Spinning Rod And Reel

[Ridge]

I've been doing a lot of reading on these forums as I've gotten more in to bass fishing lately. I was especially impressed with some of the articles. I found this site after searching Google for a topic RoadWarrior posted on BPS forum entitled "You only need 3 rods".

After reading some more here I have decided to follow RoadWarrior and Raul's advice and start to put together a three rod setup. I fish mainly from a kayak so the three rod limitation really helps me to keep my gear manageable.

I want to start building this setup with a spinning rod and reel. I fish soft plastics 95% of the time. weightless or weighted t-rig. I plan on working RoadWarriors "Guaranteed to Catch Bass" lesson for the rest of the summer to develop some skills I've let get rusty over the past 10 years of not fishing enough.

I'm looking for a do it all soft plastic set up. A setup that I can use to employ most if not all of the techniques common to fishing soft plastic worms and lure. Rod and reel for under $250. I have a $200 dollar gift card from BPS so I would prefer to get the rod and reel from there. I would like the rod to have at least a 5 year warranty as I usually keep things for a long time.

I fish mainly on Lake Keowee (warm, murky, lots of structure and cover) or Lake Jocassee (cold, DEEP, lots of bottom cover) and smaller lakes and ponds in the Upstate of South Carolina.

If there is any other info that would help let me know.

[SirSnookalot]

Pflueger supreme and Shimano clarus or calico jack, money left over.

[Grey Wolf]

For fishing plastics , you will want to spend most of your money on a good rod like a St.Croix Avid (AVS68MXF) 180.00 .I'm just using this rod as an example , there are many differant brands of rods that will serve your purpose but as said earlier put most of your money into the rod.

[Punkinseedfyretailz]

carbonlite with whatever reel you choose, pflueger is a good way to go definitely

[j.bruno]

This is what i picked up this year for similar applications as you stated:

Abu Garcia Vendetta 6'9 Medium Light

Quantom KVD40c i think is the model. Its 90$ at bass . great reel

[BASSclary]

For a technique where sensitivity is absolutely key your going to want to spend most of your money on your rod, and get an okay reel. Also, If you havent decided on line I highly recommend braid with a fluorocarbon leader. Here's what I suggest.

St.Croix Avid 6'8" M/XF - 180

Daiwa Exceler - 80

________________________

All together -260

$10 over, but it'll be a great combo for a long time and St.Croix's Customer service is top-notch. I believe the rod has a lifetime warranty and a upgrade program, should you ever want something better, you just send them your old rod and the difference in price for the new rod, and you get a new rod.

[Fat-G]

For a technique where sensitivity is absolutely key your going to want to spend most of your money on your rod, and get an okay reel. Also, If you havent decided on line I highly recommend braid with a fluorocarbon leader. Here's what I suggest.

St.Croix Avid 6'8" M/XF - 180

Daiwa Exceler - 80

________________________

All together -260

$10 over, but it'll be a great combo for a long time and St.Croix's Customer service is top-notch. I believe the rod has a lifetime warranty and a upgrade program, should you ever want something better, you just send them your old rod and the difference in price for the new rod, and you get a new rod.

Gotta agree with you.

[Bassin_0502]

For fishing plastics , you will want to spend most of your money on a good rod like a St.Croix Avid (AVS68MXF) 180.00 .I'm just using this rod as an example , there are many differant brands of rods that will serve your purpose but as said earlier put most of your money into the rod.

The Avid has a great rep on this board. I bought one and have never looked back. Reel plays a very limited role with plastics as Grey Wolf pointed out. You won't be disappointed.

[trevor]

Gotta agree with you.

Yep that's a sweet combo right there. I would personally go with a Shimano Sahara, but both reels have solid reputations.

[Canga]

6'8" avid is a great rod (i have the 6'8" in legend elite, but i like my 6'3" avid almost as well as that one), plus it has a lifetime warranty, and the ability to upgrade down the road if you so choose.

to keep it under your $250 budget, the pflueger president (or president xt, if you hate the wood knob on the president) is a great reel.

tho if you can find last years diawa exceler on sale its a good bargain, i got one for $40 at gander for a backup reel, and its been flawless so far.

[ww2farmer]

I have the 6'8" in the Mojo, paired with a Daiwa Exceler 2500. It's spooled up with 10lb braid, and I often use 8 and 10 lb fluorocarbon leaders. I own many other Croix's Legend Tournaments, Avids, Mojo, etc... To be honest, that Mojo is one of my favorite rods. Plenty sensitive, near perfect balance with the Exceler 2500, and the whole set up cost me less than $200.

[tomustang]

I actually chose a combo of the St Croix premier and stradic, since the stradic was on sale at time equalling $250 after tax. Great combo if you don't go with the avid. Unfortuately the stradic was on sale at cabelas not BPS

[Ridge]

Wow! I love this forum. Thanks for all the great replies!

