Need help choosing good all round reel.

[topwaterw]

Recently one of my cheaper poles have started to break down on me, as I only have 2 poles right now, I need help selecting a rod and reel that would be perfect for the things I fish in my lake. I've watched some youtube videos and have read some articles but I just want some extra advice from this forum. Anyway, I really love fishing lures that are 1/4 oz lures, personally to me when I use that weight of lures it feels the most right, when I do usually do this it's on a medium heavy pole (which is beginning to break on me). Another thing that I really love to fish with is a jig, 1/4 oz with a trailer that's more on the lighter side, (people have told me to go 3/8 of an oz when using jigs, but it always felt way to heavy for me.) So people have told me that when fishing heavy cover jigs you need a strong backbone to set the hook through the weed guard. Regardless of those things though, I just want something I can fish with through the seasons, topwaters, diving baits, texas rigs, carolina rigs, most every technique. At the point that I'm at right now I don't need different rods for different lures. As far as reels go, I'm not picky, something that's good for everything, as you could have guessed. My budget is around 250$  I've saved for a while now over my birthday and Christmas etc, so I really want to make good use of my purchase so that it doesn't go to waste. Thanks everyone,

 

Tight lines! 

Edited August 5, 2017 by topwaterw
After written the edited title seemed more appropriate.

[Dtrombly]

I'd look for a 7'-7'3" medium heavy/fast action rod and a 7.x:1 reel. 

Personally if that were my budget and situation I'd get a Daiwa Tatula CT ($129.99 on TW) then pick your poison on a rod, the sub $120 market is flooded with great rods. Can't go wrong 

[fishnkamp]

First welcome to the board.

 You will have a chance to learn a lot from many helpful members here.

Now lets talk a little about your fishing. I know you like to fish lightweight baits, since you said it in your post.

If you would be kind enough to answer a few more questions we will try to be more specific in our answers.

I see you said you fish a lake. Is this a small lake or a big huge lake? Are you fishing from shore or a boat?Do you ever fish in larger faster rivers or big lakes?  Do you ever fish from shore at ponds, streams, and small rivers?

Do you chase bass, bluegill, crappie, or other fish?

Fishing light baits like that sorta leans me towards a nice medium heavy power fast action baitcaster, but your answers will determine the correct setup for you. The combos you have now are any of them spinning combos  

What type of combo is the one breaking down on you.

 

If you are thinking about a baitcasting combo, then I think a Daiwa Tatula CT might be a good reel for you. It casts well and is built very reliably. It runs around $100 online in many places. Check Amazon.

For a rod I would look at a Dobyns Fury FR 703C. They build a fantastic rod and it will run you $110 from places like Tackle Warehouse. Another great rod to consider is a Powell Max 3D CEF. I fish one of these and love it for an all purpose setup.  Mine is not a 3D version, I have the older model, but they are virtually the same.  The 723 is the longer version of that if you feel you must have a longer rod.  I prefer their 6'8 version myself.  Take a look at the Tackletour review of my rod.  http://www.tackletour.com/reviewpowell683cxfast.html

 

 

 

 

 

[topwaterw]

4 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

First welcome to the board.

 You will have a chance to learn a lot from many helpful members here.

Now lets talk a little about your fishing. I know you like to fish lightweight baits, since you said it in your post.

If you would be kind enough to answer a few more questions we will try to be more specific in our answers.

I see you said you fish a lake. Is this a small lake or a big huge lake? Are you fishing from shore or a boat?Do you ever fish in larger faster rivers or big lakes?  Do you ever fish from shore at ponds, streams, and small rivers?

Do you chase bass, bluegill, crappie, or other fish?

Fishing light baits like that sorta leans me towards a nice medium heavy power fast action baitcaster, but your answers will determine the correct setup for you. The combos you have now are any of them spinning combos  

What type of combo is the one breaking down on you.

 

If you are thinking about a baitcasting combo, then I think a Daiwa Tatula CT might be a good reel for you. It casts well and is built very reliably. It runs around $100 online in many places. Check Amazon.

For a rod I would look at a Dobyns Fury FR 703C. They build a fantastic rod and it will run you $110 from places like Tackle Warehouse. Another great rod to consider is a Powell Max 3D CEF. I fish one of these and love it for an all purpose setup.  Mine is not a 3D version, I have the older model, but they are virtually the same.  The 723 is the longer version of that if you feel you must have a longer rod.  I prefer their 6'8 version myself.  Take a look at the Tackletour review of my rod.  http://www.tackletour.com/reviewpowell683cxfast.html

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the detailed response, to answer some of your questions...

 

The lake that I fish on is approx 98 acres, and there are many other small lakes scattered around my neighborhood.

 

For now I'm fishing from the shore, however me and my family are looking to purchase a jon boat in the near future.

 

I really never fish anywhere in ponds, streams etc because Im limited to staying in my neighborhood due to the fact that I can't drive right now, haha. (but I'd like to fish other places for sure!)

 

I'm fishing for bass, but on ultralight poles I fish for panfish with my younger sister from time to time.

 

Thanks for taking interest in my post, highly appreciated.

4 hours ago, Dtrombly said:

I'd look for a 7'-7'3" medium heavy/fast action rod and a 7.x:1 reel. 

Personally if that were my budget and situation I'd get a Daiwa Tatula CT ($129.99 on TW) then pick your poison on a rod, the sub $120 market is flooded with great rods. Can't go wrong 

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll be sure to check those out. 

 

Tight lines!

[BrackishBassin]

Love my Tatula CT! Really need to pick up another one as I've found myself choosing to fish even my heavier baits on the med action rod the CT is on just because I prefer that reel over the cheapo Black Max on my med heavy rod. 

[Mike L]

If you're looking for a baitcaster the best all around one in my opinion is the BPS Pro Qualifier.

They're around 100.00 and built like tanks. 

 

Can't help with spinning reel, don't use them 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[WestBranch]

If you're on a budget I'd look at the kast king stealth for about $50

That will give you more to spend on the rod. I personally like the st Croix avid x.

[Robert Riley]

I highly recommend the Dobyn's Fury (703/4 or 735) rod and the Lew's LFS reel. That'll run you about $110 and $100 respectively. If you want to consider a combo, the Lew's Mach2 combo is a great set up for $180. Lew's is also unleashing the Crush combo for about $200, it's coming out in about 2 months though.