Best Cheap Rods/Reels/Combos

[JacksonStorm]

You guys got any of your favorite setups or good deals you would recommend? Looking to add to my arsenal.

[MN Fisher]

Most of my arsenal is inexpensive. It would help to know what type of fishing you're planning on doing. Between my 5 rigs I can handle anything except heavy punching/swimbaits/topwaters...though I can do the lighter ones.

[Junger]

Stating a budget would help give people an idea of to recommend.

[Deleted account]

SLX Combo for $125.99 TYD from ALF&O (hope I'm not breaking any rules) is hard to beat IMNSHO. (Monkey got me on that one) I would also consider getting separate rod/reel starting with a Fuego, Mettle or Black Max depending on your budget. Lots of good sticks for little money out there. Finally some of the "more basic" Lew's combos are pretty decent.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I bought a 8:2:1 SLX reel for flipping, liked it so much bought another to replace a Lew's. Excellent budget reel, I don't know about the rods.

[EGbassing]

3 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

I bought a 8:2:1 SLX reel for flipping, liked it so much bought another to replace a Lew's. Excellent budget reel, I don't know about the rods.

+1. I just got one for all around stuff and I love it.

[new2BC4bass]

Spinning or baitcasting?

[Glaucus]

How cheap is cheap?

 

A Berkley Lightning rod and Abu Garcia Silver Max reel is cheap and decent, and can be had for $100 retail or cheaper with sales and deals like on Amazon.

 

A Daiwa Aird X rod and Daiwa Fuego CT reel is the best budget setup, in my opinion. The setup can be had for $165 retail or much cheaper if you again use Amazon.

 

A Dobyns Fury rod with a Daiwa Tatula CT reel would probably be the best setup for the best economical cost. The setup can be had for $250 retail or cheaper with sales or utilizing Amazon. 

 

There are many more options too. These are just ones that stand out best to me personally. 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Glaucus said:

A Daiwa Aird X rod and Daiwa Fuego CT reel is the best budget setup, in my opinion. The setup can be had for $165 retail or much cheaper if you again use Amazon.

Awww how sweet - he likes my #1 rig.

 

My cost using Amazon for that rig was $129.

[Glaucus]

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Awww how sweet - he likes my #1 rig.

 

My cost using Amazon for that rig was $129.

I got that setup for my son and it's great. Hasn't caught a fish with it yet, but the rod has good feel and good components for $55. Seems like it should cost at least $80. The Fuego on his rod is why I decided to put Fuegos on my Furys. Much cheaper than Tatulas on Amazon. If I didn't have OCD about my Tatula rods having Tatula reels, I'd have regretted not having all Fuegos for the cost.

[Glaucus]

10 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Most of my arsenal is inexpensive. It would help to know what type of fishing you're planning on doing. Between my 5 rigs I can handle anything except heavy punching/swimbaits/topwaters...though I can do the lighter ones.

Any medium rod you have will cover the 90 WP, and your heavy Aird X will handle the 110 WP and more.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Glaucus said:

Any medium rod you have will cover the 90 WP, and your heavy Aird X will handle the 110 WP and more.

I mention in the 'Dedicated Rods' thread that I can handle up to the 130 WP with what I have now - as well as smaller swimbaits. Next year I might get a heavier rig for the larger WPs and Swimbaits.