New casting combo

[JMT]

Hey everyone my birthday is coming soon and im looking for a new casting combo. I already have a 7' MH but i cant decide if i should get a M or a H for my new rod. Any thoughts?

Edited July 7, 2016 by JMT

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

Depends on what your needs are. Do you have a need for a frogging set up or a punching set up? If not honestly I would go M for smaller T-rigs weightless worms even cranks and spinners. 

[JMT]

I also forgot to include i am a bank fishierman and that i fish mainly ponds

[scaleface]

I would go medium  .  I think you will get more versatility with a M/MH over a MH/H .

[JMT]

Any suggestions on what line i should spool it with? My combo right now has 30 lb braid

[scaleface]

Everybody likes different lines . If you like braid then use it . I cant use braid because I will cut my index finger with it . A quality mono is what I use ,  some 12 lb test would handle a lot of baits . 

[trick worms]

7 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Everybody likes different lines . If you like braid then use it . I cant use braid because I will cut my index finger with it . A quality mono is what I use ,  some 12 lb test would handle a lot of baits . 

What lb test braid cuts your finger?

[Onvacation]

Too many variables. Try to narrow down your focus so you can get some good suggestions.  What are you planning to throw with the rod? Where do you live? Lot of weeds? Rocks? Stumps? There is a reason people have and use thirty different rods.  

 All braid can cut your finger but I seem to do it more on lighter braid.  Of course enough pressure of any line against your skin can leave a mark. 

[scaleface]

All braid cuts my finger . I hold the line between my index finger and thumb , and braid cuts it on a hookset . Most people it doesnt effect . I have nothing against braid , I just cant use it . Its operator error .

[JMT]

21 minutes ago, Onvacation said:

Too many variables. Try to narrow down your focus so you can get some good suggestions.  What are you planning to throw with the rod? Where do you live? Lot of weeds? Rocks? Stumps? There is a reason people have and use thirty different rods.  

 All braid can cut your finger but I seem to do it more on lighter braid.  Of course enough pressure of any line against your skin can leave a mark. 

Most of the lakes/ponds i fish are very weedy with lay downs, don't usually fish places with rocks

[Onvacation]

I prefer MH whenever weeds are involved and I always like braid.  7'3" is a sweet spot for me, even bank fishing, if I am looking for something all around, but you will hear a million different perspectives on this and none of them are wrong.  

Personally, if your are sticking with casting gear, My next step would be the heavy, IF, I were going to start throwing frogs or really trying to dig into the muck with a jig or something.  Maybe a longer flipping rod or something if that's the direction you are going, but even there, you will find different perspectives.  I kind of like pitching with a 6'9" MH but that is way short for a lot of folks.  

What I would really do though is buy a nice MF or MXF spinning set up and start taking advantage of some of the finesse options.  

Dont worry, when all is said and done, there will always be more gear to buy. 

[S. Sass]

I'd go M since you already have MH it just seems to be the more versatile stick left considering what you already have.

Of course if you are a guy that specialize in frog or heavy cover bass hunting I'd go H as you would use it more. 

But as stated you most likely will want to get more gear. So what you don't get this time you can get next b day. 

[JMT]

This doesnt have to do with the attributes of the rods, but does anyone know of a really good quality but inexpensive rod?

[fishnkamp]

Define your budget. Powell makes several lines of rods. All of different levels of graphite. Their entry level is called a Diesel. It retails for $75 and is actually a very nice rod with good quality components.  The Infernos a re great and they run around $100

St Croix has its Triumph on sale for $60 directly from them. They are fine too.

if you can find a Falcon Buccoo at Wal-Mart often they are on sale for $40 and that retails elsewhere for $100.  I have one of the Falcon Buccoo 7 ft Med Mod. Trapmaster. That rod throws rattle traps, small to mid size cranks and even could throw a spinnerbait well. 

I know you can catch some Abu' Garcia  Vendetta 2 and Veritas rods on sale often. Check Dicks Sporting goods as well as Gander Mountain online too. 

What you want to spend will shape our suggestions.  Personally I agree with one of the other posters, a good 7 foot Medium or Medium Lite would be on my to do list so you can easily throw tubes ,sencos, Ned Rigs, weightless worms and texas rigged worms up to 3/8 ounce bullet weights and grubs.  In a pond  4 or 5 inch Kalin grub is deadly..  

[JMT]

The most i would like to spend on a rod as of rn would be $100

[fishnkamp]

That is fine there are some fine rods in that bugget. Powell Infernos are $99 to109 and the Diesel  fit in there at $75.  Also look at a Dobyns Fury. They go for $109 and make a great rod as well.

As I said the Abu Garcia Veritas fits in your budget along with the Falcon Buccoo especially if you catch a sale.