Good yet cheap rod/reel combo...

[rdneckhntr]

Im looking to get a new baitcaster but I dont have a lot of $$...  Id like to find a decent rod/reel combo for around $50 or less....  I know its not a lot to work with but Its all ive got to work with right now.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

If thats what you have I found these 2 at BPS site the first is 40 bucks the second is 60 I would spend the extrsa 10 Hope this helps you

First

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_73568_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1

second

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_74547_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1

oopss theres a third also 60 DIAWA PROCASTER  THIS IS PROBABLLY BEST WAY TO GO

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_90860_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1

[rdneckhntr]

Ive thought about the first one you posted...I wanted to see what everyone else thought about it though...

I really like the diawa...ill probably end up going with that one...Ive tried fishing with a couple of them and really liked em.

[Cephkiller]

I would seriously discourage the first one.  In my experience, you will be lucky to get a full season out of the reel.  Also, the rod is composite and it is not nearly as sensitive as the latter two rods.

[Fishin49er]

I actually learned on the 3rd combo Muddy posted and for the money its not bad.

[MyKeyBe]

$500.00 bucks huh? Get G-Loomis and a Shimano....  ;D

Oh! I see. $50.00 bucks.

That's a tight budget. I know the feeling. Look around for sales, although spring is not the time to find deals but you may still find a close out or two on last years models.

If no sales are to be found in your area I would suggest the local Wal-Mart. My Wal-Mart just picked up some Pinnacle and Shakespere reels that seem nice for the money. $35.00-$50.00. They seemed nice in the package but I have never used any of these reels and they might only last you 2 trips out on the water. :-? For a budget rod I have used and highly recommend is a Shakespere Excursion. It's the best $13.00 you will ever spend on a rod.

[Red]

i have been using one of those pinnacle reels you mentioned from walmart for over a month now....i use it everyday and it works great....no problems at all...nice and smooth....fits nicely in my hand too...i have the solene and i ordered it online cuz i wanted left hand retrieve, but i think walmart carries this model and the next step up..with 9 bearings i think...they are 50-60 bucks, i plan to buy another one soon

Cliff

[MyKeyBe]

For the money they look like real nice reels. $35.00-$50.00 for a decent reel is tough to beat. Good to hear you like yours.

Owwww! MONKEY! CLAWS IN MY BACK! Owwwww! GET OFF MONKEY! ;D

[Captain Chaos II]

Check out the weekly ad for Dick's Sporting Goods.  They have a Daiwa combo(6 ball bearing reel) 50% off and there are some coupons for Dicks floating out there on the internet.(usually $10 off $50) and they usually have coupons for Dick's in the community coupon books like you get thru school or other fund raising organizations.  Your parents may have one of those.  So, you are looking at $59($69-$10).

At least you can compare it against the Bass Pro deal.  Not sure how many ball bearings are in that reel.

Good Luck

[rdneckhntr]

$500.00 bucks huh? Get G-Loomis and a Shimano.... ;D

haha yea i wish...I sold my quantum combo a couple months back(bought it for $160 sold it for $100) because i needed the money.  Im wanting something that I can basically do it all with...

I really like the Diawa.  Im gonna try and stop by GanderMtn sometime within the next week or two and see if they have it cheaper...

[HomersTomaco]

# of bearings means nothing.... for the millionth time

[kevin.]

if you dont care about it beng low profile...garcias are cheap and last forever...as for rods...goto academy and wait till they have a sale on them...i got two castaway rods last summer for $50 on a buy 1-get-1-fre deal...just call every sunday and ask if they have deals...call sunday around 1 and they should ave all their sales up by then...i would buy rod/reel separate too..i worked at academy for a summer and the combos really arent worth the money, and you cannot always find what you want/need in them.  But thats jut my advice.

[WBFishing]

I don't know if you have academy sporting goods in your area.  I don't have a lot of extra cash either.  I ususally go to academy when I have some money to blow.  I got a nice Quatum combo that was 58 dollars.  I also have 2 shakespeare agility combos that were $38, I love them.  I actually looking at just buying the reel ($28) to stick on a Shimano Rod I have.  I use those combos to tournament fish, so I trust them with my entry fee.  I haven't cashed a check yet out of 5 events, but it has not been my equipments fault either.

[justfishin]

# of bearings means nothing.... for the millionth time

Well, I see you are a " Self proclaimed fishing expert" so I read your last 50 post. So tell me, O Great Oz, why do they put all those extra bearings in? Isn't it a waste if they do not do anything?

[cart7t]

# of bearings means nothing.... for the millionth time

Well, I see you are a " Self proclaimed fishing expert" so I read your last 50 post. So tell me, O Great Oz, why do they put all those extra bearings in? Isn't it a waste if they do not do anything?

Good bearings are expensive.  If a fishing reel is only selling for $50-60 and it has 9 bearings you can pretty much expect those bearing packs to be cheap. Cheap bearing packs have a tendency to fail prematurely.  

Plus, as reel mech says, once you get above 5 bearings it becomes overkill.

[Guest DavidGreen]

justfishin,

So tell me, O Great Oz, why do they put all those extra bearings in? Isn't it a waste if they do not do anything?

They put all those bearings in because so many anglers are marketing hype buyers. I can't count the number of times I have read about how good an 8, 9 10, 11 bearing count reel is.

The most important bearings in a BC reel are the 2or3 bearing packs that support the spool and actually affect the casting of the reel. All other bearings in the reel are mostly selling hype, and can only affect how the reel feels while cranking. I have seen reels with only bushings in them for cranking smoothness, that work better than most multi-bearing systems. Now with that being said, the quality of the 2-3 bearings that support the spool assembly also affects the casting quality of the reel.

Tight Lines All!!!  

[Catt]

For your information only  

As many people here already know I work for Academy and we sale 10 to 12 bait casting combos daily. Of these we get probably 5 back on a week or less for various reasons; that's 45 to 50% that do not hold up under fishing conditions.

Now you make a decision if these combos are worth the money spent or not?

[justfishin]

Thanks, I guess I was one of those suckers. As far as baitcasters I only own, Curado 200 series and Abu Garcia 5601 and 4600 series so, it does not affect me. I just always thought in my little mind that more bearings meant something substantial, evidently not. Excuse me for running my mouth with a motor of ignorance.

[Catt]

Justfishin, that's what we are here for!

To learn  

[HomersTomaco]

companies but a lot of bearings in a reel because it sells them to stupid fisherman that think they are better then more bearings there are. Its smart marketing because people have no idea.

[justfishin]

mktrout, your brashness of the way you post just amazes me. Can't you be a little nicer in the way you convey your opinions? Just trying to help you put things a little differently so you do not seem so rude.

[roadwarrior]

companies but a lot of bearings in a reel because it sells them to stupid fisherman that think they are better then more bearings there are. Its smart marketing because people have no idea.

Dude!

Back it down a notch, please...it's all about being helpful and constructive. I don't think we need "stupid fisherman" comments.