Budget Bass Fishing 2024

nate42racing reply :

Hey guys I have been meaning to go out fishing more and since I'm only 14 and during summer I will mainly ride my bike to the fishing spots. I have a part time job but I want to just get one rod and reel because I can fit only one on my backpack. I know that for most people a 6 rod and reel system is the normal but I want to know what setup can I use that will be able to use most lures ad be effective.

Thanks,

Nate

cyclops2 reply :

What would be the types & sizes of your fish. How far do you need to cast to reach 1/2 way acroos your waters ?

roadwarrior reply :

Tell us how much you want to spend and what type of reel (spincast, spinning or casting).

dave reply :

And where you are located

daiwaguy reply :

Welcome to the Forums!

CincyBassMan reply :

Great question. For the beginner bass angler or for the angler who hikes into remote locations I would suggest keeping it very basic. Medium action rod such as a 6'-6'6" abu garcia vendetta from the v series of rods is an excellent choice of decent quality and can be had for less than $75 from walmart. Next is a decent reel with power and finesse. For this a good starter is a pflueger president 6935 model( spinning). A limber but stout line is also needed. For an all around approach bass pro XPS 12-14 lb fluorocarbon will do the job. Buy a 1/4 lb spool at least if possible to avoid a trip just for line. Use a mono leader if needed for top water or other applications that you may deem it necessary as fluorocarbon will sink. After that use your favorite hooks or at least the best you can afford and have fun.

nate42racing reply :

Im up in upstate New York and I'm looking for a baitcaster for 100 bucks between both the rod and the reel. Thanks

Wbeadlescomb reply :

If you are just starting a quantum optix spinning reel 20 size with 8 lb trilene xl or suffix line and any one piece 6'6 spinning rod would be perfect.

I say quantum optix 20 size is around 20 in my area

Berkeley cherrywood rod for 20 bucks

Trilene or suffix line in 8lb test would run you around 7-8 bucks

You'll be able to throw beetle spins and crappie jigs on this as light as 1/16 ounce and Texas rigs up to atleast a 1/4 great.

cyclops2 reply :

Well I did a check at Wallmart rod and reels. If you need to have a 5' rod that does come apart into 2.....2 1/2' sections they do sell them.

I assume money is limited ?

Get to a Wall mart store soon. This is when they have the most to pick from. Also try Dick's SportingGoods. They sometimes have good Rapala & Rebel lures at sale prices.

Bank fishing ?

The lures are most effective in very eary morning and just before, during & right after sundown. Surface lures work very well & allow you to see the fish swirls on the lures. 4" to 5" will work.

Perch, a green pattern, or a Emerald Shiner pattern are good.

Once the sun bothers your eyes a little. It bothers the majority of larger fish feeding near shore.

Line strength of at least 15 pounds would be nice due to not being able to see snags..

You MUST wear some type of full protection eye / sun glasses. A NEEDLE NOSED plier is a must!! if the lure comes flying back & hooks you somewhere that is not serious ? You can CRUSH the small barb on the lure. That allows you to simply slide the hook out of your clothing or skin. A small pocket knife is needed to cut fishing line.

I think you will do a lot of fishing alone..............You need to be more prepared than a group with a car to help them if something goes wrong.

I fished alone as a kid. Now 76. So I do have some smarts about going alone.

Safety & a EASY way to get to your bike & help ARE VERY IMPORTANT. You are completly DEPENDANT on your self to get help if needed

SUNGLASSES ALWAYS............If you had a $ 100 bill for everytime I hooked myself. You could have a small boat & motor.

If you are fighting a fish or get the lure snagged.. Always try to keep the rod pointed to either side of you at about belt height.

If the lure pops loose it will probably miss your face.

Enjoy & think before acting when alone.

Rich

nate42racing reply :

Thanks Rich I will be alone and I understand that safety is #1. I just need more help as to what action rod and what speed reel. Bwxause for the six rod system each setup is different and I want to know what setup is the best all around. Thanks

cyclops2 reply :

Always see if you can carry a CHARGED UP cell phone in a sealed ZIP LOCK bag. 911 if you get really injured.

