Finesse Bait Casting Rod And Reel

[NJBassin1997]

I was just wondering what a good finesse rod and reel are. My price range is like 260 for both. Anything helps. Thanks. 

[Master Bait'r]

IMHO...  6'10"-7' MF *** Black & Pfloog Supreme XT.  

[JeziHogg]

To get a true finesse bait casting setup you're looking at $250+ just for a reel.

[Master Bait'r]

To get a true finesse bait casting setup you're looking at $250+ just for a reel.

As much as my personal collection may agree with that statement, I disagree wholeheartedly that you need to spend big dough to get out there and finesse fish successfully, and you certainly don't need a casting reel.

I mean heck, I put a Supreme on a one-piece M Berkley Amp rod for my lady to use and it is a surprisingly competent setup for light baits. All you really need is a decent rod and a nice smooth, dependable reel.

[JeziHogg]

Did you even read the title?

[Master Bait'r]

Did you even read the title?

 

 

Apparently not haha my mistake!...  Still though-  Go find a $150 green Curado 50e and get an *** black- BAM.  Done and out the door for $250 and loving life.  You don't need a Core or a Pixy to finesse, my man.  There are plenty of decent options out there without breaking the bank and even used Pixies are available on FleaBay for right around $100-$150 for RH models in older colors.  Slap in some carbontex drag washers and you're good to go.  

[JeziHogg]

Definition for bait casting reel for myself is one that can toss a rig thats 1/8 oz or less on 6lb diameter line and still get good distance

[papajoe222]

The rod you choose has everything to do with what reel will allow you to cast finess presentations.  Longer/lighter action rods do the best job of not only casting, but in fighting the fish. I agree, however that you're going to spend a lot more for a useable baitcasting set-up than you would for a  finess spinning combo or regular baitcast combo.  $250 is over the top for me, so I opt for spinning gear.

[The Fisher]

Falcon LowRider XG Spin 6'10" Medium

$149.99

LFS-4-1610. Shaky Head Special - Since Shaky Head jigs are increasingly popular because of their effectiveness, Falcon designed this rod with a light tip to handle finesse baits and light line but enough backbone to set the hook.

Pair this with a Shimano Symetre 2500 $99.99 and you have a great set up.

[Comfortably Numb]

ML will work better with 1/8 lures. Need the rod to bend and load up a bit. 

[aavery2]

Falcon LowRider XG Spin 6'10" Medium

$149.99

LFS-4-1610. Shaky Head Special - Since Shaky Head jigs are increasingly popular because of their effectiveness, Falcon designed this rod with a light tip to handle finesse baits and light line but enough backbone to set the hook.

Pair this with a Shimano Symetre 2500 $99.99 and you have a great set up.

But it's not a bait caster.

[Arv]

I was just wondering what a good finesse rod and reel are. My price range is like 260 for both. Anything helps. Thanks. 

Can you give some examples of what finesse is for you? And weight ranges? That will help pick out gear. Like some have mentioned, casting gear for finesse applications may mean an expensive or upgraded reel. But, for others, it may not require such high level gear. All depends on your definition.

[mjseverson24]

here is my finesse casting set up and it handles 1/8 oz jigs well, and can double as a weightless senko/dropshot/shakey head rig as well.

 

Abu verdict 7'MF with a daiwa T3-B 8:1 with abec7's ceramic on the spool. the rod I got for 60.00 and the reel for 109.00 so for 170.00 that was a pretty good little finesse rig. 

 

Mitch

[bootytrain]

How light a lure are you trying to throw?

[NJBassin1997]

here is my finesse casting set up and it handles 1/8 oz jigs well, and can double as a weightless senko/dropshot/shakey head rig as well.

 

Abu verdict 7'MF with a daiwa T3-B 8:1 with abec7's ceramic on the spool. the rod I got for 60.00 and the reel for 109.00 so for 170.00 that was a pretty good little finesse rig. 

