First Baitcaster

[NorthTXWader]

So I am new to taking fishing somewhat seriously. I have a 6’6” MediumLight Fast rod with a 30 size spinning reel. My preferred method of fishing is wading in creeks so this works great for that application. I’m looking to add a baitcaster to help open up my fishing. I’m wanting something that will allow me to handle the bigger fish from the banks and docks, that I could still take to the creeks. Eventually I want to get a kayak. So I want something that will be versatile, knowing full well that there might be better set ups for specific baits/casts.

 

So I’m leaning towards a 7’ MediumHeavy. I’ve never used a baitcaster so I have no preference on reel break types. I’m wanting to keep it at $200. Here’s what I’ve been looking at. Let me know what you would do.
 

Rods: 

• Lews TP1
• Falcon Bucoo SR
• St Croix Bass X
• Daiwa Tatula XT

Reels:

• Shimano SLX
• Daiwa Fuego CT
• Lew’s Speed Spool LFS

Combo: 

• Lew’s Mach Crush

 

 

Thank y’all 

[Dirtyeggroll]

Can’t go wrong with any of the above in any combination. Pick whatever is most appealing to you. All are good, the rest is really just personal preference.

 

Happy fishing!

[Shimano_1]

I agree all are excellent choices.  I do think the daiwa reel would be the better choice for a beginner.  Their braking system is superior in my opinion. Good luck

[WRB]

What weight and type of lures do you plan to use??

Spinning you can get away with snap casting or not letting the rod load up to cast lures. 

Try this with bait casters and you run into trouble. The bait casting rod needs to luanch the lure so lure weight and aerodynamics come into play.

Mh fast rod may be too stiff for lighter weight lures, good for bottom contact lures like heavier jigs and T-rigged soft plastics.

Tom

[NYWayfarer]

I mainly river fish for Smallmouth Bass both on the banks and from a kayak.

 

I have the Lew’s LFS, TP1 and the Mach Crush combo. I use them for topwater poppers, spooks, Ploppers, T-rigs, weightless worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs. 
 

 My spinning gear is reserved for dropshotting, Ned rigs, lighter lures like in-line spinners and other finesse baits.

[NorthTXWader]

It would be used a lot for Jigs, larger swimbaits, some crankbaits, heavy plastics, and frogs. Ploppers, normal plastics/rigs, and most crankbaits would be used on my lighter spinning rod.

[MN Fisher]

Are you talking the 2oz+ swimbaits or the soft-plastic swimbaits that are 1oz or less? If it's the heavy, solid ones, those require a rod that would be unsuited for the rest...and a rod to handle the rest would be unsuited to the swimbaits.

 

I also wouldn't toss ploppers or cranks on a ML rod - I use a spinner on a medium rod for smaller cranks (under 1/2 oz) - my ML rig is for drop-shots, weighless wacky and ned-rigs...anything heavier goes to the medium or my baitcasters.

[FryDog62]

I would lean Daiwa Fuego reel, the Lew’s I’ve had at that price range tend to wear/squeal within a couple years.  
 

I think any of those rods could work, although I would not opt for the St. Croix.  MH and H in the SC lineup are thicker, tip-heavy rods.  

[JustJames]

If it were me, I would get Daiwa Tatula XT MH/F pair with Shimano SLX. I use this similar setup a lot for Texas rig, no weight 4/5” senko, Fat Ika 3/8oz Jig and even some top water.

[PhishLI]

12 hours ago, NorthTXWader said:

So I am new to taking fishing somewhat seriously. I have a 6’6” MediumLight Fast rod with a 30 size spinning reel. My preferred method of fishing is wading in creeks so this works great for that application.

 

A Dobyns FR703C runs on the light side for a MH and would be a good start if you're stuck on a 7' stick. I prefer a stouter 7'3" MHF if I'm on a one-rod-only wade. I can throw lots of baits from 1/4oz to 3/4oz as it's length and added leverage can overcome some of the limitations of it's stiffness with lighter weights as will a longer lure drop before casting. Adjustments of drag can compensate here when throwing treble baits.

