what is more important...

[Tenka]

The rod or the reel?

i have all the lures that i can possibly fish, except swimbaits. So i have some money coming up and want to upgrade my gear.

I can't decide if i want to buy 2 new rods or 2 new reels.

I have 2 citica200D and 1 Cruxis200 for reels.

i'm keeping 1 GL2 MBR783 and 1 Shimano Compre CB rod

possibly needing replacement is 1 Galyans 6'6" MED Fast and 1 Shakespeare Axiom 6'6" MH Fast.

I would replace the Galyan and axiom rods with Loomis GL3 or AIRRUS Ultra XL rods.

OR

The cruxis would be replaced with a Diawa SOL,

and buy a Feugo so i won't have to play musical rods with 4 complete setups.

Thanks for the input.

[senko_77]

Dave, personally I would go with the two new reels.  Those will allow you to cast farther, and they have a better drag system.  Both aspects are critical in fishing that gin-clear water you live on.  I would get the reels, and then save up again and upgrade the rods.

The reel is always more important to me, but thats just my opinion.

hope this helps in your decision  

[Guest DavidGreen]

what is more important...

The rod, sorry but it's the truth.

The reel holds the line, pays out the line and retrieves the line.

The rod on the other hand, cast the lure/line, feels the bite/strike, and sets the hook, fights and lands the fish.

Tight Lines!!!

[Raul]

what is more important...

The rod, sorry but it's the truth.

The reel holds the line, pays out the line and retrieves the line.

The rod on the other hand, cast the lure/line, feels the bite/strike, and sets the hook, fights and lands the fish.

Tight Lines!!!

What David said.

[Grey Wolf]

The rod is the most important part in my humble opinion.

[Fishing Doug]

what is more important...

The rod, sorry but it's the truth.

The reel holds the line, pays out the line and retrieves the line.

The rod on the other hand, cast the lure/line, feels the bite/strike, and sets the hook, fights and lands the fish.

Tight Lines!!!

What David said.

What they said.

[Jig Man]

what is more important...

The rod, sorry but it's the truth.

The reel holds the line, pays out the line and retrieves the line.

The rod on the other hand, cast the lure/line, feels the bite/strike, and sets the hook, fights and lands the fish.

Tight Lines!!!

What David said.

What they said.

Right on the money.

[huskertko]

I asked a very similar question a few months ago, and the responses were almost unanimous..THE ROD.  I had been using a low end Quantum for my t-rigs and such and thought it was pretty good.  Then I bought a Loomis MBR 843 IMX, and well, it is night and day difference.  I have used it with both high end and low end reels, and really not much difference.  I currently have it paired up with a Chronarch 50 MG, and it is heaven.

The Cliffs notes version, get the rod, you will notice a huge improvement.

That being said I think that the technique being used has some influence.  For example, for T-rigs, jigs, finesse presentation, the rod is way more important.  For Power fishing, like spinnerbaits, crankbaits, etc., I think that you can get by with a lower end rod and a very good reel

[The_Natural]

I asked a very similar question a few months ago, and the responses were almost unanimous..THE ROD.  I had been using a low end Quantum for my t-rigs and such and thought it was pretty good.  Then I bought a Loomis MBR 843 IMX, and well, it is night and day difference.  I have used it with both high end and low end reels, and really not much difference.  I currently have it paired up with a Chronarch 50 MG, and it is heaven.

The Cliffs notes version, get the rod, you will notice a huge improvement.

That being said I think that the technique being used has some influence.  For example, for T-rigs, jigs, finesse presentation, the rod is way more important.  For Power fishing, like spinnerbaits, crankbaits, etc., I think that you can get by with a lower end rod and a very good reel

+1

[Crabcakes]

Perhaps I am confused by your plan. Why must you buy two rods and two reels? Buy the sol or fuego and pair it with a nice rod giving you 4 reels and 4 rods and use the shakespeare rod as a backup. You'd have 4 complete setups that way. Buying two reels would still leave you unsatisfied with the rods ( and I concur they are more probably more important) and buying two rods makes little sense with three reels.

[Tenka]

Well thanks for the input.  

NOW, the hard part...

AIRRUS or GL3

Dave

[Jimzee]

Airrus has a stand up warranty.  $15 replacement fee with no questions asked.  Something too look into.

[Tenka]

Well thanks for the input.

NOW, the hard part...

AIRRUS or GL3

Dave

OR i can send some business to reelmech?  HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM????????

