Budget Swimbait Combo

[MartinTheFisherman]

Hello BR, 

 

I've been trapped inside for over two weeks now wishing I could go fishing but, since I am still 14 and my parents don't want me to leave home under any circumstance I am stuck here. I have been spending my time on Amazon looking at fishing rods and lures, that are wayyyy to expensive for me to buy. I've seen multiple budget rods and reel by this company called KastKing, I have see there products on YouTube and they seem to be some great budget rods and reels. Has anybody had good experience with this company? I've been wanting to buy a KastKing Royale Select Fishing Rod, Casting Rod 7ft 6in-Extra Heavy - Fast-1pc which is only $60 with a coupon, paired with a KastKing Royale Legend II Baitcasting Reel, Gear Ratio 7.2:1, Left Handed Fishing Reel ($40). And some (a bit excessive) 80lb P-Line TCB Braid, which I got on sale for only $5!! For big swimbaits and hopefully pike and muskie. I've also been looking at the ABU GARCIA® MAXTORO COMBO 7'6" Heavy. For only $210 which hopefully I will get for my birthday in two months. (I also have been thinking of buying a ton of lures from Ali-Express)

 

Has anybody tried any of these Rods & Reels? Does anybody have a recommendation for a Budget Combo?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Martin Sierra 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

Skip the graphite frame Maxtoro and go with an aluminum frame Fuego CT-HS for the reel. $78 on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-0001-4482-Fgct100Hs-Fuego-Speed/dp/B06VWMR5S3/ref=sr_1_5?crid=19WOLIR9XWA96&dchild=1&keywords=fuego+ct&qid=1586364878&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=Fuego%2Csporting%2C206&sr=1-5

 

Rod? Dobyns Fury 795SB. $120 on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Dobyns-Rods-FR-795SB-Swimbait/dp/B00XUED59Q

[garroyo130]

My only suggestion would be to buy quality swimbaits. Although I myself am just getting into swimbaits more seriously, I can tell you that swimbaits seem to be one lure where you definitely get what you pay for and it doesn't make sense to cheap out.

 

Also if by swimbaits you are referring to larger 1oz + swimbaits then I'd advise against using braid.

[Big Hands]

I think the ABU Garcia Max Toro Combo looks like it will be a good, budget conscious starter rig for larger swimbaits. If you're leaning toward larger swimbaits, those are going to be probably 2.5 oz or larger. And they're not cheap, so you're probably going to be spooling up with 17 to 20 lb line, so your reel should have the capacity to hold AT LEAST 130 yards of that size line, and I agree that you braid may not be the best line for that application. 

 

As for the baits themselves, you don't necessarily need a $500 Roman Mother Made swimbait to consistently catch fish, but you should choose carefully for the water you'll be fishing. Little details matter in how they work, how you work them, the tackle you use to present them, and how you rig them.

 

There are often baits that can be used in a wide variety of presentations if you're thoughtful about that can be done to what you have or what you can get budget wise. Baits like the Baitsanity Antidote, R2S S-Waver, SPRO BBZ are good baits that aren't super expensive. 

[Hook2Jaw]

I would go with a Daiwa DXSB 8' Heavy Fast or the aforementioned Dobyn's Fury.  I have extensive experience with the Daiwa, and it is an awesome swimbait rod for one hundred and ten bones.  It's fast enough for single hooks and soft enough for larger trebles.

 

As far as reels go, a Daiwa Tatula 200 should perform well.  The rod I'm touting and the Tatula can be had for a hit of 230 or so to the bank account.  The Tatula 200 has been touted by some as every bit as good as a Shimano Tranx.

 

I like that you're sticking to braid to leader, it casts so much better than straight mono or fluoro.  I personally use 50# Berkley X9 and 17-25# Berkley Big game to throw S-Waver 168s and Huddleston 68s.

 

Good luck!

[Big Hands]

10 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

The Tatula 200 has been touted by some as every bit as good as a Shimano Tranx.

In the context of a beginning young angler throwing swimbaits in freshwater, I would agree that a reel like the Tatula 200 could generally serve him as well as a Tranx (which is the context that we're discussing here). But to state outright that a Tatula 200 has been touted by some as "every bit as good as a Shimano Tranx" would be misleading due to the Tranx being designed as an "inshore" reel (as in built to withstand use in a salt water environment) and the Tatula is not, hence the difference in price. No need to pay for features you're not likely to need.

[garroyo130]

For swimbaits 3oz and under what would be better suited Tatula 200 (new model) or Carfiff 300A?

 

[MartinTheFisherman]

Thanks for all the rod and reel recommendations!

 

What would be the main disadvantages to using straight braid? I'm going to be fishing from the bank so I don't really want to use any fluro or mono.... Would the fish relly see the braid since I fish primarily dirt water? I'm also relly worried about throwing expensive baits... I'm thinking of throwing between 1-3oz swimbaits.

[Hook2Jaw]

52 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

In the context of a beginning young angler throwing swimbaits in freshwater, I would agree that a reel like the Tatula 200 could generally serve him as well as a Tranx (which is the context that we're discussing here). But to state outright that a Tatula 200 has been touted by some as "every bit as good as a Shimano Tranx" would be misleading due to the Tranx being designed as an "inshore" reel (as in built to withstand use in a salt water environment) and the Tatula is not, hence the difference in price. No need to pay for features you're not likely to need.

My knowledge of the Tranx 200 is that it was designed as a reel for both saltwater and big bait fishing, and it says as much in the description.  As far as paying for features you don't need, I completely agree.  I've been cranking redfish, flounder, and seatrout in with Daiwa Fuegos for quite some time.

 

I've even had a five foot tarpon burn the line off the spool of one, accidental hookup.  My Lexa 300 has also stood up to the saltwater environment and tarpon.  A Tatula 200 will handle inshore fishing.

