Bass Tracker 20 Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 im looking to purchase my 1st baitcaster. I am looking for a nice rod and reel combo that isnt very exspensive. around 100$ preferably a little bit cheaper. what kind of line would you guys recommend also.
steezy Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 For $99 its hard to beat the Bass Pro Shop Pro Qualifer. It has their dual braking system that uses both Magnetic and Centrifugal brakes for very precise control. I bought one for my 15 yr old and he was able to cast ok without a backlash after 30 min of practice. He decided he doesnt care for fishing anymore so I'm probably going to sell the reel, it works so well I keep it around for a backup. It is available in 7.1 and 6.4 ratio. Its more than you said you want to spend but its an easy baitcaster to learn on. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_102287_100001001_100000000_100001000_100-1-1?ordProd=Y&CMID=TOP_selectitems#itemDetail
Big Tom Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 It is going to be almost impossible to find a quality rod and reel combo for ~$100. There are decent baitcasting rods to be had for that price and decent baitcasting reels in this range as well but $100 is close to what you should be expecting to pay for each. Bass Pro sells some house brand combo's that are just fine for a beginner and they won't completely break the bank either. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_103927_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1 I would recommend saving until you can put roughly $200.00 toward a combo. Â You can get much more for your money in that range.
Big Tom Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 Also, watch the flea market section of this site closely. Â The guys on here offer some unbeatable deals sometimes.
sweet daddy Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 Stay away from the BPS dual brake reels. Get a wal mart or pawn shop combo to save some money then decide which style of brake you are more comfortable with.
Super User Catt Posted September 2, 2009 Super User Posted September 2, 2009 Abu Garcia Black Max $49.99 matched with either a Berkley, CastAway, or AllStar rod $49.99
Super User KYntucky Warmouth Posted September 2, 2009 Super User Posted September 2, 2009 Stay away from the BPS dual brake reels. Get a wal mart or pawn shop combo to save some money then decide which style of brake you are more comfortable with. Huh. Â :-? ...... What's wrong with a dual braking system? Â It's great for beginners. Â It allows having a set cent brake with the extra adjustability and refinement with the mag. Â I really don't wanna hear the added weight or if you're good you don't need it. Â I would say dual braking is the way to go for a beginner. Â As for a combo for around $100, the bps extreme combos are good, right now the daiwa black widow is on sale at ***. Â You match that up with a new abu vengence, you're looking at 120 or so. Â Â
The Rooster Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 I also say that Bass Pro brand reels are great. Keep watching, usually this time of year for fall or around Christmas time you'll see the Extreme combo go on sale for $99. I've got 5 of the Extreme reels cause I think they are just awesome reels and are very affordable. I didn't care for the rod so much so I just got my own that I liked for them to go on, however if you need a budget combo, the Extreme is going to be very hard to beat. Now this next part is just my opinion and there's probably going to be some people who disagree, and that's fine too. This is just how I see it based on my experiences. I don't think there's any such thing as a baitcast reel for beginners. You can get a cheap one and learn to cast with it and then when you upgrade it's going to be like starting over again cause the better reels don't cast anything like the cheaper ones do. The spools are more free spinning and therefore can backlash much easier if you don't watch out. Use a cheap reel and get used to thumbing it the way it casts and then the better reel will spin a lot faster and you won't be ready. So I say just get as good as you can afford and learn to use it no matter it's difficulty level. I started out on a $45 Quantum with 2 bearings and it took a significant amount of weight in the lure to make it cast. I got used to it, then moved up to a Abu Garcia 5600C4 and basically had to relearn to cast again cause it was so much more free spooling. Then when I went to the Extreme I also had to teach myself to be better again. I say get a good one and if you aren't used to using it you can turn the cast control knob up a good bit tighter so it's less likely to backlash. That will cut down on distance of the cast but it will be less frustrating with all the backlashes you save yourself until you think you're ready to loosen it up some. And that way you don't have to go through two or three reels to learn them. You can put all that money into one good one right now. Again that's just my opinion. I just don't see paying $50 for a cheap one now and then when you later spend $100 or more on a better one it'll be like you never even knew how to cast. That was my experience anyway. Also, to me what makes a good one is.......for starters it MUST have an aluminum frame or some other metal. No graphite or plastic for the frame. I'm not sure why this is the case cause the spool should never even contact the frame, but I've seen it time and again with my reels and with friends who have them. A graphite framed reel will not cast nearly as easily or as far as a aluminum framed reel does. It's just a fact. Other than that, to judge the quality and see if it's right for you, you just have to look at them, spin the handle, feel the smoothness of the reel, press the button and watch the spool speed to see if it's a super free spool. See how it fits in your hand if it's comfortable or not. But if it doesn't have that aluminum frame.......well, as for me, I'd leave it in the store!
