More Important to rig? Rod or Reel?

[Valascus]

I have been looking around at buying some new equipment and I am trying to decide what to buy first. What's more important to a rig...the rod or the reel? I am wondering what the opinions of some of the other folk around here are on the subject. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

[Daniel My Brother]

I think a good, sensitive rod will probably help put more fish in the boat than a high end reel.  If you're looking to buy both you might want to consider buying a combo when they're on sale. BPS does a nice job of pairing good reels with good rods and selling them at substantial discounts.

[Grey Wolf]

Rod # 1

Reel # 2

[jayhawkfishin]

It depends on how much money you want to spend.

less than $150: I would spend more on a reel

$150-200:Even amount on both

$200 and up:more on the rod.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Rod. It gives you all the feedback. A reel really just gives, retrieves, and holds line. That being said a nice reel sure makes fishing more enjoyable.

[roadwarrior]

The reel is the most important part of the "fun factor." I want a reel that is, most of all, hassel free. That means adequate line capacity, smooth cast and retrieve, generally high IPC, outstanding brakes on baitcasters and state of the art drag on spinning tackle. Aesthetic beauty is important to me, too. In a nut shell: Smooth, silent, strong and reliant. (Hmm...Does that sound like the marketing slogan for some brand?)

Rods are probably more important for "catching" fish. Sensitivity helps with the bite. Power starts with the size of the lures you use, the cover you target and (sometimes) the fish you catch. Rod action effects the hook-up and may help keep a fish on during the fight. Design and components often define functionality, but it's the total package that distinguishes one rod from another.

[Raul]

It really depends on the intended purpose of the rig, you can get a good reel for "little" money if you know what 's out there and if you shop a little bit around, but the rod is another story, personally, I like a killer rod with a good reel than a killer reel on a regular rod.

So for me:

#1 the rod

#2 the reel

[roadwarrior]

Hun?

Tell us a little more about those "good reels for "little" money" that you have been buying.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I have 2 different answers here.

Plastics/jigs I would say rod

Crank/spinnerbait I would say reel

[lubina]

Definitely

#1 Rod.

#2 Reel

[Raul]

Hun?

Tell us a little more about those "good reels for "little" money" that you have been buying.

GinRinPeche Kent.  

[rocknfish9001]

depends, spinning or baitcasting? A very cheap spinning reel will get the job done, but a very cheap casting reel probably will not work worth a flip. You can buy something like a lightningrod and be very pleased. Cheap rods can be great, and i dont think a $400 rod will give you much of an advantage over a $50 rod, if any. My most expensive reel is $120, and it was worth every single penny and then some. My most expensive rod was $100, and i honestly dont see a huge difference between that and my $30 rods. It is more sensitive and lighter and more balanced, but i never noticed it help me catch any more fish because of it being more sensitive. So in my opinion, the reel is more important.

[Raul]

My most expensive rod was $100, and i honestly dont see a huge difference between that and my $30 rods. It is more sensitive and lighter and more balanced, but i never noticed it help me catch any more fish because of it being more sensitive.

That 's the difference between a 30 dollars rod and a 100 dollar rod:

1.- It is more sensitive

2.- lighter

3.- more balanced

but i never noticed it help me catch any more fish because of it being more sensitive.

You 've got hard evidence to support and prove that opinion ?

[Valascus]

The whole point of buying a more expensive rod is the increased sensitivity. That increased sensitivity can be the difference between getting skunked and catching fish if the bite is very very light or if you are fishing way way deep. Not to mention the lighter weights and better balance of the rods which increases comfort and fishability. I used to fish with a crappy Zebco 33 (way back in the day). Now I fish with a rod that is 60 million modulus graphite. There is a WORLD of difference between the feeling of those rods. I was leaning towards the rods on the list first for a lot of the reasons that have been mentioned here. If the rod I'm using now is 60 mil mod graphite BPS Bionic Blade...and the rod I am targeting right now is a St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF...then I can't imagine what kind of difference there will be in the sensitivity between those two rods.  8-)

[roadwarrior]

I have the ES70MF, it's my soft plastics rod. You'll like it...a lot!

Without beating a dead horse, I can assure you there is a BIG difference in rods at the various pricing points. What is important, at least to me, is the higher probability of hooking up with big fish. Trophy bass are rare, but the biggest bass in any body of water is the rarest of all. You may only have one shot at that fish, with better equipment you have a greater chance of catching "that fish."

Everything needs to be lined up on your side to catch the "Fish of a Lifetime."

[cart7t]

Now I fish with a rod that is 60 million modulus graphite. There is a WORLD of difference between the feeling of those rods. I was leaning towards the rods on the list first for a lot of the reasons that have been mentioned here. If the rod I'm using now is 60 mil mod graphite BPS Bionic Blade...and the rod I am targeting right now is a St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF...then I can't imagine what kind of difference there will be in the sensitivity between those two rods.  8-)

If you're fishing with a 60 million modulus rod you're fishing an Extreme.  The Bionic Blades are IM8, 45 MM rods.  I really can't say you'll see any appreciable difference in the Elite St Croix rods and an Extreme rod.  As someone who sells rods and reels and test drives some of them I haven't noticed a great deal of difference in sensitivity once you get above say the 54 and 60 million modulus rods.  Once you start buying rods higher than that you're paying for name recognition and a warranty you'll probably use because those thin walled, uber sensitive rods break.  They also don't tolerate any kind of abuse and I mean even slight abuse.  

