Rod vs reel 2024
Adam.love05 reply :
Alright.. I'm sitting here with nothing but punky ice and blown out Rivers.. needless to say, IM GOING NUTS!!
So a question I just thought of.. do you think it's more important to spend more money on your rods or reels?
I can really sway both ways on this.. but looking at my setups, my baitcasters are all $130-300 and my rods are all around $100-150.. I think it's easier to spend more on a reel but I'm not sure if it's the right way..
Thoughts??
Stephen B reply :
I highly recommend spending more on the rod. IMO it's an easy decision for me.
Adam.love05 reply :
It makes the most sense. I agree. I just never noticed the discrepancy I have from my reels to rods
YaknBassn reply :
I'll spend more on the rod. Most of mine are fairly balanced as far as price goes. $100-200 rods paired with $100-200 reels.
I've got no problem with putting a Black Max on a $200 rod, but I will not put an MGX on an Ugly Stik. Any reel will cast. Even cheap ones will launch a lure and retrieve it, but a $20 rod is like fishing with a piece of lumber.
roadwarrior reply :
Reels make the "fishing" more fun.
jbrew73 reply :
Rods make fishing more fun. Assuming you are using it where sensitivity is important, jigs, worms, bottom contact lures, etc .
NHBull reply :
If I had to choose, the reel is no good if your only bringing back a worm......so rod.
that said there is something to be said about a snimano conquest or met mgl in your hands
S Hovanec reply :
My rods and reels are about equal in cost, maybe a bit more rod heavy if you factor in my labor to build the rod.
WRB reply :
I have spent more money on my casting rods then reels and less money on my spinning rods then reels. Swimbait rods and reels are about equal. My reels tend to out last my rods.
Tom
Adam.love05 reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 7:23 AM, WRB said:I have spent more money on my casting rods then reels and less money on my spinning rods then reels. Swimbait rods and reels are about equal. My reels tend to out last my rods.
Tom
That's the thing.. I'll spend 150-200 on a reel and it will last me a lot longer than my rods.. I am mostly a bank fisherman so I have a tendency to break tips or eyelets..
I mean in all reality, I use to catch fish with a zebco back when I was a kid and it was still fun! I wish I could afford a $500-600 set up, I just don't see a point in it fishing from a bank or small craft.. I don't know if I could ever justify it even with a bass boat.. but I bet it would sure be nice to use one!
SDoolittle reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 7:23 AM, S Hovanec said:My rods and reels are about equal in cost, maybe a bit more rod heavy if you factor in my labor to build the rod.
Ditto!
Angry John reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 7:34 AM, Adam.love05 said:That's the thing.. I'll spend 150-200 on a reel and it will last me a lot longer than my rods.. I am mostly a bank fisherman so I have a tendency to break tips or eyelets..
I mean in all reality, I use to catch fish with a zebco back when I was a kid and it was still fun! I wish I could afford a $500-600 set up, I just don't see a point in it fishing from a bank or small craft.. I don't know if I could ever justify it even with a bass boat.. but I bet it would sure be nice to use one!
I fish my most expensive setup from the bank. No putting it down no stepping on it. My best setup is the same price rod and reel. The rod was bought used so the msrp goes to the rod.
Scott F reply :
I expect my rods to last MUCH longer than my reels. I started upgrading my rods just a few years ago, and my reels have been lasting about 10 years. I am probably the least picky person with rods. I really can't tell much difference between $60-$70 rods and $300 rods. I've been buying all St. Croix Avids the last few years not so much because I can feel the difference but because I can afford them. I can't be seen using inexpensive gear, I have appearances I must keep up. 
They are a bit more expensive than my reels which are all $150-$200 spinning or baitcasting.
Columbia Craw reply :
Rod get the nod.
BrackishBassin reply :
I’d go for spending more on a reel than a rod. To me, as an inexperienced bank beater, a reel is much more versatile. Bass fishing rods can get so technique specific that it doesn’t make sense for me to spend $200 on a rod (maybe get a good MH all around rod). But, I could see myself spending $200 on a reel that I would use to throw every single bait in my arsenal. I can always move a reel from an extra H rod to a M rod, but I can’t change an extra H rod into a M rod, if that makes any sense.
