Reddit mentions: The best fishing reels

Hello! I'm pretty much in your same shoes. Sorry if you've already got your gear in order, just tossing out my research in the hopes of helping you or others who may find themselves here. : ) The tone may drift into the general from time to time.

I've been surf fishing for only a month now, but have been successful enough in my trips to keep the dream alive as I continue to gain experience. My current gear is a simple 6' catfish rod running 15lbs braided line tying into a Carolina rigged fluoro leader running a size 6 hook. With this setup I'm able to get bites and pull small surf perch and similar sized species.

Having satisfied the exploratory phase of surf fishing, I can say that I love it. I've decided that I require (at minimum) 2 rod/reel combos to be happy on the beach. One for my long casts and another to fish the troughs just 10-15' off the beach.

While I'm completely unaware of your budget or where St Andrews Park (NW Florida?) is located, I'll share my findings with you... Hopefully they'll give you some insight into what you're looking for.

My location: Bay Area, California

Long Shots...

Rod:
http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Two-Piece-Bigwater-Spinning-11-Feet/dp/B00144CGAS?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I may consider the 12' option here as well...

Reel:
http://www.amazon.com/Okuma-Speed-Spinning-Orange-Trio-55S/dp/B004F1GTJ6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Main Line:
High (~20-30lbs) test braided, choose your poison. I really am enjoying braided line. The tactile response is unreal and I find it cuts through the seaweed quite nicely. I lost a few riggings until I learned some specific braid knots... do yourself a favor and learn a few rated for high strength with braided line. And as always, wet your knots before cinching!

Rigging:
A High/Low rigging containing 2 droppers connecting 1/0 baitkeeper hooks terminating into a 4-6 oz pyramid sinker. Something clear, ~20-30lbs test. Do not forget to include some shock absorbers or you'll be losing lures all day.

An alternative to this is plugging.

Targets:
For me fishing out of the Bay Area, CA; halibut, stripers, leopards, 7gills, etc.

Bait:
Tossing out live anchovies (hooked through both lips), clams, squid, chicken livers, etc.

Versatility:
I would use this setup for both beach and pier fishing. This would be great for pulling in the sharks and rays caught from the various oceanic and bay piers.

Short Casting...
I've not quite settled in on what I want here... my 6' catfish rod has great action to handle the 3/4 oz - 2 oz of weight I put on my Carolina rig, but I find fighting larger swells with a 6' rod to be annoying.

Also, I'm trying to find a good all around pole for both light surf and some bass fishing. I want more height for surf, less for prowling around a shoreline / boat. The plight of many fishermen, I'm sure. lol

Rod:
I'm likely going to end up with the 8' version of the Shakespeare Bigwater listed above. It supports 3/4 - 4 oz of casting weight which is the sweet spot for short casting the surf.

Reel:
Same story here... Likely to end up with a the 30s version of the Okuma reel listed above.

Main Line:
10-15lbs braided line.

Rigging:
Carolina running 3/4 - 2 oz of weight (pending surf conditions) on ~24" fluoro leader (10lbs test) terminating into a size 6 baitkeeper hook.

Small kastmasters or spinners can also work here.

Targets:
Surfperch mostly. There are a few species that you can hook up on, but they all eat the same bits so... : )

Bait:
I've tried a few options ranging from the ever present sand crabs to rubber worms. I find that in my area, the most hits are coming from Berkeley brand saltwater sand worms. There are similar sand worms that the fish are naturally feeding on. That combined with the smell enhancements to the worms makes for very tempting treats.

