Best Baitcast Combo For Beginners? 2024

Brett's_daddy reply :

Okay, I'm sure this has been posted like a thousand times already but I'm new to this forum so please don't bust my chops too bad . I'm definitely on a budget with a wife, 4-1/2 year old son and a house that seems to always need something done to it. This is my 1st year bass fishing and I really love it! It's so much more exciting than trout fishing IMO. We've been strictly shore/bank fishing but do have a rubber boat large enough for 3 adults that we may have time to put in the water this year (hopefully). I'm currently using an Abu Garcia Vengeance 7ft. medium rod with a Shimano Syncopate 2500FG spinning reel and 10lb. Berkley Vanish flourocarbon line. This seems to work well for me but I'd like to get into baitcasting too and was wondering what is the best baitcast rod/reel combo (or maybe a rod and reel purchased separately that combine to add up to my budget) for $100 or less? I don't want something too fancy as I'm a beginner in every sense as I've never used a baitcast reel before...I just need something that is extremely easy to cast and is durable enough to last me 2 or 3 years until I get more experience under my belt and want to upgrade (I don't want something that is more advanced than I need and I'll end up with a bunch of birds nests...even if it's a great deal, I don't want it to ruin my outlook on baitcasters). This setup will be strictly for freshwater as I live way up in Vermont .

Raul reply :

With $100 ---> no way

Daiwa Lexa ( on sale at TW ) + Brekley Lightning rod = $115 , you´ll have to pay like $5 for S&H.

bigbill reply :

I started with a $12 Shakespeare baitcaster and a cheap rod.

The reel still works today. Try "fish n save"

There's a $24 Shakespeare baitcaster. I used them.

Brett's_daddy reply :

I want something that performs well and is reliable...not going to enter any tournaments any time soon. I've seen the Abu Garcia Pro Max rod & reel combo at Dick's for $99.00...is that any good or should I look elsewhere? I don't really want to buy a throwaway rod/reel but again, needs to be easy to cast with as little chance for birds nests as possible but good casting distance and smooth retrieve.

bigbill reply :

Go look at fishNSave he has more expensive stuff discounted plus free shipping. Just look.

Brett's_daddy reply :

Looks like he has some decent stuff Bill but I don't really know what I should be looking for and that was really the purpose of this post.

travis23 reply :

My 2nd baitcaster was the Abu Promax combo from dicks. While it was an alright combo to start out with, there are better options For the money. You just have to look around and shop for deals. Raul gave a great suggestion, I'd look into it if I were you. You could also try to find a cheap Tatula and then get a $30 or $40 rod.

Brett's_daddy reply :

How about a Shimano Caenan 100, saw a review that said they are very easy to cast...anybody have experience with them?

deep reply :

Yep, the Shimano VBS is very user-friendly and almost backlash proof. Shimano starts at Citica though.

Your best bet is probably an used Curado B or a PQ. I won't pay more than $60 for one, so shop around. Haven't fished a Lexa, so can't comment on that one.

P.S. I bet you can find a Citica E for ~$60 too if you look hard enough.

Brett's_daddy reply :

Keep in mind Deep...I'm a beginner here...don't need fancy expensive reel...need something beginner friendly that will be reliable and last me for the next couple of years or so until I am experienced enough to upgrade. While I'm sure a Citca is a very nice reel is it a good beginner reel?

deep reply :

Absolutely!

Any VBS shimano is a *very* user-friendly reel.

Shimanos lower than the Citica have graphite frames.

Nathan_Hardin1 reply :

Go to wal-mart. They have a Abu blackmax combo in your budget range. I have used them before, great. Reel for the money. You need a 6'6" medium heavy good for every application. When you get more advance you can get differnt lengths and actions. There's a guy on YouTube named Kevin bulligan who has an awsome 3 part rod selection video so check him out. Need anymore tips pm me.

new2BC4bass reply :

H2O Mettle on sale and an Ethos rod on sale (both get good reviews) or go with a Berkley Lightning. I personally don't like the looks of the Berkley Shock, and I prefer mono so the regular Lightning works good for me. Any combination of those 3 should keep you under the $100 mark. One of the posters here commented that he has been fishing his Mettle steadily for 3 years without doing anything to it because he didn't expect it to last that long. It is still going strong. Don't own one myself, but wouldn't turn one down at the right price.

Another option is a used Abu round reel. An all-around size would probably be from a 3600-4600. My 1600 size reels handle light lures very well even in strong winds and are small enoguh I have no problem palming them. Don't hold a lot of line, tho, but then bass fishing doesn't require a lot of line. Just ask all those Shimano 50 size reel users.

Fun4Me reply :

Do you have an Academy sports near you? I don't have any experience with them but I've heard others here say that the H2O Mettle ( house brand of Academy ) is a good reel. They even have combos for $99 but I don't know the quality of the rod in that combo.

