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Bait Casting Rod & Reel Suggestions

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Serial Midget

Serial Midget

Al Bundy
Jun 25, 2002
13,053
1,897
Fort of Rio Grande
I’m looking to get back into fishing with an inexpensive bait caster set-up. I’m not going to spend a ton of money on gear but would like a decent set up for my vacation at the end of this month.

I went to Wally World last night and found a Shimano Sanora 2500 rod & reel for $50.00 – it felt nice in the store but so did a fairly short Ugly stick...

I’ll primarily be after trout in lakes & streams but not interested in fly fishing. I only want one pole and one reel – short enough for river casting but long enough for lake fishing.

Any suggestions? :)
 
M

Mike B.

Turbo Monkey
Oct 5, 2001
1,522
0
State College, PA
There is only one way to fish for trout and that is with some superlight gear standing in an ice cold limestone stream. Seems like spinning gear would be the way to go if you spend much time at all in streams. A six foot rod with a medium action would work well for a mix of lake, pond, stream type fishing. Just get a couple of extra spools to quickly change line weight.

It's been a few years since I bought any new gear or did much fishing for that matter so I can't recommend any specifics.
 
J

JacobDW

Monkey
Feb 22, 2005
271
0
Manassas, VA
I cant help with baitcaster stuff, but if i where you i would ditch the baitcaster and get an open face reel. I tried the caster craze and hated it, too finicky. I feel with an open face, I can cast further, more accurately, and feel the bait/bottom/fish better. I have 4 openface rod/reel combos, 2x 10-14lb test, 1x 6-8lb test, and one 1-4lb test.

as for suggestions i would visit as many outdoor stores as you can, your the only one using the rod, so you need the one that suits you. for your situation I would use an ultra light rig, i use my ultra light for everything from bass, to carp to cats! 6-8lb trilene on a shimano 1000 openface reel, and a st croix 5ft ultra light power rod is where i have my money, and i have NO COMPLAINTS at all.

BUT if you do like the whole bait caster thingy, by all means go fishin man
 
BurlyShirley

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
Yeah, if you're going after trout in a stream, dont go with a baitcaster. You'd be much better off with a spinning outfit.

For $50 you're not going to get anything too great, but BassPro has some nice housebrand combos in that range.

My spinning outfit is a 6'6" G Loomis GLX Medium-light action rod and a Shimano Sustain Reel. MSRP is around $550 on something like that, but its the XTR group for fishing. Got it for highschool graduation.
 
Serial Midget

Serial Midget

Al Bundy
Jun 25, 2002
13,053
1,897
Fort of Rio Grande
Hmmm - thanks for the advice - I am not set on what I will buy - just thinking of past experience. I'm not shy about spending money on my hobbies - I just don't want to shell out a wad of cash for high end stuff only to learn I need something else...

I'll check into the website and see - I wont need anything for 3 weeks so I have time to look. :)
 
BurlyShirley

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
Serial Midget said:
Hmmm - thanks for the advice - I am not set on what I will buy - just thinking of past experience. I'm not shy about spending money on my hobbies - I just don't want to shell out a wad of cash for high end stuff only to learn I need something else...

I'll check into the website and see - I wont need anything for 3 weeks so I have time to look. :)
Click to expand...
Man, just like biking, the local fishing store will have pretty good advice MOST of the time, but you can also check out fishing forums too.
 
BurlyShirley

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
BurlyShirley

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
Serial Midget said:
Yeah except I think a spinning reel is a bait caster... :bonk:

I would have no idea what anyone was talking about. When I was a kid we used worms, eggs and whatever kit was availble from the garage.
Click to expand...
Just give me a few minutes and Ill show you some decent options at a couple pricepoints for what you're asking. Hang on.
 
BurlyShirley

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
This one goes for $100. Go for the 6' Medium action. Item # 38-940-666-03

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=59170&hvarDept=100&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=3&hvarSubCode=2&hvarTarget=browse

Pfleuger makes good gear, and this would last a couple seasons easy. More if you dont fish often.


This guy goes for $ 50
http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=74044&hvarDept=100&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=3&hvarSubCode=2&hvarTarget=browse

Browning stuff is okay from what Ive heard. Again, go for the medium or medium light and it should be plenty.
 
BurlyShirley

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
...As a rule, the more ball bearings a reel has, the smoother it is and the longer it'll last. Wal Mart is fine for buying fishing gear, but BPS is more specialized and they have better stuff for less money typically. Wal Mart is all kind of low end stuff. BPS is where the high end manufacturers are forced to undercut one another. Kind of like REI or something.

As for the rod, just medium, to medium light action. Anything more or less for small water is either being fancy or way overkill. Tackle is another ballgame altogether, but again, questions: Trout like Rapalas and stuff, but you can catch them on jigs and roostertails and stay pretty cheap. Spoons arent pricey either.
 
mastercycleman

mastercycleman

Turbo Monkey
May 28, 2006
1,391
1
La Costa, CA underwater basket weaving, roady hati
look for a rod with a sesitive tip, but stil a little backbone, for the bigger fish, probobly a 6'6", or a 7'0" medium or medium light action, prbobly a 6- 14 pound. I have a lamiglass 7'0" medium action spinning rod, that i like, I use it for surf fishing it was about 40 bucks from sports authority.

Are you sure you'll need a baitcasting rod/reel. I imagine you could do it with a spinning setup,

If you feel you need a baitcast, I would suggest you look at the older curado 100 size, I like my Clarus 7 foot meduim action,but that might be a little heavy for what your looking to do.

prbobly a 6'6", or a 7 foot rod, medium action, and about 8-14 pound.

look on some of the fishing forums, They will always help you out.

For spinning, look at a 1500-2500 size shimano, I like the sedona reels, you should be able to keep it under 100 bucks.
 
Serial Midget

Serial Midget

Al Bundy
Jun 25, 2002
13,053
1,897
Fort of Rio Grande
OK - so I went to the local hardware store; took the advice and suggestions of the saleman - based on what was in stock. I ended up with a DAIWA Regal 1000 Xi spinning reel ($50.00) and a DAIWA Light Action 2-6 LB 6 foot rod ($50.00). I don't need to reel in everything that bites - the light action will force me to be more technically proficient... or so I have been told.

I could have spent maybe $30.00 less on 'similar' gear at Wally World but the advice I was given should be worth it.
 
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