My current setup sucks... is this one good? 2025

So right now, due to money flow issues i have a setup of a shakespeare combo rod (it's red i forget the name, nothing special...) and a mitchell avocet silver reel with spiderwire ez. I had to heat up the rod tip guide and remove it and replace it with the tip off my shakespeare excursion (bought when i got the reel around opening day this year) because the guide insert was cracked therefore fraying my line. The excursion 7' med action rod got snapped because the drag on the avocet, although smooth when pulling line has a tendency to stop or stick when fish stop and go. I was reeling in a 3lb pickerel i had hooked on a plastic frog when the thing made a dash and my rod snapped. So, i come here with a question. When i get some money up (all this can be had for ~100$ brand new) is this a good setup?

-Okuma Epixor EF 40b Reel

-Shakespeare 2 piece 6'6" med. action ugly stik rod

-Spiderwire super mono xxx (love this stuff) in clear

  Quote

So right now, due to money flow issues i have a setup of a shakespeare combo rod (it's red i forget the name, nothing special...) and a mitchell avocet silver reel with spiderwire ez. I had to heat up the rod tip guide and remove it and replace it with the tip off my shakespeare excursion (bought when i got the reel around opening day this year) because the guide insert was cracked therefore fraying my line. The excursion 7' med action rod got snapped because the drag on the avocet, although smooth when pulling line has a tendency to stop or stick when fish stop and go. I was reeling in a 3lb pickerel i had hooked on a plastic frog when the thing made a dash and my rod snapped. So, i come here with a question. When i get some money up (all this can be had for ~100$ brand new) is this a good setup?

-Okuma Epixor EF 40b Reel

-Shakespeare 2 piece 6'6" med. action ugly stik rod

-Spiderwire super mono xxx (love this stuff) in clear

Ugly stiks are pretty hard to break. Good choice IMO.

Okuma is known for quality reels, so again, good choice.

I would suggest getting some power pro braid if you're going to be fishing frogs though. Stuff is great for flipping/pitching and fishing in heavy cover.

I am going to assume that's a spinning setup.  I started on a 6'6''M Berkley Lightening Rod and a Mitchell Avocet Gold.  Less than $60 at walmart and still use it some.

BPS has some good combo prices if you have one near, they usually have an Extreme/Pflueger President combo for $129

Dicks also has a decent selection of combos like the Quantum Code combo for around $100

My suggestion is take a look at tackle warehouse, free shipping over $50

I fish a lot of weeds and do need the strength, but right now the 10lb is working fine, if i get a new reel i'll switch over to braid though. I do have a question on braid. Say i want to use 10lb. Do I look at the diameter of 10lb mono on a chart and find the same diameter of braid or do i just buy 10lb braid. I've noticed buying 12lb braid that it lays funny and snaps randomly, i thought it may have something to do with the diameter. I bought some when i got my quantum accurist pt some years back, i bought spiderwire stealth in 12lb and first cast it snapped. I wasn't too impressed so i've stuck with mono ever since then.

  Quote

I fish a lot of weeds and do need the strength, but right now the 10lb is working fine, if i get a new reel i'll switch over to braid though. I do have a question on braid. Say i want to use 10lb. Do I look at the diameter of 10lb mono on a chart and find the same diameter of braid or do i just buy 10lb braid. I've noticed buying 12lb braid that it lays funny and snaps randomly, i thought it may have something to do with the diameter. I bought some when i got my quantum accurist pt some years back, i bought spiderwire stealth in 12lb and first cast it snapped. I wasn't too impressed so i've stuck with mono ever since then.

20lb braid would be a good choice, got small diameter...not sure what size...don't use braid much

20# Power Pro is roughly the same diameter as 6# mono. If you wanted to something about the same diameter as your 10# mono, you could try 50# Power Pro.

Personally, I'd stick with 20# or 30# Power Pro on a spinning rig and save the 50# stuff for the baitcasters.

As far as the rods go, I'd pass on the Ugly Stick and pick up a Lightning Rod or an Abu Garcia Conolon Premier. Either one will set you back less than $40 at your local Walmart, and they're both much more sensitive than the Ugly Stick. 

  Quote

20# Power Pro is roughly the same diameter as 6# mono. If you wanted to something about the same diameter as your 10# mono, you could try 50# Power Pro.

Personally, I'd stick with 20# or 30# Power Pro on a spinning rig and save the 50# stuff for the baitcasters.

As far as the rods go, I'd pass on the Ugly Stick and pick up a Lightning Rod or an Abu Garcia Conolon Premier. Either one will set you back less than $40 at your local Walmart, and they're both much more sensitive than the Ugly Stick.

X2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A 40 sized reel is too big. I prefer 2500 sized reels for Bass fishing

I'd pass on the Ugly Stick, too.  That new Berkley, the Lightning Shock, is a really nice low-priced rod.  I've looked at those and they feel real nice and look fantastic. 

I'd pair that up with a Shimano Sedona or Daiwa Regal.  I think you could get the rod and reel for about $100 total.  You'll have a good rod and reel that will serve you well for many years and give you lots of pride of ownership.

