Question on how to divy up the rod/reel budget 2024

Fritch reply :

Hi all - After buying a new fishing kayak last summer I've finally gotten back into fresh water fishing, primarily for bass. I need mostly new gear and first am looking for a setup for soft plastics, crank baits, and frogging. For now I really think I can only afford 2 decent setups and would like to invest in at least one nice reel. For a nice reel I'm considering the Chronarch MGL. I fish mostly lakes in the Northeast and will likely also spend some time on the Delaware River. For now I'd consider my budget at around $500 for the new gear.

Some additional thoughts:

*If I go with this reel perhaps I get a rod ~$120 and just consider one decent setup for now given my budget

*Could I go cheaper on the rod to pair with the Chronarch and get a cheaper combo allowing 2 setups for $500?

*Should I scratch the idea on the Chronarch for now and get two combo setups for ~$250 each?

Appreciate any guidance you can provide.

Smalls reply :

I’d scrap the Chronarch plan. It’s an amazing reel, but if you have to use its name and the word “budget” in the same sentence, there are better options for you.

There’s a plethora of quality options in the $120-150 range that will last you a long time, and allow you to get more gear.

In order to fish, you need gear. The Chronarch is a want.

WRB reply :

Fishing from a kayak brings you back to multiple or universal use tackle because you are limited to the number of outfits and tackle plus sitting down to cast.

The one thing a kayak allows tou to do is get close to your casting targets and retreiving snagged lures is easier. The length of your casts and rods should be shorter, the need a super long casting reel becomes questionable. Your location indicates you maybe targeting northern strain LMB and Smallmouth bass in the 2 lb to 5 lb weight range a majority of the trips on the water.

What length rods are you thinking of, 6'6" to 6'10" or longer?

What line and lures do prefer to use, pound test and lure types/weight?

Is Shimano the only reel you will consider?

My advice is focus on 2 outfits and use Black Friday sales to save on your budget.

Dens228 reply :

If you can only use two setups I'd use a H/Fast for frogging and a MH/fast for the others.

I don't think the MH/F is optimum for cranks but it will work for sure.

If you use weightless and light weight T-rig for plastics you could replace the MH/fast with a M/Mod, the problem with that is you wouldn't have a MH/Fast which could actually be used for everything.

Fritch reply :

Thanks everyone. Actually I'm pretty sold on the "build inventory" approach and upgrade later. I'll likely go for a H/Fast and MH/Fast setup as suggested. Even though I'm in a Kayak it's not an issue to stand and fish, it worked out well this past summer. I'd likely go for rods closer to 7ft. I've used braid historically in salt water and mono for fresh water. I don't really have a preference on the line and was thinking of trying out braid for fresh water this spring.

WRB reply :

OK, the reel is going to be a Shimano SLX series to stay in your budget.

You are OK standing up so the rod length isn't a issue.

Frog rod that can be used for multiple purposes look at Irod IRG 754F, I use this rod for frogs and pitching jigs in heavy with braid line and with mono line for small swimbaits, wake baits, big deep diving crankbaits. Little long at 7'5".

Dobyns FR 734C is another Swiss Army knife type rod that does multiple presentations like jig and worms, top water, spinner and buzz baits, can be used with most crank baits between 1/2-3/4 oz.

Tom

Catt reply :

Lew’s Speed Spool LFS $99.99

Lew's Tournament MB $119.98

Lew's TP-1 Speed Stick $99.99

Lew’s TP-1 Black Speed Stick $129.99

Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :

Why one nice reel and cheap out on the rod? or why one nice reel and limited yourself to just one combo. The thing I hate the most is to re-tie new lures especially on kayak or float tube.

Let compare Chronarch at 250, you might be able to get two 200K, 200K and 70. Are 200K and 70 a lot less inferior compare to Chronarch? May be just the stamped of “made in Japan” .All these comment applie, if you don’t have specific need for light weight of chronarch and MGL spoool.

My usual kayak setup, 3 Curado 70s on Daiwa Tatula (original) 6’10 MH. If I’m gonna go with top water, then SLX, if I’m gonna do frog/heavy jig, Zodias 6’10 H. Sorry Bantam MGL and Conquest50 stay at home, no place for those reels on my kayak.

Shimano_1 reply :

I'd go cheaper on the reel. The slx, lfs speed spool, revo x, and tatula 100 can all be had for 99 bucks or less and are great reels. I could afford a little nicer reels but most of mine were less than 150 bucks. Anything in that price range is decent to excellent quality. Lots of nice rods for 99 bucks or less as well. I'd say u could possibly end up with 3 nice combos for 500 if you bargain shop especially with the black Friday sales coming.

GReb reply :

I'd buy 3 Dobyns Fury's and 3 Shimano SLX reels. Should be around $430 with Black Friday sales

705cb for cranks

734 for worms/jigs/etc

705 for frogs

WRB reply :

On 11/18/2019 at 10:45 AM, GReb said:

I'd buy 3 Dobyns Fury's and 3 Shimano SLX reels. Should be around $430 with Black Friday sales

705cb for cranks

734 for worms/jigs/etc

705 for frogs

FR705C....doesn't exist.

roadwarrior reply :

t_bone_713 reply :

On 11/18/2019 at 8:34 PM, roadwarrior said:

I'm using roadwarrior's guide and this page https://www.tacticalbassin.com/blog/buyers-guide-best-rodreel-combos-under-200 to get where you are my friend.

