Reel vs Rod Where should $ be placed? 2025

Wammiee reply :

Should $ spent be even for reel and rod or is there 1 that should be far more expensive?

Mr SwimJig reply :

I try to keep it even, but I always end up spending more on the rod.

Fat-G reply :

I'm a rod guy, but my fishing buddy hookingem is a reel guy. It evens out. ;D

Big-B_2579 reply :

Personally , I think one is just as important as the other . Maybe put a fuzz more emphasis on the rod . Curious to see what everyone says.

BASSclary reply :

Do you want to enjoy fishing? (Reel)

Do you want to catch more fish? (Rod)

A happy medium of both? (Both)

hookingem reply :

Quote
I'm a rod guy, but my fishing buddy hookingem is a reel guy. It evens out. ;D

ahha yeah the reels are my things. Although I'm gonna work on the rod collection a little more

Quitlimpin reply :

Gonna get split opinions on this one. Reaction bait guys will say it's all about the reel. Contact bait guys will say the rod.

WanderLust reply :

Both for sure... For me it comes down to the right tool for the job.

krisjack69 reply :

I say the rod if you want sensitivity and reel if you want comfort.Also the line is important as well.Its the link between you and the fish.

jignfule reply :

i lean towards the rod

atrocity123 reply :

Definitely the rod, ask any flyfisherman ;D

J Francho reply :

Unless you are spending more than $150 for the rod, expect to pay more for the reel. Yes, the rod is more important in the grand scheme of things, but let's be realistic....you can find a great rod for $100. You can only find a good reel for $100.

TrippyJai reply :

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Unless you are spending more than $150 for the rod, expect to pay more for the reel. Yes, the rod is more important in the grand scheme of things, but let's be realistic....you can find a great rod for $100. You can only find a good reel for $100.

This is my situation, but I always try to purchase in the same price range for a rod and reel. The most important factor is a balanced combo though.

atrocity123 reply :

since when did price make a rod or reel any good ;D

Stasher1 reply :

Quote
Unless you are spending more than $150 for the rod, expect to pay more for the reel. Yes, the rod is more important in the grand scheme of things, but let's be realistic....you can find a great rod for $100. You can only find a good reel for $100.

This ^^^

You also need to be realistic in your expectations and honest with yourself. If you fish a dozen times a year, do you really need tournament-grade gear?

I usually fish at least once a week, sometimes two or three times if I'm not too busy, and I've found that I'm perfectly content with ~$100 rods and ~$100 spinning reels. I prefer slightly more expensive casting reels though, and rarely look at models that retail for less than ~$175-200.

Raul reply :

On 3/30/2011 at 11:37 AM, Stasher1 said:

If you fish a dozen times a year, do you really need tournament-grade gear?

Why not ?

Fishohio reply :

Like stated already it's a personal prefference thing. I myself pay more for the rod. I finesse alot and am a contact fisherman.

Cavfirst reply :

Rods are my thing but you can get a really good rod with great component for alittle over a 100 bucks these days. Really good reels are always alittle more expensive unfourtantley. I have found that balance is the key and I like reels with metal frames they last longer and are defintely worth the extra money and dont forget Line the key that holds it all together good line will make a cheaper rod and reel setup feel and preform alot better than it really is IMHO.

bigbill reply :

Do you fish tornies? Have a boat? Or just a bass fisherman who loves to fish every chance he gets. Soon i will fish 24/7 everyday till i get burned out. I'm thinking i push about 1,000 casts or more everyday throwing lures non stop till i get tired and leave. My point is its how hard you fish too that determinds what i purchase and how much i'm willing to spend.

I can fish with just about any rod no matter how its priced if the action is ok for the lures i'm using. I prefer a better quality reel sometimes. I think we need a better quality reel plus a better quality line more than an expensive rod. I don't use a 10 ball bearing spinning reel on my crankbaits or my spinnerbaits there too hard to crank all the time and they wear me out. Bill

I will fish heavy 24/7 everyday soon till i get burned out by June or July maybe by august. I buy and spend enough to get by for many years with the same equipment. I do use 5 or 6 rod setups for different lures. I found in using so many rod setups even from shore saves wear and tear on one rod if i used it all the time. I buy the good stuff and not the lowest in quality but not the highest priced stuff. But i still get what works well for me too. I would buy a decent rod and get a better reel/line.

I have really bad luck with expensive equipment a broke one expensive rod in the dark once and ever since i purchase the lesser priced rods.

ww2farmer reply :

On 3/30/2011 at 10:57 AM, J Francho said:

Unless you are spending more than $150 for the rod, expect to pay more for the reel. Yes, the rod is more important in the grand scheme of things, but let's be realistic....you can find a great rod for $100. You can only find a good reel for $100.

I don't agree with that totaly, I get alot of milage out of $100 reels,and while not all $100 reels are equal (or worth $100 IMHO), the better ones will last and perform well with basic maint. There is nothing I can't do with a Citica that a $200+ Fuego did better for me. In fact with reels the further I got from the $100-$125 range the more dissapointed I got with what I was getting for my money, but then again I am not into looks, fancy paint,super light weight, bling on a reel, etc...... With rods it's just the oposite, I have generaly been very satisfied with each higher grade of rod I buy, especialy in the $100-$200 range. As a St Croix guy, the step up from SCII rods (Mojo's, Triumphs, Premeirs) to an Avid is very noticable, while the step from an Avid to a LT is less so, it's not so dissapointing that I am unsatisfied with the LT's the way I was with some $200+ reels I have owned.