Tywithay reply :
Depends on the technique. I don't need a $300 rod to throw crankbaits, but a $300 rod makes bottom-contact fishing much more fun. Reels, I don't think it matters much. As long as it's durable, I find that weight and refinement are the only things you really get more for your money.
Dtrombly reply :
Rod. Weight and balance are the most important things to me. $150-$300 range for rods, $100-$200 range for reels, typically.
Fishinthefish reply :
I feel like both are important. I bank fish so casting distance is a hugeeeee factor for me. So naturally I started out leaning towards high end reels. To date I fish shimano cores and chonarch mlgs. But later down the road someone introduced me to this website which introduced me to the world of custom rod building. When I relocated to GA I sold all of my mid level rods keeping the shimano reels. Im rebuilding my entire setup from the ground up through Mike with high end blanks. Right now Mike is working on a wood grip handle rainshadow eternity blank for me.
So I guess my point is in the beginning not being as talented as I pretend I am now at casting with a baitcaster a reel was more important. Now that I can cast a blackmax without a backlash, I lean towards rods being more important. So i tend to go high end rod mid level reels.
lmbfisherman reply :
When I look at the majority of my reels and rods, I tend to favor reels. Reasons why, one I need a certain feel, ease of casting and refinement makes it more fun. I do spend my money on 150-200, for moving baits I use cheaper rods, for bottom contact I go all out..GLX, Cumulus. I found though my Zodias rods can do it all. Those are still my current favourite flavour.
bish0p reply :
I think it depends on the type of fishing application. Fishing salt water, offshore for big game I'd probably invest a lot more in the reel.
Personally I spend more on rods than reels. Fishing for small trout, I've used a 10 dollar reel with a 150 dollar rod.
optimator reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 9:36 AM, Dtrombly said:Rod. Weight and balance are the most important things to me. $150-$300 range for rods, $100-$200 range for reels, typically.
Sounds about right
LCG reply :
Rods for me.
LOZSteve reply :
Gotta go rods here, but certainly depends on the technique. Bottom contact definitely rod. Moving baits I guess rod wins as well. Seriously do you need a better reel than a Shimano Chronarch e7 or a Diawa Zillion tws or Tatula tws. Even spinning reels for $100-150 you can get a smooth long lasting reel - Diawa or Shimano. Reels and rods can be priced shopped on the internet and you should not pay retail for either.
OCdockskipper reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 7:23 AM, WRB said:I have spent more money on my casting rods then reels and less money on my spinning rods then reels...
Tom
I had never thought about before, but I have done just the opposite. My casting outfits have more expensive reels while my spinning outfits have more expensive rods.
No wonder I have never caught a bass over 17lbs, I've been doing everything backwards!!
Catt reply :
A quality reel will last a lifetime ????
NHBull reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 6:06 PM, Catt said:A quality reel will last a lifetime ????
This is why my second granson, who will be born in August is getting his Shimano Conquest next week ????
Catt reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 8:34 PM, NHBull said:This is why my second granson, who will be born in August is getting his Shimano Conquest next week ????
And PawPaw gets to use it first to make sure it catches fish!
NYWayfarer reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 7:23 AM, WRB said:My reels tend to out last my rods.
Tom
Ditto. I still have reels I bought in the 80's. My oldest rod was probably purchased less than 10 years ago.
To answer the OP's question, I try to match rods and reels of equal value. The difference between price is never more than $20
tholmes reply :
I spend more on reels than rods, but for practical reasons. I'm much more likely to break a rod than a reel. Plus, I can fix a broken reel, but a broken rod is junk.
Tom
Boomstick reply :
I tend to spend more money on spinning rods than reels, but with casting, there's been a couple times the reels have cost more than the rod. Then of course some things depend on application as well - for example if I am fishing jigs and soft plastic, a higher end rod is going to be more important but if I am fishing moving baits, I can get away with a cheaper rod.
sully420 reply :
Value is really important to me when it comes to fishing gear. I tend to spend 100-130 on rods and 170 bucks max on reels. I feel like that is a sweet spot for me as far as quality and price. If you learn how to service your own reels you can make them last forever.
jbmaine reply :
If money was no object I'd have top end of both. As is, I have never spent more than $ 100 for rods or reels and can fish very well ( for me any way).
