[coyotekilller]

i want a baitcasting rod/reel for bass and some pike by next summer. hopefully for under 60 bucks. i was lookin at a quantum reel with a 7 foot medium action rod. maybe some advice?

 

[deerkiller012]

hey I got toms foot trap just wanted you to know:smiley:

 

[deerkiller012]

OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH ya the fishing thing I dont know?

 

[coyotekilller]

thanks alot deer killer your a lot of help

 

[coyotekilller]

OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH ya congrats on tompsons trap. bu the way u to u me

 

[Mailman]

Here is a good one from Bass Pro. Anything with the name of Abu Garcia will last and last. I'd put this one on a 7 ft medium action rod. The reel is around $50 and you can spend as little as $30 on a rod to get by. I have had one similar now for 25 years and it is still reeling them in. Good Luck

 

[coyotekilller]

looks pretty good mailman what lb test did you have on it

 

[Hatch]

I would go with a Quantum reel and a Bass Pro Bionic Blade rod, I would go with a 7' Med Heavy You can get the rod for about $40.00 and you have a big selection of reels to choose from. I have found if you spend a little more on your rod you will be much more satisfied, you pretty much get what you pay for, an $18.00 rod is exactly that.

 

[JMAC]

I bought a cheaper (about $60) Abu Garcia baitcaster combo and have been very impressed with the rod. The reel, on the other hand, has been hard to get used to. I think I'm gonna shop around for a new reel this spring.

 

[Mailman]

I use 14 lb test on mine. Brand of line......Stren. The baitcasting reels take a little practice to master. Once you get the hang of it it is like riding a bike. There is not a reel made out there better than the Abu Garcia. I have 4 other brands that have already ended up in garage sales for less than $5 each. THAT is my two cents on reel choice.

 

[mobiggerbucks]

I bought an ABU ambasador when I was in high school in 1963 . I am still using it . I will end up giving it to one of my grand kids .

 

[JackJr]

I would also recommend the medium heavy depending on what baits you will throw and especially for Northerns. I like the big ABUs but they are a little heavy.

Jack

 

[Hatch]

If you want to spend a little more money on a reel I would highly recommend a Shimano Bantom Curado It is very light & low profile and easy to cast and hard to back lash. (harder to back lash) $99.00

 

[coyotekilller]

thanks a lot guys its a big help

 

[oneshot 1]

Originally posted by Mailman
I use 14 lb test on mine. Brand of line......Stren. The baitcasting reels take a little practice to master. Once you get the hang of it it is like riding a bike. There is not a reel made out there better than the Abu Garcia. I have 4 other brands that have already ended up in garage sales for less than $5 each. THAT is my two cents on reel choice.

I had one got tierd of messing with the Rats Nest.Give it away.

Went back to my Spinning Reel.

oneshot
The Big Grin likes Yo Yo lines.

 

[rat]

I agree with Hatch...

Those low profile baitcasters are lots easier for the beginning baitcaster.

As with all baitcasters tho, you need to set the brake EACH TIME you change bait weight. It'll save you a lot of headache. And when you do get a backlash, just take a deep breath and pull the line up from the spool slowly... lotsa times it looks uglier than it really is. When we fish tournaments, I have a few rods already rigged so that when I do get a stopper, I can grab another rod and keep fishing.

 

[Vector]

I'm with Oneshot! I used to throw and throw a baitcaster for pone bass (3-4 days a week for 2 years).....but every once in a while that backlash would catch up with me and FLAT TICK ME OFF! (Uh, hum..... Chairman ......would you care to comment on the backlash issue? I just remembered )

I would go with a Quantum spinning combo with medium heavy gear....just my .02.....lets see.....I've got 7 rod and reel combos with Quantum reels.....anything from Microlight to Light Saltwater.....and I've never owned a Quantum spinning setup that I'd want to give up.

So that's my testimony....I may have given you .03

Parker

 

[rat]

Hey.. I like spinning rigs just like the next guy. Fact is, there are some baits that you cant effectively fish without a smooth-cranking baitcaster. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

Try fishing jig-n-pig, texas lizards or deep crankers on LOZ with a spincaster... aint too comfortable for me.

 

[Transplanted Hoosier]

Here is a little trick for someone that is just starting to learn a baitcaster (I still do it)....put on a practice plug and give it a good throw, as far as you can, pull out another 6 feet of line then put about a 4" strip of black electrical tape on the spool (so it spools up with the line) and real back up. The tape will keep the birdsnest from getting past that point.

Ya can't really pitch-n-flip with a spinner either.

 

[rat]

Havent heard of that one... sounds like it will work.

The thing I like about the low prof baiters is that it seems to be more ergonomic to have your thumb on the spool when you cast. This is the fail-safe. You can tell, with a little practice, immediately when you have made a foul cast. Just stop the spool with your thumb before bad things happen and try again. Even if the worst happens, with a line stripper and extra spool of line, you can re-spool a modern baitcaster in about 10min. Thats not a lot of down time in the grand scheme of things. Just aggrivating when it happens.

And, as hoosier pointed out, cant flip or pitch with a spincaster unless anyone knows something that I dont, which is ENTIRELY possible!