Spinning Rod Combo

[glennL]

I know this topic comes up often and mostly around this time of year, but I still have to ask.

My wife has offered to have me pick out a fishing rod and reel for Christmas.

I have a number of bait casters, but I'm more interested in getting spinning rod and reel.

If you could pick one out. One that is used only at Table Rock and mostly for bass, what do you recommend?

This would be a once in lifetime, top quality rod and reel. Probably in the $2-$4 hundred range.

[Bill Babler]

Wow! She is doing this right. Give us a little more information. Are you gong to dropshot with it? Drag a splitshot? Swim a grub? Fish a Shakey head? Fish a tube? What is your application. I use at least 6 different rod weights and sizes for Table Rock and the Reel configurations are also different due to the ammount of line and the size of the line your spooling.

Get down to the "Rat Killin," Tell us what you want to use it for.

[gitnby]

I know this topic comes up often and mostly around this time of year, but I still have to ask.

My wife has offered to have me pick out a fishing rod and reel for Christmas.

I have a number of bait casters, but I'm more interested in getting spinning rod and reel.

If you could pick one out. One that is used only at Table Rock and mostly for bass, what do you recommend?

This would be a once in lifetime, top quality rod and reel. Probably in the $2-$4 hundred range.

For that kind of $$, I would think you could get 2 decent combos?

Some good sales right now at BPS and other places.

Tell her that all of your buddies on the forum would laugh at you if you only had one!

Or, tell her that there is not one rig that can work with all of the different methods.

I know some will disagree with me, but unless you're a guide or a tournament dude, a good $200 rig (or even less)will perform well and should last for a good while with proper care.

Mr Babler and others can give you good recommendations on the right pairing of rod and reel, I'm sure.

[FishinCricket]

I can see Gitnby's point, but she's being gracious enough with her current offer, are we sure it's wise to request that she double down? lol (food for thought, being the gracious husband that I am)

[Dutch]

I'd be looking at the Shimano Stradic 2500 for starters. It pairs up well with a Gloomis IMX 6.6 MF rod and with a St. Croix Avid 6.6 MF. The loomis is a bit lighter weight than the avid but both perform well with that reel. I use them for tubes, grubs, jigs 1/4 and less, and sticks.

[cyclonebass]

My wife offered me the same deal after she received a bonus for work. I would suggest if you are going to spend that sort of money, go light weight. The two reels I would suggest are the Shimano Stradic CI4 and the Pflueger Patriarch. Both are light as a feather (7 oz) and cost $200. I got the CI4 and I think it is an awesome reel. As for a rod, I would suggest a Shimano Crucial or Cumara. Both are super sensitive and have life time warranty. I got the Cumara and accidently broke the tip off. I sent the rod to Shimano and within a week I had a new rod at my doorstep. Another good company to buy a rod from is St. Croix. Make sure you consider their lifetime warranty rods because they are great at honoring their warranties too. If you are spending that kind of money, its nice to know you will have the rod for a very long time.

[glennL]

Wow... appreciate everyone's feedback already on this. Bill, mostly draggin a worm, carolina rigged.

[steveearle]

Wow... appreciate everyone's feedback already on this. Bill, mostly draggin a worm, carolina rigged.

Cyclone actually did a very good job with his recommendation with the CI4 or Patriarch rigged on a Cumara...but I will say this, as I have fished all of the above mentioned...The St. Croix Avid ($170-ish retail) 6'6" M-F has much more backbone than the M Cumara or Loomis SJR 782 and may be your choice for draggin a small c-rig/split shot type rig where a hook set is necessary. Will also chuck a grub or a stick further and great for a deep shakey head. The Cumara and Loomis are better for drop shot or smaller/shallower shakey, where a soft rod is at a premium..

If you don't have a "connection" for tackle, get on the ball and get the wife ready for the "Black Friday" sales at Tackle Warehouse, Bass TAckle Depot, The Hook up Tackle, etc. as most will have 20% off starting Friday (Hook-up already does). Ads will say certain brands are excluded but if you pick up the phone and call, they will give you the discount...It is simply that some brands have a "minimum advertised price"...but if you call you get the discount...