Starting Tackle?

[duncanchris97]

Since Christmas is coming soon and I need to start formulating the list for the 'rents, what gear would you recommend for a beginning bass angler? I have a $150 limit for a rod and reel, and then anywhere between $100-$200 more for the rest. As well as lures, what kind of line, tools, tackle boxes/bags, terminal tackle, etc would y'all deem necessary to have for someone just starting out?

[sprint61]

That's a loaded question with many different answers. Casting or spinning ? Deep clear water or shallow dirty water? Location? Main forage? Give us more info and it will be easier to make reccomendations.

[Sam]

Duncan, please let us know where you live and fish and we can give you better answers.

 

Even a 100-mile distance can change up what you throw and what techniques are best.

 

Thanks and welcome to the Forum.

[Sam]

And by the way, don't buy anything until you get our input and you wait for the Thanksgiving and Christmas sales.

[duncanchris97]

I'm in Northern Virginia, close to D.C. My usual spots will be Burke Lake and Fountainhead Regional Park, if that helps at all. I'm looking into a casting setup, and I already have a cheap spinning combo that I can use for finesse rigs or other similar applications. Thank you for your help!

[bigfruits]

id try to move some of the tackle budget over to the rod and reel combo.

 

get a 3600 size plano tackle box. this size will fit many soft tackle bags when you grow your collection.

 

buy:

12lb yo-zuri hybrid fishing line

white spinnerbait (3/8oz)

rat-l-trap

a few shallow and medium depth crankbaits - start with the cheaper tried and true baits

rebel pop-r

3/0 and 4/0 offset EWG worm hooks

3/16 and 1/4oz worm weights (bobber stoppers if you peg them)

a bag or two of 6-7 inch plastic worms - (black or green pumpkin)

a few skirted jigs 1/4-3/8oz (black, green pumpkin)

a bag or two of jig trailers - double tail grubs,baby mad paca, baby rage craw (black or green pumpkin)

 

tackle warehouse has free shipping on orders over $50. throw the rest in on the rod and reel. get more tackle as you lose stuff or want to try new baits/techniques. 

 

those baits can be thrown with an all around MH rod. I'd get a 6'6"-7" MH rod with a fast action.

 

edit: how did i forget senkos? 5" green pumpkin. t-rig them with the worm hooks (no weight) or get some 1/0 finesse wide gap gamakatsu hooks and wacky rig them. yum dingers are cheaper and get good reviews.

[scaleface]

Theres a good chance you can get a BPS Pro Qualifier combo for 100 dollars around christmas time . Id get a 6.6 foot or 7 foot rod , med or med hvy .    .  As far as lures go , they all work . I'd go for inexpensive but proven lures like Bombers or Bill Normans . Get a couple of  shallow , medium diver and deep diver like a Fat Free Shad or DD 22  . Soft plastics , spinnerbaits , top waters... use the same strategy. Inexpensive but proven over time  .

[Rhino68W]

If $150 is what you're looking for then get a Lew's Speed Spool reel for $100 and a $50 Allstar MH rod from Academy Sports and Outdoors. A very reliable setup for a beginner. 

 

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/lews-tournament-laser-speed-spool-tlz1h-low-profile-baitcast-reel-right-hande?repChildCatid=976322

 

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/all-star-rods-classic-graphite-series-7-mh-freshwater-casting-rod?repChildCatid=700656

 

Both are actually on sale right now....

[Senko lover]

Wait 'till Black Friday, and you can save yourself a whole lot of money, trust me.

[bholtzinger14]

If you are fishing off the bank, back of boats or tanks I would get a backpack to carry your tackle in. My brother got me doing that 20 years ago and I still have my backpack with my Plano boxes in it. It's great throwing the backpack on and going pond hopping. Legally now.....not so much 20 years ago, but the times have changed. Lol

[duncanchris97]

I notice that y'all recommend spending more on the reel than the rod; I had it presented to me in the opposite manner from someone at a store. What are the merits of either approach?

[sprint61]

I notice that y'all recommend spending more on the reel than the rod; I had it presented to me in the opposite manner from someone at a store. What are the merits of either approach?

Well at your price point your kind of limited. You could get a $100 reel and $50 Rod and it last forever. Or a $100 Rod and $50 reel and have the reel crap out on you after a season. If you could stretch your combo budget out you will be better off in the long run. The Lews lfs speed spool can be had for $80 on eBay all day with free shipping, imo this is the best reel in this price point. Then pick you up a $100-120 Rod and you will have an awesome combo.