What is the BEST casting combo for under $80?

[CooperD]

I've been looking at the Kastking Stealth and Shakespeare agility. Is this a good combo, or do you have other suggestions. I'd like the rod to be 5'6" medium heavy though. 6' is fine too.

[Outdoor Zack]

Look on Craigslist and eBay for something used.  Or wait for a sale.  Better yet, save the money for a better setup 

[Choporoz]

Hate to tell you, but I agree with @Outdoor Zack.  $80 might get you into an Abu Garcia Silver, but I have a hard time recommending it.   Sucks to hear, but I think if you can get your price point closer to $140 for the combo, you'll probably get a number of suggestions for something you might be happy with.

 

Tell us a little more about how you plan to use it: what sort of conditions, what lures, shore or boat, etc.  Why 5'6"? 

[swandog]

Might want to check out the Lew's American Hero combo. I believe it retails for around $80. 

[CooperD]

4 minutes ago, swandog said:

Might want to check on the Lew's American Hero combo. I believe it retails for around $80. 

 

15 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Hate to tell you, but I agree with @Outdoor Zack.  $80 might get you into an Abu Garcia Silver, but I have a hard time recommending it.   Sucks to hear, but I think if you can get your price point closer to $140 for the combo, you'll probably get a number of suggestions for something you might be happy with.

 

Tell us a little more about how you plan to use it: what sort of conditions, what lures, shore or boat, etc.  Why 5'6"? 

 

34 minutes ago, Outdoor Zack said:

Look on Craigslist and eBay for something used.  Or wait for a sale.  Better yet, save the money for a better setup 

Ok. I've been looking on Amazon mostly. I'm pretty much sold on the Kastking, but I was also recommended to try a piscifun.

17 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Hate to tell you, but I agree with @Outdoor Zack.  $80 might get you into an Abu Garcia Silver, but I have a hard time recommending it.   Sucks to hear, but I think if you can get your price point closer to $140 for the combo, you'll probably get a number of suggestions for something you might be happy with.

 

Tell us a little more about how you plan to use it: what sort of conditions, what lures, shore or boat, etc.  Why 5'6"? 

I plan to use it during the summer and maybe in the fall. I'll be using it for freshwater. The lures I'll use will be soft plastics. Both shore and boat. And 5'6" because I have a 5'6" spinning rod, and I'm super comfortable with the size of it. If i have to go up to 6' then so be it

[CroakHunter]

Berkley lightning shock rod. Kastking royale legend. Id suggest a longer rod btw. Maybe a 6'6 medium or medium heavy. 

[CooperD]

2 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

Berkley lightning shock rod. Kastking royale legend. Id suggest a longer rod btw. Maybe a 6'6 medium or medium heavy. 

Ok. Is there any reason for the royal legend? And how about 6' instead?

[CroakHunter]

The reason for the royale legend Is because it is only like 33 bucks and is a work horse. I have 3. 1 on my frog rod, 1 For burning spinnerbaits/swimjigs/rattle traps, and 1 I keep spooled up in my tackle bag in case I have a reel fail on me during a tourney. The less you spend on a reel the more you can spend on a rod or line/tackle 

[CooperD]

7 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

The reason for the royale legend Is because it is only like 33 bucks and is a work horse. I have 3. 1 on my frog rod, 1 For burning spinnerbaits/swimjigs/rattle traps, and 1 I keep spooled up in my tackle bag in case I have a reel fail on me during a tourney. The less you spend on a reel the more you can spend on a rod or line/tackle 

Hmmm. I see. As far as rods go, what would you recommend? I'm 15 and I have just started to get crazy about fishing

7 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

The reason for the royale legend Is because it is only like 33 bucks and is a work horse. I have 3. 1 on my frog rod, 1 For burning spinnerbaits/swimjigs/rattle traps, and 1 I keep spooled up in my tackle bag in case I have a reel fail on me during a tourney. The less you spend on a reel the more you can spend on a rod or line/tackle 

Hmmm. I see. As far as rods go, what would you recommend? I'm 15 and I have just started to get crazy about fishing

[CroakHunter]

6'6 or 7' medium or medium heavy Berkley lightning shock rod. The longer length will increase casting distance and give you more versatility since I'm guessing you won't have a lot of combos. 

[CooperD]

1 minute ago, CroakHunter said:

6'6 or 7' medium or medium heavy Berkley lightning shock rod. The longer length will increase casting difference and give you more versatility since I'm guessing you won't have a lot of combos. 

I guess I'll go with a 6'6". I'm definitely eyeing up some kastking reels, along with a piscifun reel

[CroakHunter]

Very similar reels. Get the one you can get the best deal on

[CooperD]

1 minute ago, CroakHunter said:

Very similar reels. Get the one you can get the best deal on

Ok. Thank you!! This helps out so much! 

