Need HELP

[basnoob]

guys this will be my first time posting on any forum so i hope i get this right so here goes :-?

need some help choosing a real/ rod combo for the bass fishing i intend to do this season starting in pre-spawn season i was thinking of going with a st croix rod 6'6" to 7'0" but dont know what to do about a reel any suggestions should i go open face or baitcaster and what brand, and is this even the right rod length to be useing? thanx guys and gals look forward to hearing from yall soon

[steezy]

Whats your budget ?

What are you more comfortable/experienced with, baitcast or spinning ?

[basnoob]

got about $250 to spend thats all the wife will allow for now lol and i know the rod is going to cost about $100 so i got about $150 to spend on a reel and im better with a open face reel cant seem to get the baitcaster down yet having bad backlash problems and wind up putting it back in the car after about 2 or 3 casts so the rod im looking at is a mojo bass made by st croix un sure bout the length though thanx for the post and looking forward to more responses

[Stasher1]

I'd spend the majority of your budget on the rod and pick up a cheaper reel. Something along the lines of a St. Croix Avid and a Shimano Sahara. The combo would run about $250-$260 and would last you many years. If you wanted to save a little money, opt for the Pflueger President instead of the Sahara.

[Rich Tehan]

Go with a spinning for now, and you definitely don't need to spend $250 for a nice spinning combo. Put some of that money toward line, baits and tackle, or perhaps a second rod.  Here are some combos at BassPro that are in the 100-125 price range: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SportingGoods?RequestAction=advisor&RequestData=CA_AttributeSelected&UseSheet=&ResultsPerPage=25&CatPath=All%2BProducts%252F%252F%252F%252FFreshwater%2BFishing%252F%252F%252F%252FRod%2B%2526%2BReel%2BCombos&OrigCatPath=All%2BProducts%252F%252F%252F%252FFreshwater%2BFishing%252F%252F%252F%252FRod%2B%2526%2BReel%2BCombos&AttribSel=Price+Range+%3D+%27%2524100%2520to%2520%2524125%27&submitted=yes&cmSType=N&viewastext=false&eaport=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.basspro.com%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2F&storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&categoryId=100003000&deptId=100000000&subdeptId=100003000&ea_sortDirection=&ea_sortColumnName=&currentpage=1  Or perhaps you should look at a higher price range for a baitcaster (where you'll need performance) and save money on a lower priced spinning combo

[basnoob]

so there are about a ton of st croix avid rods on the st croix site im assuming that it should be a avid spinning rod but do i need the avid or the avid pearl and at what length ill be fishing mostly lake redstone in reedsburg WI we have a home up there and they hold a lot of bass tournaments there but as I'm definitely not ready for a tournament yet i would like to try my hand in them in the fall once i get down the techniques for catching the monsters

[Stasher1]

I have an AVS68MXF that I love for lighter jigs and t-rigged soft plastics. If you're looking for a general-purpose rod, the AVS66MF or AVS70MF would probably work well.

The Avis Pearl is aimed towards the female angler. If that describess you, it might not be a bad choice either. 

[Vinny Chase]

No question you should get a Shimano Curado. Best reel ever made. You can get one online around $150

The rod is a more difficult decision. You can get a lot of great rods for around $100. I just got a 6'6" Cabelas prodigy and i couldn't ask for a better feeling rod. Just take whatever reel you get and go into your local store and see what you think feels good.

BTW i would go with the 6'6" IMO you can do the most with it

[basnoob]

thank you all for the suggestions and i realized only after i did more digging on st croix's site that the pearl was a rod geared more for the female angler LMAO so that one is out of the running and thx for the model #'s on the st croix rods that helps a ton well hopefully i get the check in the bank today and can go get my self geared up for some pre season fishing once i get the rod/reel combo what lb test should i be using and what are some good lures and lure colors for this time in the bass season

[basnoob]

so i was reading a different thread about the LTB rods and wondered should i stick with the avid series i was intending to purchase or spend the bulk of my money on a good quality species specific rod and get a reel at a later date like my next paycheck but then i was looking at the rods on st croix's site and realized that i have no idea what these techniques that they use to recommend a rod length and sensitivity combo so i was wondering is a LTB a bit to advanced for my skill level which is inexperienced at best???

with so many choices im confused as all i have ever fished for in the past is crappie bluegill and perch.

