Help Please

[XRAY]

Last year I made my first trip to The Rock. I found this forumn and made a thread asking what type of tackle to use. I got many wonderful responses from many different people. For that I would like to say Thank you! Your expertise is amazing for a lake that is so large. Especially to Bill Babler. Everything that he said seemed to catch fish. I am planning on returning this summer again, and will be getting a guide for at least one day in hopes that I can catch a fish bigger than 1 pound Regardless it was a blast. Thanks again.

Secondly, I come here again looking for a little guidance. I have always fished with spinning reels and I decided that this spring I am going to give the baitcaster a go. I am looking foward to many frustrated days on the water and headaches. However I am determined to learn how to use one of these things. I am wondering if any of you would lend suggestions on a good reel and rod combo. I am looking for something that is good quality and easy to learn with (good brake system, ect). Im looking at combos no more than $160.

Thank you all again.

Ross

Sioux City, IA

[Fishrman]

If you can find them, the Pfleuger Purist is around $80, small profile and casts very well with I believe 8 bearings. I have one, it is 6years old and still performs very well. Rods, well there are many good ones out there for about the same money, just need to go and put them in your hand.

Hope this helps a little.

[Mike Mueller]

For the summer you need finesse worms (any combo of watermelon, purple, green pumpkin seem to work well) on shakey heads, spoons, drop shots and 3/4-1 oz. football-head jigs (in neutral browns, greens and purples) for draggin'. Some fish shallow but mainly up the rivers. There you can throw a spinnerbait, but square bills also will do the trick.

As for leaning the baitcaster, go in the back yard and tie on a practice plug...the heavier the better to start. Crank down the brakes pretty good and practice that way for starters. It's all about the thumb pressure. With this initial setup you won't need the feather the spool with your thumb that much. Once you get the hang of it, loosen the brakes a bit and rely a little more on your own thumb pressure. Once you're comfortable with this, then lessen the weight of the practice plug, continue to play with the brake settings, and slowly begin to rely more on your thumb pressure.

One more hint for beginners...strip off about 50 yards of line and place a piece of tape on the spool. this will minimize the impact of the inevitable "birdsnest" that you will encounter.

Good Luck! Mike

[techo]

I was in the same boat ( pun intended) a few years back. I had mostly fished the clear lakes of Minnesota and had never used a baitcaster. I can pretty much skip a bait or do anything with a spinning rod that you can with a baitcaster, or so I thought. Babler took me out and started my schooling and then I fished the AM side of Central Pro/AM one year. I learned that there is a good time for either real quick.

I took a bunch of buckets and sat around the yard and cast at them for hours after work. I wouldn't say I am good now, but I can hit a running dog most of the time (wifey still a little miffed).

I love my baitcaster now. Well worth the effort!

[getfished]

Since you won't be going to the moon with it you can survive fairly well with the above suggestions. I'll just contribute another simple thought or two.

1) If you use one rod/reel combo as sort of a multipurpose outfit don't forget to make minor brake/spool adjustments as the weight of your bait changes.

2) Learning to cast the baitcaster was facilitated by placing a magazine under my casting arm and held against my body with my casting arm. Try to learn to cast without dropping the magazine.

GETFISHED !!!

[Gary Lange]

I was in the same boat ( pun intended) a few years back. I had mostly fished the clear lakes of Minnesota and had never used a baitcaster. I can pretty much skip a bait or do anything with a spinning rod that you can with a baitcaster, or so I thought. Babler took me out and started my schooling and then I fished the AM side of Central Pro/AM one year. I learned that there is a good time for either real quick.

I took a bunch of buckets and sat around the yard and cast at them for hours after work. I wouldn't say I am good now, but I can hit a running dog most of the time (wifey still a little miffed).

I love my baitcaster now. Well worth the effort!

Do you loan out them buckets or should I just dig holes in the snow mounds along the driveway. I wish I could have taken video of you practicing "Boso Buckets" in the front yard. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[XRAY]

I was in the same boat ( pun intended) a few years back. I had mostly fished the clear lakes of Minnesota and had never used a baitcaster. I can pretty much skip a bait or do anything with a spinning rod that you can with a baitcaster, or so I thought. Babler took me out and started my schooling and then I fished the AM side of Central Pro/AM one year. I learned that there is a good time for either real quick.

I took a bunch of buckets and sat around the yard and cast at them for hours after work. I wouldn't say I am good now, but I can hit a running dog most of the time (wifey still a little miffed).

I love my baitcaster now. Well worth the effort!

Thank you for the tips! I am looking for advice for a specific reel/rod. As in, which models or makers would you reccomend for a beginner. Thank all, such a great community here.

[fozzype]

Thank you for the tips! I am looking for advice for a specific reel/rod. As in, which models or makers would you reccomend for a beginner. Thank all, such a great community here.

Go to walmart.com and you can get a REVO-S for 89.99 or they are on sale for 75 right now at Ozark. As for a rod try a St. Croix Bass Mojo for 89.99 in the "plastics" 7' rod. These are not "top of line" but they would put you in a good outfit for $160. Also, try the Johnny Morris Baitcast Combo in a 7' MH. These are good reels and the rods are very sensitive. You can find these on sale for under $200. Don't go too cheap, or it will drive you nuts learning to cast.

Brett

[techo]

Thank you for the tips! I am looking for advice for a specific reel/rod. As in, which models or makers would you reccomend for a beginner. Thank all, such a great community here.

Oh gosh! None of that helped then did it? The old which rod or reel question is tough. Kind of a Ford/Chevy, Skeeter/Champion kind of question. All are good. I am of course very partial to Falcon rods. They are light, sensitive, durable and great customer service. I have some with Pfleuger Presidents and two with Shimano 51g's. Either rod with a good real would be awesome.

I do think with spinning setups, the rod is more important and with baitcast setips the reel is more important. ( That should stir up some conversation.)

With that in mind....I would never knock anyone elses rod/reels, because they work for them. I can't remember what the first one I bought was....maybe a very inexpensive Browning at BPS. It was nothing but trouble and frustration. It was way too cheap and not of great quality. I should have went with a better quality combo for sure. I guess what I am trying to say is....no matter what you get try to spend the cash to make it worth it. Sucks to have a $19.99 combo you will never use.

I think the BPS Extreme combos are good starters and own four of them. The drawback in my opinion is that the rods tend to be heavier and can tire you faster than a lighter Falcon or St. Croix. (Gary will chime in here!)

Ever go to Saylorville Lake there in Iowa? In Johnston there is a small fishing place on Merle Hayes Road just north of the interstate. He is really knowledgeable and can hook you up! I think he really likes Daiwa though.

Gary....you know you can cast and hit the eye of a flying seagull at a 100 paces and don't need buckets, but if you do I actually still have them stacked up in my shed as I still practice that way. You are welcome to borrow them anytime.

[Gone Fishing]

BPS extreme reels are good for the money. You can catch them on sale for around $60. Then you could have a good rod to place it on with the extra money. I like the Falcons also but for the money the Shimano Clarus or even Convergence are good rods with and excellent warranty.

There is a new battle for the top rod in that $100 price range.