Which rod

[Devon B.]

I need a good bass rod that will be affordable. People have recommended the Daiwa but the BPS is much cheaper.

[Deleted account]

Buy $30 less in lures and get the Daiwa.

[Dwight Hottle]

7 hours ago, Devon B. said:

I need a good bass rod that will be affordable. People have recommended the Daiwa but the BPS is much cheaper.

Good & cheap don't always go together. 

[MN Fisher]

Go with the Diawa....

[Deleted account]

13 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Go with the Diawa....

Again? or Still?...

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Again? or Still?...

Still....he seems to be waffling....positive reinforcement here.

[Deleted account]

56 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Still....he seems to be waffling..

Belgian giant one with fruit, whipped topping and syrup...

[fin]

A couple things to consider:

 

People here are always going to choose the more expensive option. ?

 

Probably nobody here has tried that Bass Pro combo, it’s just well known that Daiwa makes great stuff and Bass Pro stuff is iffy.

 

That said, get the Daiwa.

[LCG]

It's cheaper in the end to buy quality gear upfront, trust me

[NorthernBasser]

The next 2022 Daiwa Tatula XT looks like a killer deal at $99.99. Not sure how readily available they are at the moment, tho.  

[NavyToad]

I used only spinning gear for over 20 years. learned to use a baitcaster using the $49 BPS Tourney special combo 25 years ago. Still have the rod somewhere, but the reel’s long gone. For $49 I had what I needed to learn how to use a baitcaster and learn I did! 
Just pick one and dedicate yourself to using only that rod until you’re proficient using a baitcaster. If you’re like me, you’ll love it once you get the hang of it and you’ll end up buying a better set-up (or 20) at some point. 

[Devon B.]

1 minute ago, NavyToad said:

I used only spinning gear for over 20 years. learned to use a baitcaster using the $49 BPS Tourney special combo 25 years ago. Still have the rod somewhere, but the reel’s long gone. For $49 I had what I needed to learn how to use a baitcaster and learn I did! 
Just pick one and dedicate yourself to using only that rod until you’re proficient using a baitcaster. If you’re like me, you’ll love it once you get the hang of it and you’ll end up buying a better set-up (or 20) at some point. 

Ok, would you recommend going with something cheaper and getting an upgrade later, or going with a good set up right away?

7 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

The next 2022 Daiwa Tatula XT looks like a killer deal at $99.99. Not sure how readily available they are at the moment, tho.  

Its on sale for $60 something on midwayusa right now, that might be last years model.

[NorthernBasser]

6 minutes ago, Devon B. said:

 

Its on sale for $60 something on midwayusa right now, that might be last years model.

Yeah, that is last years model. Which still sounds like a great deal, tho I've never fished those rods specifically. 

[Devon B.]

1 minute ago, NorthernBasser said:

Yeah, that is last years model. Which still sounds like a great deal, tho I've never fished those rods specifically. 

Someone recommended a 13fishing defy black, do you know much about those? He said he really likes it.

[NavyToad]

15 minutes ago, Devon B. said:

Ok, would you recommend going with something cheaper and getting an upgrade later, or going with a good set up right away?

Its on sale for $60 something on midwayusa right now, that might be last years model.

I went the cheap route because I didn’t know if I’d like using a baitcaster. Turns out I DID like a baitcaster and what I saw as it’s advantages. I’ve spent $$$$ on baitcasters since then. So it really depends on your individual financial situation as well as your level of interest in general. Heck, I sometimes throw money away like a drunken sailor so I’m probably not the right person to ask. 

[NorthernBasser]

6 minutes ago, Devon B. said:

Someone recommended a 13fishing defy black, do you know much about those? He said he really likes it.

I know nothing about those. But I know my nephew has a 13 Fishing Fate Black that he loves. It's about $20 more than the Defy. 

 

Labor Day sales will be coming up. The Ark Tharp Honey Badger series of rods are reg. $130 but will be marked down to $110. Great rods for that price. The Hammer is an awesome all-around 7' MH. And they look beautiful on top of how well they fish. 

[Bankc]

I had a Bass Pro Tourney Special rod.  I lost it in the lake a while ago.  It was okay.  The rod blank wasn't half bad for the money.  But the line guides and reel seat weren't very good.  And the line guides don't have inserts, so braided line will eventually wear through them.  You can certainly catch fish on one, and there are worse rods out there.  But I wouldn't recommend one.  As for the reel, it's probably fine for what it is.  Again, nothing special, and it won't last forever, but you'd probably get a couple years out of them.  

 

If you're going to go with a Bass Pro combo, I'd get the Pro Qualifier combo or better.  It's a much better rod and a fairly decent reel, especially for the money.  And that's around the price point where you'll get something that's worth keeping around for several years.  With that combo, your next rod and reel will likely be something that compliments it, rather than something that replaces it.  

 

So I too would lean towards the Daiwa.  Either the Daiwa or Pro Qualifier would be more expensive up front, but cheaper in the long run if you're still fishing a few years from now.  

[Devon B.]

