best rod and reel for under $150?

[BigFishy-13]

Hey guys I'm pretty new to bass fishing and i have one baitcasting setup and I'm looking to get another.  I'm only 15 with a summer job so i don't have a very big budget.  I would prefer a rod and reel for about $100 but I am willing to go to $120 or $150.  I have looked at an Abu Garcia silver max paired with a Abu garcia vengeance rod and that set up looks ok.  Any opinions on this combo or maybe one that is better?  Thanks!

[MN Fisher]

There's a sale on Dobyns rods going on at Sportsman's Outfitters - sign up for the e-mail, get 25% off a Dobyns Fury 704C - MUCH better than a Vengence - should leave you around $60 of that $150

 

Reel - Scheels Purist - this is basically a re-branded Pflueger...currently on sale for $50

https://www.scheels.com/p/scheels-outfitters-purist-baitcast-reel/04338830702.html?cgid=fishing-reels

 

Within your budget, and much better than the Max/Vengeance combo

[jbsoonerfan]

My choice would be the Shimano SLX combo for $149.99 at an online retailer.

[MyKeyBe]

Falcon lowrider for $100.00 and a Quantum icon for $40.00. 

[FishTank]

The SLX combo at A.L.F....

[Spankey]

If you are set on a Abu Garcia Rod try to work out somehow to get a Vendetta or Veritas rod. You will be happy with them. The powers and action will have more options. In my opinion they are quality rods. 

[Luke Barnes]

53 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

My choice would be the Shimano SLX combo for $149.99 at an online retailer.

Took the words out of my mouth. Worth every penny. Love mine.

[kayaking_kev]

If you go for the SLX combo and can squeeze just a few more dollars I would go for the SLX XT combo. It's $170, but you get 10% off for signing up for the newsletter, making it $153 before tax. But be wary that I had the 7'2" MH and 7'5" H SLX rods and they didn't balance very good, but were pretty light overall. I've heard some of the other models don't have the balance issue.

 

MN Fisher made a good suggestion with the Dobyns Fury rod.

 

I prefer the Abu Garcia Pro Max over the Silver Max any day, I paid about $50 for mine.

 

I always recommend the Lew's Hank Parker Speed Stick for $40 as a really good budget rod. I have one with a Pro Max and they go well with each other. I still like to use it even though I have high end rods.

 

Daiwa AirX-D is another budget rod often recommended on here, but I have no personal experience with that one.

[Luke Barnes]

4 minutes ago, kayaking_kev said:

If you go for the SLX combo and can squeeze just a few more dollars I would go for the SLX XT combo. It's $170, but you get 10% off for signing up for the newsletter, making it $153 before tax. But be wary that I had the 7'2" MH and 7'5" H SLX rods and they didn't balance very good, but were pretty light overall. I've heard some of the other models don't have the balance issue.

 

MN Fisher made a good suggestion with the Dobyns Fury rod.

 

I prefer the Abu Garcia Pro Max over the Silver Max any day, I paid about $50 for mine.

 

I always recommend the Lew's Hank Parker Speed Stick for $40 as a really good budget rod. I have one with a Pro Max and they go well with each other. I still like to use it even though I have high end rods.

 

Daiwa AirX-D is another budget rod often recommended on here, but I have no personal experience with that one.

Ive got the XT and to me its worth the extra money. I have the 7'2 H and i see what you mean that its a little heavy on the reel end, but is light weight overall. Im very pleased with it all around. 

[Michigander]

I think the Vengeance is the worst bass rod I have used as an adult. It is in the corner of shame in the garage, gathering rust (yes rust) and dust.

[michaelb]

I am much cheaper than many folks here, and I think we should save your money, at age 15, and so you shouldn't really spend 120 or 150. I like our abu vengeance rod (I know Michigander does not, and so over different years they may not be the same thing). I don't see a silver max / vengeance combo; or a black max vengeance combo. I don't think the differences between those rods and reels are enough to really make a major difference. The silver max vs black max I think is just for flipping; I would get the black max since I think those are good cheap reels. Basically, for your budget, I would get a combo that costs under $80, and maybe closer to $50-60. If you want to upgrade the rod some other year, you can move the black max/silver max/pro max to that better rod. there may be other brands with decent combos, but sort of hard to be beat the black max in that $50 price range.

[MN Fisher]

19 minutes ago, kayaking_kev said:

Daiwa AirX-D is another budget rod often recommended on here, but I have no personal experience with that one.

