Crankbait Combo?

[gitnby]

Want to get my Son a decent rod/reel combo for his Birthday.

He LOVES to throw the Wart!

Any recommendations on a good combo in the $150 range?

I have some BPS gift cards I need to use up.

I'm thinking a 6' 6" rod with a soft tip.

Is a 5.3:1 a good ratio for the cranks?

Thanks for the help!

[dtrs5kprs]

Might look at the St Croix Triumph in a 6'6" medium. Same SCII blank as the Premier, just not made in Wisconsin. Runs about $90.

Right now I am using 6'6" Premiers in ML regular, and M in the softer crankbait series. The crankbait rods are much more of a moderate blank. Both work for warts, very nice for topwaters like fins and yellow magics. The crank version is a little too moderate for sticks to suit me. Those would be around $120.

Advantage on that SCII graphite is that it is not a super high modulus, "jig" blank graphite. Handles the treble hook baits quite well.

I have seen a few sticks at Academy that feel about right, but can't remember them off hand. Seems like one might have been a Castaway.

Hard to beat a Lews reel right now. Look around on eBay...Laser Speed Spools should be under $70, Speed Spools not much higher and it has the aluminum frame vs. graphite. Both have the 5:1 option. Am running Lews on one of my St Croix's, and an old Curado SF 100 on the softer rod. Lews beats it, and I hate to admit it.

[marknsaw]

Spincast, baitcast, or spinner reel? Regardless.... I will suggest you go with a fast tip 6'6" or 7' rod. 5.3:1 is fine. I would go a bit faster because its easier to slow them down then go faster( you'll notice it quicker ). Children will want to go fast to start. Give them the option to do both, but teach them to slow dooooooooown. A stiff tip allows them to "feel" the bait better, especially with search baits. Soften the tip when they understand what finesse means. That'll come with practice and boating some fish. It worked for me and mine anyway........

[bluebasser86]

BPS cranking rod, either the 6' 6" M or MH with a BPS Pro Qualifier reel in the 5.2:1 ratio. Right now they're both on sale online, the rod for $60, the reel for $70.

[gitnby]

Spincast, baitcast, or spinner reel? Regardless.... I will suggest you go with a fast tip 6'6" or 7' rod. 5.3:1 is fine. I would go a bit faster because its easier to slow them down then go faster( you'll notice it quicker ). Children will want to go fast to start. Give them the option to do both, but teach them to slow dooooooooown. A stiff tip allows them to "feel" the bait better, especially with search baits. Soften the tip when they understand what finesse means. That'll come with practice and boating some fish. It worked for me and mine anyway........

Baitcast.

Forgot to mention that my Son is 26. Appreciate the help!

[Ranger Z22]

You cannot beat the Lew's I have bought a Duckett Ghost, for warts and I am very happy with it.

z22

[dtrs5kprs]

Baitcast.

Forgot to mention that my Son is 26. Appreciate the help!

Well...26 year olds tend towards fast as well. Guess I cheated b/c I remembered he was at least college age. Is he the ball player?

Lots of folks love those BPS sticks. I have two, a 6'6" M and a 7' MH, and can't feel anything smaller than a Fat Free 7 on either. At least not the same way as with a non composite rod. Not sure how much glass is in them, or where, but they feel dead with small cranks.

If you go the BPS route on the stick, they make plenty of softer rods with tip, just have to play with them to pick.

[Bitethis]

If he is an avid fisherman, then spending the full amount you have available would land some nice gear. If he is a casual to occassional fisherman...I would hit up Bass Pro outlet, get a $20-$40 spinning reel (or BPS pro qualifier - $60) and then find a rod for less than $50 and then buy him a bag of warts next door. Just my 2c.

I fish at least 75 days a year and I buy 80% of my rods and reels at the outlet. I have never had a problem with the reburbished gear there, and their reels have a 3 month warranty. I have had 2 basspro pro qualifiers reels I bought refurbished for over 3 years with no problems. I know some people don't like "used" gear though, but the fish don't care...

Edit: forgot to mention, basspro is having a sale on the Proqualifier rod/reel combo right now for $100. the reel alone is usually $100.

[REDSOXWSCHAMP]

LEW'S MAKES SOME PRETTY DECENT RODS AS WELL, AND THEY HAVE A GOOD RETURN POLICY. PLUS THEY ARE LOCAL!!

SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE ON E. BENNETT IN SPRINGFIELD.

[abkeenan]

LEW'S MAKES SOME PRETTY DECENT RODS AS WELL, AND THEY HAVE A GOOD RETURN POLICY. PLUS THEY ARE LOCAL!!

SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE ON E. BENNETT IN SPRINGFIELD.

x 2. Lew's has or is coming out with a "Wart Special" rod that is made for warts.....obviously. You can finds Lew's from Sportsman Outfitters out of Dothan, AL that has the best prices on Lew's gear. Lew's reels are 20-30% less there than retail plus no tax and free shipping. If you are wanting to burn your BPS gift cards then the BPS Pro Qualifier in a 5.2 gear ratio would be the best bang for you buck and pair that with rod of your choice in your budget.