Affordable rods for a new bass fisherman.

[Eric 26]

Just a heads up, Cabelas/Bass Pro does not carry the CA80. They carry quite a few Daiwa reels but not that particular model, at least not the ones around me. 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

Just a heads up, Cabelas/Bass Pro does not carry the CA80. They carry quite a few Daiwa reels but not that particular model, at least not the ones around me. 

No - but the Cx-80 models are pretty much the same. Only major difference is the frame material

CC - Carbon Fiber

CR - Resin

CA - Aluminum

 

You can check out a CR or CC and know that the CA is basically the same reel.

[Devon B.]

3 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

Just a heads up, Cabelas/Bass Pro does not carry the CA80. They carry quite a few Daiwa reels but not that particular model, at least not the ones around me. 

I couldn't find it on the website, I'll mostly be seeing if I like right or left handed retrieve.

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

No - but the Cx-80 models are pretty much the same. Only major difference is the frame material

CC - Carbon Fiber

CR - Resin

CA - Aluminum

 

You can check out a CR or CC and know that the CA is basically the same reel.

Good to know, Thanks.

[r83srock]

I’m a fan of the Berkley Lightning Rod, Lews Hank Parker series from Walmart, and the Daiwa Aird X.  Out of those the Aird X is my favorite.

[Devon B.]

10 minutes ago, r83srock said:

I’m a fan of the Berkley Lightning Rod, Lews Hank Parker series from Walmart, and the Daiwa Aird X.  Out of those the Aird X is my favorite.

Ok, I think im going with a Daiwa aird-x.

[islandbass]

5 hours 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

Unlike casting reels, where $100 is borderline imho, especially if you’re learning for the first time. That same $100 buys a whole lot for spinning reels. Shimano and Daiwa offerings are sound choices at this price point.

 

I have a Daiwa Aird-X, and I can gladly tell you it doesn’t get much better in the best “bang for the buck” department. 
 

If you do go with casting, I am willing to bet a floating Rapala minnow you will feel most comfortable with a casting reel whose handle is on the same side and where it is on your spinning reels. I can practically guarantee it, lol. 

[Devon B.]

15 minutes ago, islandbass said:

Unlike casting reels, where $100 is borderline imho, especially if you’re learning for the first time. That same $100 buys a whole lot for spinning reels. Shimano and Daiwa offerings are sound choices at this price point.

 

I have a Daiwa Aird-X, and I can gladly tell you it doesn’t get much better in the best “bang for the buck” department. 

Thanks, I'll look into those shimanos and daiwas. And how are Bass Pro combos/reels, they are significantly cheaper, like their "Tourney special" baitcast combo. Thanks! -Devon

[Revival]

I know a lot of people always recommend the Aird X rods, but I purchased 3 of them in the past and hated how it felt in my hands.  

Purchased the spinning rod for my wife and she didn’t care for it either.
 

I had them in both spinning and casting and returned them all.

 

So while cheap, it’s not for everyone.

 

Check out some rods in person if you can, and see what you like and don’t like.

 

[Lead Head]

I had an older tourney special combo. I caught hundreds of fish with it, but I would never recommend it to a beginner. That reel was super finicky, even when "dialed in". Maybe the newer version is better. 

 

Generally speaking, people keep suggesting $100 reels because that is the mark where most reels tend to be consistent and user-friendly. Plenty of good stuff cheaper than that, but they tend to be a little wild and more difficult to dial in. It's not that you can't learn on a budget friendly reel, they just typically come with a little steeper learning curve and don't usually last as long. Keep in mind, this is all "generally speaking" based on my own experience, nothing is absolute. 

 

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to give some explanation as to why many of us immediately started suggesting casting reels that were a little over your original budget. 

[ironbjorn]

Daiwa Aird-X

^ This rod is in a league of its own in the $50 range.

 

Other good options include the Fenwick Eagle, the Abu Garcia Vengeance, and the Berkley Lightning Rod (NOT the orange Shock rod, the reel seat is garbage on that version). 

[zpelletier]

10 hours 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?

Tackle warehouse is good, they just aren’t the fastest for shipping. Omnia Fishing is good too, less inventory but they ship fast. 
 

The Abu Garcia Revo X is on clearance, for that price it’s a good option too

 

https://www.omniafishing.com/p/abu-garcia-revo-x

[GreenPig]

18 hours ago, T-Billy said:

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

The Cherrywood rods work too.

[bulldog1935]

The thread has done great for sticking below the $50 (or a little more) mark that you set. 

 

Since no one has mentioned the "little more" mark, I'll throw out 13Fishing Defy Black, which are $60,  fast rods and very light in hand. 

 

[Devon B.]

2 hours ago, zpelletier said:

Tackle warehouse is good, they just aren’t the fastest for shipping. Omnia Fishing is good too, less inventory but they ship fast. 
 

The Abu Garcia Revo X is on clearance, for that price it’s a good option too

 

https://www.omniafishing.com/p/abu-garcia-revo-x

Ok thanks!