[roadwarrior]

 

[DroneFisher]

37 minutes ago, CooperD said:

I guess I'll go with a 6'6". I'm definitely eyeing up some kastking reels, along with a piscifun reel

The new KastKing Perigee II rods are less than $60. I picked up three of them. I also still have my first gen Perigee rods. I am all about catching fish on affordable gear. More fun IMO. Plus I dont have to worry too much about it

[CooperD]

45 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

Very similar reels. Get the one you can get the best deal on

 

10 minutes ago, DroneFisher said:

The new KastKing Perigee II rods are less than $60. I picked up three of them. I also still have my first gen Perigee rods. I am all about catching fish on affordable gear. More fun IMO. Plus I dont have to worry too much about it

Instead, I might get an Abu Garcia

[fishnkamp]

First check out your local Walmarts. Some of our members have found the 6'6" Berkley Lightning Shock rods on an unmarked clearance. Instead of $49.99 they have purchased them for as little as $15.  Just be sure to look the rod over really well some of the stuff at Walmart gets broken so check the rod and guides to be sure they are fine. Go take it to the check out and have them do a price check. That covers the rod. Now for a reel.  I would avoid the Kast Kings  some guys love them BUT not enough to be reliable yet!!

Instead I am going to suggest you look here. They are offering a high quality reel for $79.  It regularly sells for $99.  This reel is a Daiwa Fuego CT.  These are extremely reliable reels built on the tatula CT body and Magforce Z brakes.  It will be easy for you to learn and grow into this reel without ever upgrading.

http://www.sportsmansoutfitters.com/daiwa-fuego-ct-baitcast-fishing-reel/.  This rel replaced a reel I regularly fish called a Daiwa Exceler. The Fuego is an upgrade to that reel.

If you can find a Shock rod on clearance then your whole combo will work very nicely. I also fish two of the Shock rods right alongside several other much higher priced casting rods while fishing for big stripers during the fall.  The Shock rods are just two of my 12 baitcasters ands 4 spinning combos I regularly fish with for bass, stripers and even catfish occasionally. 

[new2BC4bass]

I've got to agree about going for a longer rod like a 6'6".  I grew up with spinning rods and like 6'6" or less. Two of my old rods are 5' or slightly less.  A favorite is my 6' Lightning.  However, when I went to baitcast rods I found out that I prefer over 6'6".

 

The Fuego CT and a Lightning...or Lightning Shock...rod is going to put you over budget, but you will have a combo you can use and enjoy for years to come.

 

An alternative is to keep an eye on the classifieds in various fishing forums.  Or your local craigslist.  Going to be hard to find that cheap of a rod due to shipping costs, but one that is near enough for a local pickup is an option.  Mainly I would look for a quality used reel and a new Berkley (preferably on sale) to stay within your budget.

 

Are you looking for a left hand or right hand baitcasting reel?

[CTBassin860]

Id save a little more money 

[fishnkamp]

Here is another option. Dicks offers some options I almost forgot. Now I have to tell you a trick that will be important to you. When I decide to purchase anything over $10 from Dicks I go in and buy something cheap. Maybe line, or more often than not a pack of hooks, weights, or a Jawbone jig. Jawbone is a Dicks house brand. The jigs fish well and only cost $3.00 each. Since you are a younger angler the trick will be to have one of your parents take you there and each by something cheap.  I mentioned line since you will need some. The jig works because you will probably want some to fish with later.  The reason for this is you need the receipts. The cashier will tell you about the customer surveys on the back of the receipt. Go home and go online. Fill the two customer surveys out using the info from both receipts. This will allow you to print out two $10 off coupons.

 

Return to Dicks and look at a few specific rods.

I fish a 7 foot Quantum Escalade IM8 mh fast action rod.

It normally sells for $100 but has been discounted to $49.99.

 

You could look at a Berkley Lightning rod for $39.99.  

Take a look at a 6'6" MH/F Field and Stream Tec Specific rod, they sell for $79,99 normally, but are reduced to $49.97.  Remember any of these rods will be $10.00 below their price. So lets say you pick the blue Tec Specific rod fro example. That rod would end up costing only $39.99 ( for a rod that normally sells for $80)

 

Now for a reel. Again we have a $10 off coupon to use! You could go with an Abu Garcia Silver Max for $59.99 or in our case $49.99.  That makes that combo $90.

There are a few combos from Dicks to check out as well. Some are on sale or have rebates involved.  Check them out. The Abu Ora SX combo looked interesting.

[Pikeman12]

Could go with a Pflueger Trion with a Berkley lightning rod. That would put you at around 90$ but you would have a great cheap setup. 

[Catt]

Lew's American Hero or Lazer TXS both come with a 6' 6" or 7' rod & both can be had at Academy for $80.

 

Try one & you'll throw rocks at the others

[CroakHunter]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Lew's American Hero or Lazer TXS both come with a 6' 6" or 7' rod & both can be had at Academy for $80.

 

Try one & you'll throw rocks at the others

Completely spaced my mind! Catt coming in late with the win!

[NYWayfarer]

16 hours ago, CooperD said:

I've been looking at the Kastking Stealth and Shakespeare agility. Is this a good combo, or do you have other suggestions. I'd like the rod to be 5'6" medium heavy though. 6' is fine too.

 

The Stealth is a great reel. If it was available when I first picked up a baitcaster I would have never gone back to spinning gear. Stick with the Stealth you will not be disappointed. Its light, casts a mile and is virtually backlash proof once brakes are set.

 

As far as the rod I would upgrade to a Ugly Stick GX2, Berkley Cherrywood HD, Lightning rod Shock or Abu Garcia Vengeance. They are much better than the Agility.