Help this rookie out.

[JohnnyRebTX]

Hey all. I'm not new to fishing, but I am to fishing with baitcasters. I own about ten spinning setups, and I figure it's about time to learn baitcasters. Better late than never. I have searched through the pages for information and found lots of good advice. (Y'all always give great advice. Thank you) 

Anyways, I'm looking to buy my first casting  rod and reel very soon. Budget will be around $200. I already own a setup that I like for worming. (St croix mojo bass +Shimano Nasci)

I already own a topwater setup that I enjoy. (Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0+Okuma Inspira)

This setup will be solely for heavier baits since I've read most casting setups excel at that application. 

Help me select my first casting rod and reel. I read most of y'all suggest the Daiwa Tatula CT in the $100 range for beginners. Abu Garcia Revo & Shimanos are right behind that reel. Then there's a few Lew's fans on here. I'm leaning towards the Daiwa from y'alls input.

What model would suit me best? I'm right handed, but I got use to using a spinning setup. I think I would still like a right-handed caster even though I'm a spinning guy. I cast better right-handed, and I can just switch hands to reel. 

Next question is what rod do I pair it with the $100 price range?

The Tatula XT? A St Croix Bass X?

Maybe a Lew's TP-1 speed stick? 

Something else?

Thank y'all for any and all advice. Mucho appreciated!!!

[AO2point4]

Search around eBay, I recently got a brand new Shimano Curado I for $108 from a very much trusted seller.  I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post their name on here so PM me if you'd like to know.  I'll let others give their input on rods, but anything from St. Croix and the great state of Wisconsin will fullfill your needs I'm sure.

[new2BC4bass]

38 minutes ago, AO2point4 said:

Search around eBay, I recently got a brand new Shimano Curado I for $108 from a very much trusted seller.  I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post their name on here so PM me if you'd like to know.  I'll let others give their input on rods, but anything from St. Croix and the great state of Wisconsin will fullfill your needs I'm sure.

It has been my limited experience that if it gets blanked out here, it will get blanked out in a PM.

 

I am a huge fan of the original Tatula rods.  Mine were all purchased for $100 or less.

 

EDIT:  American Legacy has them on sale for $99.99

[TylerT123]

How heavy of lures are you going to use?

[LonnieP]

Another vote for the original Tatula rod. No other rod comes close in its price range. 

[islandbass]

I am assuming you fish with the left hand cranking your spinning reel. Before you buy a RH casting reel take your favorite spinning set up and switch the handle to the other side and fish with it. Retrieve line,fight a few fish, and work a few lures. 

 

If it still feels equally comfortable to fishing the way you normally do, then go for it. Get an RH reel. 

 

If not, then only get the RH if and only if your intention is to train yourself to learn and retrain your brain and body to fish the opposite way. 

 

I am willing to bet a floating Rapala minnow that it will not only feel odd, you won’t feel comfortable.

 

Just trying to save you the hassle of finding out the hard way you didn’t like it after the fact. 

 

Reel recommendations? Curado or Tatula. These are imho the all-around reels with solid reps behind them. 

 

[JohnnyRebTX]

10 hours ago, TylerT123 said:

How heavy of lures are you going to use?

1/4-3/4 oz mostly 

[TylerT123]

3 hours ago, islandbass said:

I am assuming you fish with the left hand cranking your spinning reel. Before you buy a RH casting reel take your favorite spinning set up and switch the handle to the other side and fish with it. Retrieve line,fight a few fish, and work a few lures. 

 

If it still feels equally comfortable to fishing the way you normally do, then go for it. Get an RH reel. 

 

If not, then only get the RH if and only if your intention is to train yourself to learn and retrain your brain and body to fish the opposite way. 

 

I am willing to bet a floating Rapala minnow that it will not only feel odd, you won’t feel comfortable.

 

Just trying to save you the hassle of finding out the hard way you didn’t like it after the fact. 

 

Reel recommendations? Curado or Tatula. These are imho the all-around reels with solid reps behind them. 

 

X2 on everything 

[JohnnyRebTX]

20 hours ago, TylerT123 said:

X2 on everything 

I'll play with the lefties and righties. See what feels better. I figured someone would suggest that (for good reason I know, I know). I'm right handed. Grew up on spincasters. Spinners were odd to me at first, but I grew to enjoy them.  I'm not surprised at the reel suggestions, but I am a little bit at the rod advice. I thought most everyone on here picks G Loomis or St Croix over the rest. Lotta love for the Tatula rod. Interesting.

[TylerT123]

16 minutes ago, JohnnyRebTX said:

I'll play with the lefties and righties. See what feels better. I figured someone would suggest that (for good reason I know, I know). I'm right handed. Grew up on spincasters. Spinners were odd to me at first, but I grew to enjoy them.  I'm not surprised at the reel suggestions, but I am a little bit at the rod advice. I thought most everyone on here picks G Loomis or St Croix over the rest. Lotta love for the Tatula rod. Interesting.

St. Croix Rods aren’t bad but there are lighter rods out there and G. Loomis Rods aren’t in your price range.

[LionHeart]

I'm a Lews reel fan, but I gotta admit the Diawa Tatula reels have a better brake system(magforce), or at least in the same price range.  If you can find one for 100, jump on it.  As for rods, the original Tatula rods can be had for $100 on EBay.  Dare I say you will not get more rod for the money.  They are outstanding.

 

What weights are you looking to throw?