One thing not mentioned but to me is very important is line. I will not skimp on line. Mid range setups will fish well with good line, but bad line on the best setups will give you headaches.
Adam.love05 reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 9:39 PM, sully420 said:Value is really important to me when it comes to fishing gear. I tend to spend 100-130 on rods and 170 bucks max on reels. I feel like that is a sweet spot for me as far as quality and price. If you learn how to service your own reels you can make them last forever.
This is where I'm at.. and an very satisfied with everything.. the most expensive reel i have is a chronarch mgl that I bought on here second hand for well under MSRP. (Thanks wet_dream).. all the others are $150 and under.. rods are all around $100 and they are light enough and sensitive enough for my fishing skill..
It always makes me laugh when you see pros fishing $150-200 reels on $150-200 rods.. with no complaints! And then the weekend warrior fishing a set up that's worth $700+ with a dozen others on the deck! Don't get me wrong, to each their own.. but it's similar to lures.. most are made to catch fisherman more so than fish.. you can catch just as many fish on a $3 Walmart crank vs a $20 megabass knuckle crank..
It's all part of the hobby though.. I have a jerkbait box full of pointer 100's and vision 110's, but my most used and productive jerkbait is the strike king kvd! But I love those pointers and visions as well!
On 3/29/2018 at 9:53 PM, jbmaine said:If money was no object I'd have top end of both. As is, I have never spent more than $ 100 for rods or reels and can fish very well ( for me any way).
One thing not mentioned but to me is very important is line. I will not skimp on line. Mid range setups will fish well with good line, but bad line on the best setups will give you headaches.
Great point! That's something I just started realizing last year.. line plays one of the most crucial roles,if not the most, in any fishing set up
NHBull reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 9:54 PM, Adam.love05 said:This is where I'm at.. and an very satisfied with everything.. the most expensive reel i have is a chronarch mgl that I bought on here second hand for well under MSRP. (Thanks wet_dream).. all the others are $150 and under.. rods are all around $100 and they are light enough and sensitive enough for my fishing skill..
It always makes me laugh when you see pros fishing $150-200 reels on $150-200 rods.. with no complaints! And then the weekend warrior fishing a set up that's worth $700+ with a dozen others on the deck! Don't get me wrong, to each their own.. but it's similar to lures.. most are made to catch fisherman more so than fish.. you can catch just as many fish on a $3 Walmart crank vs a $20 megabass knuckle crank..
It's all part of the hobby though.. I have a jerkbait box full of pointer 100's and vision 110's, but my most used and productive jerkbait is the strike king kvd! But I love those pointers and visions as well!
At a local level this is very true. I have friends that are trying to "make it" and because of the sheer volume of there gear, much is lower than the weekend warrior. Having to outfit 30 set-up with few quality sponsors make it cost prohibitive unless they are trust fund babies
sully420 reply :
Snap-on tools are awesome but i can fix my stuff just fine with my craftsman tools. Same with fishing gear i just think it's important to show people that you can be successful fishing with whatever one can afford.
burrows reply :
Spend more on my reels.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
The rod plays a much larger role in casting , presenting, hooking and landing fish than the reel does. Whether or not that translates into spending more depends on the circumstances.
desmobob reply :
Rods. I can find reels that I'm completely happy with for between $100-$175 by careful shopping. I have some $100 rods I like, some $200 rods I really like, but I'm ready to start experimenting with some high dollar rods that I'll hopefully love...
Tight lines,
Bob
Catt reply :
I believe in keeping my tools simple, functional, durable & dependable
One can go to Wal/Mart, Harbor Freight, Sears or some other outlet store to buy mechanic, carpenter, electrician, machinist tools ECT and these tools will work but they are not designed for commercial use. Yes these tools wills last the weekend guy a lifetime of light to medium use and serve him quite well.