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

On 4/3/2011 at 10:01 AM, ww2farmer said:

I don't agree with that totaly, I get alot of milage out of $100 reels,and while not all $100 reels are equal (or worth $100 IMHO), the better ones will last and perform well with basic maint. There is nothing I can't do with a Citica that a $200+ Fuego did better for me. In fact with reels the further I got from the $100-$125 range the more dissapointed I got with what I was getting for my money, but then again I am not into looks, fancy paint,super light weight, bling on a reel, etc...... With rods it's just the oposite, I have generaly been very satisfied with each higher grade of rod I buy, especialy in the $100-$200 range. As a St Croix guy, the step up from SCII rods (Mojo's, Triumphs, Premeirs) to an Avid is very noticable, while the step from an Avid to a LT is less so, it's not so dissapointing that I am unsatisfied with the LT's the way I was with some $200+ reels I have owned.

Same here . I have a great $70 bc reel thats been trouble free for 8 years and a $150 reel that is in need of service after just 3 years. And yes the Avid I have is soooo much better than my lesser priced rods. Though I just bought a Quantum Smoke rod and had it out today it may give my Avid a run for its money need more time to tell.

Dave T. reply :

I place slightly more importance on the rod, but I also want a very good reel to complement the rod.

BassThumb reply :

I spend more on the rod usually. I think that nice rods have more benefits than nice reels. I like to top out in the $100-200 range on reels and spent a little more on the rods.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

How to allocate your budget depends on the application. For jig, finesse rods etc. I'd scew the budget toward he rod and for cranks and other moving baits toward the reel. You get what you pay for up to a point, but there is a point of diminishing returns.

Dave T. reply :

On 4/5/2011 at 1:00 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

How to allocate your budget depends on the application. For jig, finesse rods etc. I'd scew the budget toward he rod and for cranks and other moving baits toward the reel. You get what you pay for up to a point, but there is a point of diminishing returns.

That is an excellent point! Most of our fishing is for smallmouths with spinning gear where the reel isn't put under a strain, so we just need a good reel with a fast retrieve and a smooth drag. It doesn't really need much "cranking" power. For those folks who need the "oomph" when reeling, a tough, high quality reel is probably a must.

roadwarrior reply :

On average my total cost is 1/3 rod, 2/3 reel. The rod may be more important for "catching",

but reels make "fishing" fun!

northern basser reply :

I used to spend twice as much on a rod, but my taste for reels has become more expensive in the last few years. They have become more even and some of my setups lean towards the reel. IMO there are a lot of good rods and reels in the $100-$200 price range(each).

jokerjp reply :

On 4/5/2011 at 1:00 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

How to allocate your budget depends on the application. For jig, finesse rods etc. I'd scew the budget toward he rod and for cranks and other moving baits toward the reel. You get what you pay for up to a point, but there is a point of diminishing returns.

This is 100% dead on accurate. For contact fishing it's the rod, for power fishing it's the reel. I personally like rods more than reels, but I do have some expensive models of both rods and reels. I personally think I get more "enjoyment" out of premium rods if I could only pick one.

SirSnookalot reply :

For me it's the rod for freshwater, doesn't mean that it's super expensive just of more importance. Saltwater it's the reel that is more important to me, as long as the rod has adequate backbone I'm ok.

Jason Penn reply :

I used to be an expensive reel guy, but in the past year it's flipped. I'm using pretty modest reels actually now (Pro Qualifier Tournaments & Carbonlite), but I'm very happy with them. I have a couple of Steez rods and hope to get 2 more before the year's up.

My most expensive reel now (Fuego w/5:1 gears) is on a 7' MH Daiwa TDS crank rod.

MSPbass reply :

rod

piscicidal reply :

As others have mentioned...

Moving bait setups: reel > rod

Finesse setups: rod > reel

.ghoti. reply :

I took a look at the rod and reel spreadsheet I put together for insurance purposes. Of the fourteen baitcasting combos I have left, only five have a rod costing more than the reel.

Average MSRP for all rods is $224, while the reel average MSRP is $254.

Looks like I lean towards the reel side of the equation.

Siebert Outdoors reply :

Rod on any bait. The reel may lose you casting distance but the rod will lose fish/accuracy/sensitivity. I'm not saying go out and buy a 500 dollar rod and a 30 dollar real but I would buy a better rod then reel. There is a happy median between them. Only you can answer that for yourself.

David P reply :

Rod greatly helps in feeling bites, and the bottom structure of the lake when you're fishing bottom contact baits. It also helps fight the fish and keep them hooked when landing them.

The difference in casting distance and drag from a $100 to $200 reel that I have noticed isn't THAT much to where I'd value a reel more than a rod. I fish $200-$250 reels, but if I HAD to pick, I'd always pick rods over reels.

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