As for reels, as reel mech says, one you get above 5 or 6 bearings you're not gaining anything but price.  There are quite a few reels out there for the $80-100 mark that will serve you well for years.  Get into the $150 range and you're at the top of the scale in functionality and reliability, above that mark and you're spending way more money than you need to.  I'd much rather spend that extra money fishing rather than having ultra expensive equipment.  

[Bud]

      The reel is the most important part of the "fun factor." I want a reel that is, most of all, hassel free. That means adequate line capacity, smooth cast and retrieve, generally high IPC, outstanding brakes on baitcasters and state of the art drag on spinning tackle. Aesthetic beauty is important to me, too. In a nut shell: Smooth, silent, strong and reliant. (Hmm...Does that sound like the marketing slogan for some brand?)

Rods are probably more important for "catching" fish. Sensitivity helps with the bite. Power starts with the size of the lures you use, the cover you target and (sometimes) the fish you catch. Rod action effects the hook-up and may help keep a fish on during the fight. Design and components often define functionality, but it's the total package that distinguishes one rod from another.                  

I think that about sum it up pretty good.   RW

[gatrboy53]

rod hands down.that is what YOU feel.i rather have a avg. reel on a good rod instead of a avg. rod on a good reel.....

[Big T]

For Bass fishing I would say that the rod is more important, however in the saltwater envrironment I believe that a quality reel with a good solid drag is more important. A huge Redfish or small King Mackeral can destroy a cheap reel with an inferior drag system. But that is a totally different world from Bass fishing.

[FishTank]

The rod is the most important part to me.  Of the two, the rod, IMHO, does most of the work.  You will never bring a fish in unless you know it hit your bait or lure.  The rod is what transfers the feel of a strike or nibble.  The quality of the rod's sensitivity is what will tell you the difference.  After that, it is a matter of personal taste and sometimes the size of your wallet.

[Guest DavidGreen]

Happy Holidays!

Valascus,

I have been looking around at buying some new equipment and I am trying to decide what to buy first. What's more important to a rig...the rod or the reel?

If I didn't have any equipment, I would start with the reel. I would make sure it would hold enough line, payout the line smoothly, good drags, and retrieve the line at a good IPC to turn the head of any fish I hook. But most important it should fit my budget.

Then next would be the rod, it must feel good in my hand with the reel mounted. It should have a decent amount of sensitivity. It should be able to handle the line and lure that I intent to use. This is were I would put the money.

If I were to list the system IMO of importance. #1 Best Rod I Can Afford, #2 Rock Solid Reel, #3 Good Hooks, #4 Good Line. Without any of these items i'm not fishing.

Tight Lines!!!    

[justfishin]

That is a tough question. I lean a little to the rod if I have to chose one but, I don't think you can look at your equipment that way. I think ReelMech said it all. I think it is a combination of your whole setup. Reel, rod,line,hooks, etc. Buy what is right for the application your intend it for,what feels comfortable to you and the setup that keeps you connected and to help interpret what you are feeling in that underwater environment. Also, chose the best you can afford. As they say, you only get what you pay for.Good luck.

[hi_steel_basser]

If you're fishing with a 60 million modulus rod you're fishing an Extreme. The Bionic Blades are IM8, 45 MM rods. I really can't say you'll see any appreciable difference in the Elite St Croix rods and an Extreme rod. As someone who sells rods and reels and test drives some of them I haven't noticed a great deal of difference in sensitivity once you get above say the 54 and 60 million modulus rods. Once you start buying rods higher than that you're paying for name recognition and a warranty you'll probably use because those thin walled, uber sensitive rods break. They also don't tolerate any kind of abuse and I mean even slight abuse.

[Valascus]

Now I fish with a rod that is 60 million modulus graphite. There is a WORLD of difference between the feeling of those rods. I was leaning towards the rods on the list first for a lot of the reasons that have been mentioned here. If the rod I'm using now is 60 mil mod graphite BPS Bionic Blade...and the rod I am targeting right now is a St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF...then I can't imagine what kind of difference there will be in the sensitivity between those two rods. 8-)

If you're fishing with a 60 million modulus rod you're fishing an Extreme. The Bionic Blades are IM8, 45 MM rods. I really can't say you'll see any appreciable difference in the Elite St Croix rods and an Extreme rod. As someone who sells rods and reels and test drives some of them I haven't noticed a great deal of difference in sensitivity once you get above say the 54 and 60 million modulus rods. Once you start buying rods higher than that you're paying for name recognition and a warranty you'll probably use because those thin walled, uber sensitive rods break. They also don't tolerate any kind of abuse and I mean even slight abuse.

As for reels, as reel mech says, one you get above 5 or 6 bearings you're not gaining anything but price. There are quite a few reels out there for the $80-100 mark that will serve you well for years. Get into the $150 range and you're at the top of the scale in functionality and reliability, above that mark and you're spending way more money than you need to. I'd much rather spend that extra money fishing rather than having ultra expensive equipment.

My mistake. I use my spinning rig more than my casting. The spinning rig is on a BPS Bionic Blade which is 45 mil as you stated. The casting rig I have is a BPS Extreme.

[AAA]

#1 rod

#2 reel.

Hi tech (high price) rod gives more sensitivity, is light so you can cast the whole day with less fatigue...

Good reel = less problems, fewer birdnesting and easy casting...

If I have $300 to spend, I will get $200 rod with $100 reel.