Rig & pole/reel questionS + Best spinning rod +/-$100 *criticism needed*

[cheezledzul]

Purchased a Star Rod Stella 7ft Medium-Fast and Diawa BG 3000. Thanks for your help!

 

(Please criticize everything I'm using/buying if you think necessary. Please bless me with your wisdom. I'm pretty new to the gear world.)

 

*Looking for a rod around $100 for freshwater bass.*
Preferably 7', 1 piece, Fast & M or MH or H (which rating. suggestions?)

"Best" power rating? 

 

Is there a big difference between 2pc&1pc aside from convenience? Much more sensitive? I was told the action begins at the base on a 1pc and at the middle/only the tip on a 2pc. That same person also said there isnt a difference btw 1&2pc so now I dont understand...

 

*Purchasing a Daiwa BG 3000 spinner*

 

Using:

- 4"-5" senkos yum dinger or gambler fat ace & occasionally some spinners
- 3/0 VMC widegap offset hooks
- 3/16oz bullet slip sinkers
- Powerpro braided line. (15lb test or 10?)

 

If you have any suggestions on a rod and anything I should change for my rig please let me know. 

 

I was told today at a local shop that I shouldn't use braided line on a spinner and floro would be better. Especially when casting. Opinions?

 

I've done a ton of research and been talking to a buddy from Florida. Theres so much gear I'm having trouble finding the right rod and my chat with a local shop manager contradicted most of what I've learned. I live in metro NY so serious fishing buds are hard to find. I've been fishing for a while but never really got into the gear side of it. 

 

Thanks in advance. Sorry for the long post. 

[RichF]

Eeek! That person at the local shop is off a bit.  Light fluoro is fine on spinning reels but it's not the best for beginners.  Light braid is great on spinning gear.  I prefer 1 pc rods but if you want the convenience and portability of a two pc, it's no biggie.  Using braid will up the sensitivity factor.  I suggest 15 or 20 lb.  As for a rod, there are a ton of good options in the $100 price range.  The Dobyns Fury line has a huge following.  Falcon Bucoo, Shimano Exage (new SLX looks good), St. Croix Bass X (for a few bucks more, the Mojo), the list goes on and on.  Because there are so many decent rods in that price range, I'd suggest researching warranties and basing your decision off that.  Having a good replacement option if you break a rod is always a deciding factor for me. 

[islandbass]

If you need the convenience of a 2-piece rod, then get one. If not, then get one. Not much performance difference imho and I am one who uses both and in whose hands an ugly stik is sensitive. Today’s 2-piece rods are crafted so much better that the old belief sensitivity is lost significantly is not true any longer for a well built 2-piece. 

 

I can’t give a rod recommendation by way of brand because I haven’t bought a rod in a very long time. But for what you want to do generally a medium powered rod is probably decent for fishing senko style baits if the weight of the bait and weight fall within the lure weight range if the rod. 

 

I would also also try to get about a 7’ rod for ease of casting and line control if possible. Also, as a minimum requirement, the guides on those rods must be made of at least aluminum oxide. I don’t compromise here. I also don’t care for the look of micro guides so standard looking guides. 

 

Line choice is up to you. I use primarily mono or some type of copolymer line that is economical.  I do like power pro if I had to go with braid.  

 

Last thing to point out. A 5” senko weighs 3/8 oz all by itself so I get amused when people tell me they can cast a “weightless” senko a country mile. They had better, the darned thing is so heavy, lol. So if you add a 3/16 oz weight to a 5” senko, that is a just about but not quite 1/2 oz. You will probably want to make sure your rod’s upper limit is at least 5/8 oz or a little more like 3/4oz. 

[cheezledzul]

 

22 hours ago, RichF said:

Because there are so many decent rods in that price range, I'd suggest researching warranties and basing your decision off that.  Having a good replacement option if you break a rod is always a deciding factor for me. 

 

18 hours ago, islandbass said:

So if you add a 3/16 oz weight to a 5” senko, that is a just about but not quite 1/2 oz. You will probably want to make sure your rod’s upper limit is at least 5/8 oz or a little more like 3/4oz. 

Awesome, thanks both of you. Actually used both posts to make my decision. Sorry I didnt get to post earlier worked my 9-5 then 630-12 jobs today. 

 

Bought a Star Rod Stella Light 7ft medium on sale from dicks along with the Daiwa BG 3000 also on sale from dicks. $80 and $89 respectively. I was between the mojo, dobyns and star. The dobyns I only found right before falling asleep last night and then saw your recommendation and the mojo I could have gotten for $110 but decided to go with the star rod off of a friends reccomendation and I read the warranty is lifetime and I can go to dicks with a receipt and get a replacement if in stock. which it wont be where i live but easy enough. 

 

I'm really hoping i made the right choice. Didnt get enough research on the dobyns for my usual liking. The mojo was suggested a few times to me on reddit but all the posts there were not very thorough. not like here. I read some bad reviews on amazon that turned me off slightly. I figured i should save the $30 for all new hooks, bait, and line. 

 

If I dont love it chances are I'll be looking to try out a baitcaster in the near (hopefully not too) future. Plus I'll birdnest my friends rods when I go visit him in a few months for a poor recommendation lol ?. 