[roadwarrior]

Well, the rod may be more important than the reel when it comes to actually "catching fish," but the reel is way more important to me. The reel represents the "fun factor." On average the cost breakdown for my gear is 75% reel/ 25% rod. With a little patience, you can pick up some very nice equipment from our members in the Flea Market.

I suggest choosing quality over quantity and of course, Shimano reels. :

In the $150 range, I would also suggest looking at the St. Croix Avid series and Fenwick Techna AV rods.

Loomis are my favorite rods, but IMX not the GL3.

[eulerentinc]

I agree with MD angler.  Buy one new rod and one new reel.  This will allow you to cover more water with different techniques and will save you on line ties.  They still have to happen, but less often!!  

And my vote is with the airrus rod, no comment on the reels of choice!!

[Hot n Tot]

For spinning, pretty much a no brainer; the rod is far more important as long as the reel has a decent drag.

For casting, it's really important to have a quality reel, not necessarily really expensive one. For years, the Curado was the standard entry level 'quality reel'. Nowadays, probably a reel on the Citica level is filling the same niche. Don't go 'cheap' on a baitcasting reel.

On rods, I think the GL3 is fine, but their are others in the price range that may be better for the money, the St. Croix Avids might be. But, there are certainly other brands that have their following, it's just what works for you.

[Bud]

              Loomis are my favorite rods, but IMX not the GL3.                

Go with the IMX it is a much better rod

[flyphisher #]

JIgs, T-rig,Crig,senko- The rod is important, which A good reel is too, to stand up to strain of landing fish that way. Spinnerbait, cranks, topwater- all that matters rodwise is your personal preference....I have expensive rods but i live a BPS tourney special for buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. But you got to have a quality reel or the wt of the lures and the amount of casting you do will kill a cheaper reel quick.

I also suggest the Shimano Citica, Prollie the 100....Super light and smooth for the price.

Rod wise- Check out the Daiwa Light and tough series. Super nice and light- $120

[senile1]

what is more important...

The rod, sorry but it's the truth.

The reel holds the line, pays out the line and retrieves the line.

The rod on the other hand, cast the lure/line, feels the bite/strike, and sets the hook, fights and lands the fish.

Tight Lines!!!

What David said.

What they said.

Right on the money.

Yes, allow me to pile on.  The rod is the most important.

[Raul]

That pilling up is becoming a big pyramid  ;D.

Ok my man, you heard the recommendations but I don 't agree with the more sensitive rod for jigs/ soft plastics while you can put your cranks and spinnernaits on a less sensitive rod, no siree, I 'm a dedicated crankbait/spinnerbait fisherman and to me it 's important to have a sensitive rod for it, if you are fishing cranks in open water with no cover and no obstructions ok, you don 't need a super sensitive rod, but where I fish most of the time "open water"  is not exactly what I fish. Crankbaiting is a "contact sport" the same applies to spinnerbaiting, if you ain 't fishing where your baits can hang up you ain 't fishin ' where the fish are, a sensitive rod is needed to manuever the bait through the meleè of branches, stumps and weeds, if you don 't use a sensitive rod you are going to spend more time unsnagging the baits than fishing with them.

[Tenka]

Thanks folks, the pyramid has decided it, i'll be looking in to rods.  

Keepers

1:I probably don't need a Crankbait rod, but i already own a shimano compre 7' Med power Moderate fast action, so i'll keep it. i love the xrap on this rod.

2:THe MBR783 GL2 is more sensitive but just as wippy as the galyans, to i'll use that for spinnerbaits, buzz baits and light jigs and worms.  AKA: General purpose

Options:

1:One of the local tackle shopes sells St Croix Legend Tournaments(approx $200) and i have picked up a few i like but with out a reel on them i don't know.  

2:I like my loomis but i don't like the plastic buttcap, and anything above the GL3 is slightly high $ for me.

3:I read the reviews for the new Airris rod but it is like the IMX just out of my range, but the Ultra XL is below $200.  My problem with that is that i haven't found a review about them specificlly.  

I really don't know what to get, i am reading this forum everyday looking at what others are saying, and all it is doing is making the choices harder. LOL

Maybe i will just call ReelMech,  if it's built for me the way i ask, i can't complain, can i?

Dave

AGAIN THANKS FOR THE INPUT!

PS: RW, a long time ago you told me not to get carried away with a lot of rigs.  I hope i am taking your advice with trying to keep it 3 to 4 baitcasters and 1 spinning rig all of quality stuff.

[Raul]

One of my biggest beefs with my Kistler Magnesium TS is that they don 't have a hard material finishing the butt ( like that plastic butt cap you don 't like ), the hard plastic butt cap adds durability to the butt end.