Hook2Jaw reply :

Kayak angler here of about 5 years experience off the little plastic boats. I started in a 250 dollar sit inside from Wallie, then moved into a 2010 Hobie Outback. I now fish from a Hobie Pro Angler 14. Huge difference in these boats. The only craft I needed to handicap my rod length in was the sit inside special.

Do not let your craft handicap your rod selection. The only technique I have found that requires a shorter rod from a kayak is jerkbaiting, because, in my opinion, a jerkbait needs a downward twitch or rip to get the proper diving, side to side motion. For everything else, including frogs, I use what a boater uses. I opt for longer rods for covering water and shorter rods for precision.

As a kayak angler, the first bit of advice I give anyone fishing from a yak is to not handicap your rod length due to your craft. I can't emphasize this enough. I have no idea who came up with the idea that you have to use shorter sticks from a kayak, but they are wrong.

Do short rods work fine from the quality craft we have available to us as paddle or pedal anglers? Yes. Long rods work just fine too.

As far as rods and reels go, I would opt for reels from Daiwa or Shimano's lines. Personally, I would buy three Dobyn's Fury, Shimano SLX, or 13 Omen Black 2s. I would stick Daiwa Tatula 100s or Shimano SLX on those three sticks.

Smalls reply :

On 11/18/2019 at 9:50 PM, Hook2Jaw said:

As a kayak angler, the first bit of advice I give anyone fishing from a yak is to not handicap your rod length due to your craft. I can't emphasize this enough. I have no idea who came up with the idea that you have to use shorter sticks from a kayak, but they are wrong.

I never understood where this came from, either. I pitch with a 7’7 and can walk a punker with my 8’ swimbait rod with no issues.

Hook2Jaw reply :

On 11/19/2019 at 7:48 AM, Smalls said:

I never understood where this came from, either. I pitch with a 7’7 and can walk a punker with my 8’ swimbait rod with no issues.

Maybe the guy who started the short rod kayak revolution was a sissy baby. ????

FishTank reply :

This was my first year fishing from a kayak and after some advice and my own trial and error, I found that I like to take one setup or maybe two. I like to keep as simple as possible. The setups I like to use the most are a St. Croix Avid 7' MH and a Shimano Curado or a G. Loomis 783C GLX with a Shimano Core 101MG. Both can handle just about anything. If I was picking new a setup, the Curado and St. Croix Avid would be my pick.

bunz559 reply :

Hard to cram a higher end setup and a budget setup together for $500. There are 2 ways I'd spend it, depending on scenarios. I'd get 2 budget friendly and good setups for that price or I'd get 1 great setup.

The SLX line up from Shimano is pretty good. I have 1 rod and 2 reels from there. For $500, you could definitely fit a few setups into that budget.

On the other hand, you could pickup 1 setup like a Shimano Expride or Megabass Orochi and pair it with something like the Curado K. The reason why I went with a higher price point rod rather the reel is because I believe you should get the most sensitive rod you can for your money. The reel is important, but I don't feel it's as influential as the rod. Something like the Curado K is plenty amazing as it is. Other than size, I honestly feel my Curado K's outperform my Chronarch MGL.

Of the 2, I myself would go for the second. But that's just the scenario that fits my situation best.

Fritch reply :

Great info here thanks everyone! Finally had a chance to come back to this. I have all the info I need for a few basic setups thanks.

bunz559 reply :

Share with what you decided to go with. I'm sure future readers will find it helpful! Good luck on your purchase!

newyorktoiowa57 reply :

I would put a Curado K on an Expride. They are both black too, which looks sick together.

Harold Scoggins reply :

On 11/18/2019 at 1:53 AM, Fritch said:

Hi all - After buying a new fishing kayak last summer I've finally gotten back into fresh water fishing, primarily for bass. I need mostly new gear and first am looking for a setup for soft plastics, crank baits, and frogging. For now I really think I can only afford 2 decent setups and would like to invest in at least one nice reel. For a nice reel I'm considering the Chronarch MGL. I fish mostly lakes in the Northeast and will likely also spend some time on the Delaware River. For now I'd consider my budget at around $500 for the new gear.

Some additional thoughts:

*If I go with this reel perhaps I get a rod ~$120 and just consider one decent setup for now given my budget

*Could I go cheaper on the rod to pair with the Chronarch and get a cheaper combo allowing 2 setups for $500?

*Should I scratch the idea on the Chronarch for now and get two combo setups for ~$250 each?

Appreciate any guidance you can provide.

I lost a $400 outfit from my yak 10 years ago, now I use these. (rod leashes) It's a sickening feeling watching an expensive outfit making a fast dive in a deep lake.

Fishes in trees reply :

Dividing up your rod & reel budget is simple. Step A - buy a rod or reel that you like ( doesn't matter which comes first)

Step B - buy the other part next (This step does matter, if you're looking for a reel, don't buy another rod, or visa versa)

Step C - remember that you're going to have to put line on the reel and allow for that in your budget.

