budget bassin'

[dieselaw]

i have been bass fishing for almost six months and i have "fudged " my fishing trips with the poles and line i started with. i try to use all types of lures and techniques other than flipping and pitching. in the lakes i fish it is mostly rocks, rip rap, and some submerged trees/plants. i was hoping some of u guys could suggest what 2 types of poles and line i should get to accomodate my fishing. but like the title says i am trying to stay within a decent budget.(cant afford a 200$ pole). i know u guys r tired of questions like this but i would appreciate the help> thx in advance. :-/

[weknowhowtolive]

I have 1 pole and reel I use for everything. Its a Quantum Tour Edition 7' medium/heavy rod. Takes 10-25lb test line and does 1/4- 1 1/2oz lures. I use 14lb test on a Pflueger Trion LP reel. Each was about 70 or so, maybe a little more on the reel and a little less on the rod. about 150 for the whole set up, and I have never had a problem casting anything.

Obviously you dont need to go for this exact set up, but it works for me.

[roadwarrior]

Buy a combination on sale!

The BPS Extreme with a Shimano Symetre (spinning) or Citica (baitcasting) would be a rig that will get you started.

8-)

[hawgchaser]

Get a couple of Bass pro Extreme combos. You may want one baitcaster and one spinning setup...or maybe not. But they are affordable, dependable, and fun to fish with. I have had 10 or so combos total but some were stolen. They have been on Lake Fork, Monticello, neaqrly every major lake in Arkansas, white river red river, gulf of mexico, Arkansas river, mississppi River,...just to name a few and have never let me down

[dieselaw]

looks like i got three great  starts!    thx guys

[tyrius.]

Buy a combination on sale!

The BPS Extreme with a Shimano Symetre (spinning) or Citica (baitcasting) would be a rig that will get you started.

RW must have been looking at my setups!!!  I have both of those and really like them, they are my soft plastic/jig rods.  These setups will go on sale at BPS regularly, in fact, you can get the Extremes for $70 now.

For crankbaits I'd get the BPS Crankin Stick when it goes on sale.  I like that one too and it is REAL cheap.

Citica/Extreme combo  http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_74456_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1

This will go on sale for like $135 sometime throughout the year.  I got it at that price PLUS the $30 Shimano Citica rebate.  Now THAT is a good deal!!!

[dieselaw]

now u got me started.....when it comes to line what should i think about or look at?  i've been using whatever i had on my poles so i never put too much thought into it.  thx again

[weknowhowtolive]

I never use the line combos come with, usually because I have no idea how long its been on the spool or what it is.

Everyones going to give you their favorite line. I personally use Spiderline Super Mono XXX 14lb on my baitcaster and on a cheapo spinning combo i use Spiderwire EZ Casting 8lb, but I am going to order some Suffix Siege soon

[Grey Wolf]

now u got me started.....when it comes to line what should i think about or look at? i've been using whatever i had on my poles so i never put too much thought into it. thx again

Red cast is a good cheap mono.

[hawgchaser]

Everyone is going to have a lot of different opinions on line. If you want something that is easy to find(Wal Mart) and cheap, then its hard to beat Berkely Big Game for the baitcaster and XL for your spinning reel.

If you want advice on any line, 8 pound XL  and 30 pound Sufix braid on your spare spool for the spinning reel and 12 lb Triple Fish X Rated on your baitcaster.

Other good ones are Yo Zuri Hybrid, Sufix Seige, Seagur(flouro), BPS flouro, Trilene XT....

Braid: Power Pro or Sufix

[Marty]

I don't have any specific brand recommendations, but there is a wide variety of inexpensive rods that will do a very nice job. I've fished almost exclusively with $40 rods plus I have one that was $60 and another $85. They cast, they fight fish and should satisfy a large segment of the fisherman population.

You don't need expensive equipment to enjoy this activity.

[bigmountaineer]

I recommend, www.acadiasports.com

You can get any pole from 5' to 7' for $ 49.95 and it's buy one get one free. I have a 7' MH and I love it. I got a 6'6" MH and I also love it and it was free.

Check em out.

[Joshawa]

When I got out I usually only use 2 set-ups (bring four, use 2...)

I use:

1) 6' 6" medium-heavy rod with a 6.2 gear ratio baitcaster with 14lb test mono for heavy/ large lures. (Spinners, buzz-baits, large cranks, etc.)

2) 6' medium-heavy action rod with 5.2 GR spinning reel with 10lb test Fireline for all my plastics and smaller lures.

The two combos work for all different situations, are affordable and lastly its easy to transport and manage 2 setups.

HTH

[Catt]

Suggestions

Berkley Lighting Rods

Berkley Big Game

Shimano Citica or Cardiff, Garcia Revo, or Daiwa Pro Caster