Advice Wanted: Baitcaster Specs

[younggun308]

Between now and next spring I'm going to throw down some money for a solid baitcaster setup. Going to run everything from spinnerbaits, crankbaits, swimbaits, and even wacky worms near structure.

Leaning strongly towards medium-heavy action, but open to ideas on rod length and the reel's gear ratio. Favoring at least 6'9" length.

I like the 10-year warranty on Bass Pro's Carbonlite 2.0 rod, so that combo is the prohibitive favorite as of now, given cost relative to even higher-end BPS models that have the same warranty. But I'm open to other suggestions.

Any advice on when to buy low between now and next March is appreciated.

 

[TRIGGER]

I think you are spot on with a 6'9" medium heavy for and "all around" rod. I would pair it with a 7:1 gear ratio reel.

 

[Sam Davis]

6"9 to 7 medium heavy is a good all around rod.ABU Garcia Veritas is a really good rod.
I really like Daiwa tatula SV TW reels. They work really great with light lures and on windy days. They are almost impossible to backlash. 6:3 is a good all around ratio.
It's all personal preference. Good luck

 

[UCStandSitter]

6"9 to 7 medium heavy is a good all around rod.ABU Garcia Veritas is a really good rod.
I really like Daiwa tatula SV TW reels. They work really great with light lures and on windy days. They are almost impossible to backlash. 6:3 is a good all around ratio.
It's all personal preference. Good luck

+1 on the Tatula. Good lil reels for not a lot of coin.

Big fan of the Dobyns rods personally. Solid quality, good feel, and decent warranty when you snap one. Used to it was $20 plus shipping for repair. A little more pricey than a BPS rod but much better quality in my opinion and not the prices of G.Loomis. Good middle ground to me.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

What is your budget for rod and reel?

 

[younggun308]

What is your budget for rod and reel?

Looking to drop no more than $200, pre-sales tax, if possible.

That's up front, at least. Over time, upgrades to rod or reel would allow me to have 2 medium-heavy setups. Just looking to be ready to hit the water in the meantime.

 

[younggun308]

Opinions on rods in the 7'3"-7'6" range? Is it too much or "the more the merrier"?

 

[double browtine]

I have a few Kistler rods that are the lower end rods. Mine are about 10 years old and I think are the same rod blanks that were used on the G Loomis rods back then. My favorite Kistler is my Magnesium 6-9 medium heavy action all purpose. It is light weight and has great action and feel. They don't make them anymore but they do make an Argon series. The KLX rods are really nice but so is the price.
A 7:1 reel with centrifugal braking or magnetic braking to reduce backlash is a must.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Opinions on rods in the 7'3"-7'6" range? Is it too much or "the more the merrier"?

Are you fishing from a boat? And how tall are you?

 

[younggun308]

Are you fishing from a boat? And how tall are you?

Yes, from a boat, and I'm 6'1"

 

[Sam Davis]

If you can save $50 more dollars . ABU Garcia revo s/x combo is great. Comes with a vandetta rod . Well worth the money.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

I was going to recommend a St. Croix rod and Lews baitcaster but that is way out of your budget but well worth the money.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Yes, from a boat, and I'm 6'1"

Same as me I'd go 7'6.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

If you can save $50 more dollars . ABU Garcia revo s/x combo is great. Comes with a vandetta rod . Well worth the money.

I have a Revo S/X reel and has performed flawless. I have it mounted to a St. Croix Mojo bass M/H Fast 7'1". Good all around setup.

 

[TDW05]

6:3:1 would be the reel I would go with for all purpose so to speak. 7:1 for me is jig and top water so I can catch up with them running if needed. Medium heavy is a great all around rod. I might lean towards heavy though and probably 7' JMO. In the end it's all in what your preference is and comfortable and confident with.

 

[younggun308]

I was going to recommend a St. Croix rod and Lews baitcaster but that is way out of your budget but well worth the money.

Any specific model? The longer I wait to buy the more I'll have to burn.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Looking to drop no more than $200, pre-sales tax, if possible.

That's up front, at least. Over time, upgrades to rod or reel would allow me to have 2 medium-heavy setups. Just looking to be ready to hit the water in the meantime.