*Hootie reply :

Probably a good reason he is really adamant about the sunglasses. Notice, his screen name is Cyclops...just kidding.

Hootie

nate42racing reply :

Haha thats a good one

cyclops2 reply :

Enough safety.

I would pick a

Hold it !!

You can carry a LONG regular rod on the bike . NO sweat. I used to carry a roll of Electricans tape with me . I taped the rod onto the pipe under the seat to front post. Butt faced foward tip under the seat & cleared the rear fender. I used tape in 3 places. Never damaged a thing.

I did a spinning reel only because I could swap from 4# test to about 30# test in about 2 minutes For Catfish or Carp.

Your call

MichiganFishing1997 reply :

For a butchering reel around $50 I have heard good things about the Abu Garcia Black max. As for a rod, you'll have to get a two piece. I would suggest between 6'6-7'. Then for a specific rod I would say a Berkley Cherrywood, Lightning Rod, or Lightning Rod Shock. All good budget rods. If you really need to worry about durability than get an Ugly Stick.

I did the Sam thing your going to do for a while. As long as you know where you are and what your doing its a lot of fun. Welcome to the Forum. Good luck!

Christian

BassThumbAddict reply :

I went to local wal-mart today you can pick up a abugarcia vendetta for 40.00 also you can pick up a abugarcia silver or black max for 49.00. All at wal-mart. Good luck youngin and don't stop fishing.

nate42racing reply :

Thanks guys. Would you say a 6:1 gear ratio or around there is good and a medium action rod

MichiganFishing1997 reply :

Depends on your cover. The reel ratio is perfectly fine, its a great all around ratio. As for the rod, Medium Heavy Fast Action is a great all around baitcasting rod, which would be my preference. If you are fishing lighter cover and lighter lures than a Medium may better suite your fishing style.

Christian

dave reply :

H2O Mettle from Academy Sports

cyclops2 reply :

6 to 1 is fine.

Soft action makes tossing live bait or scented bait balls a lot easier.

A medium action will also work fine.

Pick a rod that reads for line weights of 4 to about 20 # ( pound test ). It is usually stamped near the handle part of the rod. Some will also have SOFT or MEDIUM or HEAVY action to guide you.

cyclops2 reply :

When the sun comes up. The bigger & smarter fish head for docks & under the boats at the dock. . Rubber worms are death to the fish dragged on the bottom. You want the fish to always look DOWN . Never up to see you against the sky....Catch & released fish know what your shape against the sky means.

stratoliner92 reply :

Welcome!! I remember back to those days with a 2 pc. spinning reel and beetle spins and hiting every lake I could get my bike too. Anyways for a baitcaster id say Abu Garcia silvermax 6.4:1 with a Berkley Lightning rod 6'6" or 7' MH with fast action. 10lb. Seaguar red label or Berkley 100% fluorocarbon line.Best advise on baits is learn how to texas rig a worm and get in the habit of palming your reel and let your index finger sit in front of reel with line resting on top of your finger and keep slack tight so you can feel bite. Small ponds and lakes with good water clarity give 6"-7.5" worms a try in pumpkinseed or green pumpkin color(if water clarity is less than 2' id use junebug or junebug red) with 3/16.oz weight and 3/0-4/0 hook a try

Crookedneck reply :

If you have a Duhnams Sports around you the have Abu Garcia combos in the silver max or black max reels for around $60-80. The rods are mediums to m-heavy. Good starter set ups.

TorqueConverter reply :

On 3/7/2014 at 5:00 AM, nate42racing said:
Im up in upstate New York and I'm looking for a baitcaster for 100 bucks between both the rod and the reel. Thanks

The best bang for your buck baitcaster that is also available at a store (i doubt you have a credit/debit card for online purchases) is the Pfluger Templar. 6 pin centrifugal braking, coated level wind and decent bearings for a cheap reel for a $60 at Walmart. That leaves you with $40 to spend on a rod at Walmart.

