Better Rod Or Reel

[jchez444]

just curious on what you guys think is better and more benefical a higher/better rod or a high priced reel.

[Bluebasser86]

I'd say a better rod is best if I had to pick. I can catch fish with a LTB rod and a Zebco 33 because I can feel the bite at least, but if I had a Chronarch on an ugly stick I'm not going to be able to feel many bites or hook fish.

[northern basser]

60/40, with the rod being 60 and the reel being 40.

[ChiCityBasser]

Rod

[Gone_Phishin]

It depends on the desired application. If it's a crankin' combo, then the reel. If it's a jig/worm combo, then the rod.

[MN Bassin' nOOb]

30/70 rod vs reel on power fishing

70/30 rod vs reel on finesse fishing

[roadwarrior]

Rods might be a little more important, but reels are what make fishing fun!

[tracker01]

Bottom bouncing baits, "ROD". Baits that bass hit and want to rip the rod out of your hand, "REEL", but not by much.

[pitchinthejig]

Rods might be a little more important, but reels are what make fishing fun!

i agree and i love my limited daiwa stuff and my high end daiwas all around but i sure love my megabass and evergren sticks they sure are fun to look at and fish just as much as my reels!!!

buy good reels and good sticks and dont worry about it! and you will then be PROUD to fish that rig.

[SirSnookalot]

For bass it's the rod for me, regardless of technique. My bass reels are always smooth, ( I only use spinning), stay in good shape and I never service them. Inshore is a different story, I prefer both sides of the equation to be of better quality. Fish can be very demanding but even more so the elements take it's toll as well.

[tomustang]

Highly sensative rods are irrelevant when you're fingering the line, so depending on that technique the reel is more important

[Grey Wolf]

Both. The techniques you use dictates the correct answer.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

My basic advice on this is to set a budget for your combo and then scew it one way or the other depending on application. For "Feel" type baits lean toward the rod and for moving baits (especially deep cranks) toward the reel. In many cases you get what you pay for to some degree but there is definetely a pint of diminishing returns.

[J Francho]

Better rod 90% of the time. However, even a halfway decent reel can cost much more than a great rod.

[tnbassfisher]

A little of both. A well balanced, combo is nice, but like stated before you need to be able to feel the bites.

[K_Mac]

My basic advice on this is to set a budget for your combo and then scew it one way or the other depending on application. For "Feel" type baits lean toward the rod and for moving baits (especially deep cranks) toward the reel. In many cases you get what you pay for to some degree but there is definetely a pint of diminishing returns.

Excellent post.

The point of diminishing returns happens at a lower dollar amount in reels than rods IMO. My rod budget will almost always be higher.

[SirSnookalot]

Better rod 90% of the time. However, even a halfway decent reel can cost much more than a great rod.

I think so too. My standard set ups (I use nothing but spinning in all venues) are a $100 rod and $150 reel, not saying the reel is better quality than the rod, I rate them pretty even in value. In fresh water the same equation applies but I spend a little less on each item.

[roadwarrior]

On average my cost breakdown is about 60% reel/ 40% rod.

:D

[jignfule]

I put my $ in both rod & reel (nrx, glx) high end shimano reel (calais, chronarch) for me, $ in a rod is more important.

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

Excellent post.

The point of diminishing returns happens at a lower dollar amount in reels than rods IMO. My rod budget will almost always be higher.

Not arguing. I just don't agree.

The best value for your $$$ in rods IMO is right around $100-$120. After that return in performance for your $$ starts to fall off quite a bit.

I feel the rod is more important, but IMO you can get a REALLY nice rod for $200. Nicer than a $200 reel.

[K_Mac]

Jigfisherman you are in the majority group. For me a reel in the $100 range on a $200 rod is perfectly acceptable. I know that puts me out of the main stream, but I'm OK with that.

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

Jigfisherman you are in the majority group. For me a reel in the $100 range on a $200 rod is perfectly acceptable. I know that puts me out of the main stream, but I'm OK with that.

I'm fine with that too.

Like roadwarrior said, a nice reel is nice to fish with.

IMO though if it will cast well without backlashing, and without breaking, it is a good enough reel. My favorite reel I've ever had is a BPS Pro-lite from a few years ago. Just wish it had a faster IPT.

[Goose52]

Jigfisherman you are in the majority group. For me a reel in the $100 range on a $200 rod is perfectly acceptable. I know that puts me out of the main stream, but I'm OK with that.

I'm with ya buddy. I have a BPS Carbonlite BC reel on a Loomis GLX rod - a more expensive reel on that rod won't get me any more fish!