Quality Rod or Quality Reel?

[FishTank]

The rod is most important factor unless you're talking BFS. Then its the reel.

[new2BC4bass]

10 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

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.

My short range spinnerbait rod is an older 6' MH Lightning that cost me $17 plus tax.  Tiring to fish a 1/2 oz. with Colorado blade.  Not only does the rod shake, but my hand as well.  Reel is a Procaster 100HN that was $30 on closeout.

 

OP, I'm Like AJ.  Most of my combos are middle of the rod price for both rod and reel.  I have one oddball.  My most expensive reel is a PXL Type R on closeout paired with a 6'6" MLM Aetos on closeout.  Love that combo!  So $300 reel with a $75 rod (my cost).

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Most of my combos are middle of the rod price for both rod and reel.  I have one oddball.  My most expensive reel is a PXL Type R on closeout paired with a 6'6" MLM Aetos on closeout.  Love that combo!  So $300 reel with a $75 rod (my cost).

I'm the same way - with Tatula 100s and Mojos being the most numerous.

My jig/light-moderate cover pitching rig is a Victory I got used for $140 and a Patriarch I got used for $70 ($400 retail total when new).

[new2BC4bass]

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I'm the same way - with Tatula 100s and Mojos being the most numerous.

My jig/light-moderate cover pitching rig is a Victory I got used for $140 and a Patriarch I got used for $70 ($400 retail total when new).

Love some of the deals that can be found.  My best was a used Patriarch XT in excellent condition for $65.  Already had two, but couldn't pass up that deal.

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

My best was a used Patriarch XT in excellent condition for $65.

Ya - that one was a Patriarch 7.1

Others I've gotten

Patriarch 7.9 - $85

second Patriarch 7.1 - $80

Supreme XT 6.4 - $60

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

2 hours ago, FishTank said:

The rod is most important factor unless you're talking BFS. Then its the reel.

Even then, a rod that doesn’t load and cast the light weight will cause you fits even with the best reel. 

[FishTank]

On 1/18/2024 at 8:51 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Even then, a rod that doesn’t load and cast the light weight will cause you fits even with the best reel. 

 

True.

 

I was thinking it seems you see a lot people having success with budget friendly rods and better quality reels when it come to BFS fishing. Ali Express and Temu are littered with this stuff that guys are using and praising on YouTube. Not that I will go out of my way to shop at these sites based on their opinions. 

 

For me personally,  I think a good reel with a light spool and a quality breaking system that works with light lures (around 3g for example) is a better formula for success in BFS fishing than a rod that is of greater quality (or expense).  

 

 

[Joshua Voss]

It depends on if it's for a moving bait or heavy cover fishing or bottom contact bait/finesse. For moving baits or heavy cover, you are going to put more stress on the reel because you will be reeling a lot more, so it makes more sense to invest in a better reel, a sensitive rod is also not really needed as you will mostly feel the bites when hooked due to the taut line. Bottom contact/finesse lends itself to more slack line presentations so you'll want the more sensitive rod to feel the bites.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

12 hours ago, FishTank said:

 

True.

 

I was thinking it seems you see a lot people having success with budget friendly rods and better quality reels when it come to BFS fishing. Ali Express and Temru are littered with this stuff that guys are using and praising on YouTube. Not that I will go out of my way to shop at these sites based on their opinions. 

 

For me personally,  I think a good reel with a light spool and a quality breaking system that works with light lures (around 3g for example) is a better formula for success in BFS fishing than a rod that is of greater quality (or expense).  

 

 

I agree you don’t have to spend a lot. Just be sure the rod is appropriate. Some newer angler are under the misimpression that reels “cast” baits. 

[Bass Junke]

I'm in the- " I think a quality rod is more important" camp. I have always felt that the rod does most of the work. It performs the cast, you work the bait with it, set the hook, and you should be fighting the fish more with your rod than reel. 

@Catt makes an excellent point though. 

I have recently started buying higher end reels. I still feel the rod is more important but buying quality reels is a deep dark hole that just sucks you in.  

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, Bass Junke said:

I'm in the- " I think a quality rod is more important" camp. I have always felt that the rod does most of the work. It performs the cast, you work the bait with it, set the hook, and you should be fighting the fish more with your rod than reel. 

@Catt makes an excellent point though. 

I have recently started buying higher end reels. I still feel the rod is more important but buying quality reels is a deep dark hole that just sucks you in.  

Glad the Bait Monkey moved from my place to yours! 

[Bass Junke]

@new2BC4bass He did. I set him up in a spare room I had. I have been trying to get rent money out of him but he just keeps saying I owe him. Now packages of random tackle just keep showing up. I think he found the password to my laptop and has been making early morning purchases while the rest of the house is sleeping. The guy is relentless. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

More times than not, the rod is what you want to invest in.  You shouldn't totally neglect the reel though.  You want a reel thats good enough. 100-150$ will get you that.  

The rod is your connection to the bait and what's going on under the surface. 

One thing about certain high end rods are they have lifetime warranties.  

[ATA]

I am in quality rod and reel together. But pay attention about what is that combo going to use for? Is it important to detect the bites? or having great reel quality for casting and having best break and drag system?

some combo you might need better rod and some other technique you might need better quality reel. So the answer is, Depending on your fishing style you can go any direction.

That is funny how many times I catch bass on my girlfriends $39 pink uglystik combo 😂

[redmeansdistortion]

23 hours ago, FishTank said:

The rod is most important factor unless you're talking BFS. Then its the reel.

Yep.  With BFS, some reels will have you near to or exceeding the 4 digit range.  We're a special bunch 🥴