250-300 gets you into a few better options.

This is what I would get:

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/lews-kvdbass-pro-shops-johnny-morris-carbonlite-20-baitcast-combo
Don't own any of the rods but the Lews KVD reel is awesome.

 

[younggun308]

I'm struck by the fact no one is suggesting an 8:1 ratio. Is it just near-impossible to slow it down? Or is 7:1 good enough to where faster isn't an improvement?

Spinnerbaits would be where I'd really need to be able to reel slow. But if it's just a matter of getting used to a reel, I'm happy to sacrifice "idiot proof" for versatility.

 

[younggun308]

250-300 gets you into a few better options.

This is what I would get:

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/lews-kvdbass-pro-shops-johnny-morris-carbonlite-20-baitcast-combo
Don't own any of the rods but the Lews KVD reel is awesome.

6.3:1 is a good enough ratio? I will trust you over Google all day long, but it primed me to think 6:1 is too slow.

 

[younggun308]

I just realized that Lews @FLTENNHUNTER1 linked comes with the option of an 8.3:1 IF you do a right retrieve. But left only comes in 6.3:1.
Left seems more intuitive to me, but I suppose I could deal with right-side.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Any specific model? The longer I wait to buy the more I'll have to burn.

I have two of these...Made in USA. I like medium power fast action for crankbaits but use it for many of the things you mention.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/st-croix-premier-series-trigger-rod

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

6.3:1 is a good enough ratio? I will trust you over Google all day long, but it primed me to think 6:1 is too slow.

I have a couple of 6.4's and they work great for all around use. I prefer 7.5 or faster. I have several 8.3 Lews that work fantastic. I have a 9.1 Kastking Megajaws that absolutely burns the crankbaits.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

250-300 gets you into a few better options.

This is what I would get:

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/lews-kvdbass-pro-shops-johnny-morris-carbonlite-20-baitcast-combo
Don't own any of the rods but the Lews KVD reel is awesome.

Get this and don't even look back. You will like the 8.3 speed:

I don't know anything about the rods but a 10 year warranty is unheard of these days.

 

[younggun308]

Get this and don't even look back. You will like the 8.3 speed:

View attachment 132837

I don't know anything about the rods but a 10 year warranty is unheard of these days.

The BPS warranty on a couple of their rod models is really something. Takes little effort to snap a rod, especially over 10 years. So it adds some serious peace of mind.

 

[gasman]

7' med-heavy rod of choice and an Abu Garcia Revo Winch

 

[TN Larry]

For all around fishing and just one bait caster, I'd get a 7' medium heavy rod and 6 to 1 ratio reel. I like a 7 and 8 to 1 for certain applications but too fast IMO for everything. There's many good models out there in your price range.

 

[SES]

I bought my stepson the Carbonlite combo for Christmas and he loves it. He has some Abu combos and some Lews combos, but he prefers the BPS combo.

 

[tndave59]

I'd get @Sniper to build you a custom rod to the exact specs you want and go with a lews or pfleuger reel. I have several of his rods and they are top notch but may be a little outside your budget but worth it.

 

[Clong6343]

Between now and next spring I'm going to throw down some money for a solid baitcaster setup. Going to run everything from spinnerbaits, crankbaits, swimbaits, and even wacky worms near structure.

Leaning strongly towards medium-heavy action, but open to ideas on rod length and the reel's gear ratio. Favoring at least 6'9" length.

I like the 10-year warranty on Bass Pro's Carbonlite 2.0 rod, so that combo is the prohibitive favorite as of now, given cost relative to even higher-end BPS models that have the same warranty. But I'm open to other suggestions.

Any advice on when to buy low between now and next March is appreciated.

As for as reels go check out Piscifun fishing and for rods check out Bulldawg rods

 

[jwb]

Dobyns rod and a lews reel. Or shimano slx combo would be under $200 and good quality. I would prob go with a 6.4 to 1 gear ratio for a all around reel. Dobyns rods are hard to beat for the $. Personally I'd spend another $40-$50 bucks and get the next series up on the rod. I think a dobyns colt is like $80ish and a fury is like $130ish. Carbon lite combo from bass pro would be 3rd choice.