What to get son in law (Christmas ???)?

[ohioriverrat]

My son in law is thirty some years old and has never fished. Come to think of it, he doesn't do much of sh... Sorry, but no guy is good enough for my little girl., although he gave me two wonderful grandsons. So I guess he's Okay---- Nah

Anyway, he wants to fish with his sons (go figure. I bought the boys equipment two years ago), so the war department and I are going to get him started. Again, he has never seen a fishing rod up close. We will be at Cabella's in two weeks.

What to get that isn't too expensive (in case he throws it in a corner and never touches it again), yet will give good trouble free service and isn't hard to use? Certainly not a level wind (though I may look at new ones while I'm there!). Open face? Spincaster? 6' rod, medium action? Combo?

Whaddaya'll think?

[roadwarrior]

Cheap:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&id=0069002124466a&navCount=1&podId=0069002&parentId=cat20287&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

Inexpensive:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=3&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0060366

Trendy:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&id=0065123124301a&navCount=6&podId=0065123&parentId=cat20287&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

[bigtimfish]

I would say a multi purpose spinning combo. I don't own any spinning gear so I can't recommend anything.

[Wayne P.]

Probably the most popular rig for the inexperienced and seasoned panfish anglers is the Zebco 33 spincast reel on a medium to light action rod.

[Skunked in DR]

6'6" Medium Fast spinning rod with a 2500 or 3000 size reel.

The Symetre combo RW posted above would serve anyone learning very well.

[ohioriverrat]

So spinning seems to be the consensus. I think the ol Zebco 33 is maybe a little too "young", although that's what I learned to fish with, and caught a hell of a lot of fish with it.

I like all three of those combos RW, but will probably go the cheap route. It'll be shiny anyhow, and I really can't imagine him fishing much- but I guess one never knows.

His wife (my daughter)is going to fill a tackle box. She will do better than you may think. She IS, after all, MY offspring. She fished... and hunted... and worked on cars, and on and on. I can't figure how she hooked up with him (hooked! HAH! no pun intended  ). Anyway, I got something to go on now.

Thanks folks,

Mark

[Grey Wolf]

Dang man , you gave him your daughter , spend your money on her .

[endless]

if u think he is only going to use it once and since he never fished before i think if i was buying someone a set up im just going cheap and grabbing them a shakespear ugly stick set up. at one time bps sold the combo on a one piece for $32 but im sure you can find something close to that at cabelas at least i think.if looking at something  lil more maybe the pflueger trion it runs for $60 to $80.

[b.Lee]

Cheap:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&id=0069002124466a&navCount=1&podId=0069002&parentId=cat20287&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

Inexpensive:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=3&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0060366

Trendy:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&id=0065123124301a&navCount=6&podId=0065123&parentId=cat20287&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

I must say RW, you must be browsing Bass Pro and Cabelas all day to know exactly what to recommend hahaha. I like it!

And I would start cheap, maybe if he gets into it you guys can finally get along LOL.  Be nice to the guy!

[SWMIBASSER]

How in the world can a grown man have never fished?

Hell even my city girl wife has fished before.

[bilgerat]

How in the world can a grown man have never fished?

Scary, aint it ?! Probably more common these days than we'd like to think.

[nubasser]

You're doing a good thing in this.If you get him a spinning combo you can teach him to use it.(If the bonding thing works for you).If you ain't into bonding I have a concrete life jacket [one size fits all ]for him that I'll sell you .A berkley lightning rod is inexpensive for decent quality.(I still have one i crappie fish with 15 years old)Then maybe a mitchell reel or shimano.(all of these they sell at Wally world).Even the less expensive shimanos last a long time.

[K_Mac]

This is the combo I would recommend. The reel alone normally goes for $60. They have the combo on sale for $70. I have 2 of the 6730 size reels that I use all the time. Excellent reels for the money IMHO. I would suggest the 6'6" MF Rod (#TTS-664-1) and the 6730x reel. The item # for this combo is 9IS-124431. If he doesn't use it, it will make one of the grand kids or you a decent combo. Good luck.

BTW I have a son-in-law who is nowhere near good enough for my daughter also. I get it. :-/

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=cat20166-cat20287&id=0065078124431a&navCount=5&podId=0065078&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=&indexId=cat20287&hasJS=true

[The_Natural]

You will enjoy Cabelas; they seem to put a lot of money in the design of their stores.  The one in fort worth has better aquariums than the two local bass pros by far, including an aquarium tunnel, separate Crappie aquarium, and a Trout stream that runs through the middle of the store so the kiddies can feed the fish. 

