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Posted

I am sure you guys get this a lot but hear me out. I am new-ish to fishing and i want some advice. I have only gone a few times when i was 12 and now i am 28 and want to get a little more serious. I live in south east Michigan and I want to know what a good setup is for bass fishing. I am talking rods reels tackle and general information on bass fishing. I.E. feeding times good water temperatures and stuff like that. I am going to start out on land but my uncle has a 16ft aluminum v hull boat I can use to do some good boat fishing. My starting budget for tackle rods and reels is $200 but I can spend more if it makes sense.   


Thank you everyone. 

  • Super User
Posted

You could get the Abu black max combo at wal mart for 70 dollars , then you would have to learn to cast it . Some 12 lb test Big Game then make sure lures fall in the range the rod is rated for . 

Posted

Buy Dobyns fury rods for $100 and Daiwa fuego ct for $100 although they can be found for cheaper if you look around. Keep your baits and lure selection simple. Black/blues/ green pumpkin color for soft baits and light and dark color hardbaits. Spinnerbaits white is all you need. Line I suggest 12-15lb big game for general purpose and 40-50lb braid for frogs and heavy cover. 15lb braid for spinning reels. It’s worked for me the last 25 years. Good luck 

  • Like 1
Posted
32 minutes ago, MattyV said:

I am sure you guys get this a lot but hear me out. I am new-ish to fishing and i want some advice. I have only gone a few times when i was 12 and now i am 28 and want to get a little more serious. I live in south east Michigan and I want to know what a good setup is for bass fishing. I am talking rods reels tackle and general information on bass fishing. I.E. feeding times good water temperatures and stuff like that. I am going to start out on land but my uncle has a 16ft aluminum v hull boat I can use to do some good boat fishing. My starting budget for tackle rods and reels is $200 but I can spend more if it makes sense.   


Thank you everyone. 

I’d go with a Shimano slx combo(medium heavy 7ft). Put some 30lb powerpro on there( make sure to put mono or fluoro backing on first) and use a 12-14lb mono leader. You be able to do everything fairly well with that combo

Posted

I actually have a Ugly Stik G2X with a spinning reel i bought a few years back but i have never used it. Is that okay or should i go get something else? I see a lot of good recommendations so far. 

  • Super User
Posted
10 minutes ago, MattyV said:

I actually have a Ugly Stik G2X with a spinning reel i bought a few years back but i have never used it. Is that okay or should i go get something else? I see a lot of good recommendations so far. 

Depending on the reel you have, and the specs on the rod - that's a very viable starting point. Until a couple years ago, one of my main rigs was a spinning reel on a GX2.

Posted
12 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Depending on the reel you have, and the specs on the rod - that's a very viable starting point. Until a couple years ago, one of my main rigs was a spinning reel on a GX2.

It has a Quantum Optix 30 Spinning reel on it currently 

  • Super User
Posted
2 minutes ago, MattyV said:

It has a Quantum Optix 30 Spinning reel on it currently 

Specs on the rod? Should be printed just in front of the handle (Line and Lure weights.)

  • Super User
Posted

DSG is having a sale on the Lew’s Carbon Fire rods and reels. Combined with a $20 off $100 spent you can get a nice deal.

 

I would go for a medium action Carbon Fire spinning rod $49.98 with a size 300 Carbon Fire spinning reel $59.98 = $109.96 - $20 = $89.96

  • Super User
Posted
1 minute ago, NYWayfarer said:

DSG is having a sale on the Lew’s Carbon Fire rods and reels. Combined with a $20 off $100 spent you can get a nice deal.

 

I would go for a medium action Carbon Fire spinning rod $49.98 with a size 300 Carbon Fire spinning reel $59.98 = $109.96 - $20 = $89.96

If his current rod is like my old GX2 - then why not concentrate on lures for now. The Optix he has matches up well with my Trion-30 - and I did quite a few different presentations on the Trion/GX2 combo.