 

If you're coming from a medium light spinning setup there's no doubt that you whip your casts. Everyone does, well except for the guy that might respond to this post saying that he never does. Putting him aside, this can make starting with a magnetic braking system more challenging during your transition to baitcasters. That said, if I was forced to live with only one reel it would be a Daiwa, however that's not where I'd recommend you should start. If the reel has to be one from your list, then I'd go with the SLX, but upgrade to the XT for 20$ more. The external fine adjustment is worth it. I'm not saying there's less of a learning curve, but it's definitely different. I just feel that the transition from light spinning to baitcasters is better served here. Centrifugals may over run and fluff up midcast, but you're less likely to get an instant backlash when you whip the rod. This will happen with a magnetic brake. I've seen too many guys coming from spinners who were afraid of a baitcaster to begin with give up because of linear mag brakes like the Lew's or even Daiwa's Magforce. In time you'll figure out that it's not necessary to whip casts with a baitcaster. Once your casting mechanics and thumb coordination are developed it may turn out that you'll prefer an advanced magnetic brake like Magforce Z like I do, or even a reel with hybrid brakes. Maybe you'll ultimately stick with centrifugally braked reels like Shimano, but I would start there for sure.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

I've seen too many guys coming from spinners who were afraid of a baitcaster to begin with give up because of linear mag brakes like the Lew's or even Daiwa's Magforce.

The standard Magforce, I'd agree with you, but the Fuego CT has the Magforce-Z...which is a much more forgiving brake than a standard mag-system - like on my President.

[Bird]

I've been quite impressed with the Kastking Speed Demon pro, rod and reel for the money. 

 

I have the 7'3 heavy/fast for 1oz jigs, magnum flukes, frogs, punching and baits that require backbone.

 

I like your other suggestions as well.

 

My other baitcaster which I really like is a Abu Garcia Orra SX on a 7' med Fenwick, making it quite versatile for many applications.....I'd actually start with 7' med.

 

I really enjoy finesse fishing and do so on all spinning tackle. 

[PhishLI]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

The standard Magforce, I'd agree with you, but the Fuego CT has the Magforce-Z...which is a much more forgiving brake than a standard mag-system - like on my President.

If you were a bird in a tree at my lake you'd probably see me fishing with at least one Fuego, maybe two. Love that reel. It's still not what I recommend to new guys coming from spinning.

[Tizi]

All good choices, Fuego CT and Tatula XT would be my choice.

[Joshua van Wyk]

id take a hard look at the Slx combo. Great value!

[new2BC4bass]

4 hours ago, NorthTXWader said:

It would be used a lot for Jigs, larger swimbaits, some crankbaits, heavy plastics, and frogs. Ploppers, normal plastics/rigs, and most crankbaits would be used on my lighter spinning rod.

I was going to suggest a Medium power rod until you posted this.  But now?  Jeez, you might want to consider a Heavy power rod depending on total weight.  One with a little softer tip.  Can't offer any suggestions, tho.  Possibly a Bucoo SR Heavy.  Falcons I have used (no Bucoos) tend to fish a bit light.  Also have a nice tip.

 

I learned on an OG Fuego...Magforce Z.  Was quite a learning curve for me at 61 years old.  PhishLI might have a valid point.  Wouldn't know as you can't learn twice.    Although after sending out a few reels at the end of my first season with baitcast reels, I was informed my cast controls were set way too tight.  Loosening them up to where they belonged was almost like learning again.    I overran/backlashed a lot, but at least my lures were going in the right direction. 