 

Mitch

Ive heard good things about the daiwa T3-B. Do you like it??

[The Fisher]

Sorry about the spinning post since most of my finesse fishing on shaky heads is done on spinning gear. But, if you want a baitcaster, try the LowRider Split Cast 6'7" MH extra fast $139.99 LFC-5-167S paired with a Tatula 100 $149.99 ( but you can find them cheaper). I use this mostly for weightless worms but occasionally I'll throw on a 1/8, 3/16 buckeye spot removers and a hags tornado.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

I use a Damiki Dark Angel 6'6" MH/XF with a *** Concept "A" 8.1:1 reel.  I flip weightless worms and creature baits on it and smaller jigs, 1/4 oz and less, and I'll even wacky rig a senko weightless with it and it casts amazing.  THe rod is sensitive too, great for feeling those really subtle bites.  It's a little more for this combo.  I think I paid about $320 for it.  I would suggest the Lews Speed Spool LFS, its less than the Concept "A" but the Damiki Dark Angel is the ticket.  It's a killer rod, very versatile.

[mjseverson24]

Ive heard good things about the daiwa T3-B. Do you like it??

Yes I have a few of them, and they work great. The drag is really nice and smooth which is needed for these light line applications. Casting or pitching I don't think there is another reel within 100 dollars of its sale price that will out perform it (except for the regular T3) especially with some upgraded spool bearings. match it with a rod with a nice flexible tip and you have a very good finesse set up for an affordable price. only issue is the handle is not that great so a little investment like 20.00 for the Lexa handle and you are good to go.

 

Mitch

[IAY]

There is a very nice Alphas Finesse Custom on the market on this site right now. I would get that and maybe Major Craft or Quon.

[coak]

I was able to piece together a cheaper combo by finding an old Bass Pro ProLite PLS10HA reel and a 6'6" ML/F Bass Pro Crankin' Stick. All in I think I have about $90 wrapped up into it

[thehooligan]

With a $260 budget, id go for a used curado 50/51 or alphas, pair it with a 6'10 medium light ***.

 

Get a little extra money down the road and put in an avail shallow spool...

[FrogFreak]

I have enjoyed my Daiwa Lexa 100. I can throw weightless Senkos with it quite well. I have it matched with a 6 ft 6 in. Pro Angler MF rod from Scheels (I think *** makes the rods for Scheels these days). That's a combo that you can get for about $180.

[primetime]

The Bass pro Carbon Light Combos with the Carbon light reel and rod and also they have some extremes with Revos and curados and they all felt super light and I would go with a Medium light 7' and a light reel like the carbon light is a good choice, and so is the Quantum Smoke, or Okuma Komodo, I can chuck 1/8 oz darter heads with 4" grubs on 10lb test mono plenty far, and wacky rigged 4" weightless senkos easy. The Komodo can cast light lures and weighs nothing and is super smooth, and you can find new smokes, and especially higher end Okuma and Ardent, Pinnacle reels from last year super cheap as companies are stuck with older models...The Serrano low Profile which I paid $229 for 2 years ago, I just purchased for $68 and$8 shipping brand new a few months ago, and also picked up a Citrix for $55 brand new, and a lightly used Pflueger President for something silly as they listed it spelled wrong and the Older man tried it once and did not like it, kept it in garge or 2 years and I was lucky to win the bid for I think $30....I am always looking for steals/deals and when the reel arrived in mail I took it apart and the brakes were never even set, and tension knob was loose so I can see why he was backlashing....Reel is heavy but holds alot of line and has power, so it makes a great Carolina rig reel.

[DelcoSol]

With a $260 budget, id go for a used curado 50/51 or alphas, pair it with a 6'10 medium light ***.

 

Get a little extra money down the road and put in an avail shallow spool...

Where are you finding a  ML ***? 

[thehooligan]

Where are you finding a ML ***?

Gotta order directly from 13's website.