baitcast rods?

[ohihunter2014]

what should I look for in a bait cast rod? I was given a quantum tg4000gx tournament reel with a pistol grip ugly stick lite 6ft. I'm thinking about upgrading the rod and throw a zebco 33 on the pistol grip. would a rod like the one linked below be good? I've never used a bait caster before so going to practice with this setup I have now and then upgrade if need be. also why do casting rods have higher ratings? I also took a look at the Berkley lightning shock rods and they are very nice too. oh and I only shore fish if that helps.

 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/home/rod-reel-combo-sale-2017|/pc/105625080/c/157613580/cabela-s-tourney-trail-reg-casting-rod/1931262.uts?destination=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D157613580

[fishnkamp]

What is your budget? Could you spend up to $130 on a totally new combo?  If so there are a few good options to look at.

To begin with you could look at Dicks Sporting Goods online for a Lews Mach 1 combo. It includes a IM8 rod and a Lews reel. This combo was designed to give an angler a good quality combo for a reasonably low price.

[ohihunter2014]

18 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

What is your budget? Could you spend up to $130 on a totally new combo?  If so there are a few good options to look at.

To begin with you could look at Dicks Sporting Goods online for a Lews Mach 1 combo. It includes a IM8 rod and a Lews reel. This combo was designed to give an angler a good quality combo for a reasonably low price.

I wanted to try this out first and see how I like bait casters. if I end up liking it I'll upgrade. got a few buddies that tried the and didn't like it.

[new2BC4bass]

An IM8 blank should make a decent upgrade from an Ugly stick.  I have zero experience with the rod in your link.  I will say that I thoroughly enjoy my older model IM7 Redbone Hurricane.  The higher the number is suppose to equate to a lighter and more sensitive rod.  Unfortunately AFAIK there are no industry standards so it is doubtful you could go strictly by the rod blank designation.  Lots more people on here better qualified to answer that.

 

EDIT: For every guy that tried a baitcast reel and didn't like it there are others that tried them and loved them although I wouldn't go so far as to say it is a one-to-one ratio....unless we were talking about enthusiasts then it would be a lot higher number in favor of baitcast reels.  I grew up with spinning and tried my first baitcast reel at age 61.  Although I have added more spinning combos to my arsenal, they seldom get used because I am still enamored with baitcast reels.

[fishnkamp]

The rod you are looking at is a good upgrade for sure. Also a Berkley Lightning Shock rod in a 6'6" med mod is a good rod and believe it or not it can often be found on clearance at Walmart for as little as $20. It normally sells for $49.

I am concerned more about the reel. More guys lose interest in using as a baitcaster because of learning on an inferior reel.  This is a proven fact. I can not tell you if the reel you were given is one of those as I have never touched one.

Normally I would have suggested starting off with a great reel like a Daiwa Exceler. These reels sold for $99 for years. they are being cleared out for around $70  Check here. This is a reel I use myself along with a bunch of Daiwa Tatula Type R and Tatula CT reels.  This reel performs as well as my $200 Daiwas.  Go here to look at it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-NEW-Daiwa-EXCELER-Baitcast-Bass-Fishing-Reel-Select-Models-ON-SALE-/132060053160?var=&hash=item1ebf647ea8:m:mEjWI-gApLJrEghU8xiDRyw

The best way to see if you will like using a baitcaster is to start with a decent combo seriously. 

 

[new2BC4bass]

10 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

The rod you are looking at is a good upgrade for sure. Also a Berkley Lightning Shock rod in a 6'6" med mod is a good rod and believe it or not it can often be found on clearance at Walmart for as little as $20. It normally sells for $49.

I am concerned more about the reel. More guys lose interest in using as a baitcaster because of learning on an inferior reel.  This is a proven fact. I can not tell you if the reel you were given is one of those as I have never touched one.

Normally I would have suggested starting off with a great reel like a Daiwa Exceler. These reels sold for $99 for years. they are being cleared out for around $70  Check here. This is a reel I use myself along with a bunch of Daiwa Tatula Type R and Tatula CT reels.  This reel performs as well as my $200 Daiwas.  Go here to look at it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-NEW-Daiwa-EXCELER-Baitcast-Bass-Fishing-Reel-Select-Models-ON-SALE-/132060053160?var=&hash=item1ebf647ea8:m:mEjWI-gApLJrEghU8xiDRyw

The best way to see if you will like using a baitcaster is to start with a decent combo seriously. 

 

Yeah.  Nothing sucks worse than a baitcaster that is a pain in the butt to cast.  You can get a not-so-good one even in the higher priced reels.  One of mine that sells in the $240 range went to a tuner before I was happy with it.  VERY happy with it now, tho.

[ohihunter2014]

I'm leaning towards a lightning shock for throwing crank baits. would this be good to pair with the BC and then upgrade the reel in the summer?

[fishnkamp]

Yes a 6'6 medium moderate action rod makes a nice rod for throwing small to mid sized crankbaits, rattle traps, squarebills, wakebaits,and even spinnerbaits.  It would handle baits like the midsize and larger sized Pop Rs and minnow baits Rapalas ( not the really small ones though they are best thrown on a spinning rod).

 

During the fall the stripers (rockfish) leave the cooling waters of the Chesapeake Bay and enter the tidal rivers. It is here in these waters I can catch them out of my aluminum bass bass boat.  They chase bait that matches the size of a 1/2, 3/4. and 1 ounce lipless crankbait (rattle trap). I fish Red Eye Shads, Rattle Traps, X Caliburs and Cotton Cordells.  I need 4 rods on deck. So I fish two expensive combos and two of these Lightning Rod Shocks.  They perform just as good as my other combos for this duty. We often catch large blue cats at the same time and I have landed many over 10 pounds with no problem.  I have them matched up with decent Bass Pro reels ( similar to the Pro Qualifier).  I would recommend that rod for these baits. Try either some 10 or 12 pound quality mono, like Stren original clear blue or Trilene Big game or even 30 pound Suffix 832 braid.

 

 

[jimf]

The best way to see if you will like using a baitcaster is to start with a decent combo seriously. 

On 3/19/2017 at 9:47 PM, fishnkamp said:

 

The best way to see if you will like using a baitcaster is to start with a decent combo seriously. 

 

 

Could not agree more.   I think you can still get a Bass Pro Qualifier on clearance for $49, which is a great price on a decent reel.    

 

 

[fishnkamp]

Unfortunately stocks of those are almost gone. I know Brett's-daddy had to have his local store order one of the last one out of Florida and he lives in Vermont. There are a few of the Daiwa Excelers still around for around $70.  That is a good deal on a great $100 reel. 

[ohihunter2014]

No bass pro for 2hrs of me. I messed around with the quantum tournament that was given to me and it seems smooth and what not. I just want to get a little use out of this one and then upgrade. I'm already hundreds in the hole in fishing gear this month so have to see how this works first. 

[ohihunter2014]

well for those who urged me to get a new combo. what do you guys think of the abu Garcia silvermax combos? if im going to spend $50 on a rod i figure why not spend a couple more bucks and get a combo.

 

http://www.abugarcia.com/abugarcia-combos-baitcast-combos/abu-garcia-silver-max-combo/1373549.html