New Bait Caster and Rod

[Bass60]

Want to purchase a Bait Casting reel and rod. Need some input. Would like to stay under $500 for the set. I have always used spinning reels Shimano mostly, fish from a bass boat, will be throwing crank baits, jigs, and some top water. What would you suggest.

[Onvacation]

That's kind of like asking what candy should I buy.  There are threads covering best rod, best reel, and so on if you do a quick search. That would be where I would start and then once you have used that info to narrow your choices, post again with more specific questions.  

I spent weeks comparing five different reels for one of my rods before I decided and I'm sure there would be a dozen people who would have picked something different.  It is ultimately a pretty personal choice since in your price range, there is a whole lot of good gear.  

Good luck. 

[ethan-333]

for 500 you can still get 2 very nice combos

i would spend 250 on each and get

a crankbaot rod and a reel

and then a 7 foot heavy action rod and a reel for frogs and jigs

Edited May 15, 2016 by ethan-333

[Brew City Bass]

Daiwa Zillion rod / reel. Rod weight / action depends on what you're fishing.

[WRB]

First BC outfit should be easy to cast and general use rod, both good quality and customer service.

My choice since you like Shimano reels is Cuardo 70. Lots of rods to choose from, Irod has some excellent general use rods; IRG744C is MH 7'4" and IRG693C MH is 6'9" and a good multi lure rod...rod & combo about $350.

Tom

[Yudo1]

You are going to get a lot opinions on this.  If it was my $500  I'd get a megabass xx orochi spinnerbait special or flatside special because they are versatile enough to fish all of those baits.  For reels,  I'd look at:  curado 70, curado I, tatula CT or alphas sv.   

[roadwarrior]

["hamma"]

 First off,....for topwaters, crankbaits, and jigs?  I'd get one for the tops and cranks, and another for jigs. Reason being, treble hooked lures kinda require a med action, and Jigs a med heavy or heavier depending if your talking jigheads? or jig and pigs? the j&p you need a heavier action, not so much for jigheads, but still has its benefits to use a rod with some backbone 

for reels? before you just go and buy, check out left handed retrieve reels versus right handed retrieve reels. Although most reels are made as right handed, I found benefits to using a left handed models and dont own any right handed at all. Kinda limits my options, but Id rather have an instant contact to the reels handle after casting as I cast with my right hand (like most do) I dont need to switch the rod to my left hand after every cast. Some anglers dont mind doing that, I do. My first baitcaster was right hand retrieve, next reel was a left handed model and i never even thought about right handed retrieves ever since. Actually sold the right handed retrieve soon after.

 $500 could get you 2 curados (the $180 model), and then search out the rods for the remaining $. Some anglers prefer to spend more on the rod, buying g loomis, high end st criox, etc.  There may be some benefits to that, But I look at it differently. As long as the rod has the action and sensitivity I need im happy no matter how cheap it is to purchase because when your kid slams the trucks door on it? the door doesnt discriminate how much it costs.. I have a high end st croix that i won in a tourney (expensive rod)  thats a 7' med heavy, nice rod, and i like it. Then I have a 7' med heavy berkley lightning rod that cost me probably $40 that i like just as much. Its just as sensitive, and the actions the same. just that the st croix is slightly lighter. And i mean not a really noticeable difference.

It comes down to personal preference 

  As for the curados? i have 2 that I bought in the early nineties, just sent them out to Delaware Valley Tackle  (per recommendations from this site) for their 2nd servicing ever needed. And Im not just a weekend warrior. These reels have seen some heavy use over the years. Thats over 8 years of use before service, heavy tourney use for the first few years at that!  Best reel durability i've ever seen and i have been fishing for almost 50 years.

Im no shimano pro, or rep, im just one of their biggest fans,...lol

 Hope this helps you some

[Bass60]

Thanks for the great input. I am reading and shopping as the comments come in and it really helps.

 

[avidone1]

12 hours ago, ethan-333 said:

for 500 you can still get 2 very nice combos

i would spend 250 on each and get

a crankbaot rod and a reel

and then a 7 foot heavy action rod and a reel for frogs and jigs

I understand this position but I would go for a more expensive rod.   The technology in fishing rods and reels have advanced quite a bit over the last decade or so.  While quality rods have gone up in price, quality reels have actually gone down.   I'm not talking about "top of the line" stuff here, I'm talking about the smoothness, lighter weight. and durability of mid line (say < 200) reels.  A G. Loomis IMX Topwater Rod 6'8" Medium 802C TWR matched with a Shimano Curado, meets your price point and is a really sweet setup.  You do realize of course that you are asking a lot of one rod right?   Jigs and crankbaits are pretty much at the opposite ends of the spectrum, and topwaters while closer to crankbaits than jigs are also a bit different. but if I was limited to one outfit at your price point that's what I would get.

[WRB]

Kieth Combs uses the Irods, IRG744C & IRG693C lone star special, 4th place at Toledo Bend this week....just saying.

Tom

[Bass60]

Well made the purchase. Went with the Loomis fast action 7'1" rod with the  Shimano Curaçao 200HG.

thanks for all of the advice