Finesse fishing rod & reel under 250

[philbert1922]

I'm looking for a finesse spinning rod. Something with good sensitivity. I've been using a baitcaster lately but looking for a change up.  Lately I've been having good luck with just a worm.  I've been hearing that spinning rod is better for lighter weights.

[J Francho]

Take a look at St. Croix Victory series.

 

[Wprich]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Take a look at St. Croix Victory series.

 

And get a pflueger president size 30 reel to go with it

[Big Hands]

Quite a few good choices, and a decent budget number; much better to work with that a $200 budget IMHO.

 

My choice would be either a Daiwa Tatula or St. Croix Mojo Bass spinning rod and a Daiwa Fuego LT 2000S-XH reel.

[JMac603]

+1 for Victory & President reel. Rod matters more than the reel to me but the Presidents are great for the money.

[MN Fisher]

As much of a 'fan-boy' as I've been for Pflueger - I'd have to say look at Shimano instead now. The changes they've done have, IMO, downgraded Pflueger reels.

[Bass Rutten]

A $200 rod with a $50 reel will serve you much better imo than a $50 rod with a $200 reel, all that to say I think the rod is much more important than the reel.

[philbert1922]

Here's what I have found so far. 

Dobyns Sierra 6'9 medium light

St. Croix Victory 7'1 medium fast

St. Croix Premier

Tatula Elite

halo ksii elite

But side note. Would I be better off getting something cheaper till black Friday sales? Then grab something on sale?

 

[bulldog1935]

Buy your rod, then shop your 2000 reel in JDM. 

https://fishing.asian-portal.shop/category/select/pid/320552

https://fishing.asian-portal.shop/category/select/pid/300983

https://fishing.asian-portal.shop/category/select/pid/368003

[uglyasheck]

Daiwa Tatula Rod and Fuego reel. 

[philbert1922]

If I go with the daiwa tatula. Should I get the 7' medium fast? 

[Darth-Baiter]

my first finesse set up was just under $250 I think.

 

Phenix Maxim rod.  medium 7'3" and the Daiwa 2500 Procyan AL.  I got so many fish on that set up.  I actually lost the rod overboard and immediately bought the exact same rig and got back to stacking up the fish.  not sure why I bought another, but just being dumb with money..I bought another rig.  I could have gone on forever with that first set up.  I still use it with joy.  

 

IMPORTANT:  it makes a big difference in happiness where the bait holder tab is on the rod.  pay attention to this and save yourself a headache.  say drop-shot rigs.  it is a huge benefit to have the bait holder tab down low between the split grips, so when you clip the sinker there, your hook isn't up there in the guides (or worse) buried deep into your rod sleeve.  

[bulldog1935]

@Darth-Baiter

Complex rigs are where those silly-looking Japanese reel stand/ balancer/ hook-keeper that replaces the blank handle cap come in really handy. 

This is a jighead with a double stinger hook looped to the leader. 

The Tsubaki reel stand is also one of the cheapest and most functional, with the rotating hook keeper. 

Most of them also contain a pair or stack of o-rings that will grab your line to loop it around and back to hook your first guide k-frame. 

They store your lure, hooks and line away from the rod, prevent line wraps. 

Easy to grab and fish, easy to put back away. 

[newyorktoiowa57]

Take a serious look at the new Diawa Legalis LT.  It's the same reel as the Fuego, but without the Magseal (not needed for freshwater IMO).  I've caught hundreds of bass and trout with the older version of that reel, and the Drag was great. 

 

I Just got the newer one a couple weeks ago and it is even better.  

 

The reel is only 70 bucks at TW, and I got mine from ebay for under 60 shipped.  Then you would have a lot of money left over for a rod.  

 

I've always used the Dobyns sierra 692 with the legalis, and the rod is great for ned rigs.  That set up would be $240 plus tax on TW.

You could also get the Curado Rod (basically the same as the old zodias), and the total setup would be $230 plus tax.  

 

 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Tatula w Fuego lt or Phenix M1 w Exceler Lt.  

[Bass Rutten]

4 hours ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

Take a serious look at the new Diawa Legalis LT.  It's the same reel as the Fuego, but without the Magseal

The legalis, while a good value, has through-body handle design, whereas the fuego has screw-in handle design which will be less prone in the long run to becoming loose and causing play. The exceler though could be described as a fuego without magseal, and it’s also the lowest priced daiwa spinner with a screw in handle and the best value daiwa reel feature for feature imo

[Revival]

12 hours ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

Take a serious look at the new Diawa Legalis LT.  

 

 

My fishing partner has the new Legalis and the handle bent while fighting a fish.  He was bummed.