[JohnnyRebTX]

1 hour ago, LionHeart said:

I'm a Lews reel fan, but I gotta admit the Diawa Tatula reels have a better brake system(magforce), or at least in the same price range.  If you can find one for 100, jump on it.  As for rods, the original Tatula rods can be had for $100 on EBay.  Dare I say you will not get more rod for the money.  They are outstanding.

 

What weights are you looking to throw?

1/4oz-3/4oz baits mostly. I don't have much that would weigh more than that. 

I have a pretty decent lure collection for a novice. I just pick out stuff I haven't thrown before, watch some youtube tutorials, and practice with them.

[LionHeart]

19 minutes ago, JohnnyRebTX said:

1/4oz-3/4oz baits mostly. I don't have much that would weigh more than that. 

I have a pretty decent lure collection for a novice. I just pick out stuff I haven't thrown before, watch some youtube tutorials, and practice with them.

The original Tatula Med/Heavy 7'2" is rated 1/4-1 oz.  It throws 1/4 well, and even though I believe it could handle an ounce, about 3/4 is where it starts to get above its sweet spot.  

 

Diawa for some reason rated it as a "Regular" action which is supposed to be on the fast side of moderate-fast but if you line 10 guys up and don't tell them the rod rating, they will all say it is a medium heavy, fast action rod.

 

I use it mainly for lighter jigs and texas rigs because it handles light weights well, but is also great up to around 3/4 oz total lure weight.

 

Very sensitive and well built rod.   The only thing I'd change is maybe add a little length to the handle but other than that, it's pretty near perfect.

 

Definitely worth some consideration, especially for $100.

[JohnnyRebTX]

Y'all convinced me.

Daiwa Tatula ct and original Tatula rod 7'2" M/H it is.

Now, which model and gear ratio? 

Is it just personal preference at this point?

[Texan89]

16 minutes ago, JohnnyRebTX said:

Y'all convinced me.

Daiwa Tatula ct and original Tatula rod 7'2" M/H it is.

Now, which model and gear ratio? 

Is it just personal preference at this point?

Some people tailor their gear ratio to the type of bait they are throwing or certain techniques , while others just prefer speeding up or slowing down their hand to get similar results but stick to 1 gear ratio. Personally I prefer mine in the 7.4:1 range tho I do have a 6.something on a rod I tend to crank with. So basically it’s what you like. But 7.whatever is a good all around ratio.

[Boomstick]

I too will recommend a Tatula rod. I got my 6'10" MH/F for $110 and my 7'2" MH/MF glass cranking rod for $120, and for the price, you're not going to beat it. I run Tatula SV reels with both, which are great braking reels.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

You'd have to try to go wrong with any name brand reel msrp >$100. Put the rest of your budget toward the best 7' MH/fast rod you can. Fwiw I'm right handed and use mostly left hand casting reels. If you don't go with a daiwa, look for something with centrifugal or dual brakes. 

[LionHeart]

Gear ratio? Too easy, 7 speed will do everything well except magnum crank baits.  If I could only choose one reel speed, it'd be 7 speed no contest.

[Boomstick]

19 hours ago, LionHeart said:

Gear ratio? Too easy, 7 speed will do everything well except magnum crank baits.  If I could only choose one reel speed, it'd be 7 speed no contest.

I like 6.3:1 better if you're ever going to fish a spinnerbait or a crankbait on it. 7 is great for jigs and soft plastics. Personally, I find it easier to speed up than slow down.

[LionHeart]

4 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I like 6.3:1 better if you're ever going to fish a spinnerbait or a crankbait on it. 7 is great for jigs and soft plastics. Personally, I find it easier to speed up than slow down.

This is one of those things that come down to preference.  Some people find it easier to turn the reel handle faster to speed up, others like myself find it easier to slow down if need be.

 

IMO a 7 speed has the edge because it can always be as slow as a 6 speed but a 6 speed can never be as fast as a 7 speed.  The only time it would really matter is when you need to take up line quickly, and even then there isn't a world of difference.

 

I do have a couple of 6 speeds that I use for those lures that impose large amounts of drag like a big spinner bait or deep diving crankbait.  It is during those times I find the extra torque nice to have.

 

It'd be silly to not just get which ever you find the best deal on, at some point you'll likely have each.

[Boomstick]

3 hours ago, LionHeart said:

This is one of those things that come down to preference.  Some people find it easier to turn the reel handle faster to speed up, others like myself find it easier to slow down if need be.

 

IMO a 7 speed has the edge because it can always be as slow as a 6 speed but a 6 speed can never be as fast as a 7 speed.  The only time it would really matter is when you need to take up line quickly, and even then there isn't a world of difference.

 

I do have a couple of 6 speeds that I use for those lures that impose large amounts of drag like a big spinner bait or deep diving crankbait.  It is during those times I find the extra torque nice to have.

 

It'd be silly to not just get which ever you find the best deal on, at some point you'll likely have each.

Yeah exactly. Like I said, I find it easier to speed up. My "natural rhythm" or whatever makes me find myself cranking faster than I should even on a 6.3:1 reel and I have to conscientiously think about it to slow down.

[Mikeltee]

The faster the better in my opinion. Not just because you can possibly cover more water by cruising the bait back when its out of the strike zone, but more importantly there is less reeling. 50years of fishing can take a toll on your wrists. Its not like we are wrestling 1000# tunas and need the torque.