 

Will also be getting another rod, maybe smaller? For my girlfriend/whoever to use in the tandem kayak with me. What do you think about 5.5-6.5 ft rods for kayak fishing? Stick to 7'?

 

Any opinions?

Thanks again! Good luck out there!

 

Oh and forgot to check/have no clue if it will fit in my impreza hatch lol. If not I'll have to use my uncles method with 2 of my ski racks lol. 

[islandbass]

I have a corolla and it can handle 7’ Rod’s if you lower the back seats and place the rods in the middle. The tips will be up front with you nearly riding shotgun, lol

 

this is the one plus of 2-piece rods, the storage convenience factor. 

 

As for kayak fishing I could only guess a longer rod is probably better generally speaking. Two things I’d do is check out “kayak” rods and see what their average  lengths companies use. This will give you at least an idea. The other is to wait for input for our kayak fishing brethren here. 

 

If you could, please report back on that Daiwa BG. I’ve been eyeing it for the longest time but Not yet willing to pull the trigger. 

[cheezledzul]

6 hours ago, islandbass said:

If you could, please report back on that Daiwa BG. I’ve been eyeing it for the longest time but Not yet willing to pull the trigger. 

Our rods are probably more faithful than any woman we'd have sitting shotgun anyways. ?

 

No problem. The gear should arrive next Wednesday so by next weekend I'll hopefully be using it. Anything specific youd like me to look out for/report back on? Since I'm new to gear your specifics may help me appreciate the reel better anyways. Maybe you'll need opinions on something I would usually overlook. 

I'm also going to fish lake george first weekend of august with my cousin who's more experienced. I'll ask his opinion. My buddy from FL loves the reel for freshwater and inshore salt. 

 

Do you have any opinions/changes/additions on the rig I'll be using for bass? Mostly medium and smaller lakes. Both from kayak and shore. I think I'd use the same lures just different technique?

Using:

- 4"-5" senkos yum dinger or gambler fat ace & occasionally some spinners(Colorado) 
- 3/0 VMC widegap offset hooks
- 3/16oz bullet slip sinkers
- Powerpro braided line 15lbs. (Or 20lb test?)

 

Is it light colors in clear water, natural/dark in murky? 

What time of the day would i use senkos vs spinners? I was told in general spinners are better for spring spawning and senko are better now.

 

Sorry for another long post, as you can prob tell I'm super excited. 

Thanks again for your response. 

[J Francho]

 

[new2BC4bass]

3/8 + 3/16 = 9/16 so half way between 1/2 and 5/8 oz.  Don't mind me.  I'm just keeping myself occupied during lunch. 

[cheezledzul]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

 

Yes, thank you, but if you read my thread you would have noticed I already made my purchase. I did my research and read through those stickied posts. I was asking for more specific recommendations to go with the rigs I chose to use and specifications I thought I needed. I had specific questions I needed and would like answered.

 

Do you have any recommendations based off my last few questions? 

32 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

3/8 + 3/16 = 9/16 so half way between 1/2 and 5/8 oz.  Don't mind me.  I'm just keeping myself occupied during lunch. 

 

On 7/17/2018 at 12:40 PM, islandbass said:

Last thing to point out. A 5” senko weighs 3/8 oz all by itself so I get amused when people tell me they can cast a “weightless” senko a country mile. They had better, the darned thing is so heavy, lol. So if you add a 3/16 oz weight to a 5” senko, that is a just about but not quite 1/2 oz. You will probably want to make sure your rod’s upper limit is at least 5/8 oz or a little more like 3/4oz. 

 

So I believe my rod's lure weight is 1/4-3/4oz. With the 5" senko, 3/16oz weight and 3/0 wide gap offset hooks I am right at the upper end of the rods lure weight. Is this going to mess up my cast? I believe it comes out to between 2/4 and 3/4 without the hooks weight (not sure what that is). Do I need to use smaller senkos or lighter weights? I didnt realize this was going to be a problem. Might have messed up

[J Francho]

These threads don't exist in a vacuum, many others read them.  Someone might be looking for the best rod under $100, and see this.  Then they can see my links to the multitudes of threads about the best rod for $100, and not have to start yet another thread.  Make sense?

[new2BC4bass]

I'm not islandbass, but if the rod's ratings are true, then you should be fine.

[cheezledzul]

I apologize if my previous comment came off rude. I'm apart of a lot of forums and a lot of times when people are asking for recommendations you'll get 15 people scolding or posting the stickied thread instead of answering the legitimate questions. I understand if its generic questions/posts but I think it's better spending the minuet you spend forwarding the links on answering the question. 

 

I so again it wasnt my intent to be rude. I saw you were a mod and from past experience, was trying to keep my thread from being locked. I checked the rules and didnt think i was breaking them. 

[J Francho]

You're all good.  This is VERY large forum, and sometimes we get inundated with similar threads.  Sometimes I can merge them, but other times, like this thread, the questions are unique.  I and other moderators often drop in links stickies as "public service."  Thanks for understanding.

 

Side note, I'm a member first - an average joe fisherman -and moderator only when have to be.