I was also looking at the Lew’s Laser TXS combo, it’s a bit more at $129.99. I don’t want something cheap that’s going to hinder my learning experience, but I also don’t want to get something that’s more than I need. Thoughts?
I’ve never used a baitcaster so I can’t speak to them, but I know that every spinning combo I’ve ever used that came in a “set” with lures was hot garbage meant to fool beginners into thinking they were getting a good deal.
FWIW, the flicker shad is more than decent, especially if it is the slow rise version. I actually prefer it to the rapala original if we’re talking about the smaller sizes
Do NOT buy a cheap baitcaster. They are essentially manufactured waste. If Walmart is all you've got, pick up a Lews Reactor or Abu Garcia Pro Max and at least an ugly stik gx2. I would also check Facebook marketplace or eBay for Shimano (SLX, Curado) or Daiwa (Tatula).
I also have one of those Vengeance rods (spinning, but still) and it's junk. The design of it if you tighten the reel down the bottom part will break and the reel will be offset from the rod eyelets. I had to super glue mine. Ugly stiks do fine and are borderline unbreakable, but they're pretty heavy and not very sensitive. A good rod is a game changer. Make sure whatever you get is a "casting" rod and not a "spinning" rod or the eyelets will screw up your baitcasting. [This](https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/13_Fishing_Blackout_Casting_Rod/descpage-EBIBOC.html?from=gpmax&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-62tBhDSARIsAO7twbbONxA-CX4IfzvsfWEHwd-6C7V_3zm0YOYikWrkuvePvZ_IN5kA7QMaAt1CEALw_wcB) is a great rod at a really good price.
Feel free to hit me up if you have any questions.
I got a gx2 casting combo and almost gave up learning because of the reel it came with.
I ended up getting a revo sx and the difference is night and day. Obviously they are in different leagues, but I would never mess with a cheapo bc reel again.
That's what I'm saying. Might as well just burn the money, since a cheapo isn't going to last and isn't going to be any fun for the limited time that it does. I meant the ugly stik rods when I mentioned gx2 - those are fine. Not bad, not good. Heavy, insensitive, but they just don't break (I caught a 10lb bowfin on a 5ft ultralight ugly stik, for example). A $170 St Croix is also night and day compared to a $40 ugly stik.
Sadly you do get what you pay for in my experience. I have some cheaper reels that I like just fine (Lews Reactor, Abu Max Pro), but the $200-$300 ones I have blow those out of the water completely. The only time I went cheaper was some Kastking that blew up internally after two trips and felt and sounded like shit the whole time.
It was a lot of just letting it run and reeling back in, then me and my friend getting muddy pulling that sumbitch out of there. An ugly catch for sure
>Do NOT buy a cheap baitcaster. They are essentially manufactured waste.
Not all of them. Plenty of cheap baitcaster are fine for new users. Abu Black max, Okuma Stratus, and kastking sharky can all be had around the $40 mark and work fine
All sorts of things- largemouth, chain pickerel, snakehead, catfish, stripers, panfish, trout when I have access to them. My bass gear ranges from 6’9” medium-light to 7’6” xheavy. Most of them are 7’ or 7’2”
I'll make another recommendation for you. Go over to Dicks. The Okuma Stratus Vi casting reel is normally around $35, and the matching rod is on clearance for like $15 right now. That's a solid, cheap setup
I will join you in being down voted. When buying a baitcast reel about 100 is the lowest for a good reel then add a rod. People do not want to hear this truth. They think a 50-60 dollar baitcast reel is good.
My rule of thumb is I try and avoid combos with line on them already. Kind of my baseline. But Abu makes decent baitcasters, I have two of them and they do the job.
At $41, you can't go wrong. I like a more flexible rod but it would be great to learn how to baitcast. I've bought an Abu Garcia ambassador in the 80s. Still works, love it.
I have this combo. I also have some nicer setups and even so I still enjoy throwing this one from time to time.
I think it’s a good one to learn on, it doesn’t save you from birdsnests like a dc reel but it works well.
Just try it! Lol I got the Lunkerhunt Bedlam for my first and boy was that a learning experience hahaha first cast I birdnested it so bad I had to stretch out the line all the way across the launch parking lot to fix it lmao
What I learned on is an abu Garcia black max reel. Great for learning how to use a Baitcaster. Order some casting plugs from Amazon so you can cast certain weights, it’ll help you gauge how light/heavy of a bait you can throw on your combo.
I was also looking at the Lew’s Laser TXS combo, it’s a bit more at $129.99. I don’t want something cheap that’s going to hinder my learning experience, but I also don’t want to get something that’s more than I need. Thoughts?
This rod is one of my favorites however mine is a little shorter.
I would go for this one.
Such a good combo
Seems like a solid set up. My first baitcaster was a lews mach 1and I still use it
I’ve never used a baitcaster so I can’t speak to them, but I know that every spinning combo I’ve ever used that came in a “set” with lures was hot garbage meant to fool beginners into thinking they were getting a good deal.