EDIT: Looks like new2BC4bass had the same idea

Brett's_daddy reply :

Nope, no Academy sports near me. What about one of the above reels on a Abu Garcia Venegeance 7ft. medium heavy rod? I have this in a straight medium with a spinning reel and it seems like a good rod...not against another type/brand rod I just have firsthand experience with this and my Ugly Stik.

bigbill reply :

Brakes are important, learning to use a educated thumb too. How to adjust the reel spool to the weight of the lure then put the brakes halfway on and try a cast. Of course the newer more expensive stuff is better. I started off cheap incase I didn't like it.

jtharris3 reply :

Here's a nice combo that fits your criteria.

http://t.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Tourney-Special-Rod-and-Reel-Baitcast-Combo/product/1412040301398/

Brett's_daddy reply :

I might be able to return my 6'6" Ugly Stik medium spinning rod to Cabelas and exchange it for a 7 ft. medium-heavy casting rod...would that be wise or are Ugly Stik's not really made for baitcasting?

Big Bait Fishing reply :

On 8/6/2015 at 10:01 AM, jtharris3 said:

Here's a nice combo that fits your criteria.

http://t.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Tourney-Special-Rod-and-Reel-Baitcast-Combo/product/1412040301398/

that looks to be a good set up for you , i'd get the 7' MH , spool it up with some cheap line till you get the hang of using a baitcaster , when i first started to use a baitcaster , i messed up and bought some expensive line and after 2 hours trying to get the hang of the reel , i had destroyed the line by 5 too many birdsnests !!! when you first start to cast the bait caster , tie on at least a half oz. weight to practice cast with , it will make learning a lot easier !! good luck and stay with it as you will love using a baitcaster , i guarantee it !!

deep reply :

Buy this.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/161457-curado-200b/

DogBone_384 reply :

SMITTY0045 reply :

I would look into a Lew's American Hero Combo. I'm not sure if there is a deal you can beat in this price range based on what you're getting for $90. That combo should last you the 2-3 years easily for only $90.

Hope this helps!

massrob reply :

I just started with baitcasters this year and the citica the older one is almost impossible to backlash. I bought it from a guy on here in the flea market. I'd look there first write a little message saying what your looking for and somebody might be nice enough to sell it to you. I've seen it happen before the guys on here are some of the nicest people I've ever come in contact with. First starting with a baitcaster takes getting used to. Definitely use at least 1/2oz lure and cheap mono and roll cast to begin. I'm happy I learned this year yesterday I caught a 4lber on a frog and there's no way I could have done it with a spinning rod.

FinCulture reply :

I personally would avoid baitcasting combos unless it is a combo that is more of a "reel that come with a rod" than a "rod that comes with a reel" if that makes sense as quality is very important with a baitcaster. Two good starter options would be the Abu Garcia silver maxx (about $60) and the Lew's carbon fire (about $85) paired up with a Berkley Lighting Rod or an Ugly Stik Elite for your price range. I own the Carbon Fire and it's absolutely great for an economical beginner baitcaster that is also built well. This will probably go over your price range, but believe me, you will learn better on a well-built baitcaster than a crappy one that will give you backlashes all the time, so investing a little more money is definitely worth it. If you still lean toward a combo, there' the BPS Pro Qualifier/Carbonite combo, but there are definitely better individual options for the money, and that goes over your price range as well. Definitely put the bulk of your budget into the reel over the rod, although the rod shouldn't be overlooked. Perhaps save up a little to open the window to a slightly larger budget, as a baitcaster isn't harder to master just because it's more expensive. The more well-constructed it is, the more "user-friendly" it will be.

Turkey sandwich reply :

For $100, it's tough. I started with a cheap baitcaster and an Ugly Stick, and really grew to hate that baitcaster. My suggestions - buy the best reel you can afford and spool it with something that has very low memory (buy a decent braid over 20#, if you can swing it). It's ok to have a cheap spinning reel so long as it doesn't fray line and the drag doesn't stick. Baitcasting is different. I liken baitcasters to fly rods - a bad one can ruin your day.

Any of the used options you've heard above (for reels) are good options. If I were to start again tomorrow, I'd be looking for a used Curado/Chronarch/Revo etc rather than a brand new $60 reel. Braid will make backlashes fewer and easier to pick out (I use Suffix 832)without damaging the line compared to mono which can kink.

So if you go cheap, go cheap on the Rod. Just make sure I isn't totally wippy with no backbone and you'll be fine. If you can shake up an extra couple of dollars, you can look into some of the more technique oriented Cabelas rods that are in the $40-$80 range.

Josh Smith reply :

A self-feeding problem is that those new to baitcasting generally don't want to drop a lot of coin on equipment, but are then soured on baitcasting when it fails to perform as expected.

Go get a good hybrid rod. I have fished most of my life and really love the Berkely Cherrywood HD for my main rod. Know what? The thing ran me $20. I bought it as a stopgap when a more expensive rod broke, and ended up putting the more expensive rod in the corner!

Weird.

You might grab a 6' MH or 6'6" M Cherrywood HD, top it with a decent inexpensive reel like those marketed by Bass Pro or Abu Garcia, and give that a go with worms and jigs. Use braid.

Josh

robster80 reply :

id grab an h20 combo if i was wanting a combo in that range.

keyvike reply :

deleted

keyvike reply :

On 8/6/2015 at 10:01 AM, jtharris3 said:

Here's a nice combo that fits your criteria.

http://t.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Tourney-Special-Rod-and-Reel-Baitcast-Combo/product/1412040301398/

I'll 2nd this combo. As good as you will find for under 100$

4774

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