  • Like 1
Posted
6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Specs on the rod? Should be printed just in front of the handle (Line and Lure weights.)

6'6" Action:Medium (6-15 lb line)

I have no tackle at all. What would be a good setup for bass? 

  • Super User
Posted
4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If his current rod is like my old GX2 - then why not concentrate on lures for now. The Optix he has matches up well with my Trion-30 - and I did quite a few different presentations on the Trion/GX2 combo.

Sounds like a plan. I missed the part where he has a rod and reel. I was responding to the original message.

  • Super User
Posted
9 minutes ago, MattyV said:

6'6" Action:Medium (6-15 lb line)

I have no tackle at all. What would be a good setup for bass? 

Okay - that's the same rod I had, the reel is a close match,  and the techniques I used with it are"

 

Texas Rig - 3/8 oz or less bullet weight, 1/0 or 3/0 hook, curly-tail worms or lizards in 6" or less length

Swim Jig - 3/8 oz or less, Craw/Beaver/Paddletail trailer in 4"-5" length

Spinnerbait - 3/8 oz or less, same trailers as swim jig

Chatterbait - 3/8 oz or less, same trailers as swim jig

Crankbait - Rapala DT-4, DT-6, Rattlin' Rap 08 or under, Shad Rap 07 or under

Jerkbait - Rapala Original 09 or under, Rapala Countdown 09 or under

 

Colors - start with 2 or 3 of each - a white, shad, or chartreuse; a black/blue or other dark color; and possibly a middle color like Green Pumpkin or Canada Craw if you go with three.

 

That'll cover a variety of techniques and the entire water column from surface to bottom.

 

Line? I'm particularly fond of Yo-Zuri Hybrid - and I used 10# on my Trion/GX2 rig. Don't forget the KVD Line and Lure Conditioner - it really makes a difference with the Yo-Zuri.

 

Watch YouTube videos on the Bass Resource channel about the techniques using those lures, Glenn does a great job on breaking things down - for now ignore the rod/reel/line recommendations and stick with that rig. Later as you gain experience, you can start upgrading your rod/reel combos.

  • Like 2
  • Super User
Posted

You didn't mention if you want spinning or baitcast.  The vast majority on here will suggest casting unless you specify spinning.  And that doesn't hold true 100% of the time.  :teeth:

 

EDIT:  I did the same thing.  Kept going back to the original post looking for reel type.  Didn't notice you mentioned it in a later post.  MN Fisher gave some good advice.  I've not used Yo-Zuri Hybrid, but personally I'd go with Sufix Elite and forget the line conditioner.  Or Trilene XL.

 

My understanding is the Ugly Stick is the number one selling saltwater rod.  However, not many that frequent bass forums use one once they get deeper into bass fishing.  I would have loved an Ugly Stick in my youth, but couldn't afford one.

 

If you really want another rod and reel (and who doesn't :teeth:), then take a look at a Daiwa Aird X 7'MF rated 1/4-3/4 oz. ($54.99 at TW) and one of Daiwa's spinning reels that run from $50-$80 or a favorite of mine...the Daiwa BG at $110.  Spend the rest on lures.

 

There are several nice options if you want to spend $100 on the rod.  I like my Fenwick HMGs.  Okuma EVX gets good reviews.  I am not a fan of mini guides on spinning rods, but TW has the Okuma Helios on sale...a $180 rod for $100.  Love my Helios mini guide casting rod.  Very light.

  • Super User
Posted

Use the rod and reel you own already. It's perfectly fine for now. Invest in a quality PFD for boating. Spend the rest on baits that have been recommended by the other respondents. If you have any scratch left afterward post again with the balance and you'll get some good recommendations for a quality baitcasting rig priced at your budget.

