Baitcast Combo Recommendation

[KentuckyDave]

What would you recommend for a baitcast combo

My price range is btw 100-200 and I'm just loiking for a good all around setup

Any help would be outstanding

Thanks

[J Francho]

Look for a 7' MH/F rod, and make sure the reel has an aluminum frame. It's gonna be tough in that price range, but it can be done. Pay attention to the Flea Market here, and clearance sales.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

The specifics above are what you need for all around good combo.

You can get the Academy H2O Ethos rod for 59.99 and pair it with a H2O Mettle reel for 49.99 so total combined after taxes would be around $120.00 and they both have the specs listed above.

Also you good get the BPS extreme combo for around $150.00. I think they have a special on a matirx extreme combo for $99 during the spring classic at BPS not sure of the specs , just saw it in the flyer.

[John G]

Lamiglas Excel rod and a Lew's Speed Spool reel. That would be around $200.00 maybe a little bit more. IMHO, It would be worth spending closer to the $200.00 or a little more if you have too. Also, I have zero experience with that set-up but both the Lew's Speed Spool and the Excel get great reviews.

[LgMouthGambler]

For reels around $100 you could go with BPS Pro Qual, Extreme, Shimano Citica, Ceanan, an Abu Orra series, all well rounded reels. Rod choices could be Berkley Lightning Shock, Abu Vendetta, Daiwa has some. I would try to aim for a 6.# gear ratio on the reel to keep the setup versitile. All options are good for braid/flouro/mono. Smooze around on BPS website, they are gonna be having their Spring Classic sale soon.

[drew4779]

I'd go with the citica or the caenan and just upgrade the parts later. Shimanos are easy to upgrade yourself and most models use the same components. I love my citi-rado.

As for rods, St. Croix premiers can be found for around $100. Vendettas, falcon, and lamiglass rods are also good choices.

[LgMouthGambler]

I'd go with the citica or the caenan and just upgrade the parts later. Shimanos are easy to upgrade yourself and most models use the same components. I love my citi-rado.

As for rods, St. Croix premiers can be found for around $100. Vendettas, falcon, and lamiglass rods are also good choices.

Cita-rado? Do tell, you have my upmost attention.

[drew4779]

The citi-rado is my old citica upgraded with curado parts. I bought a 200e a couple years ago and have slowly upgraded the parts piece by piece. I removed the plastic bushing and added a ss bearing. Replaced the handle with the curado handle, adding two more bearings. The only thing left to be done is to change out the spool. Maybe its just the work I put into it (or the orange seals), but I actually like it more than my chonarch. Plus, it turned out to be a lot of fun.

[LgMouthGambler]

Hmm...future plans for my Citica G.?

[NCLifetimer]

If I was you I'd get a Basspro Pro Qualifier or a Lews Speed Spool and spend whatever is left on a 7 foot medium heavy casting rod.

[new2BC4bass]

Welcome to the forum. Read thru the forum, and you will find several posts on your exact question. Or try a search. Most would agree that a 6'6" or 7' MH rod is a good first rod. Pick a brand. You should start to get a preference after reading a few posts. Many like the Veritas. I've no experience with them personally. I like my Falcon Originals. Picked up a couple used rods from a mom & pop shop for about $35 apiece. Excellent rods. New around a $100.

I've heard Cabela's Prodigy line are a lot of rod for the money. Get one on sale. Fenwick's Elite Tech Smallmouth series is getting great reviews. A $129 rod you can get for less than $80 on Amazon.

The Academy rods/reels Bass Ninja mentioned are suppose to be quite good. Check out some of the lower priced Shimano rods. One of your best bets would to buy used from the flea market. You get more rod for your money. Or wait for closeouts. Can get great deals then....like a $190 rod for $100, or a $125 rod for $50. Cabela's is selling their HMLTi $200 rods for $120. If you can find one of the previous models, you can get it for $90 (a $190 rod).

A reel I like is Cabela's Prodigy. It is made by Daiwa. Normal price is $100, but they go on sale occasionally. Got the previous model for $60 plus shipping. Solid reel. Here again keeping an eye on the For Sale forums can pay off big time when buying a reel. You missed the closeout for the Curado 50E/51E for $98...a $199 reel. Lew's has a reel around $80 (I think) that is getting good reviews.

Take some time to read. Be patient. You shouldn't have any problem getting a quality combo in the $150/$200 range. The biggest problem will be narrowing our choice to one outfit. Good luck.

