Decent Baitcast combo for under $90 ???

[arul]

I'm looking to get a baitcast combo, and would like some advice from you guys...

Is it possible to find something decent for under $90 (reel and rod combo)?  I don't need anything too fancy, but would want to be able to make long casts with some form of easy control of backlash, with a smooth retrieve, and a decent medium heavy rod.

Or is that price range just junk, and should I go up to the mid $100's (only if it is a noticable difference).

Basspro has this KVD signature series on sale right now...

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_98402?cmCat=CROSSSELL&cmid=PP_P0_2

is it any good???

Or do you guys know of any other good sale deals going on?

thanks!

[The Rooster]

It is possible to find a decent rod/reel combo for that price.  

But first let me say that if you're thinking of spending the kind of money that KVD combo is, then you can find some others as well that would be good.  Don't know about the KVD combo, I'm sure it's nice though.  But for that money, I'd personally like the Bass Pro Shops Extreme baitcast combo.  It's actually a bit cheaper due to the sale right now, only $100 plus shipping, and I have one of the reels myself and I am here to tell you it has a good backlash control.  The inertia brakes it has are wonderful, they allow me to make decent length casts of light weight baits RIGHT INTO the wind without backlashes.  It may take a bit of practice to get there to do that, but it's possible with this reel.  

Then when the wind is not blowing it will make some very long casts as well.  60 - 70 feet is what I'm capable of throwing with it on average.  

It's also a smooth reel, very comfortable to fish with, and built quality too.  

The Extreme rod, I do not own one of but I am looking to buy one, another combo actually, and they are available in a wide variety of actions and sizes.  A lot of options there.  The reels are available in 9 different versions as well.  Check them out, here's one of the combos and there are more on the site.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_98422_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1

[arul]

Thanks Rooster.  You know if that sale is just online? Or is it in-store as well?  I will add this combo to research more on...

[The Rooster]

I don't know if it's only on the site or in the store too.  You can visit the website and get an 800 number to call them and ask.  All I know is I LOVE MY EXTREME!!  I don't regret one bit buying it and I think it competes with reels costing much more.  Sure there are nicer ones out there but I don't want to spend that much getting one.  And expecially at the price of the combo on sale.  The rod is normally that much alone.  It's like getting the reel for free.  

[arul]

I just called them, and they said as long as I print the product page witht he price, I can take it in to the store and they will honor it.

I will go check the combo out and see how it feels in meh hands...  

[The Rooster]

Yeah, I would recommend that with ANY combo you are thinking about buying.  When I first looked at the Extreme in the catalog, I wasn't sure I liked it.  I was actually looking at the Browning Medallion first.  Then when I went to Bass Pro Shops and looked at it, I hated it, it was too bulky feeling in my hand and the grips on the crank were just too fat to be comfortable.  So while I was there I checked out several others and when I came to the Extreme, I fell in love with it.  It just had so many features of higher priced reels for the money they were selling it for.  And I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was much smaller than it had appeared in the catalog's picture.  So it fit right in my hand like it was made for me.  Grips were large enough to grasp very easily but small enough to be easy to handle.  Everything about it turned out to be great.  I didn't buy it that day though, I was just looking.  Later on, I got mine from the website on sale and had a gift card to redeem too, so I ended up getting mine for $50, shipping and all.  Regular price on the reel alone is $80.  It came to the house in 2 days time.