Posted

Use what you have and invest in a book and lures

 

  • In-Fisherman - Largemouth Bass
  • Robert Montgomery - Better Bass Fishing
  • Ultimate Bass Fishing Library - Advanced Bass Fishing Skills: Best Lures, Techniques and Presentations
Posted
4 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

You didn't mention if you want spinning or baitcast.  The vast majority on here will suggest casting unless you specify spinning.  And that doesn't hold true 100% of the time.  :teeth:

I am not sure what the difference is. Can you please elaborate? 

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Okay - that's the same rod I had, the reel is a close match,  and the techniques I used with it are"

 

Texas Rig - 3/8 oz or less bullet weight, 1/0 or 3/0 hook, curly-tail worms or lizards in 6" or less length

Swim Jig - 3/8 oz or less, Craw/Beaver/Paddletail trailer in 4"-5" length

Spinnerbait - 3/8 oz or less, same trailers as swim jig

Chatterbait - 3/8 oz or less, same trailers as swim jig

Crankbait - Rapala DT-4, DT-6, Rattlin' Rap 08 or under, Shad Rap 07 or under

Jerkbait - Rapala Original 09 or under, Rapala Countdown 09 or under

 

Colors - start with 2 or 3 of each - a white, shad, or chartreuse; a black/blue or other dark color; and possibly a middle color like Green Pumpkin or Canada Craw if you go with three.

 

That'll cover a variety of techniques and the entire water column from surface to bottom.

 

Line? I'm particularly fond of Yo-Zuri Hybrid - and I used 10# on my Trion/GX2 rig. Don't forget the KVD Line and Lure Conditioner - it really makes a difference with the Yo-Zuri.

 

Watch YouTube videos on the Bass Resource channel about the techniques using those lures, Glenn does a great job on breaking things down - for now ignore the rod/reel/line recommendations and stick with that rig. Later as you gain experience, you can start upgrading your rod/reel combos.

Perfect. Thank you.

  • Super User
Posted
8 minutes ago, MattyV said:

I am not sure what the difference is. Can you please elaborate? 

Spinning is what you got - baitcasting is the other style of reel...this is my 'collection' - and yes, they get used.

117639622_2020BCReels.jpg.d30f96ae1ffbcf41ac76320eda2454f8.jpg

8 minutes ago, MattyV said:

Perfect. Thank you.

We're here to help...I'm sure others will have some more suggestions.

Posted

If i was starting out i would buy a pflueger president spinning reel size 30 and maybe a7 foot medium fast tatula xt. Grab some trilene xl 10lb mono and figure out what techniques you want to do and buy some tackle. Going forward when and if you decide to get into a baitcaster id suggest the lower priced daiwa tatula. My next suggestion when you decide to upgrade as money allows invest more in the rod than the reel if you have to choose between the two. Good luck

Posted
4 minutes ago, Nelson Delaney said:

South east Michigan?  I assume the Detroit area?  Forget bass fishing & target musky & sturgeon on lake st Clair 

I am in Shiawassee county in Michigan. I guess its more central Michigan. Pretty much west of Flint. There are some local lakes that are good for bass fishing. 

Posted

Just getting started I would suggest ned rig and/or senko fishing. You will have a much better experience if you start out with high percentage baits. This should get you started off really cheap and you can decide just how far down the rabbit hole you want to go from there. I'll let the other guys more familiar with your water give advice beyond that. 

  • Like 1
  • Super User
Posted

Welcome aboard!

 

Good luck with your quest. Plenty of answers thus far.

 

Personally, starting out, I'd stick to spinning gear and add casting

later if you think you really need it. Spinning is easy, less headaches,

and can do most everything you need. Casting can be fun, can make

you learn new four-letter words when you have a professional over-

run (birds nest), etc. I do both, mostly spinning, though.

Posted

Two of the best fisherman or shall I say bass anglers from the state of Michigan(Kevin Van Dam and Mark Zona) recommend the following two setups for most waters in Michigan. A medium fast spinning setup and MH casting setup. When I got back into it, I started with a spinning setup first, it is a lot more versatile for the clear water fishing of Michigan. Hope this helps.

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