1 minute ago, Bankc said:

I had a Bass Pro Tourney Special rod.  I lost it in the lake a while ago.  It was okay.  The rod blank wasn't half bad for the money.  But the line guides and reel seat weren't very good.  And the line guides don't have inserts, so braided line will eventually wear through them.  You can certainly catch fish on one, and there are worse rods out there.  But I wouldn't recommend one.  As for the reel, it's probably fine for what it is.  Again, nothing special, and it won't last forever, but you'd probably get a couple years out of them.  

 

If you're going to go with a Bass Pro combo, I'd get the Pro Qualifier combo or better.  It's a much better rod and a fairly decent reel, especially for the money.  And that's around the price point where you'll get something that's worth keeping around for several years.  With that combo, your next rod and reel will likely be something that compliments it, rather than something that replaces it.  

 

So I too would lean towards the Daiwa.  Either the Daiwa or Pro Qualifier would be more expensive up front, but cheaper in the long run if you're still fishing a few years from now.  

Yeah, im kinda leaning toward the Daiwa, even more towards a 13fishing defy black.

[NavyToad]

I don’t know how much time you spent researching your purchase options, but if you wait a few days and look around a little more you’ll probably make a decision that your comfortable with.  The knowledge you can gain with a day or three of research could make a big difference. There are alot of ways to skin this cat as far as saving a few bucks and getting decent equipment. 
Labor Day sales are right around the corner. Chill, do your research, and make a better informed decision when an opportunity arises. You’re not losing anything if you pass on today’s cheapest available setup, and chances are you’ll find find a deal on a higher quality setup at a price that you can live with if you just have a little patience.
 

[Devon B.]

1 minute ago, NavyToad said:

I don’t know how much time you spent researching your purchase options, but if you wait a few days and look around a little more you’ll probably make a decision that your comfortable with.  The knowledge you can gain with a day or three of research could make a big difference. There are alot of ways to skin this cat as far as saving a few bucks and getting decent equipment. 
Labor Day sales are right around the corner. Chill, do your research, and make a better informed decision when an opportunity arises. You’re not losing anything if you pass on today’s cheapest available setup, and chances are you’ll find find a deal on a higher quality setup at a price that you can live with if you just have a little patience.
 

Thanks, thats good advice. I think I will wait. MidwayUSA has a Daiwa tatula for $70 instead of $100 right now if you think thats a better deal than what I would find for labor day.

[dodgeguy]

I'd buy a carbonlite even though I voted diawa

[NavyToad]

2 hours ago, Devon B. said:

Thanks, thats good advice. I think I will wait. MidwayUSA has a Daiwa tatula for $70 instead of $100 right now if you think thats a better deal than what I would find for labor day.

I just wrote a couple paragraph reply, but I messed up and lost it. I’m not writing it over again. I’d wait for Labor day because rod and reel sales are always going on somewhere and generally it seems like there’s alway a better deal around the next corner.

I never pay retail - $200 reels can usually be found for $160. Rods are the same. 

Knowing options offered by different manufacturers in certain price ranges is a good starting point. If you don’t know what’s out there, all you know is that you got the best price, not necessarily the best product in a particular price range. $10 or 20 bucks one way or the other doesn’t bother most people as long as they’re getting a good product.

I’m very familiar with wanting to buy it NOW. No harm if you do.

Daiwa, Lews, Shimano, Ark, Dobyns……..All good companies and these are just a few.

Keep on posting if you need more answers - I think there’s more experience on this board than anywhere on the internet. YouTube can be useful if you can sift through the………

Not saying everything on here is gospel either.

 

 

[GReb]

I wouldn’t get too worked up about. Just buy something and go fish. The cheaper equipment is better today than it’s ever been. You’ll likely catch the monkey and upgrade soon anyways. 

[new2BC4bass]

4 hours ago, NavyToad said:

I used only spinning gear for over 20 years. If you’re like me, you’ll love it once you get the hang of it and you’ll end up buying a better set-up (or 20) at some point. 

Same here.  Consider yourself lucky if you can limit it to 20 or so. 

3 hours ago, NavyToad said:

I’ve spent $$$$ on baitcasters since then.  Heck, I sometimes throw money away like a drunken sailor so I’m probably not the right person to ask. 

I thought you WERE a drunken sailor given your username!  ?

 

I wanted to try a baitcast reel when I got back into fishing in 2009.  Love them.  It can be deeper than any (real) rabbit hole.  Spent more than I should have even though I buy used, closeouts, or sales.  The problem is I could double what I already have just because I like BC reels that much, and there are plenty new and old ones I haven't tried yet.

 

OP.  Sorry I can't be of any help.  Not used any of those.  I am partial to Daiwa, so I'd most likely go that route.

[Fat Ika]

As some people have mentioned, that BPS rod and many other BPS rods do not even have guide inserts. Obviously, no bueno for braid, but it's not going to fair well with nylon either. That Daiwa rod/reel combo is a very good value if you absolutely cannot afford to bump up to a better rod and/or reel. You would be hard pressed to find a brand new combo for $115 that's even close to that value. Just do general reel maintenance, don't try to horse a snagged cinder block out of the water, and it will last some years.