Step D - Repeat steps A, B & C.

Should it happen that you budget well runs dry for a while, stop, save up for a while and then start in again.

Know that as you get a little farther along in this process, it is ok to switch steps. Should you wander into a store and they have several discounted rods that you "need", feel free to buy them all. If you come across a "bargain" reel and you don't have a rod for it right now, don't fret, go ahead and buy the reel and sooner or later a rod will come along that fits it, or fits it well enough until a better rod comes along.

There you go, see how simple budgeting rod & reel finances can be? Glad I could help. Once you get to between 20 and 40 rigs, you might feel the need to quit - DON'T - always be mindful that some better stuff might be coming out next year or maybe later this year, and you will probably want to buy some.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

In general I’d skew the budget toward a rod for “feel” techniques like plastics and jigs and toward the reel for moving baits like cranks etc. You don’t have to spend a lot.

MickD reply :

For spinning, the rod should be the best quality possible in favor of the finesse techniques mentioned before. The reel basically holds line and lets it go when the bail is open. Hence the priority on the rod.

For casting the reel should be the best quality in favor of the most challenging of processes, casting the bait caster. For the rod, just get graphite and it will work for most techniques. If you can cast effectively. Hence the priority on the reel.

Gazz reply :

I'm not sure if you've already gone ahead and purchased your new setups (I know I wouldn't have been able to wait) but American Legacy Fishing has all the Shimano SLX "combos" on sale right now. They are basically throwing in the SLX rod for an extra $30 or so if you buy the reel. You can get the base SLX, XT or DC with the SLX rod for a great discount. I've Heard great things about the reels and really solid things about the rods for being a $100 rod. If you sign up for the emailing list they will send you a 10% off coupon. I just snagged myself an SLX DC with the rod for only $197.99. I was going to buy the DC in a month anyways as I want to give DC a spin so I figured why not get the rod for an extra $10. The base SLX combo is only $129.99 without a discount code. That's a nice combo for that price. Hope this helped you or anyone else looking for some gear to head into the season with. I'm in the process of collecting some next level gear myself and trying a little bit of everything.

kayaking_kev reply :

I'm sure it will help the few that don't already know about this deal, but I think a lot of people have known about this sale for awhile now. It started back in September and went out of stock for maybe two weeks recently, but then now back on again.

I got the SLX and SLX XT combos, then later picked up the DC from TW on the BF sale. The reels are nice, although I just sold my SLX and SLX XT, but I'm just replacing the XT with a another XT in a lower gear ratio. I also have a SLX MGL 70 on the way, but I'm not replacing the regular SLX. It's a nice reel, I just prefer external brakes. I like the XT and DC though.

As far as the rods go, they are decent rods. They are very light rods and well built, but not balanced very good, at least on the 7'2 MH and 7'5 H that I got. So, I'm trying to sell the rods.

If I were to buy the combo again, I'd go with the 6'10 Medium with the DC reel, and maybe it would have a little better balance.

Gazz reply :

Yeah I wasn't too familiar with American Legacy until a month or 2 ago and more recently got onto the emails so I must have gotten the "back in stock" email and saw it as new to me. I got the 6'10 MH as it was the only MH available and I just recently ordered a kistler medium. I was already strongly considering selling the slx rod as I will be using the DC on a different rod and should be getting a curado/expride in April or May so I don't have much need for it. Knowing myself though I will probably hang onto it just in case.

kayaking_kev reply :

On 2/29/2020 at 4:45 AM, Gazz said:

Yeah I wasn't too familiar with American Legacy until a month or 2 ago and more recently got onto the emails so I must have gotten the "back in stock" email and saw it as new to me. I got the 6'10 MH as it was the only MH available and I just recently ordered a kistler medium. I was already strongly considering selling the slx rod as I will be using the DC on a different rod and should be getting a curado/expride in April or May so I don't have much need for it. Knowing myself though I will probably hang onto it just in case.

They do seem to have a lot more rod options available now, it was pretty limited to a lot of extra fast actions when I got mine and no 6'10 rods. I just ordered my SLX XT 6.3.1 from there about 5 mins ago, I got the Used one in Mint condition for $95 with a $10 off gift card that Graham from AFL gave me because I joked around with him that they forgot my piece of laffy taffy in my last Dobyns order. So he sent me a hand written note with all 4 flavors of laffy taffy and the gift card, lol. Great customer service!

Gazz reply :

Haha I’m considering an XT in 6.3.1 soon but maybe I’ll wait to see if I get my lady taffy to call them out if I don’t. Lew’s has actually taken great care of me fully replacing my custom xp combo that I bought last season because the reel seat in that line is faulty. Had a 3 lber on the the reel was swinging side to side. Sent it back and they sent me a whole new setup with a new reel and everything. Real seat was even worse with this one so they are going to give me a tier up TP1 black with another brand new xp reel and test it under load before sending it out. Not bad considering I got the xp on sale at cabela’s for $120 and now getting a $130 TP1 black free.

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