Upgrading finesse set up, rod or reel first?

[Chonch12]

Hello,

 

Edit, corrected rod size and added reel size 

 

So I love my finesse set up. It's a 6 6 L pflueger (put 6 10 ML by mistake) president combo I got a few years back. Reel is a 25x However since I throw finesse the majority of the time from the bank I was thinking about upgrading.

 

I'm just not sure to go with a new rod or reel first. I'd love to get both but I want to get a stradic ci4+ fb. Going to try and find one used to save a few bucks. Starting thinking if maybe I should upgrade the rod first since sensitivity when finesse fishing is most important. 

 

Anyone have any recommendations to upgrade rod or reel now and the ladder next year or over winter? Also any suggestions for a new combo? Would like to keep the combo under $275. Going trybmt best to get stradic for 175 leaving 100 for rod. But I'm happy to be convinced otherwise.

 

Thanks!

[Tywithay]

I have spinning reels from $50 to $750 and while there's a noticeable difference, it's not really night and day. If you're truly looking for an "upgrade" you'd be better served spending as much as possible on the rod versus the reel. There's reels in the $70-$100 price range, like the Fuego and Sahara, that are an excellent value. You'll get more satisfaction out of a $200 rod than a $200 reel, in my opinion. 

[Jason.Domingo]

I think it was mentioned here before multiple times that you can get something quality like a Shimano Nasci or a Daiwa Fuego as mentioned above for a $100 or cheaper and free up more money for a better quality rod..because sensitivity wise for a $100 rod will be very limited.

[Reel]

I think with finesse techniques, the rod is much more important then the reel.  Sensitivity is what you are looking for. For around a 100$ the new Shimano Intenza rods are one of your best options.

[OkobojiEagle]

I agree the rod should be first to upgrade, but I don't understand your need for a ladder to fish with.

 

oe

[haggard]

32 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

I agree the rod should be first to upgrade, but I don't understand your need for a ladder to fish with.

When fishing from the bank it's easier to spot the fish ?

[Jermination]

9 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

Hello,

 

So I love my finesse set up. It's a 6 10 ML pflueger president combo I got a few years back. However since I throw finesse the majority of the time from the bank I was thinking about upgrading.

 

I'm just not sure to go with a new rod or reel first. I'd love to get both but I want to get a stradic ci4+ fb. Going to try and find one used to save a few bucks. Starting thinking if maybe I should upgrade the rod first since sensitivity when finesse fishing is most important. 

 

Anyone have any recommendations to upgrade rod or reel now and the ladder next year or over winter? Also any suggestions for a new combo? Would like to keep the combo under $275. Going trybmt best to get stradic for 175 leaving 100 for rod. But I'm happy to be convinced otherwise.

 

Thanks!

john the pfleuger president is a really good reel, no need to change anything with that. I have a couple and a few pfleuger supremes and they all work great. I would recommend buying another 2500 one and throwing it on a 6'8 medium fast st croix mojo...should be out the door with that combo wherever you go for 185 bucks or so 

[Chonch12]

On 6/4/2020 at 7:55 AM, haggard said:

When fishing from the bank it's easier to spot the fish ?

Exactly... haha d**n auto correct

 

On 6/4/2020 at 8:21 AM, Jermination said:

john the pfleuger president is a really good reel, no need to change anything with that. I have a couple and a few pfleuger supremes and they all work great. I would recommend buying another 2500 one and throwing it on a 6'8 medium fast st croix mojo...should be out the door with that combo wherever you go for 185 bucks or so 

You and the others are correct. I think I am going to look into upgrading my rod and keep my little president. I do really enjoy it. The rod is a 2 piece but I think if I go with a 6 6 or 6 8 I can get a 1 piece that will fit fine in my car.

 

I also have a President XT that is slightly larger on a M St Croix Triumph. Its a great combo. Ill check out those rods thanks!

[MN Fisher]

I agree with upgrading the rod first. My finesse rig is a President-25 on a Fury 702SF.

