First Baitcaster Outfit

[Jack Jones]

Within the next month or two I will be in the market for my first baitcasting outfit. I've done a little research on gear ratios, etc... My primary usage will be for plastics and spinnerbaits on rivers, wading creeks, and occasionally lakes from shoreline. I won't likely be out in a boat. I'd welcome some suggestions on a good value-priced reel, combo, or separates. I've seen everything from $59.99 combos to $249.00 and then some. I'd prefer to keep it in the $80-150 range if doable.

[Wayne SW/MO]

If you want to stay in that range for a combo I would buy the best one Bass Pro has.

[gotmuddy]

I would go with bass pro combos too. No matter what you get, remember that your thumb is the best tool for braking.

[eric1978]

This topic has been covered SO many times. Dig back through the old threads...there's enough there to keep you reading for a full day.

My advice is to save up a little more money and get better stuff than BPS brand. A Shimano Citica and a low-end St. Croix would be my line in the sand. You'll thank yourself later.

[gotmuddy]

I have been extremely happy with my BPS johnny morris reels.

[stlfisher]

If that is your price range I would spend it on the reel. I second the Citica..I think it runs $120 or so. Put it on a cheap rod and buy a better rod at a later date. Cheap baitcaser's are like cheap fly lines...it is not area you want to skimp. Cabela's used to have the Citica reel with a prodigy rod for $189...that is a fine set up for the price.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I wouldn't get caught up in spending a little more and a little more. There's nothing wrong with starting out with a BPS combo. They make good equipment and you can find what your pocket will stand at the store where you can actually feel it. Just make sure you get a rod designed for the weight lures you want to throw. For rivers something 1/4 oz to 1/2 would be my first choice, but 1/4 to 5/8 oz wouldn't be too bad. Load it with premium 8# line and learn to cast it.

You can always buy higher later when you know what you want.

[dave potts]

I've found Basspro's Extreme reel to be a good reel for not too much money. It lists for $80 but is often on sale for $60. Casting a baitcaster is as much about practice and technique as it is about price paid. I look for the "sweet spot" on most of the stuff I buy. If you make a graph of price versus quality, you will find a point where you start paying a lot more money for only slight increases in quality.

Dave

[tjulianc]

Doesn't Pflueger make the BPS baitcasting reels? You can save a bit of money by just buying the Pflueger reel, instead of the marked up BPS reel. Or get a better reel for just a little more money, I would get the Pflueger Cetina over the BPS Extreme, and its only $10 more, currently. That extra 10 dollars gets you 3 more bearings, and the Centrifugal Braking System, which is much nicer than the magnetic braking system in the Extreme.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Not all that glitters is gold. Aside from the spool bearings and the level wind bearings, the rest of the bearings are mostly window dressing. I don't find that there is a big difference in magnetic spool control and centrifugal. The magnetic is capable of almost instant change while the centrifugal relies heavily on the spool end play adjustment knob, which is virtually impossible to duplicate without testing.