I know there are a few bass Fisher persons on here and would really like your opinions. It’s my sons 16th birthday in a week and would like to get him a rod and reel setup for bass. I’m not a bass fisherman so this is where I need your expertise. Would would you recommend? Pole? Reel? Line? Length? Anything anybody has to offer would be greatly appreciated. Would like to stay around 100.00 to 150.00. Thanks
Can he operate a bait casting rod n reel?
Get the reel that you can chuck it as hard as you want with no backlash. I think it’s a daiwa.
I bought him a cheap setup with a bait caster 6-7 years ago and he barely used it cause of all the backlash. It could be operator error since I have never used one myself.
7′ medium power, fast action spinning rod.
Spinning reel with 15-20 pound braid.
This is like a Swiss army knife. Let him figure out baitcasting gear later on.
The spinning set up above would work well for Bass. Could go with MH/Fast if fishing plastics around weeds and cover more I guess.
The key to using a Baitcaster is to practice with it when your not fishing. If you only use it when you fish, then frustration sets in in about 5 minutes and down it goes and out comes the spinning rod. I see this with my buddies that don’t use them much, but then get one to try out cause I’m using them always. It gets put away pretty quickly!
To practice, put on a 3/8 to 1/2 oz bass jig and practice with that in the yard or open area. Set casting knob on handle side so line slowly falls. Set dial on other side to 10 or High and start from there. Shouldn’t backlash at all, but won’t go the farthest. Slowly reduce dial as you get better. I think for beginners, the magnetic control style is best, so that is why I said dial.
If he already has a medium spinning rod… a little heavier baitcaster might be a nice complement for casting things like spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, Jigs, etc.
I think it’s worth putting more money into the reel – with baitcasters I do think you get what you pay for (to a degree). To stay in your price range, I would suggest a Daiwa Tatula “CT” – retails at approx $125 but you can prob find on Amazon/EBay for closer to $100. For a rod the Berkley Vengeance 7 foot Medium Heavy is best rod out there for $50 by along shot (IMO).
Just stay with a nice spinning reel – no need for the bait caster. I have BOTH but rarely use the bait caster. I find I can do just about anything with a good spinning reel set up with good line etc.
I don’t disagree with what Rick says above, but spinning can have its limitations too…
I think if needing to use 30+ pound braid or 12+ pound mono/fluoro for the kind of fishing your son does, then I would switch to a baitcaster. They just work better with heavier line/lures. Faster casting too when covering lots of water to find fish…
Again, ideally I would want both a medium spinning rod and a Medium-Heavy baitcaster..
Spinning for finesse, baitcaster for power.
Spinning for kids, baitcasting for adults. 
I pretty much fish bass exclusively in the summer cause that’s all time permits when you’re in derbies every week. THe best bang for your buck is a medium rod with a $60-$100 spinning reel on there. I have two of the abu Garcia Veritas rods and I love them. 20-30lb braid for the line. I’ve never had an issue getting bites with braid
Here’s a recent review on a baitcaster around $109 that is described as “backlashes won’t be much of a worry”
Here’s a recent review on a baitcaster around $109 that is described as “backlashes won’t be much of a worry”
I have a fuego and it’s a decent reel. I grab one of my lews first but it’s still a nice reel. The lews are priced about 60 over the diawa.
If he like to seriously bass fish then the baitcaster is a must have. Yes the beginning is frustrating because you want to treat it like a spinning reel. But it’s another game in its self. The problem is with them when you start out the cheap one are very problematic. The spendy ones are much more forgiving. Put 50 lbs braid on one and he will be good to go
Also you can find the Fuego online for around $70 if you look for a little while…..just saying.
Sounds like I should go with a bait caster. I would say the majority of his fishing will be from shore. Sounds like the baitcaster will give him the power he needs to bring em through the weeds and such surrounding the shoreline.
I would agree with the baitcaster recommendation.
I fish exclusively on Mille Lacs, and I’ve gotten comfortable with most techniques where a spinning reel is either ideal or just ‘good enough,’ but a baitcaster would definitely allow for a more diverse approach. There are times when casting distance and extra horsepower are what I need, and the spinning rod and reel don’t quite cut it.
7′-7’4″ Medium heavy or heavy St. Croix Bass X offers a great rod for the money at $100-$110. The Daiwa Fuego is a damn good reel for the money. I picked one up for $48 at Farm and Fleet on clearance.
I don’t want to bash St. Croix Rods but after fishing them for years I wouldn’t recommend their MH and H rods. They tend to weigh more than most other rod manufacturers and are tip heavy. They could be quite cumbersome or fatiguing to someone the OP is buying for as a new baitcaster user. Lots of options in the same price range that are lighter and better balanced IMO.
I don’t want to bash St. Croix Rods but after fishing them for years I wouldn’t recommend their MH and H rods. They tend to weigh more than most other rod manufacturers and are tip heavy. They could be quite cumbersome or fatiguing to someone the OP is buying for as a new baitcaster user. Lots of options in the same price range that are lighter and better balanced IMO.
The problem with the bass x and mojo bass is they are outsourced and built in Mexico. The quality lack is very noticeable compared to there other rods
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FryDog62 wrote:</div>
I don’t want to bash St. Croix Rods but after fishing them for years I wouldn’t recommend their MH and H rods. They tend to weigh more than most other rod manufacturers and are tip heavy. They could be quite cumbersome or fatiguing to someone the OP is buying for as a new baitcaster user. Lots of options in the same price range that are lighter and better balanced IMO.The problem with the bass x and mojo bass is they are outsourced and built in Mexico. The quality lack is very noticeable compared to there other rods
My criticism of SC rods is less about their quality and more about the weight and balance of their rods… even the Legend rods.
If you look just above the rod handle on their MH and H rods you’ll notice how thick the blank is even as it tapers towards the tip. Results in an overall hefty/cumbersome rod that is very tip heavy.
I don’t think this equates necessarily to more power either. I have plenty of other MH and H rods made by other manufacturers that more than adequately throw heavy lures or pull fish out of heavy cover.
I sold my LTB and AvidX rods for this very reason and replaced them with rods of similar or lower price and am amazed at the difference.
As the OP is looking to get a baitcasting rod for someone learning, I just think a heavy thick rod could result in him getting frustrated and not using his equipment again.
7′ Medium power, fast action St. Croix BassX paired with a Pfluger President, 20-30lb suffix 832. It has the power to bring most fish through the weeds at the shore line, great casting distance and super versatile. I use it for anything from big top waters to small finesse plastics with a fluorocarbon leader.
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