What are your best rods and reels for the money? 2025
Glaucus reply :
We're talking rods and reels at or under 100 dollars, best bang for the buck, bought new and not used.
My dad hasn't been fishing in many, many years, but he wants to get into it this coming season to see what all my fuss is about. He doesn't like to buy anything used, but he also doesn't like to break the bank.
When I say at or under 100 dollars, preferably under, but we need to also go best bang for the buck.
I'm thinking Daiwa Aird X rods, President spinning reels, and Shimano SLX casting reels. I feel like we can go with cheaper rods and spinning reels that are still really good, but we don't want to go with garbage casting reels because that's asking for a bad time.
You guys have any ideas as well?
Log Catcher reply :
I bought a couple of Cabelas Fish Eagle 6'6" spinning rods this year. I only got to use them 2 or 3 times. Caught a couple of small ones on them. They seem to be decent rods.
MN Fisher reply :
Last year on a lark, I picked up a Garcia Avocet RZ combo - 2000 size reel.
Dang if it didn't do a good job with spinner baits and lighter crank-baits (Rapalas, Shad-Raps, Rattling-Raps)
For around $40 for several different actions/lengths I think it's a great 'budget' combo.
FishTank reply :
Check out Amazon for any of the Abu Garcia Revo reels. They have a bunch on sale that are close to $100. Like the STX Spinning for $116.
https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Revo-STX-Spinning/dp/B011LUZL88/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1545096441&sr=8-3&keywords=revo%2Bstx&th=1&psc=1
And the Revo X for under $100.
https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-1430435-Profile-Baitcasting/dp/B074TYG2CL/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1545096441&sr=8-10&keywords=revo+stx
And the Okuma TCS rods are under $100
https://www.amazon.com/Okuma-Martin-Tournament-Concept-TCS-C-731H/dp/B00F5E532G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1545096722&sr=8-3&keywords=okuma+tcs
new2BC4bass reply :
Well....you ask what is our best rods and reels for the money.....and then spoil it by making it about ones available now. 
Recent thread on $40-460 baitcast reels.
The Tatula CT Type R and Tournament Pro G on sale are excellent bang for the buck reels, but over $100.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
The best reel under $100 is the Daiwa Fuego CT imo. It can be found for $60> on Ebay and Amazon from time to time. Two of the nicest $100 rods are the Dobyns Fury and the Shimano Slx.
LCG reply :
Depending on preference I would make a short list with st Croix bass x, fenwick hmg, shimano slx rods, Dobyns fury, bps carbonlite 2.0.
I will second the daiwa fuego ct.
Sam reply :
It was the Extreme line of rods from Bass Pro Shops. You could get one for $100 during their sales. Excellent rods for the money.
Today the Extreme is no longer produced so you will have to go any name brand out there that meets your fishing techniques, line test, and bait size.
With the sales going on and the end of January sales right around the corner, you should be able to score a very nice rod in the $100 range during the sales.
You and the Bait Monkey have fun selecting your rod.
Glaucus reply :
Excellent suggestions guys. Looking into all options. Right now the best take away is that I forgot about the Revo X. Precisely why I asked here!
Smalls reply :
I keep trying to kill my Garcia Pro Max reels. Just can’t seem to do it.
The Black and Silver Max are junk, but for ~$80 for the combo, the pro max seems to love the abuse. The rod it comes with is “meh”, but it’ll get you started til you find a better rod.
Catt reply :
H2O Ethos rods are excellent in that price range.
All Star rods are over looked by everyone
Powell Inferno is as sensitive any
junyer357 reply :
On 12/18/2018 at 8:23 PM, Catt said:H2O Ethos rods are excellent in that price range.
All Star rods are over looked by everyone
Powell Inferno is as sensitive any
X2 on the acadamy ethos rods.
ohboyitsrobby reply :
I have a h2o express nano that is normally $100 I paid $50 and like a lot. My favorite low cost combo of all time is a number after 7 blackout with a pinnacle obsession pro that I absolutely LOVE and have $85 total invested in.
Catt reply :
The lowly Lighting Rod has accounted for many a bass!
Junger reply :
Cabela's Tourney Trail Combo which comes with a President reel.
The 7' M/F is on sale for $59.97 shipped free. Lifetime warranty to boot.
https://www.cabelas.com/product/bargain-cave/fishing/rod-reel-combos/pc/105591780/c/105740280/sc/105741180/cabelas-president-tt-cbo/2605496.uts?slotId=10
I have the 6'6 and love it.
fishwizzard reply :
The Kuying Teton rods from Aliexpress are crazy good for the money. I have never read much about their other lines but the Tetons are great. I don't like spending a ton on UL rods as they are so fragile and I have been super happy with the UL casting rod I have from that line.
Hook2Jaw reply :
On 12/18/2018 at 9:48 PM, Catt said:The lowly Lighting Rod has accounted for many a bass!
Man, I almost forgot about that rod. Well, the Lightning Rod Shock. When I first returned to fishing and before I had started seriously educating myself on techniques, I had just bought a Jon boat. I was armed with an ultra-light BPS spinning rod all of 5'6" long and knew absolutely nothing, all I knew is I enjoyed the fight on the light rod, seriously fun but seriously inneficient.
All I was armed with was that rod, some storm swimbaits, and a single white spinnerbait. The first day of my glorious return was an entire day all for one fish. That light rod was bowed nearly in half all day, wearing me out with that 3/8oz spinnerbait.