Super User Muddy Posted September 2, 2009 Super User Posted September 2, 2009 Stay away from the BPS dual brake reels. Get a wal mart or pawn shop combo to save some money then decide which style of brake you are more comfortable with. What a  naysayer this guy  is, he is always looking to mix it up , I can tell you from first hand experience these reels are an excellent way to learn. I have used these, the old Extremes and one Johnny Morris, all worked flawlessly, First off I learned how to bait cast on BPS Extremes, the older DUAL BRAKING MODEL. Secondly these reels are all several years old and still working for the folks I gave them to. These are highly dependable reels for their money class, and they are easy to learn on. BOTTOM LINE YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR THUMB EDUCATED, there is no getting away from that.  When I started my learning process, many here recommending these BPS reels and they were definitely the way to go. Good luck !
JohnMac Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 Abu Garcia Black Max $49.99 matched with either a Berkley, CastAway, or AllStar rod $49.99 x2 this is a geat first rod and reel option
championmayday Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 i would get the abu garcia silvermax and pair it with a bionic blade, lightning rod shock or amp rod.
Super User grimlin Posted September 2, 2009 Super User Posted September 2, 2009 I'm with rooster on this one. I learned on a bass pro shop extreme combo....Paid $99 plus tax.Right around Christmas time.
catchbig0bass Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 I have been pretty happy with my Pinnacle solene reel at wallmart for 50$. Fished all season and learned on it and I would say its pretty nice for the price point. Possible next yr will be a revo stx or the like but this works for now. The berkley lightning rod by far is the best for the money. I have purchased several under 50$ rods and the lightning I was thoroughly impressed with. I use braid with it no problems even tho the shock series is meant for braid fishing for a little more money.
sweet daddy Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 Since someone went and complained to a mod about my post I will explain why I don't recommend the bps dual brake reels. A family member gave me a jhonny morris signature reel for xmas a couple of years ago, first trip out up until about the fifteenth cast it worked great then the centrifugal weights would pop off the spool after almost every cast. I would have to take the side plate off before every cast to make sure all the weights were pushed in which made it very frustrating to say the least. I took it back tried a new one same model, same problems. I took super glue and glued all the weights to the spool now the reel works just fine. I was at bps a few months ago when the new pro qualifier with dbs came out, I loved the way it palmed, and it looked like a great burner reel for the price. I told the guy at the counter about the trouble I had with the morris and he told me that they worked that issue out so i picked one up. Took it out the next day and had the same problem so I broke out the crazy glue. If the bps dbs reels had centrifugal system like abu, or shimano vbs they would be some of the best reels on the market. Thats why I don't recommend them, it has nothing to do with being condescending or trying to pick a fight. I'm sure somebody will find this offensive so I'll be waiting for another  pm from the mods.
Super User skunked_again Posted September 2, 2009 Super User Posted September 2, 2009 Since someone went and complained to a mod about my post I will explain why I don't recommend the bps dual brake reels. A family member gave me a jhonny morris signature reel for xmas a couple of years ago, first trip out up until about the fifteenth cast it worked great then the centrifugal weights would pop off the spool after almost every cast. I would have to take the side plate off before every cast to make sure all the weights were pushed in which made it very frustrating to say the least. I took it back tried a new one same model, same problems. I took super glue and glued all the weights to the spool now the reel works just fine. I was at bps a few months ago when the new pro qualifier with dbs came out, I loved the way it palmed, and it looked like a great burner reel for the price. I told the guy at the counter about the trouble I had with the morris and he told me that they worked that issue out so i picked one up. Took it out the next day and had the same problem so I broke out the crazy glue. If the bps dbs reels had centrifugal system like abu, or shimano vbs they would be some of the best reels on the market. Thats why I don't recommend them, it has nothing to do with being condescending or trying to pick a fight. I'm sure somebody will find this offensive so I'll be waiting for another pm from the mods. that sounds really odd. why not just return the reel?
