A great spinning rod-reel combo

[livemusic]

I am wanting a great spinning combo; I have come to enjoy casting a spinning rig. I have used baitcasters my whole life and have several I use but I have two spinning setups and want a third. I have...

 

Rod - Berkley Shock Lightning Rod SHS701M 7'0" Medium, (unknown tip)

Reel - Pfleuger President 6940

 

Rod - St Croix RS610MXF 6'10" Med, Extra Fast

Reel - Shimano Stradic 2500 HGFK

 

I think both of these rigs were recommended to me after I posted here years ago. You guys are very knowledgeable on this stuff, I am not!

 

The Berkley/Pfleuger works just fine, I like it but the St Croix/Shimano seems a step up, more enjoyable due to it being lighter, just feels good in the hand.

 

I saw a thread on what is a good casting rod under $100 and there were many mentions of a Daiwa Aird-X. It's only about $50! And I see they have it in a spinning rod. So, that is appealing. Although, mind you, I am willing to spend more, no problem, (really!) if I gain more 'value.'

 

So, I am looking for a rod and reel recommendation. I fish a variety of baits. A lot of weightless fluke, plastic worm t-rigged, Senko, spinnerbait or chatterbait, crankbaits, just a variety. I also am not married to a certain type of line. Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[jimmyjoe]

Pick what feels better to you. Why fish with something you don't really like?     jj

[new2BC4bass]

Sounds like you want to keep the price fairly low.  I won't ever get rid of my 6' ML Lightning spinning rod, but it is only a $40 rod (less back in the day when I bought it).  Excellent rod for the money, tho.  Aird X gets great reviews.  Look at the Procyon as well.  A good rod that very few ever mention.  If willing to go higher the Tatula is a great line.

 

I don't own a Falcon BuCoo, but very much enjoy the Falcons I have.  The BuCoo is another serious contender.  Also the Fenwick HMG.  Very nice rods for the money.  Two years ago I used my older Fenwick Elite Tech on my visit to Florida as my main rod because it was the only reel outside my frog rod with braid.  It is a 7' MF Jig and Worm spinning rod.  I had no problem hauling the few fish I caught out of the lily pads.

 

There are quite a few good options.  Ark Lancer, iRod Fiber and the Lew's TPX1.  But the TP1 Black at $130 gets excellent reviews.  If you can go to $130, I highly recommend the Falcon Lowrider.  From what I've read it fishes way above its price point.  If all goes well with my brain surgery Tuesday, I will be buying two Lowriders.

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

Look at the Procyon as well. 

In the $80 neighborhood, Procyon is one I'd recommend - I have one. Another is the Okuma Reflections - have two of those...haven't fished with them yet, but my 'bench-tests' show that they're a good rod in that price-group.

[mrpao]

The procyon is a good rod in its price range. You can often find them for much cheaper online. They are a bargain at half price, which is what you can find them for if you look around. 

I have several in my lineup and they pair up nicely with the cheaper Daiwa LT reels.

[RDB]

8 hours ago, livemusic said:

I am wanting a great spinning combo; I have come to enjoy casting a spinning rig. I have used baitcasters my whole life and have several I use but I have two spinning setups and want a third. I have...

 

Rod - Berkley Shock Lightning Rod SHS701M 7'0" Medium, (unknown tip)

Reel - Pfleuger President 6940

 

Rod - St Croix RS610MXF 6'10" Med, Extra Fast

Reel - Shimano Stradic 2500 HGFK

 

I think both of these rigs were recommended to me after I posted here years ago. You guys are very knowledgeable on this stuff, I am not!

 

The Berkley/Pfleuger works just fine, I like it but the St Croix/Shimano seems a step up, more enjoyable due to it being lighter, just feels good in the hand.

 

I saw a thread on what is a good casting rod under $100 and there were many mentions of a Daiwa Aird-X. It's only about $50! And I see they have it in a spinning rod. So, that is appealing. Although, mind you, I am willing to spend more, no problem, (really!) if I gain more 'value.'

 

So, I am looking for a rod and reel recommendation. I fish a variety of baits. A lot of weightless fluke, plastic worm t-rigged, Senko, spinnerbait or chatterbait, crankbaits, just a variety. I also am not married to a certain type of line. Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Since you know you like the Shimano/St Croix combo, why not consider taking that up a level.  One of my setups is the Avid X with the new Shimano Vanford reel and it’s a great setup.  The Vanford is next evolution of the Stradic CI4+.  Only problem is it’s tough to find the Vanford in stock.  

[new2BC4bass]

On 4/8/2021 at 5:35 PM, MN Fisher said:

In the $80 neighborhood, Procyon is one I'd recommend - I have one. Another is the Okuma Reflections - have two of those...haven't fished with them yet, but my 'bench-tests' show that they're a good rod in that price-group.

