thatsbullfish Posted August 2, 2014 Posted August 2, 2014 I'm looking at buying my first baitcaster setup but not sure what power I want to go with. I mostly fish ponds from the shore and usually go out with 2-3 spinning setups....all Med and below mostly due to being a beginner (fishing 2 years now) and fish size in the ponds. Because I use lighter tackle (not usually over 3/8oz), part of me wants to get a Med power rod. However, the other part of me sees that I have a Med spinning set up and also realizes that I can start moving up in tackle if I get a MH or a H. Additionally, I have access to lilypads and would like to get into jigs more...so a heavier set-up has value. Question is, is it a bad idea to go with a MH? Would I still be able to throw some of my current (lighter) tackle yet also fish heavier stuff like jigs and attack the lilypads? Suppose like I can continue using a spinning setup for my Med stuff and use the baitcaster for MH/H application....except I would like to transition more to baitcasting and have that be my primary setup. With my existing tackle that would be hard. Open to ideas and advice. Thanks all. Quote
ABW Posted August 2, 2014 Posted August 2, 2014 I'm looking at buying my first baitcaster setup but not sure what power I want to go with. I mostly fish ponds from the shore and usually go out with 2-3 spinning setups....all Med and below mostly due to being a beginner (fishing 2 years now) and fish size in the ponds. Because I use lighter tackle (not usually over 3/8oz), part of me wants to get a Med power rod. However, the other part of me sees that I have a Med spinning set up and also realizes that I can start moving up in tackle if I get a MH or a H. Additionally, I have access to lilypads and would like to get into jigs more...so a heavier set-up has value. Question is, is it a bad idea to go with a MH? Would I still be able to throw some of my current (lighter) tackle yet also fish heavier stuff like jigs and attack the lilypads? Suppose like I can continue using a spinning setup for my Med stuff and use the baitcaster for MH/H application....except I would like to transition more to baitcasting and have that be my primary setup. With my existing tackle that would be hard. Open to ideas and advice. Thanks all. Welcome to the forums! I was like you when I was thinking about getting my first baitcaster. I still ended up going with a MH, and I think you should too. If you only get a M you won't be able to explore all the techniques and baits out there. Moving up and using new tackle a lot more fun Quote
Super User geo g Posted August 2, 2014 Super User Posted August 2, 2014 A 7' MH rod, with 15 pound Trylene Big Game, and a fast quality reel. You can pull them out of almost anywhere, and still be able to cast a mile. Good luck! Quote
Super User WRB Posted August 2, 2014 Super User Posted August 2, 2014 7' to 7'3" in 3 power; 733 jig/worm rod is your basic all around bass rod to start with. The 4 power is generally closer to MH but no standard exist between various manufacture. What reel and rod budget do you have? Or just looking for a good entry lever outfit? Tom Quote
Super User BrianinMD Posted August 2, 2014 Super User Posted August 2, 2014 Another vote for MH, this will give you the option to expand your arsenal. No point in buying another rod, even its a first baitcaster, to fish the same baits as you already can fish. The extra strength in the MH will let you work deeper into the heavy cover where the bass will hide, this is a good advantage to have. A rod 7 foot or longer will help with casting distance and line pickup when setting the hook, good things for a shorebound angler. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted August 2, 2014 Super User Posted August 2, 2014 http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/142266-basic-questions/ Quote
thatsbullfish Posted August 2, 2014 Author Posted August 2, 2014 Thanks for the replies everyone. I think it's going to be MH in order to cover more situations/applications. I'm leaning towards 6'6" vice a 7'+ because of trees along the shorelines of my local ponds...unless anyone thinks there's a significant advantage to those extra 6". Being my first baitcasting setup I'm not looking to break the bank or get anything too fancy...just something to get me started. I've been really looking at the Abu Garcia Black and Silver Max reels. Quote
