I’m new and have no clue what I’m doing

[Nate Booth]

I’m a new fisherman, I don’t have my own rod but I use my brothers since he stopped fishing a while ago, and I’m looking for a new rod and reel. I’m pretty flexible but I wanna stay around 400-450 at most. If anyone can give any suggestions then that would be very great. I plan on using it for largemouth and smallmouth bass.

[mrpao]

Next question.

Spinning or baitcasting?

What lures are you planning to use this new combo for?

What type of water do you normally fish?

How big are the normal fish you catch?

 

[new2BC4bass]

Beat me to it.

[moguy1973]

$400-450 for your first fishing rod and reel.  Can I have some of that money tree?

 

There's lots of good starting rig that will cost a lot less than that.  Could get a really nice casting rod and reel AND a nice spinning rod and reel for that price, and it'll cover 90% of the baits you'll need to catch both small mouth and largemouth.

[purpurite]

If you are new then your price range is way out of touch, IMO. You can get a really decent "combo" setup from a lot of big box outdoor stores like Bass Pro Shops, Scheels, Academy Sports, Dick's Sporting Goods and many others depending on where you live. You should easily be able to keep your expense for a decent rod and reel to well below $150, and quite honestly, below $100. Your priority right now is to get good enough gear to not hinder your enjoyment and learning. Put some of that cash into good baits, good line and good organization for all of it and you'll be happier with your stuff as you get more comfortable.

 

There is plenty of time to spend cash on higher end gear.

[TOXIC]

Being new I get the feeling you think that spending more on a combo will make it more versatile in more situations for more species.  Actually it’s the opposite.  When you get to the price point you mentioned, the rods/reels get more technically specific to a certain bait or group of baits.  IMHO you’d be better off to get a few more reasonably priced combos to cover more techniques.  

[JS8588]

New? Start with spinning gear. I'd start with a 2500 sized reel & a medium/medium light 7'0-7'6 rod, 10lb Sunline Super Natural or Stren Magnathin & go from there.

[new2BC4bass]

Whoa!! I can't believe what I am reading.  What happened to the "Buy once, cry once" mentality that is seen a lot around here and many other forums?  As someone that started at the bottom and worked upwards (almost to the mid-tier), I say if you can afford it, then go for it.  I'd have a lot less gear if I'd gone that way.  The OP does need more specifics in order to get some good recommendations.

 

Nor do I believe that all high end rods and reels are more technique specific.  The OP said $400-$450 at the most.  That's really not over the top considering it is for both the rod and reel. And a total of $200-$250 is in his budget if that is the kind of gear you want to recommend.  Are you saying a Daiwa Exist or Shimano Stella are technique specific reels?  After all both are way over the OP's budget.  I consider my Diablo Spec R and my Zolo Dream to be quite versatile.

 

I agree spinning is easier to learn on, but maybe the OP wants to start with a baitcast combo.  Spinning can also be cheaper.  A $200 baitcast reel and a $200 rod for it is not what many enthusiasts would consider anywhere near 'high end'.  The Tatula LT is a $200 spinning reel.  Team it with something like the 7' MF Tatula ($150) and I think the OP would have a very versatile rig, and one he probably wouldn't feel the need to upgrade at a later date.

 

Sure a Berkley Cherrywood with a Shakespeare spinning reel gets the job done, but how long before the OP would want to upgrade it if he continues in the sport?

[Smalls]

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Whoa!! I can't believe what I am reading.  What happened to the "Buy once, cry once" mentality that is seen a lot around here and many other forums?

I'm a firm believer in that mantra. But I also think he'd be better off splitting $450 into 2 set ups. 

[WRB]

What are you using now your brother had?

Tom

[Darren.]

Holy guacamole! $400-450 for a first setup being new to the sport?!?

Are we being punked? Daaaang.

 

Go for a couple setups, start with spinning. Good luck, though I don't

think you need it if you have that kind of money laying around for a setup .

[new2BC4bass]

38 minutes ago, Smalls said:

I'm a firm believer in that mantra. But I also think he'd be better off splitting $450 into 2 set ups. 

Personally I've never spent $200 on a spinning or baitcast rod.  Some of my rods had an MSRP of over $200 and a few over $300, but I purchased used or on closeout.  I have spent over $200 on baitcast reels...both new and used.

 

The OP has been fishing with his brother's gear so I assume he likes fishing.  He is willing to spend a fair amount on one rod/reel so I also assume he isn't hurting for money.

 

I also agree that he needn't start out spending that much.  You can buy some nice all around outfits for quite a bit less....both in spinning and baitcasting.