I recommend the Berkley Lightning Rod they are rock solid and will last you a long time. For a reel I recommend a Pflueger Trion or President in the 35 size. These reels are really smooth and will last a long time also. check www.ffo-tackle.com for deals on the Trion. I got two Trion's in the 35 size a year or two ago for $20 each.

What about this setup? I was able to find it all in one shop. Still need the money though!

-Sufix® Seige Monofilament 330 Yard Spool (8LB test)

-Abu Garcia® Cardinal® 500ALBi Series Reels (One for 8lb)

-Shakespeare® Ugly Stik® Spinning Rods (6'6" 2 piece medium)

I don't know what it is about ugly stiks, i just love em.

I have a Cardinal 500ALB.  It's a rock solid, no frills reel.  Mine has performed great.  Holding up well, too.

  Quote

What about this setup? I was able to find it all in one shop. Still need the money though!

-Sufix® Seige Monofilament 330 Yard Spool (8LB test)

-Abu Garcia® Cardinal® 500ALBi Series Reels (One for 8lb)

-Shakespeare® Ugly Stik® Spinning Rods (6'6" 2 piece medium)

I don't know what it is about ugly stiks, i just love em.

Get braided line. 30 pound test braid is about the same diameter as 8 pound monofilament.

So i've decided i'm going to stick with the shakespeare ugly stik. I've narrowed it down to two reels, either the pfleuger supreme if it's still on sale or the abu garcia 500albi, and possibly if someone can recommend a shimano in the 60-70$ range, i like how both those reels have 10 ball bearings.

  Quote

So i've decided i'm going to stick with the shakespeare ugly stik. I've narrowed it down to two reels, either the pfleuger supreme if it's still on sale or the abu garcia 500albi, and possibly if someone can recommend a shimano in the 60-70$ range, i like how both those reels have 10 ball bearings.

Ugly stik ???????????????????????? Your serious aren't you ?

Lol, i have one on my baitcaster and love it. They're cheap, durable & maybe not as sensitive as my old shimano, but as of right now, i more so need to dump money into a good reel, a good pole can come later. I can pick up the rod for just over 20$, thats not too bad. Those berkley rods were like 40-50$.

If you are stuck on the Ugly Stik, I would at least go with the Ugly Stik Lite with the cork handle.  It's a lot lighter in weight than a regular Ugly Stick, and usually only about $10 more.

you can get a MUCH better bass rod then a U/Stick.. if you have to have a ugly at least get a U/S lite. the reel will suit you however you can find 08 model Quantum catalyst for 40-50 bucks new in box on ebay.

  Quote

Lol, i have one on my baitcaster and love it. They're cheap, durable & maybe not as sensitive as my old shimano, but as of right now, i more so need to dump money into a good reel, a good pole can come later. I can pick up the rod for just over 20$, thats not too bad. Those berkley rods were like 40-50$.

I would definitely reverse my thinking. Buy a good rod first THEN the reel. I don't how smooth and great your reel is; if you don't feel the bite--you don't get the fish.

My reel is pretty horrible, i mean it's useable, but nothing i'm used to. Tight money makes for crappy reels! If i had a rod laying around i would have bought a decent reel with my money, but it had to be split between line, a reel and a rod. I mainly fish topwater with this setup, so i see the strike more than i feel it. I've never had a problem sensing a hit on any rod ive had. My thinking is, money wise, a reel is more expensive than a rod, and i can more than live with an ugly stik for a rod. I think a 70$ reel and 25$ rod and 5$ line isn't too bad for a setup of 100$.

  Quote

My reel is pretty horrible, i mean it's useable, but nothing i'm used to. Tight money makes for crappy reels! If i had a rod laying around i would have bought a decent reel with my money, but it had to be split between line, a reel and a rod. I mainly fish topwater with this setup, so i see the strike more than i feel it. I've never had a problem sensing a hit on any rod ive had. My thinking is, money wise, a reel is more expensive than a rod, and i can more than live with an ugly stik for a rod. I think a 70$ reel and 25$ rod and 5$ line isn't too bad for a setup of 100$.

Have at it then but you are really mis-using some excellent advice here.

Isn't the reel the workhorse of the whole operation though? I'm not disagreeing with anybody here, i was stating my thinking.

  Quote

Isn't the reel the workhorse of the whole operation though? I'm not disagreeing with anybody here, i was stating my thinking.

Not really.

A good buy for a decent rod/reel combo is the h2o mettle reel for $49 and a h2o rod for about $40 from Academy

I'm not famaliar with H2O, how much better are they than my previous selections?

  Quote

A good buy for a decent rod/reel combo is the h2o mettle reel for $49 and a h2o rod for about $40 from Academy

He's up to for north for Academy's. Related to the mettle. I have used one for 6 monthes. Caught 50+ bass with it biggest one being 4 pounds. I waaaay prefer their centrif. brakes to magnetic.

Pflueger President combo is around $80 new. These are good reels and the rods are decent.

Pass on the Ugly Stik. They don't have much use in the Bass fishing world, although they make a decent Crankbait rod. But a damned $7 Shakespeare rod would make a good Crankin' rod.

previous topic

next topic