Best spinning reel and rod for bass fishing?

[Daltonluoma]

Looking at buying a new rod and reel for the upcoming bass fishing but having a tough time picking a reel. I think for the rod I'm going with a bass X or do you guys suggest something else? The reel I mean I'll go up to 250 but would like to stay in the 100-200 range for a spinning reel, any info would be great thanks!

[new2BC4bass]

First Welcome to the forum.

 

Daiwa BG, Pflueger Supreme XT (Supreme for less), Okuma RTX or Helios SX, Shimano NASCI are a few possible options.

 

[TylerT123]

2 hours ago, Daltonluoma said:

Looking at buying a new rod and reel for the upcoming bass fishing but having a tough time picking a reel. I think for the rod I'm going with a bass X or do you guys suggest something else? The reel I mean I'll go up to 250 but would like to stay in the 100-200 range for a spinning reel, any info would be great thanks!

Get the Mojo Bass instead, for a little bit more you get the sciii blank which is the same type used in the Avid. I’d get a Shimano Stratic too.

[LCG]

Really depends on a lot of factors... 

 

What type of cover is the under or on the water? Ie wood, rocks, grass, Lilly pads, open water, etc 

 

What techniques are you looking for? Drop shot, ned, neko, shaky head, Texas rigged worms /creature baits, spinners, buzz baits, crank baits, etc

 

What is your experience level? 

 

If you are looking for a general guideline it will be probably be a 6'6" - 7'6" medium power fast action rod and a 2500 or 30 size reel depending on brand.

 

For reels the Pflueger president always gets high praise and is affordable at $60.

 

As for rods, I would get the most sensitive rod you can afford. Trust me it's cheaper in the end. I love st Croix and recommend mojo bass and up. Only a few dollars more than a bass x. Avid or avid x if you can swing it. 

 

So I would steer you towards a 7ft st Croix mojo bass / avid / avid x and a Pflueger President size 30 reel. $260 on the high end and it will last you a long, long time. 

 

I prefer a shorter rod myself in the 6'6"-6'10" range and I fish from the bank. 

 

 

[PatrickKnight]

For $200 get a Stradic FK 2500 or 3000. I would take a Dobyns Fury 703 over the bass X and a Mojo over the Fury.

[Yudo1]

For under $100, the Daiwa BG and under $200, the Daiwa Tatula LT.

[PatrickKnight]

2 hours ago, Yudo1 said:

For under $100, the Daiwa BG and under $200, the Daiwa Tatula LT.

 

Completely agree on the BG!!!

[new2BC4bass]

My 1500 BG arrived this morning.  Feels like a little tank.  Bought an RG last year for a brother-in-law's birthday.  He is lovin' it.

[LadiMopar]

4 hours ago, Yudo1 said:

For under $100, the Daiwa BG and under $200, the Daiwa Tatula LT.

 

I'll second the Daiwa BG, still in love with my 30 year old BG 13, it has taken a lickin' and with a little TLC is still doing the job with ease. 

Also have the Daiwa Revros 2500H that is paired with a Cabela 7' XML Bass rod. Great in the kayak for those finesse techniques.

 

Best of luck in making your decision.

LM

[Daltonluoma]

Thanks guys! I have the president on my poll for fishing for crappie and stuff and love it but seen the shimano stradic and the daiwa bg ranked higher, so I guess what one would you guys get? I know a big price difference but want the one that is gonna last me the longest and feel the same way in 5 years as it did the day I bought it. What's the reason you guys prefer the mojo over the bass x?

[Fishinthefish]

IMHO Shimano Stradic are the flat out best fishing reel for spinning on the market below the 300 dollar price point.

[TylerT123]

4 hours ago, Daltonluoma said:

Thanks guys! I have the president on my poll for fishing for crappie and stuff and love it but seen the shimano stradic and the daiwa bg ranked higher, so I guess what one would you guys get? I know a big price difference but want the one that is gonna last me the longest and feel the same way in 5 years as it did the day I bought it. What's the reason you guys prefer the mojo over the bass x?