 

But it's his money.  I can tell you from experience that it is better to buy a few quality rods and reels right from the beginning if you know you will be sticking with the sport.  One look in my basement and you will understand why I can say that.

 

Some people are happy to fish with gear way less than $100 even though they can afford better.  Some of us get a lot of pleasure from using quality gear.  Do I catch more fish with a $400 combo than a $150 combo?  No.  But I get more pleasure for using the $400 combo.  Not everyone does.

[Smalls]

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

Personally I've never spent $200 on a spinning or baitcast rod.  Some of my rods had an MSRP of over $200 and a few over $300, but I purchased used or on closeout.  I have spent over $200 on baitcast reels...both new and used.

 

The OP has been fishing with his brother's gear so I assume he likes fishing.  He is willing to spend a fair amount on one rod/reel so I also assume he isn't hurting for money.

 

I also agree that he needn't start out spending that much.  You can buy some nice all around outfits for quite a bit less....both in spinning and baitcasting.

 

But it's his money.  I can tell you from experience that it is better to buy a few quality rods and reels right from the beginning if you know you will be sticking with the sport.  One look in my basement and you will understand why I can say that.

 

Some people are happy to fish with gear way less than $100 even though they can afford better.  Some of us get a lot of pleasure from using quality gear.  Do I catch more fish with a $400 combo than a $150 combo?  No.  But I get more pleasure for using the $400 combo.  Not everyone does.

I completely agree. With roughly $225-250 per set up, I think he'll get decent quality gear that gives him a perfect baseline to later decide whether higher end gear is worth it to him. 

[ironbjorn]

I suggest a casting and a spinning setup for that amount of money.

 

I recommend a 4 power Dobyns Fury casting rod in the length of your choosing, paired with a 7.2:1 Shimano SLX XT. $250

 

I also recommend a 3 power Dobyns Fury spinning rod in the length of your choosing, paired with a 2500 size Daiwa Legalis. $190

 

$440

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to rods especially.  What really matters is if you like the way it feels.  I recommend going to a tackle shop and a place like dicks sporting goods so you can figure out what your preferences are. 

I would recommend getting a brand that has a good replacement/warranty on their rods.  13 Fishing Dobyns and St. Croix all have good warranties. 

 

[bulldog1935]

wow, lotsa information overload without knowing what was brother's rod he borrowed, whether he liked it and wants something similar.  

 

also, if brother stopped fishing, what happens to all his idle tackle?  

 

Are you guys sure this "guy" isn't a beta-bot?  

[Lmsmbassaddict]

21 hours ago, Nate Booth said:

I’m a new fisherman, I don’t have my own rod but I use my brothers since he stopped fishing a while ago, and I’m looking for a new rod and reel. I’m pretty flexible but I wanna stay around 400-450 at most. If anyone can give any suggestions then that would be very great. I plan on using it for largemouth and smallmouth bass.

 

My advice is to spend 250-300 on a new set up and the rest in tackle. People often forget tackle... I know I do. Lol. 

 

If I was in your boat I'd get a 7' medium heavy slx rod, slx DC reel, and grab some bps EWG hooks size 3/0, some weights, some red label 15lb fluorocarbon, some creature baits, some senkos. 

 

If you're more into spinning gear the bps pro qualifier is a good start. I also like the daiwa Fuego both baitcasting and spinning. 

[Pogues2300]

Without more info from the poster, I'd also look into 2 setups. Something around 7' to 7'3" medium heavy fast baitcasting with a 7:1 ish reel for versatility. And a7' medium fast spinning setup. Could give specific suggestions with more info. 

[TOXIC]

Well, as I sit here right now having been a fisherman for 50+ years and a fishing guide and having been sponsored by some major rod companies, for the life of me I can not honestly recommend a setup that will cover all the techniques needed to CONSISTENTLY catch both largemouth and smallmouth throughout all the seasons.  Not to mention we all end up preferring some techniques over others and tend to match our gear to that technique.  The natural learning curve doesn’t lend itself well to “trial and error” with $400 combos. Sure buy once, cry once if you know what you are buying or you can keep on crying as you figure it out.  As for $400 being not expensive…..seriously?  In my budget that’s not play money.  It especially wasn’t when I first started out.  

[new2BC4bass]

5 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

wow, lotsa information overload without knowing what was brother's rod he borrowed, whether he liked it and wants something similar.  

 

also, if brother stopped fishing, what happens to all his idle tackle?  

 

Are you guys sure this "guy" isn't a beta-bot?  