[Pogues2300]

Rod 100%. Also my first very noticeable increase in sensitivity came simply from replacing straight mono which is all i had ever used growing up,  with braid to a leader or straight braid depending on what you're doing. 

[Chonch12]

18 minutes ago, Pogues2300 said:

Rod 100%. Also my first very noticeable increase in sensitivity came simply from replacing straight mono which is all i had ever used growing up,  with braid to a leader or straight braid depending on what you're doing. 

I run high vis braid to a Fluro Leader. Has made a big difference. 

[bwjay]

Try to get a 7'ML Helium3 for around $200 on sale and grab a President XT for ~$75. It'll be the most sensitive setup you can get for ~$300. The Stradic Ci4+ is a nice reel no doubt, but for finesse, the rod makes more of a difference. The President XT is good enough to where you can tell the difference between it and a Stradic, but it's not a giant difference, and the price is more than double. 

[Michigander]

Definitely go rod first. That being said, giving your reel a good cleaning greasing, and oiling will make it perform better. You can also upgrade the drag washers for a pittance compared to a ci4. Lastly, you could consider polishing your metal drag washers. I did it over the winter and couldn't be happier with the results on light line.

[Teal]

I'd go rod first.  If you can up it to 150 for the rod you have alot of options (great options).  Personally I'd go full on with the rod, and upgrade the reel down the rod under a different budget.  

 

[new2BC4bass]

See if you can find one of these on sale.  http://tackletour.com/reviewabuvillain2spin.html

 

You can get a very good spinning reel for not a lot of money.  The rod will give you the best bang for your buck.

 

Anyone familiar with salefishingrods.com?  Could only find one review and he said he ordered product 3 months ago and couldn't get a response from them.  The above rod is listed for $94.19 on their site.  Everyone knows how the saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, then........."

 

 

[Gator_Bait]

6 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I agree with upgrading the rod first. My finesse rig is a President-25 on a Fury 702SF.

Sounds like a sweet rig! I may have to get one of those rods to put my President on.

 

21 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

Hello,

 

So I love my finesse set up. It's a 6 10 ML pflueger president combo I got a few years back. However since I throw finesse the majority of the time from the bank I was thinking about upgrading.

 

I'm just not sure to go with a new rod or reel first. I'd love to get both but I want to get a stradic ci4+ fb. Going to try and find one used to save a few bucks. Starting thinking if maybe I should upgrade the rod first since sensitivity when finesse fishing is most important. 

 

Anyone have any recommendations to upgrade rod or reel now and the ladder next year or over winter? Also any suggestions for a new combo? Would like to keep the combo under $275. Going trybmt best to get stradic for 175 leaving 100 for rod. But I'm happy to be convinced otherwise.

 

Thanks!

 

You didn't say what size your President was. But I would defiantly get a real nice rod, maybe a Dobyns, and put the President on it. Unless the President has a problem, or too small a size, you probably wouldn't feel the need to replace the reel. Those are really nice reels, I love mine, and it's smoother than my Shimano Sahara. I think you would get a better "bang for the buck" by putting your money into a really nice rod. Just my opinion.

[Kdizzle]

A good 70 to 100 dollar reel is just fine for a spinning set up.  Unless you are a high end tournament angler who can't have a single drag slippage then its kind of silly to splurge.  The rod is a way to go.  Sensitivity is where the money is with finesse set up, and the difference between a 50 dollar rod and a 200 dollar rod is night and day. 

 

A President XT on a G Loomis will put just as many fish in the boat as a Stradic on a Loomis.

[haggard]

6 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

Exactly... haha d**n auto correct

Ha... I knew what you meant

[Nelson Delaney]

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

See if you can find one of these on sale.  http://tackletour.com/reviewabuvillain2spin.html

 

You can get a very good spinning reel for not a lot of money.  The rod will give you the best bang for your buck.