Now look at it through my eyes I am a journeyman carpenter/mechanic my tools are what I make my livelihood with so I must depend on my tools to perform every single time I use them under every conceivable conditions with limited failure.
Now relate this to bass fishing; when I hit the lake it will be from sunup to sunset, under extremely adverse conditions, and with full expectations of bass in excess of 6 pounds so any failure on the part of my reels is not accepted!
Start with a quality reels & ya shouldn't have to ever replace em!
I still tell momma I need a budget for reels I just add it to my rod budget!
kickerfish1 reply :
Both. I like balance. You could put a Steez on a Walmart special and it would feel awful. Likewise putting an NRX on a Shakespear baitcaster would be bad as well.
Most of my combos retail from $400 - $1000. I like to keep the bottom contact setups a bit more spendy on the rod while the resistance bait setups a bit more spendy for the reel with durability in mind.
I would guess that 9/10 of my setups probably have a more expensive rod than reel. Now if you count $ spent on aftermarket reel parts and internal upgrades some of the reels would top the rods.
Raul reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 6:06 PM, Catt said:A quality reel will last a lifetime ????
My XLT Plus and Cardinal UltraCast 62 Abus from the mid 80’s are still in operation.
Truth being said, after purchasing them I really didn’t “need” to purchase more, if you start with good stuff you won’t need to purchase again in a very long time and when you finally do it has more to do with trying something new than actually needing it. I didn’t purchase new reels well beyond a decade after getting those. Got my first Curado in 1994, a decade after purchasing the Abus.
Lures'n'Liberty reply :
I'd drive all of you crazy. I'm in love with the ease of a spincast and I've got a $5 flea market Daiwa Goldcast with $3 worth of ebay bearings on a $300 custom rod and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Fishin' Fool reply :
On 3/29/2018 at 7:34 AM, Adam.love05 said:That's the thing.. I'll spend 150-200 on a reel and it will last me a lot longer than my rods.. I am mostly a bank fisherman so I have a tendency to break tips or eyelets..
I mean in all reality, I use to catch fish with a zebco back when I was a kid and it was still fun! I wish I could afford a $500-600 set up, I just don't see a point in it fishing from a bank or small craft.. I don't know if I could ever justify it even with a bass boat.. but I bet it would sure be nice to use one!
I say rod also. Go with a company that offers an accident forgiveness warranty such as G. Loomis or Dobyns has something similar if you're worried about breaking them. Also, have you considered joining a bass club before? That way you can get out on the water and fish and not have the expense of owning a boat.
Adam.love05 reply :
On 3/30/2018 at 11:58 PM, Fishin' Fool said:I say rod also. Go with a company that offers an accident forgiveness warranty such as G. Loomis or Dobyns has something similar if you're worried about breaking them. Also, have you considered joining a bass club before? That way you can get out on the water and fish and not have the expense of owning a boat.
I'm not sure if they have a bass club around here. Something I'll definitely look into it. Thank you.. I enjoy fishing from the shore as well.. reminds me of when I first started fishing the Brook down the street catching shiners.. a boat would be a fun opportunity as well
Fishin' Fool reply :
On 3/31/2018 at 12:22 AM, Adam.love05 said:I'm not sure if they have a bass club around here. Something I'll definitely look into it. Thank you.. I enjoy fishing from the shore as well.. reminds me of when I first started fishing the Brook down the street catching shiners.. a boat would be a fun opportunity as well
I love bass fishing but then you combine that with going fast in a boat, pressure to catch the fish in a certain time and race back to the launch that was like a shot of adrenaline for me. In fact tournament fishing almost ruined fun fishing for me. I see you are near Lk Champlain I'm sure there are plenty of bass club options out your way. My closest big water is Lake St Clair.
PatrickKnight reply :
I try to match them accordingly but I have to talk myself into spending 200+ on a rod and will do that on a reel in the blink of an eye.
Dens228 reply :
I guess I'm in the middle on both.....I used to think rod, then a bought and used a more expensive reel and realized what I had been missing.
So far my most expensive reel was $170 and my most expensive rod was $139, I use them together and after using it for the first time went back and bought another of each. Not high end but compared to my first combo that cost $70 total I'd say it's getting up there. lol
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