?  For $160 you get over $200 worth and I think awesome quality.  I love mine.  For jigging you could get the 7' mh/f or 7' h/xf matched with a 7.1:1 pro qualifier.  For shallow cranks, the 7'med/moderate matched with 6.4:1. 

 

For line, I use 30lb. braid with fluoro leader.  Cranks, 8-10lb leader.  Jigging, 15-20lb leader.  It's just easier for me to put like an 8' leader on. 

[daiwaguy]

There are alot of good options in the 100.00 price point. If you are limited to BPS I would say check out the Carbonlite and some of St Croixs lower end stuff. By low end I do not mean they are poor quality. But I am with alot of the other guys here on the matter of putting more money into the rod than the reel. For bottom contact baits you are going to want a high quality rod for sensitivity and for durability. Not to mention a good warranty just incase something gets broken.