The Bass X has a lower graphite rating. The Mojo has the same blank as the Avid. The Bass X is a SCII graphite blank while the Mojo and Avid is a SCIII blank. If you’re new to fishing, I wouldn’t spend a ton on a combo, if you know you like it then pull the trigger. Comparing the Shimano Stradic and Daiwa BG is no competition, ones a $100 reel and the other’s a $250 reel. If you can afford the Stradic, that’s what I’d get.

[burrows]

Diawa fuego lt and a mojo can't go wrong with that set up.

[AndrewJ]

My wife and I have Mitchell 308PROs on almost everyone of our set ups.  It is incredibly smooth for a $70 reel.  I have no advice on the rods, any number of them are good.

[PatrickKnight]

7 hours ago, Daltonluoma said:

Thanks guys! I have the president on my poll for fishing for crappie and stuff and love it but seen the shimano stradic and the daiwa bg ranked higher, so I guess what one would you guys get? I know a big price difference but want the one that is gonna last me the longest and feel the same way in 5 years as it did the day I bought it. What's the reason you guys prefer the mojo over the bass x?

 

I own both a Stradic FK and a BG. I have also fished the Ci4+ and the new Tatula LT. Given the choice all over again I would buy another BG and take the 100 bucks I saved on the reel and get a better rod with it. The BG is that good. The Ci4 and Tatula are good reels but they are so light I have issue balancing them on rods. If that was of no concern I would take the Tatula over the other three without a second thought.

 

The Mojo uses the SCIII material but it is not the same blank as an Avid, that being said its a heck of a rod for the price.

[burrows]

28 minutes ago, PatrickKnight said:

 

I own both a Stradic FK and a BG. I have also fished the Ci4+ and the new Tatula LT. Given the choice all over again I would buy another BG and take the 100 bucks I saved on the reel and get a better rod with it. The BG is that good. The Ci4 and Tatula are good reels but they are so light I have issue balancing them on rods. If that was of no concern I would take the Tatula over the other three without a second thought.

 

The Mojo uses the SCIII material but it is not the same blank as an Avid, that being said its a heck of a rod for the price.

You sure love the bg, I personally fish with a stradikci4 smooth and has never let me down as far as ballance goes well you can't put a ci4 on a mojo and expect it to balance it won't it will be tip heavy you have to pair it with an equally expensive rod unfortunately to get that ballance. I think the bg is probably the best 100 dollar reel out there rite now as far as all around fishing freshwater and salt however for me personally targeting only bass I would prefer the new Exeler lt or fuego lt for bass fishing. They are just smaller reels lighter and kinda designed for the bass fishing or lure fishing.

[PatrickKnight]

2 minutes ago, Burro said:

You sure love the bg, I personally fish with a stradikci4 smooth and has never let me down as far as ballance goes well you can't put a ci4 on a mojo and expect it to balance it won't it will be tip heavy you have to pair it with an equally expensive rod unfortunately to get that ballance. I think the bg is probably the best 100 dollar reel out there rite now as far as all around fishing freshwater and salt however for me personally targeting only bass I would prefer the new Exeler lt or fuego lt for bass fishing. They are just smaller reels lighter and kinda designed for the bass fishing or lure fishing.

 

The only LT reel I have used so far has been the Tatula but if the lower end ones are in the same ballpark they will be a solid choice. I am only speaking for reels I have personally fished. 

 

The only way I have seen a Ci4 balance is with a full cork handle. Which is fine by me as I prefer them but I know a lot of people don't.

 

You are right I do kidda have a crush on my BG.

[burrows]

2 hours ago, PatrickKnight said:

 

 

 

The only way I have seen a Ci4 balance is with a full cork handle. Which is fine by me as I prefer them but I know a lot of people don't.

 

 

I have mine on a zodias and it's a split grip, ballance is optimal.

[TylerT123]

4 hours ago, PatrickKnight said:

 

The Mojo uses the SCIII material but it is not the same blank as an Avid, that being said its a heck of a rod for the price.

I thought that SCIII was the blank..? The website says SCIII graphite blank.

