Baitcaster for beginner ?

[Triggx]

Looking to get one and use it for diving cranks. 
what do you recommend I get? What line ? 
Abu Garcia black max combo a good starter rod? 
I’ve only fished with a spinning rod btw

[Cbump]

What’s your budget?

[JackstrawIII]

1 hour ago, Triggx said:

Abu Garcia black max combo a good starter rod?

My first baitcaster was an Abu Garcia Black Max on a KastKing Crixus rod. Not crazy about that rod, but the reel has been great for the price. I have a bunch of other stuff now, but the BlackMax works just fine. 

[Catt]

Lew's Speed Spool LFS 

 

Best $100 bucks you will ever spend.

[Triggx]

10 hours ago, Cbump said:

What’s your budget?

100-130

[Cbump]

https://discountfishingdeals.com/shop/ols/products/lews-speed-spool-lfs-ss1ha-right-hand-baitcaster-681-ratio

[Jig Man]

Don’t cheap out.  There is a lot of crappy stuff out there that can make you miserable.

[FrnkNsteen]

Cheapest decent rig I can think of is Daiwa Fuego, Shimano SLX, or Lews LFS (all $99) on a Berkley Lighning Rod ($39) or Daiwa AIRDx rod ($50).

 

All are aluminum framed reals on fairly light and sensitive rods

.

[galyonj]

14 hours ago, Triggx said:

What line ? 

 

Use cheap line that's not gonna hurt your wallet to have to cut off the spool when you blow it up.

 

And don't feel bad about blowing your spool up. It's part of learning.

[new2BC4bass]

Zero experience with a Black Max LP or the combo.  Several on here have mentioned it is a good reel for the price and will last several seasons.  Walmart has the 7'1" MH combo for $87.56, or the reel by itself for $46.  Personally I'd get the reel and an AirdX based on the opinions of fellow members.  Several members here have mentioned that Lew's Carbon fire found at Dick's Sporting Goods fishes above its price.  Right now it is $10 off, but that rod and a Black Max reel will put you at about $123 with tax...provided you can get free shipping.  Maybe more than you want to pay.

[Triggx]

32 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Zero experience with a Black Max LP or the combo.  Several on here have mentioned it is a good reel for the price and will last several seasons.  Walmart has the 7'1" MH combo for $87.56, or the reel by itself for $46.  Personally I'd get the reel and an AirdX based on the opinions of fellow members.  Several members here have mentioned that Lew's Carbon fire found at Dick's Sporting Goods fishes above its price.  Right now it is $10 off, but that rod and a Black Max reel will put you at about $123 with tax...provided you can get free shipping.  Maybe more than you want to pay.

I paid 71 with tax at big 5 for the 7’ MH. 
i May have to just spend a little more then. I want to make sure I won’t want anything better for a while. Thanks!

[ThatZX14Fella]

The Black Max is a great reel for the price. Pair it with a Daiwa AirD X and you have a fantastic beginner combo for <$100.

[whatevrdoumean]

For line I would start out with some 12 lb Big Game Mono. 

[NavyToad]

2 hours ago, Triggx said:

I want to make sure I won’t want anything better for a while. Thanks!

Good luck with that. LOL!

[Revival]

Daiwa Fuego or Daiwa Tatula CT.  The CT is $140 but in your price range If you know where to look.

 

When I started fishing again years ago, the CTs is what I started with and loved it and was user friendly once you get the basics down.

[Ryanralston07]

My vote is for either a Daiwa Tatula CT, Basspro Carbonlite 2.0, Lew's Speed Spool, or Shimano SLX XT, in a ratio around 7.xx. Great reels with aluminum frames, good drag, and will last you a long time. Put some 12 pound monofilament or 12 pound fluorocarbon on and have fun!

[JustJames]

Blackmax is good starter combo with plastic frame.

Daiwa Fuego CT is easiest of the bunch to learn how to cast. I found it a bit more forgiving.

Shimano SLX, XT, is for size and comfort. Smaller and lighter than Daiwa.

[Lead Head]

All of the reels mentioned are solid performers, but I 100% agree that the magforce-z breaking of the Fuego is the most user-friendly. It also has several aftermarket spools available if you wanted to upgrade it later on. For cranking, I would go with the 6.x.1 speed.

 

Fuego CT and Tatula CT are the same reel, only the Fuego has no T-wing and uses bushings instead of bearings in the handle knobs. In my opinion, those "upgrades" are not worth the price bump, especially if you are trying to keep the price down. 

[txchaser]

Fuego CT if you can swing it. Very friendly for someone new to baitcasters.

 

 

https://www.dowdlesports.com/Daiwa-Fuego-Baistcasting-Combo-FUEGO-CT-BAITCASTING-COMBO_p_98189.html

If dowdle actually has this in stock it's a great combo for the price. Worth calling them though; apparently they aggro'd a bunch of people when they went in the ammo biz and got way way behind. 

 

Alternatively I'd bet if you make a WTB post in the flea market here someone will have the reel for a nice price. 

 

I don't have any of the daiwa aird-x rods, but lots of people here posting about how much they like them so it's a good bet. 

 

[MN Fisher]

43 minutes ago, txchaser said:

If dowdle actually has this in stock it's a great combo for the price.

I looked at that and the stats they post is way out of wack for a Fuego - 2 bearings? 380yds of 12#?

 

Not any CT I've owned...and I have all three models - 6.3:1, 7.3:1, 8.1:1

 

Amazon has a decent price on a Fuego CT-HS right now....$87

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-0001-4482-Fgct100Hs-Fuego-Speed/dp/B06VWMR5S3?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

And yes, owning Aird-X rods, they're a great starter rod...I'm still using my MH/F for moving baits in fact.

[txchaser]

41 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I looked at that and the stats they post is way out of wack for a Fuego - 2 bearings? 380yds of 12#?

 

Not any CT I've owned...and I have all three models - 6.3:1, 7.3:1, 8.1:1

 

Amazon has a decent price on a Fuego CT-HS right now....$87

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-0001-4482-Fgct100Hs-Fuego-Speed/dp/B06VWMR5S3?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

And yes, owning Aird-X rods, they're a great starter rod...I'm still using my MH/F for moving baits in fact.

Yeah the stats on the listing are super confused, but I know the model of the combo as I used to have it - I got from amazon on sale. Daiwa doesn't make it any more though. 

 

 

[islandbass]

On 9/12/2022 at 3:55 PM, Triggx said:

I paid 71 with tax at big 5 for the 7’ MH. 
i May have to just spend a little more then. I want to make sure I won’t want anything better for a while. Thanks!

Ha! That is what we all say and hope, lol. 
 

This is related, but do you already know what side of the handle feels more comfortable to you? This is ultra critical especially for a newbie. I made the mistake of getting a reel on the “wrong” side for me. This does not apply if you are ambidextrous.