looking for new rod/reel

I just got into fishing thanks to my roommate and i have now found my new money pit (sorry truck). i bought a rod/reel off him for trout fishing which they have a lot of in SW Virginia/Tennessee. Now that i am home for break i have been bass fishing every day and have realized that my light pole is not quite enough for bass. What would everyone recommend?
I like the medium ugly stik. for the reel i have been looking at abu garcia's. I have an abu on my trout pole and have been very happy with it so figured i would just keep up with that brand. also, what weight line should i be using for bass? i am using 6lb now and havent caught anything big enough to break it but i think an 8 or 10 lb would be better. advice? opinnions? criticism?
Thanks

 

How much you looking at spending? I'd suggest paying more for the rod and less for the reel. Honestly the abu is good for most applications (depending on the gear ratio) But a great rod that isn't horribly high is an okuma C3. I have a Med-Hvy 6'6". It is great. Awesome sensitivity. around 100 $ i think. Also Falcon Rod Co. and St. Croix Co. are great too. A little higher tho.

 

I'm a huge Shimano Reel and G-Loomis Rod guy...They make the best stuff, but its pretty damn pricey...but at least you'll know it'll last a long time! And as far as quality, there is none better!

 

x2 those are some good choices.

What you need is something that can help you be accurate and handle multiple types of lures, on different types of water. In my opinion you need 2 different set ups.

A good spinning combo with a 6 to 6'6'' MH rod around $75-100 will last you a lifetime if you are good to it. String it with 8 or 10 lb test. Use this rod almost solely for plastics, top water plugs, jerk baits, and it also can be used for live bait if you wish.

The next set up should be a good open face reel set up for your moving baits. Spinner baits, crankbaits, bigger jerkbaits, buzzbaits and such. You want a rod that can move the bait at a good rate of speed. Faster than a spinning reel can. When you are shopping for open face reels, get quality, you kind of get what you pay for with this type of set up. Usually string these with 10-14 lb, kind of depends on the water you are on, and the structure.

If you can only afford one rod and reel, get the open face. It would be very versatile and easy to master. An open face set up is not easy to master, it takes practice, and you will cuss it quite a few times when you end up with a big birds nest worth of unspooled string...it happens to everyone.

 

For sure, GLoomis is my fave, lifetime warranty as well if you buy the good stuff!

 

G.Loomis are great rods. WAyyyy pricey but 100 percent worth it. I only have one but I plan on getting a couple more this summer. Carrot sticks (even if they look kinda goofy) are actually excellent rods. The most versitile set up IMO is a 6'6" Med-Hvy, 6:3:1 Reel, and 10-14 lb test monofilament line. You can handle most situations with this. I cannot stand spinning reels. That is totally just me though. My fav set up tho is my 6'10" Hammer Rod Co Xtra Hvy Flippn stick and Abu Garcia Revo.

 

Heres a Abu Garcia Revo on an Okuma C3

 

forgive me i am new to this, but this post confused me. i though a spinning reel and an open face were the same thing?

and on that last part you said an open face would be easy to master, and then it wouldnt be easy to master. if an open face is the one with the spool and bale on it, then yes i have had quite a few crows nests and such.

on a side/related note. i had 1 crows nest today and managed to catch 2 smallmouth and 1 live and 1 already dead bluegill

 

Nothing wrong with Ugly Sticks... I use them exclusively and love them.

 

I agree with getting 2 rods for bass fishing. Its like golf. You can play the course with 2 or 3 clubs but a whole bag is usually better.
I have several rods and reel combos for different presentations and lures.
Spinning reel I really like the Pfluger President. $60 at Cabelas and for Baitcasting reels I bought several Diawa TD 100 from bass pro for $100 each. I have been very pleased with the performance of the reels. If you want to spend a little less the Abu Garcia C3 baitcasting reels are very good. I have 1 that I have used for 13 years next month.
I have recently upgraded almost all of my rods to Falcon rods and they are $89.99 for the original series. For a little less money the Ugly Stick Lite is a good option.

As far as action and all that goes. I would go with a medium action spinning rod and use Berkley 8 pound XL line(orange box).

Baitcasting rod I would go with a medium-heavy action and 12 pound test. The reason for this is set up would be for worm fishing or fishing in heavy cover. You want a stiff enough rod to set the hook and line strong enough to pull fish out of cover before they wrap around something. I have been using Power Pro braid on my worm rods but I have been happy with Berkley Big Game as long as you change out your line every month or so due to line memory.
Hope this helps you finding what your looking for.

 

G LOOMIS


Thats all there is to say... Thread Closed

 

Lol...sometimes my fingers are faster than my brain. Easiest and most versatile would be the spinning reel. Harder to master is the open face reel, only because it is basically a free spool that you slow with your thumb. Now there are internal magnet brakes on them, but a real fisherman controls that spool with their thumb. You are going to get a lot of different answers, I have been fishing for a long time and can throw a plastic worm on a spinning reel in some awesome tight spots. I have just fished with too many people that tried to master an open face too soon and spent half of the trip screwing with their gear and not fishing. I thought I read you were new to bass fishing, if that is the case keep your line in the water, and the best way is with a good old spinning reel.

 

I didn't mean to confuse about open face...I have always called them open face what others would call baitcaster.

 

ok. thanks for the clarification. thanks for all the advice as well

 

Not sure if you are close to a Bass Pro but they are having an awesome sale this weekend. On sunday they are having a door buster special for a Daiwa baitcaster for $59. A normally $99 reel. Lots of other good specials as well.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...ngId=-1&appID=206&template=daily_specials.cfm

 

This is an AMAZING rod. I know the man who makes them. Idk that he ships but it is worth a shot. Better than any other rod I have IMO including my G.Loomis. http://www.hammerrods.com/

 

Hawaii style

 

This is what we catch, only this one was shot not caught

 

I have a few different rods Team Daiwa Rods, Quantum, G-Loomis, All Star. I use a Team Daiwa spinning reel for my drop shot rod, and Shimano Curado's for my bait casting reels. Love my Curados. They kick ass.. Pay the extra $$ for a good rod & reel the difference you'll get in the sensitivity is worth it when you can feel every rock, and the lightest bites on tough days.