Bass pro has some combos in the $100 price range, but they may only be available in store, as that is where I have seen them. The Pro Qualifier reel and rod combo looks good although the rod is very moderate in action.

Wbeadlescomb reply :

On 3/7/2014 at 5:25 AM, cyclops2 said:

OK

Enough safety.

I would pick a

Hold it !!

You can carry a LONG regular rod on the bike . NO sweat. I used to carry a roll of Electricans tape with me . I taped the rod onto the pipe under the seat to front post. Butt faced foward tip under the seat & cleared the rear fender. I used tape in 3 places. Never damaged a thing.

I did a spinning reel only because I could swap from 4# test to about 30# test in about 2 minutes For Catfish or Carp.

Your call

One of my buddies had a 250 ninja crotch rocket when he was 15 and he would strap two rods to that thing and ride It to my house so I would take him fishing. Funny as crap seeing him ride down the highway like that

Creekcrappie reply :

On 3/7/2014 at 7:24 AM, deadadrift89 said:
Anyways for a baitcaster id say Abu Garcia silvermax 6.4:1 with a Berkley Lightning rod 6'6" or 7' MH with fast action. 10lb. Seaguar red label or Berkley 100% fluorocarbon line.Best advise on baits is learn how to texas rig a worm and get in the habit of palming your reel and let your index finger sit in front of reel with line resting on top of your finger and keep slack tight so you can feel bite. Small ponds and lakes with good water clarity give 6"-7.5" worms a try in pumpkinseed or green pumpkin color(if water clarity is less than 2' id use junebug or junebug red) with 3/16.oz weight and 3/0-4/0 hook a try

X2 He hit it right on. I have 2 silvermaxes that I fish off the bank with.

Darren. reply :

On 3/7/2014 at 4:50 AM, CincyBassMan said:
Great question. For the beginner bass angler or for the angler who hikes into remote locations I would suggest keeping it very basic. Medium action rod such as a 6'-6'6" abu garcia vendetta from the v series of rods is an excellent choice of decent quality and can be had for less than $75 from walmart. Next is a decent reel with power and finesse. For this a good starter is a pflueger president 6935 model( spinning). A limber but stout line is also needed. For an all around approach bass pro XPS 12-14 lb fluorocarbon will do the job. Buy a 1/4 lb spool at least if possible to avoid a trip just for line. Use a mono leader if needed for top water or other applications that you may deem it necessary as fluorocarbon will sink. After that use your favorite hooks or at least the best you can afford and have fun.

Hey, welcome to the forums, Cincy!

CincyBassMan reply :

On 3/9/2014 at 9:51 AM, DarrenM said:
Hey, welcome to the forums, Cincy!

Thanks Darren!

Blues19 reply :

Hey man, I started the same way, on a budget, going to local ponds. I started with a Shimano Spirex/ Bass pro Bionic Blade combo from bass pro. Rod was 6' medium so i could go through the woods and cast easier while bank fishing. It was a great way to start because i could fish small spinnerbaits, small worms, baby brush hogs, small rattle traps, grubs, all that kind of stuff. Shoot, that was 15 years ago or so and Im still using the rod, however I got a better reel on it now. Anyway, hope this helps. I would suggest a shorter rod because it should be easier to navigate while on your bike.

RipSomeLips reply :

Budget fishing...finally something I can contribute on! HaHa. Here are some of the first thoughts off my mind:

1) Best baitcast combo for the money IMHO is the Pinnacle inertia, 6'6" MH action. I bought mine thru Academy Sports. I got one on sale for $40, usually $80 (Cork grips) and 2 others for $20 usually $60 (foam grips).

2) Fishing Line: Check manufacturer rebates for any major company...ie: Berkley has a $3 off 1 or $7 off 2 purchase of fishing line. You can purchase 110yd boxes of berkley XT line from walmart for around $7...therefore 2 boxes for the cost of a stamp after rebate.

