The best rod and real combos for smallmouth

[fish24-7]

Any suggestions new to smallmouth fishing trying to get some suggestions before i go get a good rod and real. Thanks

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

I suggest a 6 1/2' or 7' spinning rod, 2500 series spinning reel

and #6 copolymer or fluorocarbon line. Tell us what you want

to spend and we will make specific recommendations.

8-)

[huskybass]

The nicest spinning reel I have ever used is a Team Diawa Sol 2000 or 2500.  Match it up with a 6'6" St. Croix Legend Tournament medium power rod and you will have a GREAT smallmouth combo.  

[J Francho]

Depends on your budget, but for general purpose, like finesse plastics, grubs, drop shot, tubes, and the like, any medium/fast spinning rod from 6-6 to 7' will do.  Think about the $100 to $120 range for a spinning reel that will last you years.  For cranks, topwater, and jerkbaits, I like baitcasting gear, and that's where it gets tricky, more complicated, and much more subjective.

Personally, I use a Kistler Drop Shot Special and a Daiwa Capricorn spinning reel for the finesse stuff.  For cranks, TW, and jerk baits I use various St. Croix Avids and Diawa reels (Sols, Alphas, Zillion).

[fish24-7]

Roadwarrior i would like to stay under 175 or willing to go little higher for good equipment im used too baitcasters just getting into smallmouth fishing so dont know much about spinning outfits

[yellowcard129]

These rods are sick for the price. Picked one up last spring and caught a 20lb catfish on a drop shot so you know they will hold up. http://www.***.com/descpageRDSDAIWA-DSMS.html

[Jig Man]

Roadwarrior i would like to stay under 175 or willing to go little higher for good equipment im used too baitcasters just getting into smallmouth fishing so dont know much about spinning outfits

You don't have to have spinning setups for smallmouth fishing.  I catch a many on baitcasters as I do spinning.  If you are going to go spinning then like stated a 2500 series reel in your price range with a 6 1/2' M rod will do you a good job.

[NBR]

I moved some years ago from an area with more LM's. than SM's. To an area with very few LM's. I fish more now with spinning  gear than before but I prefer bait casters. I added a lighter action  bait caster so I could throw smaller lures (down to 1/8 oz.). Outside of that I use my regular baitcasters for surface baits, crank baits and spinner baits.My flippin stick and reelhas become my Carolina rig outfit and it works very well in moving a lot of line and a heavy sinker.

Early in the year my deck has 4 BC's and 1 Spinning outfit. About now I switch to 3 BC's and 2 spinning.

[roadwarrior]

Roadwarrior i would like to stay under 175 or willing to go little higher for good equipment im used too baitcasters just getting into smallmouth fishing so don't know much about spinning outfits

I suggest focusing on the reel, so any 6 1/2' or 7' Medium Power/

Fast Action "in-house" rod matched to a Shimano Symetre, ON

SALE. Never pay retail, these combinations are on sale often.

8-)

[acmaul13]

X2 for roadwarrior's post,my main creek rig is a symetre paired with a st.croix premier 6'6" med/heavy fast,total cost was right around $150 8-)