First bait caster rod and reel

I'm thinking about buying my first bait caster rod and reel this year. I've always used a spinning reel in the past. I've heard of the bird nest and backlashes so that's why I haven't bought one. I don't have a boat but I do go with a buddy of mine a couple times fishing with his boat and then I go to the river or ponds if I can find someone that will let me fish. Anyway I was gonna buy a Abu Garcia silver max last year but never did. What would you guys suggest as a good beginner bait caster under $60 for just reel And under $100 for rod/reel. I would like a low profile type not the big round type

 

gonna cost a little bit more.but look at a Lews tournament MG...Boyd Duckett micro Guide Rod.

 

How much more you think? Any advantages of a bait caster over a spinning reel since I'm new to a bait caster

 

well,you can get the reel for about 100 online.and it has the Magnetic braking system
http://youtu.be/14lXG0h2XJs

 

http://youtu.be/X43Ppd_rsxE

 

I agree I love my duckett!! A couple years ago when I started using bait caster I bought some cheap rods and reels and I would just save and start off buy buying a good all around rod and a good real you can throw almost anything with like a 7 ft m/h rod and I love my shimano citica. I know that's a lot higher than you where wanting to spend but I wasted a lot of money on rods that broke and reels that sucked!

 

Buy a reel with a dual braking system and take the time to adjust the systems every time you change lures. As your casting improves you can start letting off the brakes to acquire more distance.

 

He nailed it!!

 

I've got an Abu Garcia BlackMax. It works just fine. I think it was under $100 with a rod. It came with a 6.5' MH action, pretty versatile for bass fishing. I use it for a texas rigged worm pretty much exclusively. I have another, bigger Abu reel on a similar rod for crankbaits and spinner baits. Got a couple spinning reel setups for lighter lures, for crappie and trout.

 

I highly recommend the Abu revo. It has a brake that slows it at the start of the cast vs the end of the cast like a curado. Like they said use a lot of brake at first then as you get a feel for it ease off for more distance. The best way to set it is to tighten it way down then ease off until the bait starts to drop. Then add just a rich back to where it sits but a light flick of the rod will ease it down.

As far as advantages you can get more distance, its more comfortable, and it is more accurate. You can sling a bait real low then stop it when it is right above the suspected fish and drop it on the fish's head. I would put it on a 6 or 6.5 foot medium rod. The cabelas tourney trail is great and relatively inexpensive but still quality

 

In the end it's all what you get used to using and what you feel comfortable with I have spent wayyy to much money in rods and reels but I love everyone of them!

 

Practice before you hit the lake.

I can remember when I was a kid & got my first Bait Caster. I would practice in my yard with various lures, removing the hooks of course. My dog was my fish. He would be so excited when he saw me come out of the house with my fishing pole. It was a form of fetch to my dog.

 

Most of the time I am trying to catch a bass. I want to say walmart has the silvermax with rod for like $75 and the black max or pro max which is around $100 I think

 

I wouldnt get it. The reel may be ok but the rod will be terrible and it will cause you much anger and distress. You really need a quality rod to use the full potential of the baitcaster. Iif you insist on getting a Walmart rod get an ugly stik. I have tried that route back in the day and told myself it wouldn't make too much of a difference then one day I used my reel on a good rod that I borrowed and it was actually fun instead of aggravating.

One more thing is you might look at buying a left handed baitcaster instead of a right handed. That way you can still throw it with your right and reel with your left. The same asa spinning reel. It just feels more natural to me

 

I got a Revo SX on my frog rod...20 Pounds of drag with 65 pound braid is hard to beat..I love my Lews tournament MG's though...small,smooth as silk and will cast a mile,even with light lures.

 

Damn you got some heavy line. I use 20lb braid with a 12lb mono leader in grass

 

Well most of the time they hit it back in the grass beds...and if you ever get one on about 6 or so,you gotta drag him and a pile of weeds out.

 

One of the best benefits of a baitcaster versus a spinning reel (once you get good with casting a baitcaster) is that you are feeding line straight off of your reel and down the rod guides. With a spinning reel, you have that 90 degree angle added because of the pulley on the side of the spool. This creates a friction spot of sorts, and means you won't get full benefit of the lb. test rating of your line. Not by much, but every little bit counts. Also, you don't get the extra mechanics of a spinning reel that can take loose loops of line and tangle them around your handle or spool when you don't want them to.

I use both types of reels now. When I catfish or do any bottom fishing where the rod is set up on a stand, I always use baitcasters. When I have a ton of casting to do for bass or aggressive species, I still use the baitcaster, too. When I fish for small trout and use a super ultralight setup, I use a spinning setup.

Learning to properly work a baitcaster is like learning to flyfish. Practice makes perfect, and a good quality reel with the proper braking system will save you much grief. A $60 baitcaster probably means fewer/cheaper bearings and a simpler drag system which may give you that grief in fewer years/casts than a good quality baitcaster. Most of the baitcasters I throw, even my smaller bass reels, are at least $150-300 because I do my homework on bearing quality/count, drag systems, and user reviews. I love Shimano baitcasters, Penn reels for saltwater/big catfish, and right now I have a Daiwa model for my primary bass rod.

There are casting advantages to either reel type. I can "flip", long cast, bottom fish, etc. all day long with a spinning setup, but when I want precision and reliability I go with baitcasters. Hand me either and I can make both work, unless I'm casting weights below 1/2oz then I prefer a small spinning setup.

 

Yeah. Most of the fishing I do is under docks and downed timber though. There's no pullin a tree out if she gets wrapped up in there. I usually just use 12lb for that for the sake of the fight. Now if I start tourney fishin that may change

 

I know the more ball bearings the reel has the better. I see the Abu Garcia silver max has 5+1, the pro max has 7+1, and the lews mg speed spool has 7 or 9 I forgot. I know 5 is probably low, so would I benefit from a 7+1 ball bearing reel and would be a good beginner setup?