I only have two Helios casting rods, and like them a lot.  Bluegrasser86 has commented before about how good Okuma rods are for their price.  I wouldn't mind having another or two. 

On 4/8/2021 at 6:10 PM, mrpao said:

The procyon is a good rod in its price range. You can often find them for much cheaper online. They are a bargain at half price, which is what you can find them for if you look around. 

I have several in my lineup and they pair up nicely with the cheaper Daiwa LT reels.

I bought one for my fishing B-I-L partner (when visiting Florida) a few years ago.  Haven't heard any complaints about it.  He is strictly a spinning guy.

[Boomstick]

I have no experience with the Aird X or Procryon, but the Tatula 7'2" MH/F is a pretty good rod although maybe a little more than you're looking to spend.

 

For a reel, may I suggest the Daiwa BG? The 2500 should do the trick with 30lb braid. It retails around $100 and could compete with some more expensive reels if it was a little bit lighter, but a great drag and one thing I like about it, especially for heavier baits is it has a wider diameter spool than many reels so it will handle thicker line better and lose fewer loops.

[BrianMDTX]

I have a Shimano Sienna 2500 on a Daiwa Procyon 6’6” MXF rod. Got them free with points in a work contest. I have little complaints about either (except the AR switch on the Sienna is hard to find lol). The Procyon is actually a decent rod. It’s a great WR and weightless TR rod. 

[RDB]

47 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

For a reel, may I suggest the Daiwa BG?

I would definitely agree that if you want to stay on the lower end, this is a great quality reel that punches above it’s class.  I used them regularly before I started upgrading to higher end gear.

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, Boomstick said:

I have no experience with the Aird X or Procryon, but the Tatula 7'2" MH/F is a pretty good rod although maybe a little more than you're looking to spend.

 

For a reel, may I suggest the Daiwa BG? The 2500 should do the trick with 30lb braid. It retails around $100 and could compete with some more expensive reels if it was a little bit lighter, but a great drag and one thing I like about it, especially for heavier baits is it has a wider diameter spool than many reels so it will handle thicker line better and lose fewer loops.

Love my BG! 

[soflabasser]

The Shimano Stradic was a very good recommendation.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 4/8/2021 at 9:22 AM, livemusic said:

Rod - St Croix RS610MXF 6'10" Med, Extra Fast

What SC is that? Its not the Rage Series is it?

 

I was looking for a rod that had a similar action and feel to SCs ML XF and I couldnt really find a rod that had a similar action for under $200 that wasnt a SC.  If youre set on a SC XF get the 6'10 Victory, its a good rod, but I can honestly I think my Tatula 7'1 ML F is more versatile and I prefer the tapered grip to straight grip on the Victory.  There is a 6'10 M XF Tatula which has the same ratings as the 7'1 ML F, either one will throw just about anything you listed other then full size chatterbaits.  If you want to look at rods under $150, check out 13 Fishing.  When it comes to the Omen Black @ $120, Fate Black  @ $80 and even Defy @ $60 I think you get a lot for your money and if you break one you get a new one for just shipping costs.  Dicks sporting good carries 13, so if tackle shops near you dont have them check out dicks.  As for a reel, I dont think the Exceler or Fuego can be beat for the money.  As long as you get a handle that doesnt have too much slop in the knob they feel great.  They dont feel as refined as the FK, but the FKs sold for about double the price.  Ive got an Exceler 2500 on my 7'1 Tatula and a Fuego 2500 (same weight as Exceler) on my 6'10 Victory both balance perfect. 

[livemusic]

7 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

What SC is that? Its not the Rage Series is it?

 

I was looking for a rod that had a similar action and feel to SCs ML XF and I couldnt really find a rod that had a similar action for under $200 that wasnt a SC.  If youre set on a SC XF get the 6'10 Victory, its a good rod, but I can honestly I think my Tatula 7'1 ML F is more versatile and I prefer the tapered grip to straight grip on the Victory.  There is a 6'10 M XF Tatula which has the same ratings as the 7'1 ML F, either one will throw just about anything you listed other then full size chatterbaits.  If you want to look at rods under $150, check out 13 Fishing.  When it comes to the Omen Black @ $120, Fate Black  @ $80 and even Defy @ $60 I think you get a lot for your money and if you break one you get a new one for just shipping costs.  Dicks sporting good carries 13, so if tackle shops near you dont have them check out dicks.  As for a reel, I dont think the Exceler or Fuego can be beat for the money.  As long as you get a handle that doesnt have too much slop in the knob they feel great.  They dont feel as refined as the FK, but the FKs sold for about double the price.  Ive got an Exceler 2500 on my 7'1 Tatula and a Fuego 2500 (same weight as Exceler) on my 6'10 Victory both balance perfect. 

 

Yes, it is Rage Series.

 

I sure like that 13 Fishing rod warranty!