Rod or Reel?

[jeremyt]

You have $250 to spend on a combo. Which is more important to you, the rod or the reel?  My thinking is the rod. If you have other thoughts please let me know. 

[BASSclary]

What will this new combo be used for?

[jeremyt]

This is for a friend of mine so I would say as many applications as you can use it for.

[baluga]

I would spend more on the rod.

[David P]

Definitely rod

[OHIO]

I would spend $100 on the reel and $150 on the rod.

[jeremyt]

Thanks guys, I had a friend asking me for advice on a purchase and I thought the same thing as you guys have said. I just wanted a good balanced feedback before I opened my mouth to him.

[roadwarrior]

Rods may be more important for "catching" fish,

but reels make "fishing" more fun. On average,

the cost of my rigs are 1/3 rod, 2/3 reel.

8-)

[The Rooster]

I'd be open minded about it, with the average thought of $100 for reel, $150 for rod, but would also entertain the idea of a reversal of the two as well if I found a reel I really, really wanted. You might even do a 50/50 deal as well.

And I agree with RW, reels make fishing more fun. An awesome rod and a so so reel is not very fun for me. But also for me, $100 can buy a good reel that is fun a lot of times. But tell your friend to watch out!!  Before they know it, they'll be getting into really fun reels like I have been as of lately. ;D

[piscicidal]

I think it depends on the kind of fishing your going to do with it...

For techniques involving more "feel" (T-rigs, jigs, etc...) I would go with the $150rod/$100reel split. (i.e. Pro Qualifier/Avid)

For moving baits, I would lean more toward a 100rod/150 reel split (i.e. Curado/Veritas)

When in doubt, I lean more toward spending the money on the rod. I can ALWAYS find use for a good rod. Lower-tier rods pile up in my garage and I usually end up giving them to a kid or dumping them for $5 at a garage sale. On the flip side, I have $30 EBAY reels (quantum accurist) on Avid rods that get used 3X a week, while having +$200reels (chronarch) sitting in a box awaiting backordered parts. Another reason I will lean toward the rod over the reel, all things considered.

[Alpster]

Rods may be more important for "catching" fish,

but reels make "fishing" more fun. On average,

the cost of my rigs are 1/3 rod, 2/3 reel.

8-)

This would be true for me also.

Ronnie

[Grey Wolf]

Rods may be more important for "catching" fish,

but reels make "fishing" more fun. On average,

the cost of my rigs are 1/3 rod, 2/3 reel.

8-)

This would be true for me also.

Ronnie

Same here.

[Shane Procell]

I would drop my biggest buck on a nicer reel. I can always get by with an inferior rod.

[farmpond1]

If you have that kind of money for a combo, why scrimp on either?  You can surely find a quality reel and rod for $125 a piece.

But, if you had to choose, I think a better quality reel will give your friend more pleasure and less grief than would a high end rod.  It's more important IMO that you choose for him a rod that's suitable for a broad range of fishing methods than getting a super expensive one.

[bwell]

I have always fished with my finger on the line to feel for a bite, I don't know why but I have gotten so use to it that it doesn't feel right to me if I don't do it (unless I am fishing a moving bait).  So I tend to slack on the rods and spend more on the reels. 

[steezy]

If the budget is $250, I would spend more on the rod.

$150 rod and $100 reel.

[Goose52]

Rod first. For a $250 budget, I'd see if I could get a deal on an Avid and grab a PQ at a sale price.

[Stasher1]

I think a large part of it depends on whether you're talking about a spinning or casting setup. You can get a decent spinning reel that will last you a few years for $60. In general, baitcast reels in that same price range will be questionable, at best.

Normally, I'd say rod before reel...but some of the newer ~$100 rods are actually pretty darn nice and comparable to some of the $150 rods from a few years ago. I'd have no problem putting a Curado on a Veritas, for example.

[Fat-G]

There's too many good $100 rods nowadays. I say $150 reel, $100 rod.

[central.PA.bass]

There's too many good $100 rods nowadays. I say $150 reel, $100 rod.

I agree!  Or pair them up relatively evenly...

130 dollar rod (Powell)

120 dollar reel (Revo S or Citica)

[00 mod]

Addendum to my post: Bass Tackle Depot has a 20% off sale going on right now!

That rod is now $80 and then you have $170 for a reel!

Jeff

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I like to try to keep it close to even with rods and reels.  Even though you can get by with a subpar rod or reel, if you put a steez, core, whatever  on an uglystick, it will not be as enjoyable to fish if it were on a better rod.  Some of the budget rods have left a bad taste in my mouth like the vendetta spinning, mojo, and Skeet Reese rods.  I usually keep my selection around $130 and up.  I personally feel like the $20 jump from, let's say a 7' mojo to a 7' Powell is a small monetary jump but a great performance increase.  One thing for me is to look out for deals, sales, and on ebay.  I would say $250 is the average cost of most of my combos even though the MSRP would be higher.  It may take some effort piece together certain combos but with the flea market here, online sales, and eBay, you can have a pretty good combo for a fraction of the cost.

[tracker01]

Tip up presentations where "feel" is more important, I would spend more on a rod. Tip down presentations where you are just "reeling" a lure back to the boat, then I would spend more on a reel. When dragging a tube on the bottom it does not matter how much I spent on a reel if I do not feel that "tap tap" through the rod first.

[piscicidal]

I like to try to keep it close to even with rods and reels. Even though you can get by with a subpar rod or reel, if you put a steez, core, whatever on an uglystick, it will not be as enjoyable to fish if it were on a better rod. Some of the budget rods have left a bad taste in my mouth like the vendetta spinning, mojo, and Skeet Reese rods. I usually keep my selection around $130 and up.  I personally feel like the $20 jump from, let's say a 7' mojo to a 7' Powell is a small monetary jump but a great performance increase. One thing for me is to look out for deals, sales, and on ebay. I would say $250 is the average cost of most of my combos even though the MSRP would be higher. It may take some effort piece together certain combos but with the flea market here, online sales, and eBay, you can have a pretty good combo for a fraction of the cost.

Agree 100%...

$150 seems to be the inflection point of the hockey stick-shaped cost/quality curve. That is, once you get above $150, you start paying disproportionally more for an incremental increase in performance. I think the best value is to buy rods at/near this "sweet spot". (Avid/Savvy/Crucial)

The one exception I have to this is the Veritas rod...IMO that is a $150 rod that just happens to sell for $100.

[dulouz]

Nothing can be more frustrating than a reel that isn't meeting your expectations.  I would also suggest spending more on the reel.