 

Anyone familiar with salefishingrods.com?  Could only find one review and he said he ordered product 3 months ago and couldn't get a response from them.  The above rod is listed for $94.19 on their site.  Everyone knows how the saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, then........."

 

 

I came across the salefishinrod site & asked about in another thread.  It’s a scam.  Don’t order from them!!!

[new2BC4bass]

16 minutes ago, Nelson Delaney said:

I came across the salefishinrod site & asked about in another thread.  It’s a scam.  Don’t order from them!!!

Thanks. 

[Chonch12]

So it's funny I was looking at the ci4+ because looks like cabelas has it on sale on june 11th for $150. I was all about upgrading my rod to another 6 6 - 6 10 but ML from a L. But d**n at 150 I'm tempted haha

 

I also have a president XT 35x on a M 6 6 triumph and love it. Combo I really enjoy for chatterbait and some middle sized stuff. (Used only these 2 spinning for while. Just got baitcaster added into my inventory).

 

Still think I'm going take everyone's advice and go rod first. thanks! 

On 6/4/2020 at 8:01 PM, Gator_Bait said:

Sounds like a sweet rig! I may have to get one of those rods to put my President on.

 

 

You didn't say what size your President was. But I would defiantly get a real nice rod, maybe a Dobyns, and put the President on it. Unless the President has a problem, or too small a size, you probably wouldn't feel the need to replace the reel. Those are really nice reels, I love mine, and it's smoother than my Shimano Sahara. I think you would get a better "bang for the buck" by putting your money into a really nice rod. Just my opinion.

It's a 25x which is perfect size for the banks fishing I do for finesse.

 

Def think I'm going rod upgrade but ci4 going kn sale for 150 at cabelas next week... so tempting to upgrade the president xt with a 2500 ci4 Haha 

[Gazz]

2 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

So it's funny I was looking at the ci4+ because looks like cabelas has it on sale on june 11th for $150. I was all about upgrading my rod to another 6 6 - 6 10 but ML from a L. But d**n at 150 I'm tempted haha

 

I also have a president XT 35x on a M 6 6 triumph and love it. Combo I really enjoy for chatterbait and some middle sized stuff. (Used only these 2 spinning for while. Just got baitcaster added into my inventory).

 

Still think I'm going take everyone's advice and go rod first. thanks! 

It's a 25x which is perfect size for the banks fishing I do for finesse.

 

Def think I'm going rod upgrade but ci4 going kn sale for 150 at cabelas next week... so tempting to upgrade the president xt with a 2500 ci4 Haha 

Where did you see that it will be $150 next week? Of course I just paid full price for one lol But maybe there’s room for another. ?

[Tywithay]

8 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

So it's funny I was looking at the ci4+ because looks like cabelas has it on sale on june 11th for $150. I was all about upgrading my rod to another 6 6 - 6 10 but ML from a L. But d**n at 150 I'm tempted haha

 

I also have a president XT 35x on a M 6 6 triumph and love it. Combo I really enjoy for chatterbait and some middle sized stuff. (Used only these 2 spinning for while. Just got baitcaster added into my inventory).

 

Still think I'm going take everyone's advice and go rod first. thanks! 

It's a 25x which is perfect size for the banks fishing I do for finesse.

 

Def think I'm going rod upgrade but ci4 going kn sale for 150 at cabelas next week... so tempting to upgrade the president xt with a 2500 ci4 Haha 

If the reel is going on that big of a sale, it might be worth grabbing it and just keep saving for a while longer to put it on a nice rod. That CI4+ is going to haunt your dreams, because you clearly have your sights set on one. The bait monkey is one tough sob.

[Chonch12]

5 hours ago, Tywithay said:

 

 

 

11 hours ago, Gazz said:

Where did you see that it will be $150 next week? Of course I just paid full price for one lol But maybe there’s room for another. ?

Cabelas/Bass pro ad someone posted in FB group. call your closest local to see if they are having the sale. Not sure if its national or online 

[optimator]

Here's a link to the Stradic sale