New Casting Setup

[Jasperfish]

Hi All,

I am looking for some insight, I am looking to get my first casting setup and I am a bit over whelmed with all the choices. I fish for bass in NH off a small boat and would like to stay in the $400 range. I have a Shimano spinning set up for plastics so I am looking to compliment that. from what I have read a good all around gear ratio is 7.X.1 and I think I am looking for a 7-7'6" MH/F as for a reel that is so hard to choose I have read and watch videos on Shimano and Daiwa but I am open to anything as a beginner. Thanks for all your insight in advance

Eric

[bulldog1935]

I think the most versatile reel you'll find in your combo price, easiest to cover a wide lure weight range with minimum fuss, will be a Daiwa Tatula SV.  Even better would be to go offshore and pay about the same for a Daiwa Alphas SV TW - Asian Portal has good stock currently, and in the gear ratio you want.  

The non-linear SV mag brake gives you the advantage of centrifugal brake for preventing start-up backlash, and lighter linear mag brake for wind control and improved cast distance.  

 

I don't have a rod recommendation for you, other than moderate-fast action will probably cover the widest lure range.  The one I bought recently doesn't fit your budget.  

[jimmyjoe]

   I have no idea what you might prefer, but .............

 

   "Small" boat to me means the same type equipment as a kayaker. Small boats have (somewhat) the same stability characteristics, and the user has (somewhat) the same hookset problems, although less so.

   From your description, I would go with the St. Croix Mojo Yak casting rod, 7'-06", MH/F and 3/8-1 oz. rating. The length will let you cast a good distance without "pushing" the rod, and the handle is short for better comfort with short sleeved shirts.

   The weight is 5 oz., though. Some fans of lightweight rods find that too heavy. You need to decide that for yourself.

    The Tatula that @bulldog1935 recommended is a very good choice. The Magforce-Z cast control system that it has is excellent from the confined quarters of a small boat. Personally, I prefer centrifugal braking systems. I've used them all my life and I'm used to them. My choice would therefore be the Shimano Curado 200K. It's a workhorse of a reel.

   Either way, you won't go wrong. 

 

   Good luck!                        jj

[bulldog1935]

I sold my centrifugal brake reels (not counting Abu CTs) , because I just don't throw enough weight (outside of surf) for them to be an advantage.  

They work best at preventing start-up backlash, but cost distance through mid cast, especially with lighter lures. 

 

Specifically, I discovered in embarrassment my mag-brake Super Duty would cast 1/8 oz much farther and with better wind control than a Lew's SP I set up just for the 1/8 oz niche.  Sold my Tournament Pro, also, and bought another Super Duty at current sale price.  

 

[dodgeguy]

2 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I sold my centrifugal brake reels, because I just don't throw enough weight for them to be an advantage.  

They work best at preventing start-up backlash, but cost distance through mid cast, especially with lighter lures. 

Not possible. They back off mid cast 

I would go online to sportsmans outfitters and get a Lews Custom lite for 209 and a Dobyns Sierra micro or non micro for 169. The reel weighs 4.9 oz . the rod is awesome and has lifetime warranty. Just remember Dobyns heavy is actually mh.

[bulldog1935]

and they get you to mid cast with less velocity than mag brake.  

Unless you work on disengaging them in pairs and re-setting your brake number (stand-off) to optimize your cast.  

The SV is easy - set your mag for the lightest thing you're going to throw, and the moving brake rotor handles everything heavier.  

[dodgeguy]

I don't agree with that unless maybe you have all the brakes on.i would say spool tension robs most of a fisherman's mid cast.That's why a dual braking system is nice. Even nicer is the externally adjustable Lews system. You can have any amount of centrifugal brakes you want with the touch of a dial.

[FishTank]

I would go with a Shimano Curado and a St. Croix Avid 7 MH/Fast.  You can just about everything with this set up. 

 

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

 

 

 

I use my own custom brake system...... ?

 

 

[bulldog1935]

I'm casting 1/16 oz to 100' on SV (BFS spool), and the same set-up will fish over an ounce without adjustment.  

There's no question SV is the least futzing for someone wanting to learn baitcasting - our OP.  

And you use zero end tension.  

 

As far as my thumb goes, I was out-casting guides with weighless rigs 40 years ago using Daiwa Millionaire 6H.  I'd PO them - they'd tell me what was wrong with my spiral cast, and I would double their cast distance - it's ok, I always made them look good back at the dock.  

I'm not a Daiwa fanboy, in fact I quit Daiwa altogether in 1984 when they wouldn't support parts on my Millionaire - I fished nothing but Lew's until this first Steez.  Exceeded my expectations so that I also bought a Zillion.  

But SV is a no-brainer for results with ease of use. 

Not counting offshore and surf, my only baitcasters currently are Steez, Zillion, and 2 Super Duty.  

I gave away my dual-brake Lew's to a buddy - good reel for him to learn baitcasting with big weights, but way too much spool mass for distance (wind control) in ML niche.  

 

@jimmyjoe the main brake in our old Ambassadeur and Millionaire was the level wind mechanism itself, constantly driven off the spool during casting.  