[Grim_Reaver]

15 hours ago, NorthTXWader said:

new to taking fishing somewhat seriously

A 7'M will cover anything you need (poppers, spooks, texas rigs, finesse jigs, 3-4" swimbaits, small spinnerbaits/underspins). 12lb mono will get the job done easily (a bass can't pull anywhere near as hard as a bull redfish). If you're fishing from the bank and in creeks you don't need a whole assortment of lures. Keep it simple and learn the basics, location and fish activity is way more important than what lure you're using. A bass is a simple creature and will eat anything it can fit it's mouth around.

[Glaucus]

The Fuego is more user friendly and more forgiving to novice baitcast anglers. 

 

Awhile back I had a spare rod sitting around without a reel. I was trying to decide between the SLX and the Speed Spool. Ultimately I went with the Speed Spool because the SLX is tiny; it doesn't hold as much line and it has a much lower IPT by gear ratio compared to the Speed Spool. I only used it once due to certain circumstances, but it was smooth and very palmable. I like the Speed Spool better than the Fuego because 1. I can use any baitcaster due to experience and 2. It fits in my hand a lot better; the Fuego is a big tank. If you have small hands like me and you're not afraid of the learning curve, I'd consider the Speed Spool.

[Hammer 4]

Rod..Diawa Tatula XT

 

Reel...Diawa Fuego.

 

I have both of these...

[kayaking_kev]

Tatula and Fuego if you want a reel with external brake control, but the SLX is a little better IMO. The SLX is smoother and weighs less. For a little bit more I would get the Shimano SLX XT, it has the same smoothness, but it has external and internal brakes.

 

I would check out the Fury's though like someone mentioned. The Fury 703c is a very versatile rod, I pair mine with a Shimano SLX or a Lew's Tournament MB depending on how I'm feeling but both balance well with the Fury.

[galyonj]

FWIW, my newest rig is a 7'2" MH/F Lew's TP1 Black with a 6.8 LFS. I sometimes wish the gearing on the reel was a touch faster, but I have absolutely zero complaints about the reel or the rod.

 

Lew's is putting out some pretty legit stuff.

[Shimano_1]

7 hours ago, kayaking_kev said:

Tatula and Fuego if you want a reel with external brake control, but the SLX is a little better IMO. The SLX is smoother and weighs less. For a little bit more I would get the Shimano SLX XT, it has the same smoothness, but it has external and internal brakes.

 

I would check out the Fury's though like someone mentioned. The Fury 703c is a very versatile rod, I pair mine with a Shimano SLX or a Lew's Tournament MB depending on how I'm feeling but both balance well with the Fury.

Just the opposite of my opinion.  To me yes the slx is smaller but that's where it ends. The Fuego is just as smooth, smoother under a load, and much more free feeling than the slx. Never tried the xt but the regular didn't impress me much once I got it on the water. Plus daiwas braking system is far superior in my opinion.  Obviously people view things differently,  lots of love for the slx.  To me it felt like a toy, almost too small. Be great for kids or anyone with small hands or just prefers tiny reels. In the 99 range I'd go Fuego ct, revo x, speed spool,  then slx. Or the tatula 100 for 99 is ne and r impossible to beat. There's several places clearancing out the citica i reels as well. Tons of options for sure. I'd go somewhere and see what "you" think.

[kayaking_kev]

If you're interested in the Lew's LFS, you might want to keep a lookout for the Lew's Tournament MB. I picked one up at Dicks a couple weeks ago for $80. It was on sale for $100 and then they had a 20% off sale, which they have a lot. It's being replaced by the Tournament MP.

[swhit140]

I'd go Fuego CT mounted on a Falcon BuCoo SR 7' MH or HVY depending on your intended application. That can put you around $170-185 depending where you buy from.

[galyonj]

17 hours ago, kayaking_kev said:

If you're interested in the Lew's LFS, you might want to keep a lookout for the Lew's Tournament MB. I picked one up at Dicks a couple weeks ago for $80. It was on sale for $100 and then they had a 20% off sale, which they have a lot. It's being replaced by the Tournament MP.

It's gonna be part of TW's christmas sale, too. I'm seriously considering picking one up.