Affordable rods for a new bass fisherman.

[Devon B.]

I want a rod that is less than $50 (or slightly above) to start bass fishing on. I have a trout rod, but lure weight is 5/8 oz max, which I don't think is enough for most lures and some baits. Ive looked at Daiwa AIRD-X's which might be a good decision, but I want more good options to look at. I also need to know if I should go with spinning or baitcast, I only have experience with spinning. Thanks! -Devon

[MN Fisher]

While the max weight on that rod would be fine for quite a few applications, trout rods are usually softer than bass rods.

 

Slightly above $50 - how much...I've got a couple Okuma Reflexions and they're good rods for the price at $75.

 

Spinning is entirely possible for bass - some guys out there do well with nothing but spinning gear. If you go casting, you'd want a good reel - in the $100 range - a lot of the lower priced reels aren't that good to learn on.

[Mobasser]

For casting I'll say a Lew's LFS reel.For a rod, look at Academy Sports. If your new to casting reels, spool with Big Game mono in 12 to 15lb weight. For around 150.00 you can have a good outfit, suitable for bass fishing.

[Mobasser]

The Academy rod is called All Star. They have several actions on these. Cost is around 49.95. Good rod for the dollars.

[Eric 26]

I’ll give you 2 possibly 3 options, 2 are Lews. First is a rod called “Carbon Fire” available only at Dicks sporting goods. The second is a  “Hank Parker Speed Stick” available at Wal Mart. The first has Wynn grips the second has Eva grips, otherwise they’re the same stick. Another option maybe still available at Wal Mart is a Wright & McGill “pro insight advantage”rod. I have all 3 and enjoy them very much and feel like these are worth the money.

[thunderblack]

I would check out house brand rods from BPS, Cabelas, & Academy.

[T-Billy]

Berkley Lightning Rods. Lew's Hank Parker series. Both are very good for their price at around 45-50 bucks.

[WRB]

What Spinning reel do you have?

Tom

[Jar11591]

The Berkley Shock gets a lot of love as far as value for the money. I own one but haven’t fished it enough to give an opinion on it as it’s an emergency backup rod, but they seem to be highly regarded by some anglers on here. 
 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Shock_Spinning_Rods/descpage-BSSR.html

[Devon B.]

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

While the max weight on that rod would be fine for quite a few applications, trout rods are usually softer than bass rods.

 

Slightly above $50 - how much...I've got a couple Okuma Reflexions and they're good rods for the price at $75.

 

Spinning is entirely possible for bass - some guys out there do well with nothing but spinning gear. If you go casting, you'd want a good reel - in the $100 range - a lot of the lower priced reels aren't that good to learn on.

Thanks! $175 is a bit high, but I'll look at that Okuma and some casting reels in that range.

[Jmilburn76]

I love my Daiwa Aird-X casting rods for the price. Im not sure when your time frame to purchase is but Black Friday sales are right around the corner.

[RDB]

For me, if the choices were a new rod for $50 dollars or a higher quality used rod for $50, I would go used every time.  Fishermen are always upgrading their gear and you can get great deals if you look around.  You probably see dismissing returns the higher you go in price but the difference is significant from low to mid tier IMO.

[Tatulatard]

Go to walmart and get one of the lews rods.  The hank parkers are pretty good.

[Catt]

6 hours ago, Mobasser said:

The Academy rod is called All Star. They have several actions on these. Cost is around 49.95. Good rod for the dollars.

 

They also have H2O Ethos & Express 

[PhishLI]

This a a great sale price for a nice rod, and a nice upgrade from an Aird-X. Free shipping too.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022115950?pid=850731

[NYWayfarer]

6 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

I’ll give you 2 possibly 3 options, 2 are Lews. First is a rod called “Carbon Fire” available only at Dicks sporting goods. The second is a  “Hank Parker Speed Stick” available at Wal Mart. The first has Wynn grips the second has Eva grips, otherwise they’re the same stick. Another option maybe still available at Wal Mart is a Wright & McGill “pro insight advantage”rod. I have all 3 and enjoy them very much and feel like these are worth the money.

Walmart also has the Lew’s Lazer HS rods great rod for under $40

[new2BC4bass]

Some good suggestions.  Spinning or baitcasting?  Baitcasting has a steeper learning curve.  Not bad for some, worse for others.  I was in the second group.  Should have looked up some videos.  Now I hardly ever touch spinning.

 

No experience with them, but several on here have mentioned Lew's Carbon Fire fishes above its price....currently $70, normally $80.  As you have already discovered, the Aird X is also highly rated for the $$$.