What are y'alls thoughts on the Pflueger President reel 6730x? I've seen it suggested all over the place and it seems to get really good reviews. I could put more money towards the rod if I went with it over the pricier Diawa.

What is the deal with the braided line/Flouro leader? why not just run straight flouro? Would something like Yo-Zuri Hybrid, Ultra Soft, P-Line or XL be a better choice? Just asking because I don't have a clue. I've always used mono except for some spiderwire I bought once on a whim.

As far as the rod goes what are the advantages/disadvantages with going with medium action over medium heavy and vice versa? Its looking like the Avid series from St. Croix is getting the most suggestions.

Thanks again for all the replies so far.

[BASSclary]

Wow! I love this forum. Thanks for all the great replies!

What are y'alls thoughts on the Pflueger President reel 6730x? I've seen it suggested all over the place and it seems to get really good reviews. I could put more money towards the rod if I went with it over the pricier Diawa.

What is the deal with the braided line/Flouro leader? why not just run straight flouro? Would something like Yo-Zuri Hybrid, Ultra Soft, P-Line or XL be a better choice? Just asking because I don't have a clue. I've always used mono except for some spiderwire I bought once on a whim.

As far as the rod goes what are the advantages/disadvantages with going with medium action over medium heavy and vice versa? Its looking like the Avid series from St. Croix is getting the most suggestions.

Thanks again for all the replies so far.

I've used the president and no doubt it's a great reel for your money. You can save money for a $20 better rod($200), but unless you drop 220 on the Cumara, I still think the 180 Avid is the leader of the pack. But if you don't want to drop 280 for the Cumara and the President, I would stick with the 260 Avid and Exceler. In my opinion the Daiwa is a much better reel, and is built like a tank. That is purely my opinion though and other's may differ. I'd say when your at BPS put both in your hand, and see what feels best to you. After all it's your rig and you have to be comfortable with it.

If that fish so much as farts on your lure, you'll feel it. And the better part is no line memory.

You can, but it wont be as sensitive as braid/flouro, and you have to use smaller line on spinning reels with flouro, unless your into A LOT of memory.

I like Yo Zuri. Its more sensitive than mono and almost as sensitive as flouro but it's alot more soft and supple than flouro, so it won't have as much memory as fluoro.

Yuck! Mono is probably the worst line for fishing soft plastics. Period. Its not very sensitive, and it's pretty stretchy, so you'll have to up your hookset, and at lets say a cast length away, most of your hookset will be absorbed by the lines stretch. But, it's VERY soft and supple. So casting is a breeze.

St.Croix rods iirc are a little under-rated so their M is kinda in between M and MH. I myself love this weight for plastics fishing as I can get awesome casts and still have a rod with some backbone. The XF tip on it will let you cast even the lighter weight lures a good distance, with plenty of accuracy, and it will also give you a rock solid hookset by going to the backbone so fast.

[Ridge]

Man, BASSclary that is a great reply.

What size of the Diawa reel would you recommend?

How do you attach the leader to the braid? Knot? Swivel? You are talking about using flouro line cut to length for the leader right? Not a leader in the flyfishing sense? What length on the leader?

Can you make a recommendation on the braid and leader? Brands? Weights?

[Sam]

Ridge, you are receiving a lot of wanderful information, however the final decision will be yours.

May I suggest the following?

1. The more graphite in the rod the more ssensitive it will be.

2. Start with a 6'6" Medium Heavy selection. Go up in lenght from 6'6".

3. Read the rod's specifications so you will select a rod that can handle the baits and line you are using. The specs are near the handle.

4. A 2500 size spinning reel should serve your purposes. Ask the clerk if the spinning reels you are considering are the 2500 size. If you cannout figure it out, look for a 2500 Shimano reel and then compare the reels specifications and feel.

As long as yous stay within the rods specifications you will do great with what ever set up you purchase.

Look for sales and check out the BPS catalog. If the equipment, baits and line is less in the catalog BPS will honor the catalog price.

Good luck and post some pics of what you catch.

[BASSclary]

Man, BASSclary that is a great reply.

What size of the Diawa reel would you recommend?

How do you attach the leader to the braid? Knot? Swivel? You are talking about using flouro line cut to length for the leader right? Not a leader in the flyfishing sense? What length on the leader?

Can you make a recommendation on the braid and leader? Brands? Weights?

Thanks!

I'd recommend the 2500 size.

I use the alberto knot. It has a very small profile and is VERY strong. The best part is you can use two different line sizes and it will still hold strength. And yes, I just cut about a rods length worth of fluoro of the spool and tie it to the end of the braid. Usually around 7'.

I'll recommend 30# Sufix 832 with a Seagaur InvizX fluoro leader. in maybe 10 #. You can go higher if you choose however. Memory really isn't a problem when it's a 7' leader.