3) My favorite lure as a new fisherman was and probably always will be a buzzbait. You can buy them for $1 at walmart, or get some decent off brands like Yahoo from Academy etc for $2. They really keep you motivated because you can see your bait. There are some great videos on Youtube and suggestions on BR on tips to improve cheap buzzbaits.

4) My one splurge is on Kevin Van d**n's line and lure spray. It is about as money of a product as you can find, it makes my less expensive line and budget baitcaster work amazingly better.

5) I bought 10 bags of powerbait plastics for free a few months back because they were on clearance for $2 each (down from $3) at a retailer, and powerbait had a $2 rebate. My point on this and my rebate comment under #2 above is that if you are patient and purchase a few baits and practice mastering them, you can bide your time and find great deals on equipment. In a years time you can be well on your way to a pretty large collection.

6) Baits, get a couple of search baits...shallow crankbait, 2-5' crankbait, lipless crankbait, buzzbait, twirltail grub on a jighead. Then get a few finesse baits, texas rig lizard, senko worm, and maybe a fluke.

Hope this helps.

RipSomeLips reply :

I have done this on a motorcycle more than once! You get some pretty interesting looks...but whatever it takes to get on the water right?

gripnrip reply :

I remember the days of budget bass fishing. I have a budget for my gear but it has grown over the years. I do however catch sales and clearance items regularly. I hardly ever pay retail for rods or reels.

gripnrip reply :

On 3/9/2014 at 12:50 PM, RipSomeLips said:

Budget fishing...finally something I can contribute on! HaHa. Here are some of the first thoughts off my mind:

1) Best baitcast combo for the money IMHO is the Pinnacle inertia, 6'6" MH action. I bought mine thru Academy Sports. I got one on sale for $40, usually $80 (Cork grips) and 2 others for $20 usually $60 (foam grips).

2) Fishing Line: Check manufacturer rebates for any major company...ie: Berkley has a $3 off 1 or $7 off 2 purchase of fishing line. You can purchase 110yd boxes of berkley XT line from walmart for around $7...therefore 2 boxes for the cost of a stamp after rebate.

3) My favorite lure as a new fisherman was and probably always will be a buzzbait. You can buy them for $1 at walmart, or get some decent off brands like Yahoo from Academy etc for $2. They really keep you motivated because you can see your bait. There are some great videos on Youtube and suggestions on BR on tips to improve cheap buzzbaits.

4) My one splurge is on Kevin Van d**n's line and lure spray. It is about as money of a product as you can find, it makes my less expensive line and budget baitcaster work amazingly better.

5) I bought 10 bags of powerbait plastics for free a few months back because they were on clearance for $2 each (down from $3) at a retailer, and powerbait had a $2 rebate. My point on this and my rebate comment under #2 above is that if you are patient and purchase a few baits and practice mastering them, you can bide your time and find great deals on equipment. In a years time you can be well on your way to a pretty large collection.

6) Baits, get a couple of search baits...shallow crankbait, 2-5' crankbait, lipless crankbait, buzzbait, twirltail grub on a jighead. Then get a few finesse baits, texas rig lizard, senko worm, and maybe a fluke.

Hope this helps.

On 3/7/2014 at 4:50 AM, CincyBassMan said:
Great question. For the beginner bass angler or for the angler who hikes into remote locations I would suggest keeping it very basic. Medium action rod such as a 6'-6'6" abu garcia vendetta from the v series of rods is an excellent choice of decent quality and can be had for less than $75 from walmart. Next is a decent reel with power and finesse. For this a good starter is a pflueger president 6935 model( spinning). A limber but stout line is also needed. For an all around approach bass pro XPS 12-14 lb fluorocarbon will do the job. Buy a 1/4 lb spool at least if possible to avoid a trip just for line. Use a mono leader if needed for top water or other applications that you may deem it necessary as fluorocarbon will sink. After that use your favorite hooks or at least the best you can afford and have fun.