[Boomstick]

For reels, I picked up a Daiwa BG 2000 earlier this year for finesse fishing. I haven't really got to use it yet being in the northeast but my initial impression of this reel is extremely high. It feels like I am holding a slightly heavier Shimano Curado Ci4+ where the bail doesn't hit my larger hands. Plus they have a very solid reputation for holding up for virtually forever. I have also had great luck with the Pflueger President and Mitchell 300 pro (which is an extremely smooth operating reel), but my initial impression is that the BG will ultimately be my favorite. This lets me spend more money on the rod, and since I don't really mind the extra weight of the reels personally.

 

I am still unsure what I am going to buy for a rod. I am currently leaning towards either a brand that is blocked on this site or a Dobyns Sierra 702SF. The Bass X or a Mojo bass might be an option as well. Most of my current spinning rods are nothing too great.

[LCG]

4 hours ago, TylerT123 said:

I thought that SCIII was the blank..? The website says SCIII graphite blank.

ScIII is only part of what makes a rod. There are other components that makes up the whole rod which affects the handling and action. That being said I have a mojo bass 6'8 m-xf spinning rod and an avid x 6'6 Mh-f casting rod and while they are different, the mojo is no slouch. My favorite spinning rod so far. 

[TylerT123]

7 minutes ago, Luke G. said:

ScIII is only part of what makes a rod. There are other components that makes up the whole rod which affects the handling and action. That being said I have a mojo bass 6'8 m-xf spinning rod and an avid x 6'6 Mh-f casting rod and while they are different, the mojo is no slouch. My favorite spinning rod so far. 

I’m talking about the BLANK. The Avid and the Mojo’s blank is the same, SCIII. Burro said that they weren’t, while St. Croix’s website says that the SCIII is the blank. I don’t see what you’re getting at...

[LCG]

26 minutes ago, TylerT123 said:

I’m talking about the BLANK. The Avid and the Mojo’s blank is the same, SCIII. Burro said that they weren’t, while St. Croix’s website says that the SCIII is the blank. I don’t see what you’re getting at...

The blanks are made from the same material ie ScIII. But the does not make them the same blank. 

 

A lot of engineering goes into making rod blanks. The avid has a different taper. ScIII is only 1 piece of a much bigger picture. There are better informed people here on this forum that can probably better explain this. 

 

The mojo is a great rod, I love mine. The avid is even better, and yes you can tell the difference between made in Mexico and made in America. And I am Canadian

 

Think of putting a Ferrari engine into a Ford. Then saying the Ford and the Ferrari are the same car. Same engine sure, but very different cars. Tires, transmission, suspension, ground clearance, etc are fine tuned. 

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

I have 5 Stradics, and if I picked today, I'd get the 

CI4+. One difference between me and a lot of folks

is I prefer to use smaller reels - 1000 size.

 

Given the lightness of the CI4+, longer rods will be

more tip-heavy. I use rods from 5'9" to 6'6" with 

6' being the current sweet spot for me.

 

St Croix is probably my favorite brand in your price

range. As you're discovering, we are going to be all

over the map in terms of recommendations and what

*we* each like over other brands.

 

So best advice is to get to a Bass Pro, Cabelas, etc., 

and find some rods and reels that catch your fancy.

Our recommendations are great starting points for both.

 

Put the reel you like on a rod you like and see what you

think in terms of how it balances in your hands. Does

it *feel* right, or just OK? Try another rod, try another

reel, and so on.

 

I did this at Bass Pro years ago. I went in all set on 

particular brands, but left with completely different

gear. Been pretty happy since.  

[Daltonluoma]

Thanks again! I have heard great about both the stradic and daiwa, I know people say one is 100 dollar reel and the other is a 250, I guess to me I'm looking for the best one that is gonna last me the longest and feel like the day I bought it. Is it worth it to spend the extra 150 for the shimano? And you guys said the shimano is lighter? Just trying to make sure I make the best decision. And I guess my other questions is what's your guys preference on size, I just bass fish, I don't try going for northern or anything else so I guess what would be the ideal size of reel and poll? I have always liked fishing but sense last year is when I really started getting into it so getting into more of the precise stuff so just trying to get the best info! 

I have always liked a poll to where I can feel every little tug or hit so what size would you guys recommend, I don't think I wanna go too short, so I guess what is like the perfect length poll to you guys?