A Combo for the Fiancee

[BraytonM]

Hello folks, 

 

I am looking for an inexpensive spinning combo for my fiancee (21) for overall use. While she does prefer having a purple or teal combo, she is open to other colors. She really likes the looks of the Pflueger Lady Trion combo (https://www.cabelas.com/product/PFLUEGER-LADY-TRION-SPIN-COMBO/1720833.uts), but I am worried that there are better options in that same price range for her. Also, can anybody vouch for the Lady GX2 (https://www.cabelas.com/product/SHAKESPEARE-UGLY-STIK-LADY-SPIN-COMBO/1706361.uts)? I am open to any suggestions. Thank you. 

[Bluebasser86]

I suggest you buy her something nicer if she's going to fish much at all. I started out buying my wife (then girlfriend), a cheaper combo and the reel would constantly get line twist, which resulted in her getting frustrated and giving up, which resulted in trips being cut short because she'd be bored and tired of fighting with the reel and having to have me untangle it. I bought her a Quantum Energy spinning reel and St. Croix Avid Pearl rod and now she no longer has problems with her line tangling and will fish much longer. 

 

The Pflueger Trion is a fine reel though if you're set on one of those two. Not sure about the rod, but I had a Pflueger Trion combo many years ago and the rod was actually pretty decent. 

[fishnkamp]

I would step her up to a Berkley Lightning Shock rod. For a good all purpose rod look at a 6'6" medium moderate action. Pair it up with a Pflueger President reel in a size 30. This may be more than you were thinking of spending, but if you ever want nicer gear yourself and you want her to enjoy the hobby with you, then this is what I would do.  Over thirty five years ago I knew a guy that owned an Orvis dealership. I learned how to flycast as well as many important life lessons from Bruce. One was to THINK about what type of gear I got my then girlfriend if I wanted to help her to learn to enjoy MY hobby. It did not matter if I was fishing with a $20 combo or a $200 Orvis fly rod, make sure she fished with the same good equipment.  I believe he was right. My wife and I have spent 40 years together and she is a smallmouth fanatic. She fishes with her own dozen rods, some G Loomis, some Dobyns and two Berkley Lightning Shock rods. Guess what reels are on the Berkley rods.  Lastly, help her avoid the frustration of line twist. I recommend putting some 10 pound Stren on as backing, then filling the reel with 14 pound Original Berkley Fireline.  That stuff casts beautifully. If you fish clear water you can easily add a 5 foot long copoly leader in say 6 or 8 pound test. That is a setup she uses all the time. Lindas biggest fish include big stripers, several 6 pound smallies, some 5 pound plus largies and a 34 1/2 pound flathead catfish. She is my main fishing partner in life. I hope you can have what we have, a life long marriage and the ability to really appreciate going to pretty places and sharing memories together.  I love it when she is fighting a big fish, even more than when I am.  There is a little child that I get to see in her eyes every single time.

[fishwizzard]

If you want to go more upmarket, the Megabass Hyuga line of rods is a great dark purple.  I also remember seeing an Abu rod with a purple

blank, maybe one of the Ike ones?

[Deleted account]

You aren't looking at this the right way. I use my wife's Stradic/Compre combos more than she does...

[thinkingredneck]

Get her a nice one, better than yours.

[Jig Man]

I splurge her bud.  Like stated you can use it when she isn't fishing.  My wife has "accumulated" several setups over the years.  She would rather do puzzles than fish, so guess who gets to use them most often.

[new2BC4bass]

St. Croix Mojo is a purplish/maroon color....I think, but I'm not all that into the correct names of various hues, so what do I know?    I think the Aetos is a beautiful rod....blues....especially in bright sunlight.  Both probably over your budget, but rods that would not be sold for a long time to come.

 

I agree that you need to make it a set-up she can enjoy without having to worry about fighting line twist every time out.  However, that can also be accomplished with a mono or co-polymer (though not as good as braid) provided she is not using lures that create a lot of line twist.  I fished with spinning reels and Trilene XL for a good many years without having to fight line twist every time out.

 

The Lightning Shocks get excellent reviews as a low cost option.  It is one rod that I haven't tried yet because of its color.  Check with the fiancée before buying.  Could turn her off as well.  I like the standard Lightnings, but mine is black...and old.  Don't know what color the news ones are.

 

The Trion gets good reviews.  You could also check into lower priced Daiwas, Lew's and Okumas.

[lo n slo]

12 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

I would step her up to a Berkley Lightning Shock rod. For a good all purpose rod look at a 6'6" medium moderate action. Pair it up with a Pflueger President reel in a size 30. This may be more than you were thinking of spending, but if you ever want nicer gear yourself and you want her to enjoy the hobby with you, then this is what I would do.  Over thirty five years ago I knew a guy that owned an Orvis dealership. I learned how to flycast as well as many important life lessons from Bruce. One was to THINK about what type of gear I got my then girlfriend if I wanted to help her to learn to enjoy MY hobby. It did not matter if I was fishing with a $20 combo or a $200 Orvis fly rod, make sure she fished with the same good equipment.  I believe he was right. My wife and I have spent 40 years together and she is a smallmouth fanatic. She fishes with her own dozen rods, some G Loomis, some Dobyns and two Berkley Lightning Shock rods. Guess what reels are on the Berkley rods.  Lastly, help her avoid the frustration of line twist. I recommend putting some 10 pound Stren on as backing, then filling the reel with 14 pound Original Berkley Fireline.  That stuff casts beautifully. If you fish clear water you can easily add a 5 foot long copoly leader in say 6 or 8 pound test. That is a setup she uses all the time. Lindas biggest fish include big stripers, several 6 pound smallies, some 5 pound plus largies and a 34 1/2 pound flathead catfish. She is my main fishing partner in life. I hope you can have what we have, a life long marriage and the ability to really appreciate going to pretty places and sharing memories together.  I love it when she is fighting a big fish, even more than when I am.  There is a little child that I get to see in her eyes every single time.

this is what my wife prefers. a Zebco 33 Classic and a 6’ 6” Berkley Shock. i keep her spooled with some 10 lb Trilene XL. git r done

[Tywithay]

I agree that you will probably want to step it up just a bit in quality. That doesn't necessarily mean super expensive, but those pre-made combos usually feature a decent reel on a subpar rod, or a crappy reel on a nicer rod. It's better to put something together, in my opinion. There are some good deals to be found right now. Academy has the *** rods on sale for $44 and you can get a Lady President reel on amazon for around $50. So, for $100 you'd have a great combo that would last a long time and rival just about any $150 combo out there. Plus, the black/pink looks pretty slick together. You could even use it on the days your fiance doesn't come with. 

[fishwizzard]

10 hours ago, reason said:

You aren't looking at this the right way. I use my wife's Stradic/Compre combos more than she does...

Exactly, like look at this thing;

 

 

It will make everyone happy!

[islandbass]

Whatever you get her, make sure it’s on par at the very least, with your gear, especially if it’s your wish to show her the joy of fishing you have. 

 

Not only that, if it turns out she doesn’t like it, you’ve got another rig for your arsenal. ?

[badgerboyng]

A St Croix Avid pearl with a Pfulenger president lady reel is a very girly combo that should preform very well. If she doesn't like pink, mojo bass rods are cherry purple, which she might like too!