Welcome CincyBassMan! Not to hijack the thread but I noticed you and Ripsomelips have bank avatars.

Check out our bank fishing thread and join in if you'd like.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/126667-bank-fishing-forum/

RipSomeLips reply :

On 3/9/2014 at 1:01 PM, gripnrip said:

Welcome CincyBassMan! Not to hijack the thread but I noticed you and Ripsomelips have bank avatars.

Check out our bank fishing thread and join in if you'd like.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/126667-bank-fishing-forum/

Good call. I read the. And fish forum a couple days ago but got distracted before finishing. Heading over there now.

WIGuide reply :

I think you're going to want a at least a 6'6" rod in either medium power and fast action or a medium heavy with a fast action.

cyclops2 reply :

So how re you doing ?

new2BC4bass reply :

On 3/7/2014 at 4:22 AM, nate42racing said:

Hey guys I have been meaning to go out fishing more and since I'm only 14 and during summer I will mainly ride my bike to the fishing spots. I have a part time job but I want to just get one rod and reel because I can fit only one on my backpack. I know that for most people a 6 rod and reel system is the normal but I want to know what setup can I use that will be able to use most lures ad be effective.

Thanks,

Nate

You said you want a baitcast combo. I love baitcast reels. They outnumber my spinning reels by about 6:1. The spinning combos seldom get used. However, bank fishing with a baitcast reel can be a hassle if there are bushes, shrubs or trees around the spot you are trying to fish. A fairly common situation. Casting with a b/c reel in cover is almost impossible for me. Can be done by flipping and pitching if short casts are all you are looking for. Therefore I would suggest you consider a spinning outfit instead. Much easier to cast in tight quarters. I like 7' to 7'3" rods the most, but I would suggest 6'6" as a maximum in your case with 6' being a better option in my mind.

I would prefer a 2-piece rod for ease of transporting through trees and brush. Medium or MH is your choice, but I would lean towards a Medium so I could throw lighter lures. One that would handle from 1/8 oz. to at least 5/8 oz. Be prepared to lose the occasional lure.

If you are going to bike up to an open spot on the lake and start casting, then disregard the above advice.

I would also suggest posting a "want to buy" ad on a couple fishing forums. You might be surprised by the results. I read such a post a few months ago and was hit with the desire to help the young man out.

SirSnookalot reply :

As much of a budget purchase is a purchase for a beginner, I would suggest not getting too far ahead of yourself. Pflueger (other companies too) has some very decent spinning combos, some come pre rigged with line others don't, 8# mono is a good starting point. Learning how to catch fish is the most important thing, I'd start off with some senkos and worm hooks. Master that aspect of fishing then work your way into other lures and techniques.

GANGGREEN reply :

On 11/30/2014 at 4:24 PM, SirSnookalot said:
As much of a budget purchase is a purchase for a beginner, I would suggest not getting too far ahead of yourself. Pflueger (other companies too) has some very decent spinning combos, some come pre rigged with line others don't, 8# mono is a good starting point. Learning how to catch fish is the most important thing, I'd start off with some senkos and worm hooks. Master that aspect of fishing then work your way into other lures and techniques.

Yep. I know that the OP asked specifically about a baitcasting combo but I'm one of those guys that would use a spinning combo if I was fairly new to the sport and looking for just one combo to be used for bank fishing. As Snook pointed out, Pflueger's a pretty good option. You can often find a Pflueger President reel paired to a Cabela's Tourney Trail rod on special in Cabela's and that's a fine combo for a good price. In upstate NY, I'd go with a 6-6'6" M power rod paired with a reel sized appropriately to 8 pound test (you could use 6 for finesse or bump up to 10 if you felt the need in weeds, cover, etc.). That's plenty of rod for most bank fishing situations in the north east.

pbizzle reply :

H2O Xpress Mettle and H2O Xpress Ethos 7' MH. The whole setup will run about $120, but since you have a job the extra $20 shouldn't be a problem. Probably your best shot for a good deal. Just search this forum for them.

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