Thoughts on my spinning rod, reel, and line combo

Hi all,

I'm looking at getting back into fishing and have decided to pick up my own gear and tackle. I'm primarily a bank angler targeting bass and pike. I'll be throwing everything from frogs, jigs, chatter baits, spinner baits, jerk baits, cranks, and soft plastics. I know there are rod/reel/line combos more suitable for each of these baits but I'm only able to afford one setup for now.


Rod: I was looking at a Berkely Lightening Rod Shock 7' Medium but am worried it won't have enough backbone for frogs. Originally considered the new ugly stik GX2 for its durability and its MH power but I've heard you lose sensitivity

Braid: Seaguar Smackdown 30lb, .235mm. Chose this one because it's much thinner than other top braids like suffix 832

Reel: Since I'll be using frogs I need a reel that can a fair amount of braid capacity: BPS Pro Qualifier Spinning Reel PQS10, 5.6:1 Ratio, 31" per turn, 7.5 oz. With 30lb seaguar smackdown i'll be able to have about 110 yards

Any comments, recommendations or advice on my choice would be greatly appreciated!

Beginner
7ft ugly stick med fast
Shimano Sedona
10 lb mono
Master this than spend as much as your willing.
Like any sport.
If your willing to pay it their willing to sell it.
Tight lines.

Sorry I forgot to add I'm not a beginner. I grew up fishing on a 6'6" ugly stick on a plfueger president, but that rod has been abused by guests at our family cottage.

Well than.
Just like I tell parents getting their kids into hockey.
Don't cheap out on ice skates..
Applies to fishing also.
Buy a QUALITY reel.
Shimano Stradic my preference.

Most important piece of equipment you have.
Very forgiving reels.
Rod and line less so.
Reels the biggest factor.
Just my opinion

Give me a Stradic reel and I could land a salmon with a 2×4 and sewing thread.

Thanks for your input and I agree with what you said about quality but that's a little out of my price range (I wouldn't go out and buy a kid getting into hockey a pair of $300 grafs)

Hi, Thought I would add to the comments, I just tried out a new combo I purchased back in April and I am very impressed with it. It is a Lews speed spin SGH 300 with matching rod, sgh3066m, meaning, 6 foot 6 medium action. I used 10 lb test Berkley mono line on the reel. I also tried oput another new reel I purchased about the same time, this one being a Mitchell Avocet RZ 2000r on an older Algonquin Powerlite 7 foot rod. This reel worked perfect as did the rod. The Mitchell has 8 lb Berkley mono and landed the 4 lb walleye with ease into my canoe. So, The combo I paid $80.00, and the Mitchell reel alone was about $35.00. I have also purchased a new Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 but have not yet used this reel. Whatever you choose, use the life out of it, then go get another one, cause there is nothing better than fishing, .......well.....maybe looking for new tackle !!!!!
Your friend, Trevor Calhoun.

As you said, you can only afford one outfit while you are aware that there are more suitable equipment for each type of lure and technique.

So at the end of the day, just use what you have and adapt your gear and your own technique to what is required to catch fish.

I bought a 7' Pflueger GX-7 combo with the Trion 2500 size reel...and I'm still using it 15 years later. It is not a one-size-fits-all combo, but it has probably caught over 150 species of fish...and more fish locally than I care to count. My point is to stop worrying about the little things. Although the rod, reel and line is a factor, people often make more fuss than necessary about getting the right gear.

Tackle companies will push out new products all the time trying to sell you stuff. That's how the company survives. There are thousands of baits, but they are all simply designed to do the same thing...catch fish. All of the lures, rods and reels can catch fish under some circumstances, and all of them can fail under some circumstances.

At one point, I had two Rubbermaid bins full of lures. I've sold them all, sold lots of rods and reels...and now simply fish more live and dead baits...and are very happy checking off species from around the world. The money I save not worrying about matching a rod or reel to the right lure and presentation allows me to fish in some truly cool places. Just think about how much money you spend to purchase just 3 Rapalas of the same size, action and colour...and then multiply that for different colour, sizes, depth...etc...and then multiply that for other types of lures.

Use the rod, reel and line to fish the lures you intended. If your equipment is deemed unsuitable for the lure or technique, AND you can't afford to get the right gear, then simply move onto another technique. If you are serious about excelling in fishing or a certain method of fishing, then you will find it in you somewhere to afford the gear that you need. Otherwise, just settle for what you have, fish, and be happy.

It's really as simple as that.

Try buying the best reel that you can afford. It's cheaper than replacing your product later. Given the choice I would sacrifice on the braid and rod for a nicer reel.

[SIZE=13.63636302948px]For the rod I would go with a medium power, fast action rod. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.63636302948px]You might consider a reel with an extra spool. That way you can use braid on one spool and mono on the other. [/SIZE][SIZE=13.63636302948px]Use the braid for sensitivity-based fishing like jigging. Use the mono when the stretch is needed, ie crankbaits / topwater action baits.[/SIZE]

hushingryph said:

I know there are rod/reel/line combos more suitable for each of these baits but I'm only able to afford one setup for now.

Click to expand...

Thank you all for your responses, they are greatly appreciated.

Of all the 3 major components of fishing, I will categorize from 1-3 which is the most important which one is the least.
Of course my own opinion.
1. Rod
2. Reel
3. Line.

Rod
Casting, Handling, Control both of your lure, bait & fish.
Reel
Control I was able to land a salmon on 5:1 bearing reel that was built for bass/pike. I was casting spoons for pike that day. If you're savvy and familiar on how to manage your reel. You can work it.
Line.
I have caught different species of fish, on almost the lines i used. 4lb, 6lb, 8lb - 20lb. mono or braid. So I don't really pay much attention to it.
I save up on the rod and reel. I only use the lines i already have.