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

The thread has done great for sticking below the $50 (or a little more) mark that you set. 

 

Since no one has mentioned the "little more" mark, I'll throw out 13Fishing Defy Black, which are $60,  fast rods and very light in hand. 

 

Thanks! That one looks nice too, is it a reputable brand? Ive heard the name before but I dont know much about it.

[bulldog1935]

@Eric 26 and I both tout this brand for everything I listed above, plus backbone. 

Fractional result from Omen Green 7'1" ML, which uses the same rod blank MOC. 

This is the least-expensive rod I fish, and will never be without.  Extremely light in hand, fast, extremely sensitive - I literally feel every blade of grass through this rod. 

 

@Devon B. never owned or fished a Tatula, and will guess the 13Fishing is lighter in hand and more bang for the buck. 

[Devon B.]

1 minute ago, bulldog1935 said:

@Eric 26 and I both tout this brand for everything I listed above, plus backbone. 

Fractional result from Omen Green ML, which uses the same rod blank MOC. 

This is the least-expensive rod I fish, and will never be without.  Extremely light in hand, fast, extremely sensitive - I literally feel every blade of grass through this rod. 

MidwayUSA has the daiwa tatula on sale for $61, is that a better option?

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, Devon B. said:

MidwayUSA has the daiwa tatula on sale for $61, is that a better option?

 

The Tatula XT is definitely better than the Aird-X...at that price it's 'a steal'.

[Devon B.]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

 

The Tatula XT is definitely better than the Aird-X...at that price it's 'a steal'.

I was talking about the 13fishing defy black that @bulldog1935 mentioned

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, Devon B. said:

I was talking about the 13fishing defy black that @bulldog1935 mentioned

The line I quoted from you says 'Tatula at Midway'...

[Devon B.]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

The line I quoted from you says 'Tatula at Midway'...

Is it a better option than the Defy Black. Not the AIRD-X

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Devon B. said:

Is it a better option than the Defy Black. Not the AIRD-X

I'm not familiar with the Defy rods...I'm kind of in a rut far as that goes...Diawa, Dobyns and Okuma are my brands.

[Eric 26]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

The thread has done great for sticking below the $50 (or a little more) mark that you set. 

 

Since no one has mentioned the "little more" mark, I'll throw out 13Fishing Defy Black, which are $60,  fast rods and very light in hand. 

 

I can honestly say I love my defy black spinning rod.

 

4 hours ago, zpelletier said:

Tackle warehouse is good, they just aren’t the fastest for shipping. Omnia Fishing is good too, less inventory but they ship fast. 
 

The Abu Garcia Revo X is on clearance, for that price it’s a good option too

 

https://www.omniafishing.com/p/abu-garcia-revo-x

I can also say I love my gen 4 Revo X also. As was mentioned previously the Daiwa and Revo could very well have been manufactured side by side. I’m partial to the Daiwa brand as it seems their quality control is a tad better in my opinion from my research. 

 

5 hours ago, Lead Head said:

I had an older tourney special combo. I caught hundreds of fish with it, but I would never recommend it to a beginner. That reel was super finicky, even when "dialed in". Maybe the newer version is better. 

 

Generally speaking, people keep suggesting $100 reels because that is the mark where most reels tend to be consistent and user-friendly. Plenty of good stuff cheaper than that, but they tend to be a little wild and more difficult to dial in. It's not that you can't learn on a budget friendly reel, they just typically come with a little steeper learning curve and don't usually last as long. Keep in mind, this is all "generally speaking" based on my own experience, nothing is absolute. 

 

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to give some explanation as to why many of us immediately started suggesting casting reels that were a little over your original budget. 

As far as bass pro combos I wouldn’t drop below the pro qualifier combo purely based on other’s opinions but I only have the carbonlite 2.0 combo which is more than you’re looking to spend.

[Lead Head]

S22 aThe Tat is marked down nearly 40%... I would get that. When you are ready for a second baitcaster (and you will be, much quicker than you think) check out the defy. I suggest this because finding a Tatula xt for $60 is way harder than finding a defy for $60.

 

If nothing else it let's you experience a $100 rod while staying pretty close to your budget. Info gathered with this rod will help you decide if you want to go up, or down for future rod purchases. 

 

While I'm at it, my reel suggestion is a Fuego CT in 6 or 7 speed. The magforce Z breaking is great to learn on.

 

Either way, pick one out and hit the water!

 

 

[Deleted account]

6 hours ago, Revival said:

I know a lot of people always recommend the Aird X rods, but I purchased 3 of them in the past and hated how it felt in my hands. 

Yeah, but the hot Nevada sun is beating down on your head, what rod under $100 do you like better?

 

13 hours ago, Devon B. said:

I will, someone else recommended stopping somewhere too, 

That was me, I recommended stopping five threads ago...

 

[FryDog62]

For $50 rods - I have 2 that I buy: Daiwa Aird, and Abu Vengeance. I find that the Aird has more flex so better for crankbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits... and the Vengeance is a little faster/crisper for bottom contact, plastics, etc. Just my .02