Beginner baitcaster

[Ben77]

My whole life I've fished spinning combos. I finally been wanting to try baitcasters. I know they are the rave in fishing. What's a good beginners combo? I'm looking into the curado dc since I like the idea of the digital breaking system. Any recommendations on line either braid or fluoro thanks in advance! 

[roadwarrior]

Fluorocarbon:  Seaguar Tatsu #12

Braid:  Seaguar Smackdown #30...I like the grey.

 

[Ben77]

2 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Fluorocarbon:  Seaguar Tatsu #12

Braid:  Seaguar Smackdown #30...I like the grey.

 

This guy is good! Still no luck on the fat ikas but the senkos are a winner!

[GetFishorDieTryin]

You may want to use mono at first.  If you blow up a spool of mono its aggravating but if you blow up a spool of tatsu your out 30 bucks.  DCs are great for someone just getting into casting gear.  Daiwas SV spools are easy to use too.  There are some good rods for a little more then $100.  I don't have 1, but there are a lot of people who love the iROD fiber.  The 13 Omen 3 is $140 but its a good deal for the price.  Shimano Intenzas feel good 2.

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

1 hour ago, Benithebass said:

My whole life I've fished spinning combos. I finally been wanting to try baitcasters. I know they are the rave in fishing. What's a good beginners combo? I'm looking into the curado dc since I like the idea of the digital breaking system. Any recommendations on line either braid or fluoro thanks in advance! 

 presentations, budget?

[Ben77]

2 minutes ago, Hewhospeaksmuchbull said:

 presentations, budget?

More for topwater willing to spend up towards $500.00 thanks! What's a nice setup?

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

12 minutes ago, Benithebass said:

More for topwater willing to spend up towards $500.00 thanks! What's a nice setup?

Dobyns, DC 733C or DC734, nice versatile rods that fit for top water.

 

I say bite the bullet and get to learning bait casting with a Tatula 100 or CT, you can get the same performance out of a Fuego minus T-wing for much less.

 

For 80.00 Fuego ct that comes with braid and a bait, https://north40.com/daiwa-fuego-ct-bait-casting-reel?176=22741&558=20506

[GaryH]

I would definately start with mono till you get comfortable, then braid.

[FishTank]

After owning the Curado DC for over a year, I use to think it would make for a great beginner baitcaster because of how forgiving it is with casting but I have since changed my mind.  It is still a great reel but I believe it is best to start with a reel that can be easy to use and easy on the wallet>  Also, at the same time, be a good solid reel that allows you to learn the proper way to use a baitcaster.  So I would go with the Shimano SLX with some 10lb mono (Trilene XL or Stren Original), then progress to some FC (Invizx).   The SLX rods don't appear to be too bad either. 

[C5Longhorn]

I'm in the same boat as OP.  I just bought a Curado DC and will be pairing it with a Dobyns Fury rod.

[Chris Carey]

I have a couple Curado dc and they r fantastic. That said for a beginner I don’t think you could beat the Slx dc. I hate to admit this but I found a lightly used one and bought it for my 6yo son. He still gets backlashes but not very often. And I don’t even have his dc turned all the way up. I think I paid like $140 for the reel. 
 

As for line I agree with most above, start with mono. I blew up a brand new spool of abraz-x a few months ago and I was not too happy. And I’ve been using a bait caster for 25yrs. 

[MidwestBassAttack]

A starter? Abu Black Max reel, Vendetta MH rod, 15lb Big Game mono.

[BrianMDTX]

7 hours ago, MidwestBassAttack said:

A starter? Abu Black Max reel, Vendetta MH rod, 15lb Big Game mono.

No experience with that rod, but I started off with two Black Max’s and so far I’ve had no issues. I spooled 12 lb YZH but Big Game would have been a good choice. 
 

I had some experience fishing a BC 30 years ago, but still, I haven’t had one bad backlash yet. As in “cut the bird’s nest out” bad. Pretty simple to set up spool tension and the magnetic brake is a snap to adjust as well. 

[Lead Head]

I have no experience with a DC reel, but I can't imagine anything being easier to learn baitcasting than a SV spooled Daiwa. My daughter got a tatula sv tw last year and it took her about 10 minutes to look like she had been using it for years.

[Uknowme]

I am a Shimano guy mostly but I always recommend the Daiwa Tatula SV TW to beginners. 

[NoShoes]

I learned on a fuego on a dobyns 703. Love it for 1/4 Texas rigs. 

 

Started out using 10 lb big game. Back lashes picked out easy and cheap to respool. After a few iterations I’m extremely happy with 20 lb power pro braid to 15 lb tatsu fluoro leader. Best of braid in the casting department and still have top end fluoro on the business end. 

[WRB]

Learn to cast with inexpensive premium mono like 12 lb Trilene Big Game. The reel digital doesn't eliminate backlashes when learning. FC line requires lubricant to wet the line, dry line is very hard to cast. Braid is too light weight and backlashing is a nightmare when learning to cast. 

Rods cast lures, reel hold line, the is critical when learning to cast.

Tom

PS, Glenn has excellent instructional vedio's to watch.

[NYWayfarer]

Perfect beginning setup to me would be, Lew’s Tournament MP (dual brake reel) baitcaster on a St Croix Triumph casting rod. Spooled with 10 or 12# Berkley Big Game

 

$250 well spent. Unlike most beginner setups you will actually learn to cast and love baitcasting. 
 

Wish I had this setup when I started.