Sometime shortly after that I decided there had to be some advice online for catching more than one fish. That led me here, and shortly after that I had an idea about this weird weightless plastic presentation with a funny looking worm called a senko. Everyone here recommended the Pflueger President, almost like a lot of us recommend the Daiwa Fuego today. I grabbed up a Pflueger Trion instead.
I wanted a budget spinning rod under 50 bucks, and many people mentioned the Berkley Lightning Rod Shock. Many more seconded that suggestion. Shortly thereafter I grabbed a 7' MF, tightened my Trion onto it, learned about watching braid on top of the water while my stick worm dangled below it, and was catching way more than one bass a day.
I thought I was the best bass fisherman there ever was with that Berkley rod. The only way to catch fish was a weightless Texas rigged senko. Thanks for bringing the memories back, @Catt, my Trion and Lightning Rod are resting somewhere in the Atlantic ocean. Sucker put a whooping on redfish too!
NYWayfarer reply :
I like the Lew's Carbon Fire rods, exclusive to Dick's sporting goods. This whole month they have been on sale for $39 Nice Winn Grip handles on them. Pretty strong as well. I have caught Channel Cat's in the 3 pound range on my medium light version while fishing a Ned rig.
Abu Garcia Vengeance is another solid choice at $49
stratoliner92 reply :
Abu Garcia SilverMax Reel (3 of 4 still going strong after several years of use)
Berkley Lightning Rod MH/Fast. Both out door under $100.
Pflueger President Spinning Combo $70 and hard to beat at that price.
greentrout reply :
KK perigee II mh & m 2 pc 7ft. casting rod paired with KK Royale Legend Elite 8:1:1 ipt 34, max drag 17lbs, bb 11+1 and wt. 7.2. for less than 100 bucks with a heads up from this site...
good fishing..
MERRY CHRISTMAS...
Glaucus reply :
We've settled on our choices. Just got to the finale of the decision here. Two starter rods. In the past I have been a pond hopper, but now I'm a river rat so that is where he will be joining me, on the Smallie hunt. We went up in some ways and maxed out in others. What we've come to is personally aesthetically pleasing, good performance, and equipment for what we will be doing. And the finalists are:
6'10" ML/XF St Croix Spinning Mojo Bass Rod with a size 20 Abu Garcia Revo X reel.
6'8" M/F St Croix Casting Mojo Bass Rod with a left hand retrieve Shimano SLX 6.3:1 reel. Showed this reel and the Daiwa Fuego but aesthetics were important as well and the sharp look of the blue on the Shimano won.
Usual lures will be Ned Rig, Grubs, KVD 1.5, Whopper Plopper 90, bisty bug jigs, Senkos, small chatterbaits. He'll do what I do.
We'll expand from here over time if he likes it. I think we've got a good start. He'll get use out of one of my kayaks as well.
burrows reply :
On 12/18/2018 at 11:46 PM, NYWayfarer said:
Abu Garcia Vengeance is another solid choice at $49
I agree great budget rod surprisingly sensitive for the price.
Mobasser reply :
On 12/18/2018 at 9:48 PM, Catt said:The lowly Lighting Rod has accounted for many a bass!
Catt, I'm getting my grandson Aiden a new lightning rod and H20 mettle reel for Christmas. His first casting outfit. He'll be pumped up! And spooling it up with Big Game 15#.
Catt reply :
@Mobasser He'll love that ????
Mobasser reply :
On 12/20/2018 at 11:25 AM, Catt said:@Mobasser He'll love that ????
I think so too Catt.
MAN reply :
On 12/20/2018 at 6:24 AM, Mobasser said:Catt, I'm getting my grandson Aiden a new lightning rod and H20 mettle reel for Christmas. His first casting outfit. He'll be pumped up! And spooling it up with Big Game 15#.
Good Setup! He's going to love that reel! ????
Hook2Jaw reply :
On 12/19/2018 at 11:48 AM, Glaucus said:We've settled on our choices. Just got to the finale of the decision here. Two starter rods. In the past I have been a pond hopper, but now I'm a river rat so that is where he will be joining me, on the Smallie hunt. We went up in some ways and maxed out in others. What we've come to is personally aesthetically pleasing, good performance, and equipment for what we will be doing. And the finalists are:
6'10" ML/XF St Croix Spinning Mojo Bass Rod with a size 20 Abu Garcia Revo X reel.
6'8" M/F St Croix Casting Mojo Bass Rod with a left hand retrieve Shimano SLX 6.3:1 reel. Showed this reel and the Daiwa Fuego but aesthetics were important as well and the sharp look of the blue on the Shimano won.
Usual lures will be Ned Rig, Grubs, KVD 1.5, Whopper Plopper 90, bisty bug jigs, Senkos, small chatterbaits. He'll do what I do.
We'll expand from here over time if he likes it. I think we've got a good start. He'll get use out of one of my kayaks as well.
I can understand how one could not like the appearance of the Fuego. Personally, it has grown on me and even looks...um...not terrible on my Daiwa Aird-X now. My other Daiwas are on a different line of rods altogether and look fantastic.
As for narrowing it down, I think you made some excellent choices for a finesse reel and believe that casting setup will perform well, too! I've never used a rod so highly touted as St. Croix, but I catch just fine on what I do use.
Please let us know how he likes them and post some pictures of his fish when you get a chance, @Glaucus!
Glaucus reply :
Got my dad all hooked up and now the bait monkey is hitting me hard. I'm looking at the Okuma EVX casting rods. Specifically the 6'8" M/MF-F topwater/jerkbait model. I'm looking at it for squarebills and smaller whopper ploppers. Will this rod do me well?
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