Super User .RM. Posted September 2, 2009 Super User Posted September 2, 2009 sweet daddy, Great explanation of your stance on the reels. I agree with you 100% but for another reason.. Most of the beginners I have run across have a hard enough time understanding the differences between the cast control and the spool breaks anyway, so why confuse them with a duel breaking system. I would say pick one style and fish/learn that style of setup then if still curious about the other try it.... Just my old school .02¢ Tight Lines All!!!
Super User grimlin Posted September 2, 2009 Super User Posted September 2, 2009 I'm just curious now,was there something wrong with the break caps or the things that hold the caps in place? That would suck casting and the break caps come popping off.I'd imagine the caps getting suck and you not being able to reel in.
Super User Muddy Posted September 2, 2009 Super User Posted September 2, 2009 I use ABU's now mostly. I learned on the reels you are talking about and I have many friends who currently use them> For the most part happy , customers. I have NEVER seen the issue you are referring to, and if you had so much problems, because everyone including Shimano makes a bad reel once in a while, : Why didn't you return it or switch it out, BPS has excellent customer service and would have obliged you? Â I have a lot of experience, many hours of use by myself and a lot of my frineds and club members, and not one of us has experienced anything close to this problem, not one of us! Seems odd that a person, as knowledgeable as your self about tackle; would have gone to crazy glue , rather than customer service. Reel Mech: You do not service this brand of reel, however those who do have a good understanding of their operations and the hybrid brakes are really not that much different in feel than either the pure magnetic or mechanical brakes . I just bought a Patriarch with the same system and I do not see the problem with these brakes , not one bit of a problem.
Super User Dan: Posted September 2, 2009 Super User Posted September 2, 2009 If the bps dbs reels had centrifugal system like abu, or shimano vbs they would be some of the best reels on the market. You mean those silly "six-pins"?!? Gasp!
fish-fighting-illini Posted September 3, 2009 Posted September 3, 2009 BPS a problem but Wallyworld = less frustration? I couldn't disagree more. Go cheap on a BC and forget it you can guarantee frustration with a baitcaster. At which point you will not find out anything and give them up. An Extreme might be the way to go. I think I saw they are on sale again the other day new for $59. I see they are not now but frequently are. Or check E-bay for a better deal but make sure the model is relatively current not 5 years ago. Â Another option is a last year's model Shimano Citica. It changed my outlook on BC all by itself. They can be had used for probably $40 - $60; do your E-bay homework of course. Once you get the reel then buy a rod maybe a lower end Shimano to get you bye if you can afford it. If you need cheaper then buy what you can find and upgrade later. I've used a Shakesphere Excursion rod for $15 from Wallyworld and it seems ok for the $.
endless Posted September 3, 2009 Posted September 3, 2009 sweet daddy, sorry to hear about the trouble. i have the pro qualifier and used it so far probably 6 trips for over 8 hours each and mine is fine so far. no problems at all. dont have to adjust the tension knob much either, i have mine lined with 30 lb braid too. Â maybe a bad reel but like your post on extreme 2 occasions i can understand the frustration. i never used the reel and thought about it before the qualifier but if i had the same problems on 2 or more occasions i probably be turned off too. Â
mphenry Posted September 3, 2009 Posted September 3, 2009 Almost any name brand rod and reel is going to be ok to learn on. Â Just don't buy the reels that retail for under $35 new, they are usually pretty cheaply built reels. Â Check out buying a used combo from someone. Learn using a limp mono line like trilene XL wouuld be my opinion
KingBass Posted September 3, 2009 Posted September 3, 2009 Combo.... hmmm... I know a guy that likes the Abu Silver max reel, and Berkly lighting rod combos. I think they're like 80 bucks, but I'm not sure, I do know that you get a 20$ rebate on it though. I'd get that1
rubba bubba Posted September 3, 2009 Posted September 3, 2009 I'm with Muddy on the BPS reliability - I have a Pro Qualifier Extreme that I bought as a combo for $69. Â The rod is mediocre but I have thousands of casts on that reel, with centrifugal brakes, and no problems. Â I'd be amazed if anyone could go into Bpro and grab any 3 of Johnny Morris' or Pro Qualifiers and get 3 with brake issues; let alone pins falling off. Â I'm not buying it.
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