 

I couldn't get past the color of the older Berkley Lightning Shock rods, but I have an old Lightning (not the Shock) that has been good to me for a long, long, long time.

[BigAngus752]

45 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

This a a great sale price for a nice rod, and a nice upgrade from an Aird-X. Free shipping too.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022115950?pid=850731

^^^this^^^ and/or the AirdX.  Look no further. 

[Eric 26]

I believe you said you are looking for another reel also. Not sure if you’re interested in a spinning or bait casting setup but I would recommend checking out Bass Pro Shops combos, good bang for the buck in my opinion. And yes I have a Carbonlite combo. Also as @MN Fisher pointed out don’t go for a super cheap bait cast reel and yes I speak from experience owning 2 currently, they are definitely more finicky to setup and fall out of adjustment rather easily. If you do purchase a casting rod and reel separately I’d recommend either a Daiwa CA80 or Daiwa Fuego casting reel. If you’re patient you can find some good prices on either. If you go spinning the Daiwa Regal at $59.99 gets good reviews and at $79.99 the Carbonlite spinning reel is a great reel in my opinion.

[Devon B.]

2 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

I believe you said you are looking for another reel also. Not sure if you’re interested in a spinning or bait casting setup but I would recommend checking out Bass Pro Shops combos, good bang for the buck in my opinion. And yes I have a Carbonlite combo. Also as @MN Fisher pointed out don’t go for a super cheap bait cast reel and yes I speak from experience owning 2 currently, they are definitely more finicky to setup and fall out of adjustment rather easily. If you do purchase a casting rod and reel separately I’d recommend either a Daiwa CA80 or Daiwa Fuego casting reel. If you’re patient you can find some good prices on either. If you go spinning the Daiwa Regal at $59.99 gets good reviews and at $79.99 the Carbonlite spinning reel is a great reel in my opinion.

Thanks Eric, I think im going to go with a Daiwa AIRD-X for the rod. Still doing research on reel and I dont know if I should do spinning or baitcast yet, spinning reels seem to be cheaper (that could be a bad thing too) but a baitcaster might be nice so I have more of an excuse to buy a new rod...

         All jokes aside thanks for your help! -Devon

[Eric 26]

5 minutes ago, Devon B. said:

Thanks Eric, I think im going to go with a Daiwa AIRD-X for the rod. Still doing research on reel and I dont know if I should do spinning or baitcast yet, spinning reels seem to be cheaper (that could be a bad thing too) but a baitcaster might be nice so I have more of an excuse to buy a new rod...

         All jokes aside thanks for your help! -Devon

I don’t own the rod but I’ve held/contemplated it enough to say excellent choice. 

[Devon B.]

8 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

I don’t own the rod but I’ve held/contemplated it enough to say excellent choice. 

I think I'll go with the CA80 reel. I'll do a bit more research, see if anyone else responds in the next few hours. Is tackle warehouse a good website to order it from?

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, Devon B. said:

Is tackle warehouse a good website to order it from?

I've kind of shifted away from TW the past year...various reasons.

 

FishUSA or Academy would be my preferences.

 

Well, one other place, but they're on Glenn's 'naughty list', so I can't post them.

[Eric 26]

1 hour ago, Devon B. said:

I think I'll go with the CA80 reel. I'll do a bit more research, see if anyone else responds in the next few hours. Is tackle warehouse a good website to order it from?

Although I’ve never had any issues using Tackle Warehouse they did have some security issues in the past that some people aren’t happy with. Although I’ve never purchased from either place @MN Fisher recommended I know he wouldn’t steer you wrong. One last thing to mention is your preference on handle side (left or right) as unlike a spinning reel you aren’t changing sides. I like many others on here am right  handed but prefer reeling all my reels spinning and casting with my left hand, so for that reason if you have a store to at least stop into that carries them you may want to go that route.

[Devon B.]

5 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

Although I’ve never had any issues using Tackle Warehouse they did have some security issues in the past that some people aren’t happy with. Although I’ve never purchased from either place @MN Fisher recommended I know he wouldn’t steer you wrong. One last thing to mention is your preference on handle side (left or right) as unlike a spinning reel you aren’t changing sides. I like many others on here am right  handed but prefer reeling all my reels spinning and casting with my left hand, so for that reason if you have a store to at least stop into that carries them you may want to go that route.

I will, someone else recommended stopping somewhere too, I have a cabelas near me so I'll go when I can. Thanks!