[ctf58]

KYDave,

Try a Abu Garcia Pro Max For $79 and a Berkley Lightning Shock Casting Rods MH 7'- $49.99 From Tackle Warehouse. Pro Max is a high speed reel, and I believe the Berkley Lightning rod is very sensitive and lightweight.Plus get a free Abu hoodie and free Berkley t shirt with mail in rebates. I'm a weekend warrior and they are better than I deserve. I do not know your fishing level. I've caught several KY fish on my end of the state and none of them turned up their noses because of my cheaper equipment. I believe in getting the most bang for the buck.

[l3rd]

What would you recommend for a baitcast combo

My price range is btw 100-200 and I'm just loiking for a good all around setup

Any help would be outstanding

Thanks

If you live near a Bass Pro Shop, get one of the Carbonlite reels, the gold colored ones, they only have what is on the shelf, when those are sold, they are gone. If you check out their reviews though these are just awesome reels and as they are blowing them out for $89 you just can't beat them, it's the best deal going right now. Then you could go with an Abu Veritas, Bass Pro Shops Carbonlite, a St. Croix Premiere, Falcon BuCoo, lowrider, what ever trips your trigger, though I believe the Shimano Compre would have the best warranty of them all.

[Diggy]

If you live near a Bass Pro Shop, get one of the Carbonlite reels, the gold colored ones, they only have what is on the shelf, when those are sold, they are gone. If you check out their reviews though these are just awesome reels and as they are blowing them out for $89 you just can't beat them, it's the best deal going right now. Then you could go with an Abu Veritas, Bass Pro Shops Carbonlite, a St. Croix Premiere, Falcon BuCoo, lowrider, what ever trips your trigger, though I believe the Shimano Compre would have the best warranty of them all.

x2 for the carbonlite combo, unless you need hella drag. I love mine (older gold reel/micro guide rod-$179) and plan to buy the newer soon($199 @ 5.9oz). Its soooooooo light, smooth and cast lures a long way.

[einsteins]

d**n

Just went online to get 2carbonlites and they only have left hand listed....I wanted the handle on the right. I almost missed it as the picture shows right hand. Got all the way to check out before I noticed it. Whew!

[l3rd]

d**n

Just went online to get 2carbonlites and they only have left hand listed....I wanted the handle on the right. I almost missed it as the picture shows right hand. Got all the way to check out before I noticed it. Whew!

That's what I was trying to say when I said they are only on the shelves, warehouse stock is GONE! If you don't live near a store, perhaps you can get a friend or family member to get them for you. If not, I was thinking about getting one for myself, but this would be your next best bet;

http://www.ohya.com/...CFQyFQAodu1Jmrw

You want the CU200E7. You could then go with a Berkley Lightning rod. But once people see this link, if in fact they still have the older, better Curado E's in stock as they say they do, I suspect they will be G-O-N-E FAST! The $199 Cronarch is the new Curado, so at that price, it's a REAL steal. The Lightning rod is 80-95% of the more expensive rods at 1/2 or less of their cost. If the Curado CU200E7s are gone, more of a gamble would be the Pinnacle Optimus XT. Some are saying it's even better than the Curado, and I have one on the way, but it's less tried and true than the Carbonlite OR the Curado "E", so it's a little more of a gamble. Here is the best deal I have found on one:

http://www.amazon.co...29549221&sr=8-1

You'll want the XT and not the XTHS, higher than normal gear ratio, or the XTSR, slower than normal gear ration. I got the XTHS for spinner baits. The Curado is also a high speed reel, but you can always reel a little slower, it was THE standard by which all $200 and less reels were measured. I like the Carbonlite better myself, but the Curado is a nice reel, and the Optimus, some are saying, may be even better than the older Curado. This guy in New Zealand runs a guide service, the Optimus seems to be holding up really well for him after 3 months of abuse:

http://www.bassing.co.za/bassingforum/reels/6628-pinnacle-optimus-xt-reel-review-three-months-later.html

If you take the Berkley Lightning rod and any high dollar rod, and flip them, running the last eye across something like carpet you'll get a feel for their sensitivity. The differences do not end there, but the Berkley is really hard to beat. I do buy more expensive rods, but I question my sanity as I do so... A crap reel is far worse IME than a less than the best you can afford rod. Spend the money on better reels, and if you have to bite the bullet, go Berkley and don't look back, you'll be fine! Your milage may vary, but I think this is sound advice. One more tried and true reel if the Curados are gone, would be the Johnny Morris Signature, I don't think they changed that model this year.

[l3rd]

Update on the old Carbonlites. Tuesday there were 1157 in the system. No idea why they are not being sold on-line.