 

But hey, thanks for the correction.

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, MartinTheFisherman said:

What would be the main disadvantages to using straight braid?

Ripping the treble hooks from the fishes mouth on the hook-set. Braid is unforgiving in this, Mono and FC have some 'give'. If you're going braid, I'd at least use a Mono, FC or Hybrid leader for shock absorption.

[MartinTheFisherman]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ripping the treble hooks from the fishes mouth on the hook-set. Braid is unforgiving in this, Mono and FC have some 'give'. If you're going braid, I'd at least use a Mono, FC or Hybrid leader for shock absorption.

I'm thinking of just using single hook swimbaits with maybe a stinger hook at the end. Would zero strach from the braid help me with this? Plus, wont the rod load up? If I do use a leader what lb test should it be for 1-3oz?

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, MartinTheFisherman said:

I'm thinking of just using single hook swimbaits with maybe a stinger hook at the end. Would zero strach from the braid help me with this? Plus, wont the rod load up? If I do use a leader what lb test should it be for 1-3oz?

Single hooks would fine with straight braid, if you do go to a treble-hook bait, you can always tie on a leader. Rod will load, but being a SB rod, it's going to be stiffer than most any other rod...including standard Heavy power rods. I would go a minimum of 15# test line for the leader.

[Hammer 4]

1 hour ago, garroyo130 said:

For swimbaits 3oz and under what would be better suited Tatula 200 (new model) or Carfiff 300A?

 

Having owned a Cardiff, and presently use the Tatula 200, throwing less than 3 oz baits, either would be fine. I would just point out that the Tatula is a higher quality reel, and is a low profile, vs the round Cardiff. I would add thatsome people would prefer the Tatula on a rod, unless it's an 8' XH..balance would be better.  

[Big Hands]

 

Butch Brown has some opinions on lots of swimbaits related topics including what line he uses and why. It's a long listen, but I found it interesting. 

[Hammer 4]

Talking to Butch in person, I learned a lot about swimbaiting. This is back when he was using Huddelstons. 

[wordty]

Just saw where KVD uses a 40 size spinning reel on a 7 foot + rod

[MartinTheFisherman]

So I have decided to go with a really budget rod and reel... 

• Bass Pro Shops Graphite Series Casting Rod 7'6" Heavy lures up to 2 oz                       $34.99
• KastKing Spartacus Baitcasting Reel 18 lb Max Drag 11+1 Bearings 6.3:1 GR Silver       $33.99
• Spiderwire Stealth Braid Moss Green 50 lb                                                                  $5.99

Total: $75

 

This is going to be a true budget combo.

I'll use a leader when throwing glidebaits. Should I go up to 65lb braid? I'm thinking of using it for frogs + punching. 

My dad convinced me to go budget right now until I learn to use swimbaits. Also im right handed but I hold the spool on my right hand when I cast... Do I go left handed reel or right handed? (BPS is having a sale on line + baits)

 

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Kdizzle]

Swimbait Combo or swimbait anything, and the word budget in the same sentence seems like a contradiction in terms. Its always been too rich of a technique for me, but on the plus side its created a lot of extremely philosophical, esoteric, and somewhat entertaining youtube videos of fisherman throwing a giant expensive lure around for five hours and not catching ****. 

[Hammer 4]

If your rod is rated up to 2 oz's, keep the lure weight at around 1 oz. Seldom if ever are a rods weighting are accurate, they are usually over rated. Get whatever reel your feel most comfy casting, if your right handed and you get a eh reel, you will have to switch hands after you cast. I use all left hand reels so I don't have to switch hands, up to you.

[Ogandrews]

Don’t underestimate the maxtoro. Although I usually write off reels with plastic frames, the maxtoro I have has actually lasted 2 full seasons of me using it to burn blades while musky fishing and is still working. Burning blades puts easily 10x as much stress on a reel as you ever will swimbait fishing. You can find them new on eBay for like $70. Another solid option is a Shimano Cardiff 400. If all you are doing is throwing smaller swimbaits than a regular sized bass reel is fine. If you want to save up your money and get something that will last you many seasons get a tranx you won’t regret it, I have 4 between the 300 and 500 size and they are my favorite reels I own.

 

a couple of my musky buddy’s have tried out the bigger kast king reel and have been extremely disappointed with it. If you want a cheap low profile reel get a maxtoro on eBay.
 

for a rod I would recommend against going with a musky rod, they are meant for musky fishing not swimbaiting for bass. They usually will have much too fast of a taper for most swimbaits. If you want to mostly use jig hook swimbaits than I would go with a st croix bass x 7’10” heavy, I use that in the mojo bass line with a tranx 300 as my finesse musky rod. If you want a more versatile rod I would get a dobyns fury 795 or an 806.

[Tywithay]

Ark Viper for $60 on TW. I assure you there's not a better rod for that price. 

[ATA]

10 minutes ago, Tywithay said:

Ark Viper for $60 on TW. I assure you there's not a better rod for that price. 

does it with the free shipping for TW? thats very cool deal

[MartinTheFisherman]

I bought the combo yesterday... ?

[ATA]

which one?

[MartinTheFisherman]

1 minute ago, ATA said:

which one?

 

On 4/22/2020 at 11:19 AM, MartinTheFisherman said:

• Bass Pro Shops Graphite Series Casting Rod 7'6" Heavy lures up to 2 oz                       $34.99
• KastKing Spartacus Baitcasting Reel 18 lb Max Drag 11+1 Bearings 6.3:1 GR Silver       $33.99
• Spiderwire Stealth Braid Moss Green 50 lb                                                                  $5.99

Total: $75

? I hope I didn't make such a big mistake...