Rods or a reel?

[huskertko]

I/the baitmonkey have been wanting a new reel since I saw the TD Zillion's, but the more I think about it, I am wondering if that money would be better spent on new rods.  I currently have 2 Curados (2005 versions) and a Quantum Accurist CX.  One Curado is on a  7' St Croix Premier MF, the second Curado is on a Quantum Tour classic, one that the accurist came on in a combo, it is 6-6 MH, and the Accurist is on a TD Advantage 7-6 Flippin stick that hardly ever gets used.  

I was thinking that instead of a new reel, I should take the $$$ and buy some quality rods to go with the St. Croix, I would really like a rod that I can always have a jig tied to, or if not a jig a topwater rod, and one that can be used for t-rigs and spinnerbaits.  I currently use the St Croix as a crankbait rod as well as an all around rod.

So would the money be better spent on some St. Croix Avids or other high quality rods, or on the new reel?

[Alpster]

Huskerto,

Here's my $0.02 worth. Reels are the work horse of any fishing rig. Once you get hooked up the reel & line & terminal tackle are all that keeps a fish from the livewell, most rods don't fail once the fish is on. Reels are great and neccesary to the task of fishing and I love them, especially good ones. However if you look at all of the threads and topics on this board and others, you will quickly find that most of the discussion is about how to get bit. My humble opinion is, that a quality rod is the most important link in the chain. It's what makes you aware of a strike, it's the shock absorber that forgives all of your other tackle, knots and excitement, it is the backbone of the whole system. The rod is your connection to the fish, from the action of the lure, to the bump, to the strike, to the hookset, to the fight, to the landing. My humble opinion is, that given the choice of a good rod or a good reel, I would choose the good rod every time.  JMHO

Ronnie

[Grey Wolf]

Get the rods.

[Guest DavidGreen]

I won't even try to add to what Alpster has stated...

Just upgrade the rods.

Tight Lines!!!

[Hawgin]

I agree with Alpster 100%.  I am just now recycling the reels that I started fishing with, but I have upgraded my rods on multiple occassions.   None of the reels I have been using are very expensive, and they've never failed me.  My rods however are getting up in the high end, and I can't even begin to imagine the bites I have been missing for the last few years now that I know what good rods feel like.

[RoLo]

a quality rod is the most important link in the chain. It's what makes you aware of a strike, it's the shock absorber that forgives all of your other tackle, knots and excitement, it is the backbone of the whole system.

Well put, Alpster

Roger

[Bankbeater]

I'm going to agree with the majority.  If your reels are working properly and you have a reel for each type of bait you want to fish with, then get the rod.  

[huskertko]

Thanks guys, I don't know what made the light bulb finally come on today. I guess it was finally realizing that if I really want to get serious about fishing jigs, I really should think about getting better a quality rod to be able to feel the really subtle bites.

I guess the shiney new reels always got my attention at Cabela's, so now I need to figure out what rods to get. I want to get 6-6 MH primarily because I fish out of a personal pontoon and longer rods than that are just harder to handle being so close to the water.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Very true.  Reels are eye catchers and a lot more ........ "sexy" ....... than rods.  For the most part a good quality rod will look and feel pretty much the same as a bad one in the store.  Reels on the other hand each have a different feel and it's pretty easy  with a few turns of the handle to go "I have to have this one" in store.  A rod is actually something you have to go out and fish with to appreciate.

[Hawgin]

I think KU hit it perfectly.  You can tell a quality reel just by handling it in the store, and by cranking the handle.  All you can tell about a rod when you pick it up is whether it is light or not and if the grip feels right in your hand.  You can't tell from picking them up is if the Loomis is more sensitive than the Techna AV, or if a $300 is really that much better than a $100 rod.  Unless you are lucky like me, and have a friend with high end equipment they will let you use during a day on the lake, you just don't know with rods.

[roadwarrior]

Upgrade your rods. Without getting into a debate about which is the "best," let me just say that a G.Loomis IMX or St. Croix Avid will improve your fishing experience.  You will fish these rods the rest of your life, even if you find a "better" rod in the future.

That said, I still enjoy high end reels and that's what you will probably evolve to, also. The "total package" is a treat.

[Raul]

If you are seriuos about worms & jigs get a the finest rod you can afford, for those it 's better to have killer rod with a decent reel on it than a killer reel on a so-so rod.

[huskertko]

I am pretty confident in my t-rig skills and fishing, even on my less than average rods, but my jig fishing is almost zero on a scale of 1-10.

[MALTESE FALCON]

ALPSTER HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. A QUALITY ROD IS MOST IMPORTANT.

[lubina]

Like Alpster and Raul said, if you have to choose get a good rod first.

[Mikey]

I really like what Alpster said, but in my situation the reel is the most important ingredient for me and probably me alone. I'm so dependant on the old Speed Spool I would feel kinda off balance without it.

[bassclown]

If you are seriuos about worms & jigs get a the finest rod you can afford, for those it 's better to have killer rod with a decent reel on it than a killer reel on a so-so rod.

smart words.

[Guest avid]

Nothing has more to do with the enjoyment aspect of fishing than the rod.

Even though the hook holds the fish, the line holds the hook, and it's the reel that holds the line.  You hold the rod.  It's weight, balance, sensativity, etc. can be evaluated like any other piece of equipment.  But the subjective quality of how something feels to you, is what makes rod selection so important.