[L a r r y]

Probably the most popular rig for the inexperienced and seasoned panfish anglers is the Zebco 33 spincast reel on a medium to light action rod.

My thoughts....Zebco 33 on a 6' Ugly Stick M.  This will not break the wallet, and it can be used by the grandsons eventually if they really get off into fishing more

[NewAngler]

Perfect gift;

Give him the gift of a Bass Resource membership, and show him how you REALLY feel about him!

[ArcticCat500]

at the risk of spending money on someone who's never seen a fishing rod upclose, I dont think I go over $50. If he likes it he can upgrade later. If you do decide to drop $100 plus in hopes he wont like it and you'll get the new set-up later, but then decides he likes it, screwed again.

Just grab him a run of the mill combo, this will work just fine.Rod,reel,line and pliers

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&id=0042213121573a&navCount=7&podId=0042213&parentId=cat20287&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=QZ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

[panseco]

Hey, cut the guy a little slack, he may not have had anyone take him fishing before.  I was in my 30's before I went fishing.  I was lucky to marry a woman who's dad took me and have been trying to catch fish ever since.  Get him a setup that you can afford and take him with you.  If he don't like it, then oh well, but you never know until you give it your best shot.  My FIL has always seemed to like me but my MIL still doesn't.

[barroncooper]

at the risk of spending money on someone who's never seen a fishing rod upclose, I dont think I go over $50. If he likes it he can upgrade later. If you do decide to drop $100 plus in hopes he wont like it and you'll get the new set-up later, but then decides he likes it, screwed again.

Just grab him a run of the mill combo, this will work just fine.Rod,reel,line and pliers

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&id=0042213121573a&navCount=7&podId=0042213&parentId=cat20287&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=QZ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

I agree. plus if he ends up getting hooked... no pun intended.  then you've given him a priceless gift of a lifetime... an introduction to bass fishin

[jarednk]

You will enjoy Cabelas; they seem to put a lot of money in the design of their stores. The one in fort worth has better aquariums than the two local bass pros by far, including an aquarium tunnel, separate Crappie aquarium, and a Trout stream that runs through the middle of the store so the kiddies can feed the fish.

Just think of what else they could do, if they still had that $19000+ you stole from them

[-nick-]

You will enjoy Cabelas; they seem to put a lot of money in the design of their stores. The one in fort worth has better aquariums than the two local bass pros by far, including an aquarium tunnel, separate Crappie aquarium, and a Trout stream that runs through the middle of the store so the kiddies can feed the fish.

Just think of what else they could do, if they still had that $19000+ you stole from them

What's your deal?

[jarednk]

do a little research on The_Natural before you ask what my "deal" is.

He seems to have gotten a little media coverage lately!!

[topwater.va]

This is the combo I would recommend. The reel alone normally goes for $60. They have the combo on sale for $70. I have 2 of the 6730 size reels that I use all the time. Excellent reels for the money IMHO. I would suggest the 6'6" MF Rod (#TTS-664-1) and the 6730x reel. The item # for this combo is 9IS-124431. If he doesn't use it, it will make one of the grand kids or you a decent combo. Good luck.

BTW I have a son-in-law who is nowhere near good enough for my daughter also. I get it. :-/

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=cat20166-cat20287&id=0065078124431a&navCount=5&podId=0065078&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=&indexId=cat20287&hasJS=true

I have never used that rod, but I have a President and I think it is a very good reel.  Easy to use, and it should last him a while if he continues to fish.

[adclem]

Pflueger has some awesome combos that will not break the bank and are very dependable and will last a long time.

Later,

[Thai]

do a little research on The_Natural before you ask what my "deal" is.

He seems to have gotten a little media coverage lately!!

I think he meant why you brought that up in this thread is completely off topic and who are you and your 4 post to judge? What has he done to you? Better quit while you're ahead and and just hit the unregister button pal

Back to topic I remember my brother getting me my first fishing rod when i was 12, it was an Ungly stick combo and it served me very well, I even got another ugly stick after that, well 9 years and thousands of dollars later I've move on to more quality gear but will still remember the ugly stick my big brother got me that started it all

But there is nothing wrong with the combos RW posted, I would go with one of those just because the are more aesthetically pleasing and dont have a super duper ultra megatron extra fast tip hahah