Walmart BaitCasters?

[Austin11C]

Hey guys I'm somehwhat new to bass fishing and have used a bait caster only a couple times. I'd like to get one but I'm on a budget. I'm wanting to get a cheap one I can practice with and learn the skill. Walmart has some inexpensive ones that I'm interested in. And I will eventually buy me a better set up, just not in the budget as of right now. Plus if I try it for a few months and just absolutely hate it and want to go back to spinning gear I don't want to be out a couple hundred bucks. Anyone with experience with these, or any other set ups close to the same price? 

The one I'm looking at is a Shakesphere agility low profile bait cast combo. It's a 6'6 rod. 

 Do you guys think it would be a good thing to start out on or be a waste of money?

[ghost]

Abu Garcia Black Max or Silver Max. Good bait caster to learn on.

[Austin11C]

Thanks. That's within my price range ??

[NHBull]

Buying a low quality caster may ensure you hate it.

Fot the price of a couple more coffees, you have better options at TW.

 

[ksboy]

I use mostly Abu Garcia reels and rods. The Black Max is a great reel for $40. I've caught a lot of fish on them. I own 8 of them now, buying one whenever I have the $$$$. I have mono on some, braid on some, and co-poly on some. They all work great. I do keep them clean and oiled but I do that with all my equipment.

Abu rods are also good quality. It's kind of hard to be selective at WalMart but they do carry a few of them. I think the Vengeance rod is $50 at WalMart. They have carried the Vendetta and Vigilante in the past but not sure if they still do.

 

Good luck with your selection and welcome to the Wonderful World of Bass Fishing!!!!!!

[12poundbass]

X2 for the Abu reels. I have 4 Blackmax 1 Silvermax, and 2 Prima. Oh and a God awful Hank Parker reel. The Silvermax is ok but I absolutely love the Black and Promax reels. IMO these are the best reels for someone on a budget. 

[Austin11C]

Thanks guys I will probably get the Blackmax, there's a rod and reel combo for 62$ it's the blackmax and a 6'6 blackmax rod

[nocluefisher]

I was able to get a 7ft medium vendetta from Walmart for $29 a couple of years ago at Walmart.com. Free ship to store.

[Austin11C]

Is there a huge difference in a 6'6 and 7'?

[CTBassin860]

Id opt for the silver max.Thats what i learned on myself.If you go to cheap on the caster,chances are you will hate it.

[S. Sass]

1 hour ago, Austin11C said:

Is there a huge difference in a 6'6 and 7'?

Well besides 6" that can be "huge" to some ... 

 

All kidding aside the general consensus is all other aspects being equal a longer rod can give you more distance on your casts. But many variables have been mentioned in these forums as to why some feel a few inches is a issue.

 

Some bank fisherman/women  say that the couple inches shorter rods keep them for hitting bushes and trees etc. when casting.  Also I have heard the shorter rod is prefered from the kayak folks. Some prefer a under 7' rod for skipping too. I have even read a person's height influenced them to pick a shorter rod. 

 

A rod in the 7 ft range works great for me for bank fishing as I want to cast where others can't reach. And the longer rod might help flip/pitch a bait under some cover as well. I also fish from a 18' boat where I have room and sometimes want all the distance I can get to run a crankbait.

 

So some of this choice can depend on what you plan to fish from, and the bait you plan to present, along with the places you plan to fish. For some good reading on this subject the forum has this thread to help. Good luck.

     

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, MassBassin508 said:

Id opt for the silver max.Thats what i learned on myself.If you go to cheap on the caster,chances are you will hate it.

I actually prefer the Blackmax over the silver and prefer the Promax over both. To each their own. 

[dwh4784]

Last season I picked up two 6'6'' Silver Max combos on clearance at Cabelas for $50 each, they have performed well for me especially for that price.

[lonnie g]

you have gotten good advice here. the abu,s will do the job for you. just don't go out and try to throw it a country mile. tighten down your adjustments until you get use to it .then slowly back it off . you will love the extra control that you will gain.tooth pics recommended, backlashes happens. just count them as good training.

[new2BC4bass]

Something to keep in mind.  I don't know about your local Walmarts, but mine carry squat in fishing gear.  And what they carry never goes on sale.  However, they offer a lot more in their Online store.  Prices sometimes vary from week to week so you need to periodically check on an item you want in order to get the best price.  I've bought several rods from their Online store at very good prices.  Rods that weren't carried in either of my local Walmarts.  Have also bought a reel or two from them.

[Austin11C]

Well guys I'm a little pressed for money at the moment so I ended up buying a shakesphere 6'6 cheapo BC and I've been practicing. I'd like to say that I surprised myself at how fast I caught on. From hearing others first experiences with BC's I was a little intimidated. I've been playing around with it a lot practicing mostly. Only fished once with it. I've at least made 300-400 cast with it and only had any bad backlash maybe 10 times. Even then it wasn't too bad. I never had to cut the line just took a minute to untangle. I've about got the casting part down for the most part and I plan on starting to practice accuracy with it,even though I'm not as bad as I thought I would be, I'm consistently placing the lure within 2'-3'of target at 25-30yards(that might actually be horrible but it seems rather good compared to my expectations) Oh and I have absolutely no idea how to flip or pitch but I'm taking baby steps right now. Hopefully I'll get the hang of everything and become proficient with it. Then I'll actually buy me a good setup. BTW it came with Stren 12 lb line on it. Is this line okay or should I change it before I actually start fishing a lot with it. I'm still learning the basics of bass fishing so I mostly fish from the bank and with senkos,lizards,creature baits, occasionally a topwater frog or something depending where I am. 

[new2BC4bass]

Congratulations.  You are doing better than I did when I started with a baitcast reel.  Stren will be fine.  Years ago a buddy only used Stren while I used Trilene XL.  Neither of us ever had a problem with our line.

[12poundbass]

You're doing better than I did too. Don't worry about how much it was, if it works then its perfect. You don't know the difference between the cheaper and expensive reels so you're good. I have one reel I spent $100 on so I don't know the difference either and guess what? I have no problems catching fish. Just take your time and enjoy fishing!