First you would have to explain to me what a beta-bot is.  I've never been accused of being a tech guy. 

 

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

Well, as I sit here right now having been a fisherman for 50+ years and a fishing guide and having been sponsored by some major rod companies, for the life of me I can not honestly recommend a setup that will cover all the techniques needed to CONSISTENTLY catch both largemouth and smallmouth throughout all the seasons.  Not to mention we all end up preferring some techniques over others and tend to match our gear to that technique.  The natural learning curve doesn’t lend itself well to “trial and error” with $400 combos. Sure buy once, cry once if you know what you are buying or you can keep on crying as you figure it out.  As for $400 being not expensive…..seriously?  In my budget that’s not play money.  It especially wasn’t when I first started out.  

Again...$400 is a lot of money for me.  But we have guys here fishing $700 reels on $700 rods, and have a quiver full of such combos.  Heck, I've read of fly fishermen owning at least 3 bamboo rods in the $3000 plus range.  And this is on top of their $1200 graphite rods.  Naturally the reels on them run in the $800-$1000 or more range.  I can give you a link to a used fly reel with a price of $9250.  Whoa!!!! 

 

I don't personally know of such a person, but I know they exist.  They have enough money that they don't care about the cost.  They just want the best.  And the OP doesn't say what he wants the rod for.  Maybe he is like my daughter, and only fishes one type of lure.  Then again, like bulldog said, maybe it isn't even a real person so we are all p...ing in the wind.

 

My oldest brother-in-law could afford any rod/reel he wants, but he is the type of person that probably wouldn't spend more than $100 total.  That is how he got, and keeps, his money.

 

As I said before, the $400-$450 is the OP's max budget.  There's nothing stopping you or anyone else from suggesting a $100 combo.  Plenty of guys...including yours truly...have suggested an all around combo without knowing what the OP would be using it for.  Not knowing has never stopped anyone before from giving an opinion.

 

And I'm sure what you guys suggest would do the trick for years to come.  I fished for many years with a K-Mart cheapo rod and a Mitchell 300.  My first expensive rod was a 6' ML Lightning spinning rod and the expensive reel I bought for it was a Penn 430SS.  No idea the cost of either, but betting total was quite a bit less than $100.  This was over 45 years ago and I still have and like the combo.

[bulldog1935]

Are you guys sure this guy isn't a beta-bot?  

@new2BC4bass

Certainly I never mentioned you might be a beta-bot, but beta-bots are computer "personalities" that show up on forums and make conversational posts that seem a little strange and more than a little uninitiated. 

Their purpose is to establish a link in internet forums and then begin spamming.  

We haven't heard back from our OP, though we asked him reasonable questions. 

[Darth-Baiter]

Keep the same budget and buy TWO $200 setups.  Hell I bet you can buy three setups for the same budget. 
 

 

[new2BC4bass]

18 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Are you guys sure this guy isn't a beta-bot?  

@new2BC4bass

Certainly I never mentioned you might be a beta-bot, but beta-bots are computer "personalities" that show up on forums and make conversational posts that seem a little strange and more than a little uninitiated. 

Their purpose is to establish a link in internet forums and then begin spamming.  

We haven't heard back from our OP, though we asked him reasonable questions. 

Thanks for the explanation.  So spamming a person's email and smart phone isn't enough anymore?  Geez!

[Boomstick]

So if you want to go with a spinning rod, you realistically could of a bit cheaper and get something decent. The Pflueger President isn't a bad reel, and you could step up to a Daiwa BG ($100 retail but I got mine for $70). Then you could get something like a Dobyns Fury 702sf or 703sf depending what size lures you're fishing.

 

If you go the casting route, I would say go with a Daiwa Tatula SV reel. They retail for $200 and have excellent brakes so if you're learning to cast, the birds nests won't be too terrible. And if you're experienced, they still cast well but are also great for pitching and skipping. Then for a rod, I would get something like the Dobyns Fury or Sierra 704c depending how much you wanna spend. Or if you want to spend the full amount, try the St Croix Victory 7'3" MH/F "The Marshall" or maybe the 7'1" Grunt which runs a little lighter.

[PaulVE64]

Get two setups both spinning.

First setup should be a medium or medium heavy rod with a medium tip and a 2500 or 3000 size reel (max $150) -  use it for anything with a treble hooks 

Spend more on the second combo (max $250) and get a medium or medium light rod with a fast tip and a 2000 or 2500 size reel - use it for bottom contact and soft plastics.

 

I dont recommend baitcasters to anyone starting out but if the setup your borrowing is a baitcaster then by all means ignore my advice.