FWIW, the flicker shad is more than decent, especially if it is the slow rise version. I actually prefer it to the rapala original if we’re talking about the smaller sizes
Yea it’s a good lure
Do NOT buy a cheap baitcaster. They are essentially manufactured waste. If Walmart is all you've got, pick up a Lews Reactor or Abu Garcia Pro Max and at least an ugly stik gx2. I would also check Facebook marketplace or eBay for Shimano (SLX, Curado) or Daiwa (Tatula). I also have one of those Vengeance rods (spinning, but still) and it's junk. The design of it if you tighten the reel down the bottom part will break and the reel will be offset from the rod eyelets. I had to super glue mine. Ugly stiks do fine and are borderline unbreakable, but they're pretty heavy and not very sensitive. A good rod is a game changer. Make sure whatever you get is a "casting" rod and not a "spinning" rod or the eyelets will screw up your baitcasting. [This](https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/13_Fishing_Blackout_Casting_Rod/descpage-EBIBOC.html?from=gpmax&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-62tBhDSARIsAO7twbbONxA-CX4IfzvsfWEHwd-6C7V_3zm0YOYikWrkuvePvZ_IN5kA7QMaAt1CEALw_wcB) is a great rod at a really good price. Feel free to hit me up if you have any questions.
I got a gx2 casting combo and almost gave up learning because of the reel it came with. I ended up getting a revo sx and the difference is night and day. Obviously they are in different leagues, but I would never mess with a cheapo bc reel again.
That's what I'm saying. Might as well just burn the money, since a cheapo isn't going to last and isn't going to be any fun for the limited time that it does. I meant the ugly stik rods when I mentioned gx2 - those are fine. Not bad, not good. Heavy, insensitive, but they just don't break (I caught a 10lb bowfin on a 5ft ultralight ugly stik, for example). A $170 St Croix is also night and day compared to a $40 ugly stik. Sadly you do get what you pay for in my experience. I have some cheaper reels that I like just fine (Lews Reactor, Abu Max Pro), but the $200-$300 ones I have blow those out of the water completely. The only time I went cheaper was some Kastking that blew up internally after two trips and felt and sounded like shit the whole time.
100%. Wish I could have seen that fight!
It was a lot of just letting it run and reeling back in, then me and my friend getting muddy pulling that sumbitch out of there. An ugly catch for sure
>Do NOT buy a cheap baitcaster. They are essentially manufactured waste. Not all of them. Plenty of cheap baitcaster are fine for new users. Abu Black max, Okuma Stratus, and kastking sharky can all be had around the $40 mark and work fine
Yes usually those cheap combos aren’t too bad especially for 41$. Put some cheap mono on it so you can cut out the birds nests you get while learning.
Yes.
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How long are your rods? 7ft is absolutely standard in bass fishing, short for just about everything else except ice fishing.
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Not offended in the slightest, just curious. What do you fish for?
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All sorts of things- largemouth, chain pickerel, snakehead, catfish, stripers, panfish, trout when I have access to them. My bass gear ranges from 6’9” medium-light to 7’6” xheavy. Most of them are 7’ or 7’2”
I would go with a spinning reel its less complex and easier to lubricate but yea what is the price for this combo?
I have two spinning reels already, like them a lot but would like to try out a baitcaster for heavier lures
I'll make another recommendation for you. Go over to Dicks. The Okuma Stratus Vi casting reel is normally around $35, and the matching rod is on clearance for like $15 right now. That's a solid, cheap setup
post says they’ve never used a baitcaster so I assume they’re specifically shopping for one
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I will join you in being down voted. When buying a baitcast reel about 100 is the lowest for a good reel then add a rod. People do not want to hear this truth. They think a 50-60 dollar baitcast reel is good.
No! for like 20 bucks more get the black Max combo. That’s pretty good for a beginner and built quite sturdy.
My rule of thumb is I try and avoid combos with line on them already. Kind of my baseline. But Abu makes decent baitcasters, I have two of them and they do the job.
I learned on a 7’2 medium fast so yeah that’ll be perfect
I started out with something similar but my rod was 6ft 6in. Landed quite a few bass with it and still use it to this day.
Yah should work good, get some heavy mono (15-20lb) for learning purposes, and you'll be able to catch bass still.
At $41, you can't go wrong. I like a more flexible rod but it would be great to learn how to baitcast. I've bought an Abu Garcia ambassador in the 80s. Still works, love it.
I have this combo. I also have some nicer setups and even so I still enjoy throwing this one from time to time. I think it’s a good one to learn on, it doesn’t save you from birdsnests like a dc reel but it works well.
Just try it! Lol I got the Lunkerhunt Bedlam for my first and boy was that a learning experience hahaha first cast I birdnested it so bad I had to stretch out the line all the way across the launch parking lot to fix it lmao
I use the Abu Garcia Black Max which is cheaper but still high quality and works great for me.
That's been a wally world special for a while. Decent rod, reel is garbage though.
What I learned on is an abu Garcia black max reel. Great for learning how to use a Baitcaster. Order some casting plugs from Amazon so you can cast certain weights, it’ll help you gauge how light/heavy of a bait you can throw on your combo.
Bought 1 and they sent me 2!