Rod Or Reel?

[basslovr]

Which one should you spend more money on...the rod or the reel? At what price point does spending more on one than the other really affect your decision? For example, I bought a spinning reel and paid 150 for it....how much should I or should I not spend on a rod to make it a good match? Thanks for your input.....

 

[ABW]

I usually put more into the rod because the rod is going to feel all of the bites. An exception would be a frog rod, where you don't really need a sensitive rod. I would spend less than $200 dollars on a rod, but that's just me because I don't have the money to purchase higher end rods.

[gardnerjigman]

I usually put more into the rod because the rod is going to feel all of the bites. An exception would be a frog rod, where you don't really need a sensitive rod. I would spend less than $200 dollars on a rod, but that's just me because I don't have the money to purchase higher end rods.

$200 rod because you can't purchase higher end rods? I'd be divorced if I spent $200 on just a rod.

[200racing]

for my style fishing i would rather fish a zebco 33 on a g loomis than a chronarch on a ugly stick. 

[ABW]

$200 rod because you can't purchase higher end rods? I'd be divorced if I spent $200 on just a rod.

 

I'm only 16 and I only have 2 rod combos lol, I can't buy a whole lot so I get decent equipment. I'll only buy if the stuff is on sale, though, so its usually less than $200

[Brayberry]

Personally, I usually get a nice reel and put it on a nice rod, but the reel is the centerpiece of the combo.  For instance, one of my favorite combos is a Revo on a rod I got at Bass Pro for like $30.  Works great.  But it all depends on your style of fishing.  For me this is golden.  

[timsford]

The rod depends on whether im fishing bottom contact baits or not but in my mind the best bang for the buck spinning rod is around 100. Either the *** or the fenwick elite tech smallmouth is what i would reccomend. The tatula is very sensitive as well but i prefer a shorter rod for spinning than they offer

[roadwarrior]

The rod might be more important for "catching" fish,

but the reel makes "fishing" more fun!

[adam lancia]

I'd put a $150 reel on a $50 to $90 rod, depending on what kind of fishing you're doing with it.

[War Eagle 44]

Right around the $150-200 price point is where I think the line of diminishing returns begin with regards to the majority of today's rods. There are a few exceptions to be sure, but for the most part this is what I've found.

I think the line is a little higher when it comes to reels therefore I usually spend more on my reel than my rod. I feel it is the more important piece in the equation.

In your case I would look at rods ranging from around $80-100. You should be able to get yourself a very nice rod to go with your reel in this price range. Of course these are only my opinions and you can choose to spend as much as you'd like. Either way you go I wish you good luck.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Skew the budget toward the rod for jigs, plastics etc. and toward the reel for moving baits like cranks, spinners and swimbaits. As for frogs you don't need the most sensitive rod but it still needs to cast well and have an action that lets you work the bait and still have the power to get the fish out once you connect. I wouldn't cheap out too much on a frog rod.

[bass1980]

IMO for spinning setup I would put more money on the rod. A sensitive $200+ rod with a $100 reel would perform well.

For Baitcast I would get a $180+ reel and pair it with a $100 rod and be just fine. In fact I have a few setups like that and it's not too far off from my high end setups.

[Tywithay]

Depends on the budget. If you're going to spend some money, best to have a really nice rod and a good reel. If you're only budgeting a small amount, get the most out of the reel you can. A $30 reel is going to be a bigger hassle than it's worth and won't last long; while a $30 rod may not be sensitive, but it will be serviceable, and can last a long time.