LunkerFisher Posted August 2, 2014 Posted August 2, 2014 As a fellow noob to baitcasting gear, I would recommend a reel with either both magnetic and centrifugal brakes or just centrifugal brakes, but not magnetic brakes only. The centrifugal brakes will help prevent backlashing (birdsnest) during the cast. Thumbing the spool at the end of the cast is much easier to figure out (or at least it was for me) than thumbing the spool during the cast, so the the centrifugal brakes really help out a lot. I picked up a BPS Prolite Special as my first baitcast reel for $60. It's nice and smooth and easy to learn on. Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted August 3, 2014 Super User Posted August 3, 2014 A lot of MHF rods carry a rating of 1/4-3/4 or 1/4-1 oz. You should be able to cast some of the same lures you currently use your spinning reels for. Just be aware that light lures on baitcast reels requires more than a little practice. The MH power is the next step given the current lure weights you apparently are using. Many HF rods start at 3/8 oz. You need more room for casting with a baitcast rod. Even 6'6" may be too long. I have a Berkley Lightning 6' MHF that I keep a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait on. You won't get the distance a 7 footer or longer rod would provide, but it is still far enough to catch fish. Also the shorter rod provides better feedback on what is going on with the lure. This rod provides plenty of vibration with a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait with a single Colorado blade from the very beginning of the longest cast I can make with it. Not something I can say about most of my 7' and longer rods. Price is right, too. I learned on a magnetic only reel, but would suggest that you start with a centrifugal or dual brake reel unless you are willing to invest in something like a Tatula or one of the T3 Daiwa reels (Ballistic or 1016). I've no experience with the Tatula, but own a few of the T3 1016s in various forms. I assume the Tatula would work as well as the T3s to learn on. The T-wing system has a much broader adjustment range than the standard Daiwa reels. If you want to keep cost down, look at finding one of the older gold Carbonlite reels. A couple in good shape just sold for $65 apiece on another fishing forum. One of these and a Berkley Lightning rod would have you spending approximately $100 for an outfit that you wouldn't be throwing away any time soon. I think you would be very pleased at how well they perform for the money. Quote
BigMoneyGrip Posted August 3, 2014 Posted August 3, 2014 A Med Heavy with a Fast tip is a great multi purpose rod. You can do most anything with within reason. Quote
FrogTosser88 Posted August 3, 2014 Posted August 3, 2014 I got the silver max as my first reel... it was great actually but the magnetic brake malfunctioned and I ended up returning it and upgrading to the bass pro 79.99 model... that one also gave me some issues with the brakes.. I returned that one and upgraded again to the 99.99$ bass pro " pro qualifier" I couldnt be happier with this reel. I can cast even light baits pretty hard and it wont give be a bird nest. The casting range is so much better. Someone once told me.... save up till you have at least 100.00 to spend on your reel.. I think I should of taken that advice... But with that being said. I was happy with the silver max if it hadnt failed on me. Good luck Quote
Super User everythingthatswims Posted August 3, 2014 Super User Posted August 3, 2014 I got the silver max as my first reel... it was great actually but the magnetic brake malfunctioned and I ended up returning it and upgrading to the bass pro 79.99 model... that one also gave me some issues with the brakes.. I returned that one and upgraded again to the 99.99$ bass pro " pro qualifier" I couldnt be happier with this reel. I can cast even light baits pretty hard and it wont give be a bird nest. The casting range is so much better. Someone once told me.... save up till you have at least 100.00 to spend on your reel.. I think I should of taken that advice... But with that being said. I was happy with the silver max if it hadnt failed on me. Good luck One of my friends and my brother both owned a Pro Qualifier...The reels don't last very long at all, both reels developed serious issues in less than a year. Silver Max on the other hand was my first baitcaster, it's still going strong! Smooth as silk and casts a mile. Quote
timsford Posted August 3, 2014 Posted August 3, 2014 Id go with a mh rod like reccomended above. There are tons of options out there depending on what you want to spend. A mh fast action will cover almost all the baits you can throw in a small pond especially with the right reel. My advice would be to look around for sales and dont count out used stuff and if possible feel what you want in a store before you buy but online prices are usually better than most chain stores if you shop around. It all depends on your price range as far as what i would reccomend. I also fish a lot of small ponds and only carry two rods. A powell deisel 6'10" m action spinning rod and a 7ft mh team daiwa t baitcast. They can both be had for under 60 bucks on tackle warehouse. Here recently ive only been using one rod, a heavy action baitcast and throwing bluegill swimbaits and catching some hawgs in places i used to think only had dinks in them. So dont think just because they are small ponds they only hold small fish, you might be suprised. I caught an 8 lb largemouth out of a 1/2 acre or less pond last weekend lol Quote
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