Having upgraded from the Aird-X rods to Furys except for 2 - I can experientialy say that they fish well above their price-point. A very good rod, no matter the power, for $55.

 

Toss in that Scheels Purist and you're just over the $100 mark.

[Big Hands]

Just so you know, the ABU Silver Max is essentially a Black Max with the 'Rocket Cast' feature. If you don't think you'll care about that feature, you can save money to put into a rod by going with the Black Max instead.

 

That said, I would recommend the SLX rod/reel combo mentioned above and it can be found (if you search google for: 'Shimano SLX rod and reel combo') for less than $160 including tax and shipping. The SLX baitcaster is a noticeable step up from the Black Max/Silver Max reels. Even the ABU Pro Max is not on par with the base model Shimano SLX IMHO.

[FryDog62]

Your best price will be for a combo like the SLX... however if you buy separate pieces, I'd put more money on a better reel that won't be as temperamental and frustrate you. For $50 you can pick up a decent rod (Abu Vengeance or Daiwa Aird) and then invest in a quality $100 reel.  I've seen Daiwa 100 or CT's on sale at ALFC or eBay previously in that range.  

[Michigander]

Am also going to mention the Daiwa Aird X https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_Aird_X_Casting_Rods/descpage-DAX.html

 

And pairing with a Daiwa CC80 https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-CC80-Casting-Reel-7-5/dp/B07H24QNXB/ref=asc_df_B07H24QNXB/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=333631468204&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=715728300123956772&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017263&hvtargid=pla-647022974061&psc=1

 

That puts you right around $100 and is a perfectly usable combo.

 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Michigander said:

And pairing with a Daiwa CC80

Stay away from the CC - it's a "plastic" frame. If you want to get the small (80 size) then go with the CA-80...at least that's an aluminum frame reel.

[Michigander]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Stay away from the CC - it's a "plastic" frame. If you want to get the small (80 size) then go with the CA-80...at least that's an aluminum frame reel.

The CC80's are fine. We have a couple in regular rotation and they've held up to tournament abuse. They aren't a longer term investment like an aluminum would be but they're fine enough to work the Budget

[soflabasser]

For under $150 you can get an Ugly Stick rod and a Shimano spinning reel. 

[Michigander]

1 minute ago, soflabasser said:

For under $150 you can get a decent Ugly Stick rod and a Shimano spinning reel. 

If it were spinning, this would be much easier, lol.

[soflabasser]

6 hours ago, Michigander said:

If it were spinning, this would be much easier, lol.

I prefer spinning over baitcasting and I can cast a 4/0 Penn Senator which is much more difficult than a little bass baitcaster. For some reason most bass fisherman think baitcasters are better than spinning reels. I catch lots of nice fish so you can bet I will continue using spinning reels for bass fishing. Some of those fish can eat the biggest of black bass to give you an idea how big of a fish a spinning reel can catch. Back to the main subject, with $150 you should be able to get a decent Ugly Stik and Shimano spinning reel. 

[GReb]

Several good options. I’d looked used here or at a.l.f first. Especially for reels. The Academy and Bass Pro house brand rods are decent. Falcon makes nice lower end rods. Daiwa Arid is nice as well. Quantum Icon is a fantastic reel that you can buy for less than $50. Icon and Falcon HD/Daiwa Arid/academy H2O would be where I’d start looking new. But don’t overlook used gear

[Deleted account]

Fuego/Aird-X. Sub a Black Max if you want to save some $. The Silver Max is not a good reel.

[Shimano_1]

I too would get the shimano slx combo. Simply no comparison at the price point in my opinion.  Several nice reels around 100 bucks and same for rods but ur getting a 200 dollar combo for what was 139 a cple weeks ago. I picked up my second one a month ago. 

[BigFishy-13]

Wow, thanks everyone for all the replies!  I will definetly be checking out those Daiwa Aird rods and looking into all the reels everyone mentioned.  Those shimano slx look really nice.  Thanks this was super helpful!

[Michigander]

10 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

I prefer spinning over baitcasting and I can cast a 4/0 Penn Senator which is much more difficult than a little bass baitcaster. For some reason most bass fisherman think baitcasters are better than spinning reels. I catch lots of nice fish so you can bet I will continue using spinning reels for bass fishing. Some of those fish can eat the biggest of black bass to give you an idea how big of a fish a spinning reel can catch. Back to the main subject, with a $150 you should be able to get a decent Ugly Stik and Shimano spinning reel. 

I just changed from all spinning for all applications last year, so I get what spinning can do. But the OP wanted a bait caster recommendation.