[Nine Miler]

I think the Avid is all you would need. There is not that big of a difference between two. RW has a canned post he uses when people ask about technique specific rods. Maybe he will chime in. In my opinion, if you are starting out, an all around rod will serve you much better, and by using it for different things, you will learn about the qualities that make rods better for different techniques.  If you really decide you want to get the most possible out of a particular application, then decide on a technique specific rod.  They are not, by any means, required to do well using different techniques.

I think the AVC66MHF (casting) or AVS66MHF (spinning) is a great all around choice even for the seasoned angler, and can serve you well in just about any situation.

Here are the specs from the website:

Casting: 6'6" Medium Heavy, Fast; 1 piece; 12 - 20# test; 3/8 - 1oz. lures; 4.3 oz.      

Spinning: 6'6" Medium Heavy, Fast; 1 piece; 8 - 14# test; 3/8 - 3/4 oz. lures; 4.0 oz.

[basnoob]

so i have decided to go with the avs66mhf and now am looking for a reel looked at the shimano curado and as much as i value all of your opinions i don't think i want a bait caster looking for a spinning reel any suggestions? does shimano make a good spinning reels or should i go with a dif. brand thank you all again for all your help every one  ;D

[Grey Wolf]

Shimano has quality reels , the sahara at 79.00 is a good value.

Symetre......99.99

Saros..........129.99

Daiwa also has quality reels

TD pro........99.99

Tierra..........124.99

Pflueger has some nice ones as well.

President.....59.99

Supreme.....99.99

[basnoob]

looked at the diawa pfluger and shimano reels on line and have decided to go with the shimano saros. does it matter what model cause theres a lot of models of saros  :-/

[basnoob]

and once again ty all for the advice ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Nine Miler]

The smallest you should go is the 2500 size.

[basnoob]

so im assuming that as the model numbers go up the reel gets bigger having said that would a shimano saros 4000f do the trick?? found one for 117.00 + shipping on ebay and want to jump on it while its still there!!

[okiefisher8]

I would get the 2500

[Grey Wolf]

looked at the diawa pfluger and shimano reels on line and have decided to go with the shimano saros. does it matter what model cause theres a lot of models of saros :-/

Most use the 2500 for bass fishing.

[tracker01]

Stay with a 2500.

[basnoob]

ty all again for the advice... now its time to talk tackle what to try at dif... times in the season what to try now ect...  ;D 8-)

[basnoob]

and also if some one can explain whats the dif.. between the triumph series the premire series and the avid series i would greatly appreciate it ty again ;D

[roadwarrior]

Blanks, reel seat, components and manufacturing.

The Avid series is a far superior rod. The Triumph

is made in China and was initially plagued with

quality control issues. The Avid has been the

standard for St. Croix over the years.

8-)

[zero limit]

so im assuming that as the model numbers go up the reel gets bigger having said that would a shimano saros 4000f do the trick?? found one for 117.00 + shipping on ebay and want to jump on it while its still there!!

bsanoob.

if you are still looking for a good reel? there is a guy in a local Chicago fishing fourm selling a shimnao stratic for $120.and also selling symetres, I bought two of his symetres last week great reel great price

[Stasher1]

Blanks, reel seat, components and manufacturing.

The Avid series is a far superior rod. The Triumph

is made in China and was initially plagued with

quality control issues. The Avid has been the

standard for St. Croix over the years.

8-)

The Triumph is currently manufactured in the same plant in Mexico that is producing the Mojo along with their Imperial and Rio Santo fly rods, and carries the same 5 yr warranty as the Mojo, Premier, and Rio Santo.