Are these baitcasting rods or...?

[Zamboknee]

I'm just starting baitcasting.    I bought a new Abu Garcia Silvermax reel and put it on a couple rods that I got a garage sale.  After trying the reel on both of the rods I'm not getting great casts.

Now I'm sure there's some 'new to baitcasting issues' here (user error?) but I'm wondering if the used rods I got are actually baitcasting rods or just some old 'push-button' reel type of rods.

Can anyone help me out? Is there a difference?

The rods are a Zebco Rhino and a Berkley Phazer.

pics linked here https://www.dropbox.com/s/tq1wortw9l9esi3/Rod1.jpeg?dl=0

and here https://www.dropbox.com/s/u3grbz0yzt9rnm1/Rod2.jpeg?dl=0

Thanks

Edited July 3, 2016 by Zamboknee
Linking to pics

[fishnkamp]

Unfortunately my experience is that cheap baitcasting equipment will hinder your learning curve terribly with a baitcaster.  There are good deals like some Diawa Excellers that retail for $100 are being sold on sale for $60.  Now that reel is still a $100 reel just being discounted.  Some really higher end models can be purchased for a little more.  Diawa Tatula is a super reel,it usually sells for  $149.00. It can be purchased for $100 if you look around. Now these are really quality reels.  For rods there are really cheap rods that retail for less than $50.00.  Most of these are not really good rods.  There are some exception like a Berkley Lightning shock. Surprisingly this rod in a 6'6" Medium can throw crankbaits and rattle trap type baits very well.  But there are some companies that specialize in medium price rods with decent quality like a Abu Garcia Veritas. They retail for $100, but often sell for much less. Powell makes their Diesel rods and Inferno rods.  Both are good rods for anywhere from $75 to $110.  These are serious quality rods that are going to make you a much better angler.

I looked at that model reel and it's a 5 ball bearing reel. That is on the low end but may be good enough, so I would upgrade to a good rod first. Look at a Powell Diesel 723CEF.  This is an all around good performer.  It retails for $75.  If you look around you may find it a litter cheaper.  That is a 7'2" MH extra fast tipped rod good for 1/4 to 3/4 ounce lures. That will turn out to be a workhorse for you.  I your budget allows look at the Inferno 703CEF  for $110.  I have had that rod in my hand it is a real weapon.  Go to Powells website and see if there is a dealer near 

[Fishin' Fool]

I have 4 Tatulas myself. Super smooth reels. They were pretty easy to teach my brother in law and my wife how to fish a casting reel.

[Zamboknee]

8 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

Unfortunately my experience is that cheap baitcasting equipment will hinder your learning curve terribly with a baitcaster.  There are good deals like some Diawa Excellers that retail for $100 are being sold on sale for $60.  Now that reel is still a $100 reel just being discounted.  Some really higher end models can be purchased for a little more.  Diawa Tatula is a super reel,it usually sells for  $149.00. It can be purchased for $100 if you look around. Now these are really quality reels.  For rods there are really cheap rods that retail for less than $50.00.  Most of these are not really good rods.  There are some exception like a Berkley Lightning shock. Surprisingly this rod in a 6'6" Medium can throw crankbaits and rattle trap type baits very well.  But there are some companies that specialize in medium price rods with decent quality like a Abu Garcia Veritas. They retail for $100, but often sell for much less. Powell makes their Diesel rods and Inferno rods.  Both are good rods for anywhere from $75 to $110.  These are serious quality rods that are going to make you a much better angler.

I looked at that model reel and it's a 5 ball bearing reel. That is on the low end but may be good enough, so I would upgrade to a good rod first. Look at a Powell Diesel 723CEF.  This is an all around good performer.  It retails for $75.  If you look around you may find it a litter cheaper.  That is a 7'2" MH extra fast tipped rod good for 1/4 to 3/4 ounce lures. That will turn out to be a workhorse for you.  I your budget allows look at the Inferno 703CEF  for $110.  I have had that rod in my hand it is a real weapon.  Go to Powells website and see if there is a dealer near 

Thanks for the thorough response fishnkamp.

But can you tell me if the rods I mentioned are actually baitcasting rods or push button rods (can't recall what those types of reels are called)

thanks again

[Fishinthefish]

They're both older casting rods.

[Zamboknee]

So they're 'bait casting' rods or 'spincast' rods?

8 hours ago, Fishinthefish said:

They're both older casting rods.

bait cast or spincast?

[trick worms]

38 minutes ago, Zamboknee said:

So they're 'bait casting' rods or 'spincast' rods?

bait cast or spincast?

Same thing. I learned to use a bait caster with a Abu black Max which is one step below the silver Max btw

[fishnkamp]

I looked on Zebco's website and several others. Your Rhino rod was an E glass rod that is still being sold. It retails for $29.00. Back in the day it was packaged with either a spin cast reel or they made a Rhino baitcasting reel for it.  They were very low end rods.  Basically the Berkley was also used in packages with both spincast and baitcasting.  Adds for the rod in Europe say baitcasting for the rod only.  Go get a good rod and forget them both.  Your own experience tells you this.

[Zamboknee]

Anyone have experience with the Quantum Team KVD PT Casting Rods?

[papajoe222]

I used my son-in-law's PT casting rod the other day and it seems to be a decent rod for its price. 

If you're going to purchase a new rod, check the power (heavy, med. etc), action ( fast, mod. etc) and  the recommended lure weight. For learning to use a baitcaster, the lures you'll be using should fall into the upper half of the rod's recommendations. I would avoid  Rods with heavier powers and faster actions as they are difficult to learn with.

[fishnkamp]

Right now Cabelas has that rod listed as selling for $79 (not the crankbait series) for that I would order a Powell Diesel rod.

 

[Fisher-O-men]

You don't want a pistol grip rod.  You will have much better control casting with two hands.

[Zamboknee]

6 hours ago, Fisher-O-men said:

You don't want a pistol grip rod.  You will have much better control casting with two hands.

Yeah, didn't even think of that.  Those 2 rods I originally posted the pic too are both pistol grips.

[burrows]

Yes bro those are baitcasting rods you see back in the old ages when the neanderthals began to evolve they used these pistol grip rods to hunt for bass.

[Drew03cmc]

If you need to rehome that Berkley, let me know. Pistol grips are my bread and butter.