Baitcasting setup for all lures

[Tyler Viers]

Hello, I've been looing through this forum and haven't quite found the post I'm looking for. I've always used a spinning setup and really been looking into a casting setup. I have just recently started getting big into bass fishing, but have ALWAYS fished for other things. Never used a bait caster. I have watched several videos and seen several reviews. I could spend about $250 or so on rod/reel. Was wondering what would be best for all types of lures, from soft plastics to crank baits to frogs. Also line suggestions for the rod/reel would be extremely helpful. I mostly fish in local ponds and sometimes lakes on shore. I do not care for braided line, I have used that recently and have disliked it. Any help is much appreciated, thank you. 

[Bluebasser86]

7' MH/F with a 6-something retrieve with 15lb mono or copolymer is what I'd go with if I needed one to do it all. It's going to be pretty rough fishing some baits with it (frogs or anything in the grass), but it'll do about everything.

[Tyler Viers]

I mostly use soft plastics and crank baits, very rarely a frog. I think that setup with be good for what I need. Thank you. Any suggestion on brands?

[Bluebasser86]

If possible, get to a tackle store where you can hold as many as possible in hand and decide what feels best to you. Personally, I like Shimano, Pfluegar, and Okuma reels paired with St. Croix, H20, or Okuma rods.

[Tyler Viers]

Okay great, thank you for the help. 

[new2BC4bass]

Remember to back off on the drag when using crankbaits.  Lots of good lines.  An Online friend recommended Silver Thread AN40.  I'm using some in 8# and 12#.  Good line.  This gentleman recently tried Spiderwire Ultracast Ultimate Mono and feels it is the best mono he has ever used.  Currently trying some myself, but already had 3000 yard spools of the AN40.    Try their 14#.

[fishnkamp]

What area do you live and are there any good independent tackle shops nearby.  Those are the places you will find an array of rod manufacturers.  Try and put some of the following rods in your hand. Try a Powell Max3d 723CEF or a Powell Inferno 703CEF. Look at a Dobyns Fury FR703C and lastly look at Genesis II  from Irod. They have IRG693C Harold's Lone Star special and the IRG703C.  All of these are real nice general purpose rods.  All of them are built with high quality components and will fit your needs. All of them cost between $100 and $160.

As for a reel look at a workhorse from Diawa called the Tatula in a 6.3-1.  I use basically three different lines on my 12 casting rods.  One has mono on it for topwater, everything else has either P Line FloroClear in 14 to 17 pound test or I have 20 to 30 pound Power Pro braid. I know you said you had a bad experience with braid.  There are several thing I do to help myself with braid. First I always spool 1/2 of the reel with inexpensive but quality mono or copolymer line for backing.  Next I attatch it to the braid or FloroClear using a double uni knot. Then I finish spooling the main line.  Now I tie on a 3 to 6 foot piece of P Line CXX moss green 10 pound leader.  That stuff is super tough and as I change lures I am cutting back leader not expensive braid. If you tried other braid I think the Power Pro will work for you.  

[the reel ess]

MH is the all terrain vehicle of bass fishing. It should be the first combo you buy and one you always keep up-to-date. I have two BC and one spinning. It's ready-made for spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, worms, etc. with a single hook. It'll do for most treble hook presentations, but you'll end up losing more fish with it than a medium. 12-15 lb mono is a catch-all line. I have one with 15 lb mono for trebles and the other has braid. Currently, 50 lb, but I'm going to switch it to 30 lb when I change.

When you start to notice the action and power is too heavy for some baits and hooks, time to buy a medium combo.

[WIGuide]

I'd probably go with a MH/F. It won't be the perfect rod for everything, but it will allow you to do what you want. As far as length goes, that's more of a personal preference and what you're accustom to. I like rods on the shorter side as they provide better accuracy in casting, where the longer rods you'll add distance. Not knowing how you fish, that decision is going to have to be made on your end. A rod line that might be worth checking out is the Mojo Series by St. Croix. They've just been redesigned this year and have an upgraded blank making them lighter and more sensitive. I'd pair it up with a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier (which you might be able to get on sale) and you'd come in under budget which would leave you some money for line. When It comes to that, I'd keep it old school and go with some Trilene XT in 12 lb test. 

That would I would go with if I was picking out a combo to meet your criteria, but there are a ton of options out there!

[Tyler Viers]

Thank you guys for the help. I live in Ohio and the best store around me that I have is Gander Mountain. I will use all of these suggestions when I go up and check out different products. I also fish about 3-4 times a week, so I need something reliable.