Abu's patented centrifugal brake was essentially a start-up brake add-on - then add in end-tension for constant-force braking.  

Those reels can never achieve the kind of spin velocity we get on new low profile baitcasters (or old Lew's), which disengage the LW mechanism during the cast.  

You would be floored by the spool speed on one of my NLW CT's.  

[desmobob]

57 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

But SV is a no-brainer for results with ease of use. 

 

Agreed.  It may be the most user-friendly braking system out there for ease of set-up and effectiveness.  And it does really well with light baits.

[Jasperfish]

Thank you everyone for your insight, I had a chance to get to the local trading post and put hands on a few set ups a lot sooner that I thought I would and what I felt was the most compatible in my hands was the Curado 200HG paired with a 7'3" MH/F St Croix Victory. I put 17lb mono on it which feels like rope but I figured it would be more forgiving for a noob. I took it out in the yard with a old spinner bait and chucked it around a bit and OH MY GOD I am in love I don't know if I will ever go back to Spinning reels

[desmobob]

57 minutes ago, Jasperfish said:

I took it out in the yard with a old spinner bait and chucked it around a bit and OH MY GOD I am in love I don't know if I will ever go back to Spinning reels

 

All right!  It's making you happy already!  Good for you!  

 

Having your thumb right there on top of the spool, ready to apply some pressure, gives you the kind of smooth control feel you just don't get with a spinning reel.  It feels so much more natural to feather a cast with a baitcaster so it drops right where you want it.  And baitcasting seems more fun for some reason...

 

One thing I forgot to bring up earlier is your preference for which hand you want to use for reeling.  I'm right-handed and prefer left-hand retrieve baitcasting reels.  Other right-handed folks prefer right-handed retrieve reels.  It gets debated endlessly and it boils down to personal preference.  Something to think about when you undoubtedly buy your second baitcaster in the future...

 

Fish your new outfit in good health.

[Cravin]

 Got mine in 10 days! The best DC brakes out and easy on beginners.

https://fishing.asian-portal.shop/category/select/pid/320557?gclid=CjwKCAjwuIWHBhBDEiwACXQYsRd3a_Wj3Xo_Dzq4SWSSVi2MYn9W5MFxQfZgf8akNI68NZ7MKk1lTxoCEcYQAvD_BwE

 

and the Rod

https://www.amazon.com/St-Croix-Mojo-7-1ft-Casting-Mjc71mf/dp/B011ISTP3U/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=mojo+bass+rod&qid=1625437456&s=apparel&sr=1-3

 

The $109 7ft MH/F  Bass X  by St. Croix is a nice rod as well. I have both and love them equally but the Mojo is SC3 which is lighter but not a whole lot lighter. 

[NOC 1]

For my money and a $400 budget, I'd go with a Falcon Expert rod and a Diawa Tatula SV TW or a Scorpion MGL if you would rather have Shimano. But as a new caster, I strongly recommend the Diawa SV system. It is much easier to work for a beginner.

[new2BC4bass]

17 hours ago, Jasperfish said:

 I took it out in the yard with a old spinner bait and chucked it around a bit and OH MY GOD I am in love I don't know if I will ever go back to Spinning reels

Used spinning only before I quit fishing for 23 years.  Decided to try a baitcast reel when I got back into fishing in 2009.  I never looked back.  I've purchased a few spinning rods and reels since then, but they hardly ever get used.

[ErieCan]

Daiwa Rebellion 7'3" MH/F rod and a Daiwa Tatula SV TW103 reel. Rod is rated 1/4-1 oz. This reel can toss light baits a mile. The cobo is extremely light. 

[Jasperfish]

Took the new set up out on the water today and I am very happy with the rod it is very sensitive and the reel is nice but will need some practice, but all in all I am very happy with the whole set up.

 

[jimmyjoe]

39 minutes ago, Jasperfish said:

Took the new set up out on the water today and I am very happy with the rod it is very sensitive and the reel is nice but will need some practice, but all in all I am very happy with the whole set up.

 

 

   That right there means everything! True on-the-water time, what I call "seeing things right in front of you", is the true test. I'm glad you're happy, and I'll bet everyone else is glad for you, too.    

 

   Good luck fishing!  ?            jj

[Boomstick]

On 7/4/2021 at 6:10 AM, Jasperfish said:

I think I am looking for a 7-7'6" MH/F

Since this is your first casting setup, I would try to keep it between 6'10" - 7'3". You can do anything on a 6'10" rod that you can do on a 7'6", the difference is when you get to the longer rod, it starts to typically fill a niche on various personal preferences for different presentations.

 

For $400, I would probably do the following:

 

Rod: St Croix Victory 7'3" MH/F "The Marshall". I got my youngest son the H/XF "Full Contact Finesse" rod for his birthday, and it is quite sensitive especially for its price point.

 

Daiwa Tatula SV TW 7.1:1. This is a both a good reel for the beginner as well as the reel I would personally match to that rod. The Daiwa SV spool improves control and reduces backlashes and is awesome for things like skipping and pitching.