Quality Rod or Quality Reel?

[VTFan]

My brother and I had this conversation one day on which is preferred IF you could only afford one...a sensitive high quality rod with lesser quality reel.....or.....a high quality reel with a less sensitive lower quality rod. We both agreed on a more sensitive higher quality rod over a pricey reel. Since it's too danged cold to fish I thought I'd get a discussion going.

[MN Fisher]

Rod over reel - usually

 

There are lower priced rods that have decent sensitivity for certain techniques. I'm still using a $50 Aird-X for spinners and chatters...I can feel the blades moving with that rod, so it's well suited for that.

[Jar11591]

I’d rather have a really nice rod with a decent reel over a decent rod and really nice reel. 

[rgasr63]

Well the fish can't tell one from the other. Pat Cullen has more than 1000 double digit bass catches he uses a ugly stick and a 5500 ambassador to catch his fish. In my own humble opinion a angler has to find a rod and reel that he is comfortable with. 

[Tackleholic]

There is a pro, I believe Matt Robertson, who uses Ugly Sticks.  If I am correct about that, I would like to know what reels he uses.

[greentrout]

Give me the reel.

 

Then I can always go to an outfit like Academy Sports + Outdoors and purchase a (ahem) budget rod for less than 100 dollars with IM8 graphite for my fishing style.

 

Good Fishing

[Catt]

I have said it every time this subject is brought up.

 

Quality reel first!

 

A quality reel will last for years whereas a quality rod can break day one. 

 

Once you have a couple quality reels all your budget is now available for rod purchases.

[Pat Brown]

I do really well on affordable but robust rods but cheap reels are definitely a bummer and make accurate and consistent presentations difficult.  Catt also points out that great rods just up and break all the time - which is true.  Reels - when you get a good one and do the bare minimum to service it - will catch you many many fish before they stop working.

[A-Jay]

I'm going to split the difference ~

In fact the majority of my gear is in this zone - 

Decent reel & a decent rod.

"Decent' for me is Not the low end - and not the high end.

Companies have been putting out very fishable gear in the middle price point for a while.

And if you've ever fished at night - when you can't see 'what' you're fishing with.

It's super easy to recognize which rigs fit the bill best.

A-Jay

 

[Mobasser]

I've broken a couple of rods. I say I'd get a good quality reel first, then match it up with a nice rod. If you take care of a good reel, they'll last many years.

 

[casts_by_fly]

High end reels where it makes a differnce.  For me, moving baits, heavy stuff (for the durability), and really light stuff.  Those are where you're pushing the limits or where you're doing a lot of reeling under tension.  And as Catt said, once you have a good reel it will be a good reel for a long time.

 

High end rods where it makes a difference.  For me that's bottom contact or any rod that is the first rod you pick up every day.  The first part is obvious.  For the second, if there is a rod that I am constantly using as the first rod out of the gate or is the rod that I'll just lock in my hand and keep fishing then that one needs to be higher end for its lightness and overall feel.  If I'm using it the most I want the best rod in my hand across all attributes.

 

The tricky bit is when the rod that you're first picking up is also a moving bait rod for instance.  Then you want a high end rod and a high end reel for it.  That's the case I have with my head turner, hence it has a metanium on it.  Also, when you're bottom contact rod is also a heavy one.  That's my Amistad and bantam.  Those are two rods that I fish more than not so I don't mind putting the money into both.

[Dogface]

For me, it depends on what and how I'm fishing.

 

For pike & musky, a broomstick would suffice for a rod but the reel must be able to handle a big fish.

 

For bass a sensitive rod may be more important for the "feel" but any reel that holds the line will work.

 

 

 

 

[Gera]

I prefer higher quality rods than reels. However, I will never buy a reel under $100-120, the quality is just not there. (casting, because spinning I wouldn't have issues)

[Zcoker]

I'd take the reel. I've broken too many nice high-end rods out in the everglades. The nice reels, though, are still cranking away strongly!

[Functional]

Depends on what you mean by "Cheap". 

 

If $100 normal pricing (no discounts/sales) is "cheap" then Id say buy a cheap $100 reel and spring for a better rod.

 

Any cheaper than $100 on a reel and I'm not having a good time. 

 

$85 Lews Speed Spool (you can find them often at this price) and a $130 ARK Tharp rod and I wouldnt feel the slightest bit handicap going up against anything else I own. 

[thediscochef]

Yes

[WRB]

It must be snowing and the annual which is more important a rod or reel thread surfaces.

Didn’t research the site but reel wins every year. Both have evolved by getting lighter weight and more reliable, the rods keep getting longer.

My advice is buy both 25% above your budget and avoid lower bargain rods and reels. Touch and feel a outweighs someone’s personal favorite, it’s your tackle!

Tom

[Tennessee Boy]

37 minutes ago, WRB said:

It must be snowing and the annual which is more important a rod or reel thread surfaces.

There’s 5 inches on the ground and it’s starting to snowing again.   I vote reel.

[MidwestBassAttack]

Rod…without a doubt or second thought. I used to throw $99!Lews LFS reels on my ZBones

[Craig P]

I am of the mind that you have to get bit first, detect the bite second and with that in mind, the rod is going to do that before the reel.

[Pat Brown]

I kinda learned this summer while fishing salt with incredibly springy poles that I never would select for bass fishing for sensitivity  or hook setting power - AND very stretchy line on Carolina rigs with very heavy weights - that sensitivity has more to do with us than the gear.  When we are tuned in we learn what stuff feels like and we begin to feel it.

 

Most of the giant bass taken in the 90s out west appear to have been caught with glass suuuuper parabolic short rods with pistol grips and monofilament line.

 

It's mostly what you feel confident and comfortable with and that will just take some experimentation.

 

I almost always fish a 7'6 and people act like I'm nuts but when I got comfortable with it (I'm 6'4 and 220 lbs so it actually fits me pretty good) I find it very advantageous when setting the hook on big fish at longer distances and fighting fish.

 

Other people may prefer a 6'10 for the versatility or tactile feel and they're also not wrong.

 

You just gotta try some stuff out and see what feels right.  It's hard to know if the fish aren't biting!  😏😎🎣😂

[Columbia Craw]

Rod 60-40.  The technology in reels has advanced so far, you can get some serious performance for the money.  

[Bankc]

It depends on the price bracket.  I'd take a $30 rod over a $30 reel any day.  But I'd take a $300 rod over a $300 reel.  

 

Really cheap reels are often garbage.  And while really cheap rods aren't great, they're usually of better quality than really cheap reels.  Once you get up in price, maybe around $80ish or so, then more expensive rods tend to start edging out comparably priced reels in their usefulness.  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

AJ has the right idea. Rod and reel should compliment one another in feel, quality and budget. I’d skew the budget toward the rod for bottom “feel” presentation and the reel for moving baits. Pairing one quality piece of tackle with something subpar isn’t efficient budget wise, enjoyment wise or presentation wise. 

[DogBone_384]

I try to split my budget between reel & rod.  I bought BPS Carbonlite & Abu Garica Veritas when I got back into fishing in '14.  I've since moved on to Kistler, and get significant discounts when I signed up for his emails. For example, Abu's Veritas Tournament is now $199, made in ???.  With VIP pricing, I can get Kistler's Helium rods, made in USA, for $200. 

 

Not too high dollar, and not bargain bin.

 

I did the same with reels.  

 

Good luck with your choice.