Help Please

[Gary Lange]

I was just looking at the new or at least I guess it is new BPS Carbonlite Reel. They are $119.00 and weigh in at 6.7oz. with 7 ball bearings. I saw it on the back of the Spring Tackle Catalog I got in the mail the other day. They have a Carbon Fiber Rod to go with it and the combo goes for $179.00. I wonder how that Carbon Fiber Rod would feel.

I do like the BPS Extreme Rods for the money they are light a sensitive. If you get a Spinning Rod look at the BPS Pro Qualifier Reels as I have a couple and am very impressed with them.

[XRAY]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I am kind of leaning towards a reel with a magnetic brake system because the centifugal(sp?) one seems confusing to me. In turn, probably means my price range has increased a bit Thanks all for the suggestions, I just looking for something that will be relatively simple to learn and reliable.

[MstStudent10]

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.

I will tell you exactly what you need to get! For my 15th birthday, my dad got me my first baitcasting rod and reel combo, it was the BPS Pro Qualifier combo. I am now almost 22 years old and I STILL fish with that exact same rod and reel combo that I had 7 years ago, and it still works flawlessly. And honestly, for the first time since I got it 7 years ago I decided to oil the thing over the winter, not because I really had to but I just figured I would, on top of that I leave it in the garage year round (prolly not a good thing assuming in the winter time the water in it could freeze and expand? my guess). Point is, I have mistreated this rod and reel over the years and not once have I had any problem or complaint about it. I can honestly say I enjoy throwing this combo still more than my other rod and reel combos, it casts WAY further than any of my other combos and I literally have to try to backlash it (maybe cuz its just so worn in!! Maybe I just got a good year on em I dont know? But this past Spring I picked up another BPS Pro Qualifier rod/reel combo during the spring fishing classic for about $110. The reels now have a smaller profile than the one I got when I was 15, and sure look a lot better!! The new one I got is my official flipping/pitching or worm rod, and I am starting to love it just as much as the one that is 7 years old, that I've treated horribly, yet it still loves me and works incredible!! I can't see you having any complaints.

Ben

[MstStudent10]

ps, they have the Dual Breaking Magnetic system on them, starting out if you click that baby up to 10 there's no way you can backlash, and then just work your way lower as u get the hang of it. And the cost right now is around $180 i think? But if you wait till the BPS Spring fishing classic they take 60-70 off it every year.

[Bullcreek]

I will add my 2 cents. I would go with a Shimano Citca. They can be had new in the box for around $95 shipped if you shop around online., I would then shop around for a used Falcon Bucco or Falcon Lowrider rod in a 6' 6" MH if you are looking for an all purpose setup.

The St. Croix rods are very good for the money also. You could go with Mojo or the Premier line. They can be had new around $100. I bought my son acouple of the premiers and I tried them out. They seem to be pretty good sticks.

If you were local you could come by the house and I would hook you up with a rod for free. I have a pile of assorted BPS rods setting in the corner.

Hope this helps.

[Bill P]

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:

Up north,when I bought new tackle in the winter,I used to spray paint orange circles in the snow,and practice off my deck!

[CaptainJoe]

For a good rod and reel combo that would fit your situation, I would go with the BPS Extreme combo. These are great combos. The reel I would go with would be the 6.4:1 with the Flippin Switch (you can learn to use in future). This reel has 7 bearings and an 11-position magnetic braking system. If you are over 6' tall, I would go for a 7' MH rod. If you are shorter that 6' tall, I would go with a 6'6" rod. The combo is around your $160 price target. I have quite a few of these reels (Super high speed, high speed, low speed, flippin reels, wide spool for carolina rigs) and never have had a problem. They cast easy and far and backlash little.

[Sam]

If you keep fishing long enough (and I have), your equipment gets outdated. Less than 1/4 of my trips are for bass, and at one time I had pretty good rigs - BPS "Bionic Blade" rods and Daiwa "Millionaire II" reels. Those are still in good shape, but I've got a feeling they're 1980's technology and I'm missing out on some good new improvements.

I'd like to get one new rig anyway, and based on what was posted above I was thinking of waiting for the BPS Spring Fishing Classic and buying a Pro Qualifier combo. Now CaptainJoe's recommending the BPS Extreme combo - which do you think would be better?

Bear in mind I'm not a tournament fisherman or even a real serious bass fisherman. Much of my bass fishing is with spinning tackle, and I've got that covered. With a casting outfit I like to fish Texas and Carolina rigs, jigs and grubs, and spoons. I'm 5'10", and a 6'6" rod works better for me than a 7' one. I especially like to fish big worms on a Texas rig at night in the summertime, and I come up with a few real "hawgs" every year doing that. I'm thinking a "medium heavy" rod might be best for that deal?

Thanks for any opinions/suggestions!

[Gary Lange]

I would like to take a look see at the CarbonLite Combos It looks like a very light rig and the Carbon Fiber rod may be very sensitive.

[MstStudent10]

I would definitely go with the 6'6 Medium Heavy. I'm in college and of course the funds are running low, so I wanted a rod that would serve the best all around for what I like to do. And so far the 6'6 medium heavy is what I use for most everything. Any plastic I throw is with a 6'6 MH, as well as a spinnerbait, which is quite often as well. My favorite fishing is definitely worm fishing and the Medium Heavy is ideal. I do a lot of 10" worm fishing at Stockton in the summer and its the way to go. As far as the brand I already weighed in my 2 cents. I'm sure the BPS extreme and BPS Pro Qualifier Combos both run hand in hand. In an ideal world, I would put the pro qualifier reel on the extreme rod, but thats not gonna happen. Obviously they're cheaper when bought separate. I have 2 BPS pro qualifier combos, as well as 2 BPS extreme rods. I have never used the actual extreme reel so I can't say much about it. I'm partial to the Pro Qualifiers just cuz that's what I use, and don't have anything bad to say about them, plus I always thought they looked better!