Versatility:
This smaller rig can be setup with a floating high/low rig for fishing the top 5-6' of water around the pilings when pier fishing.

here are my choices i will break down my choices under the list.

dobyns fury 703/733 - $119 https://www.amazon.com/Dobyns-Rods-FR-733C-Casting/dp/B00XUED68Q/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=dobyns+fury+703&qid=1556654801&s=gateway&sr=8-13

abu garcia silver max - $41 https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Silver-Max-Profile/dp/B011LV0LQY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=abu%2Bgarcia%2Bsilver%2Bmax&qid=1556656162&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-3&th=1

berkley lightning rod - $35 https://www.amazon.com/Berkley-Lightning-Rod-Spinning/dp/B074W7DCGS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=DS7V3P9N76ZS&keywords=berkley%2Blightning%2Brod%2Bspinning&qid=1556655068&s=gateway&sprefix=berkley%2Blighting%2Br%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-2&th=1


pfleuger president reel - $59 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074WHM4PX/ref=twister_B076HTY1CT_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

daiwa aird x - $54 https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-0001-4041-Airx701Hfb-Aird-X-1pc/dp/B016P4DUU6/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_5?keywords=daiwa+aird+x+casting+rods+heavy&qid=1556656012&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-5-fkmrnull

abu garcia silver max $41- https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Silver-Max-Profile/dp/B011LV0LQY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=abu%2Bgarcia%2Bsilver%2Bmax&qid=1556656162&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-3&th=1

total $350

1. med-fast lightning rod -- many reviews throughout the years continue to state that this rod fishes above its price point.
   med-fast so you can do spinners, drop shot , ned rig, jerkbaits
   because of the med power you can use it for crankbaits too , just do more of a sweep then a powerful hook set so you dont rip the crank out the fishes mouth. i specifically chose this as a spinning rod so you can throw the lighter baits further.
   
   reel pfleuger president -- not much to say about this reel imo its been the best bang for buck reel for many years. a little heavier then the more expensive reels, but its smoooth i have had one for about ten years.
   
   
   
2. heavy-fast daiwa aird x -- this is your frogging, punching, heavy rig rod.
   
   
   
3. dobyns fury 703 aka medium-heavy/fast -- texas-rig , carolina rig, jigs etc. this is your bottom contact rod. because of that i chose to go to a higher end rod because with these techniques better sensitivity really does help to detect bites. what can i say about dobyns. pretty much universally respected. well made rods , great customer service. again this is a rod who many people say fish above its price point. i have a dobyns sierra 735.
   
   
   abu garcia silver max reel-- this is a good beginner reel at a good price. i have a friend who has been fishing an abu garcia for a couple years and it feels good, he hasnt had any problems with it. at 40 dollars hard to beat.
   
   if someone would like to spend a little more i would upgrade the silver max reels to daiwa fuegos. I chose to go with better rods and save money on reels to stay under the 350. sure you can do something where the rod and reel are comparable, but i rather have a better rods with cheaper reel. then two mediocre items.
   
   and i chose amazon just out of convenience and because their prices dont normally fluctuate too much. im sure if you shop around you can get some of these items at a lower price.

Here's a copy/paste of one of my comments. Take from it what you benefit from (it's a suggestion for pier fishing)



I'll try to be brief as possible. Also, I'm not sure your experience level, so I apologize if I go over things that are obvious to you.

Basically you need to be aiming for Spanish Mackerel. They are a fucking blast to fish for.

Your set-up will work fine. These fish only get up to around 8-12 pounds, 15 if you're (extremely) lucky. But, bank on your catches being 8-12 pounds (closer to 8).

What you need:

Leader. You'll need to tie 40 or 50 pound monofilament line to your main line. Spanish have razor sharp teeth and will bite off smaller line. I'll go over later how to tie leader to main line. You can just buy the cheap mono line. I keep both 40# and 50# with me. I'll use 40# first, and if I get bit off 2 times, I switch to 50#. But, no need to spend too much money, just grab a spool of 40 or 50 pound. Worth noting, Spanish have eyes of a hawk and can easily be spooked away from lure, that's why I try with 40# first. So, it's a gamble of getting hooked up/ getting bit off between 40 and 50#. I suggest 40#

Lure: Gotcha plugs. Seriously, That's the only lure you need. Spanish love them. You'll also catch other things such as blue runners and possibly king mackerels. Get them at the local walmart down there in Destin (as well as your other fishing needs) prices online are a little high, and walmart has the best prices (believe it or not). Like I said ealier, get about 5 per person, as you will get bit off. But different colors; sometimes spanish will wanna strike white body/ yellow head, where as the next they want gold body/orange head. They also come in metal body and plastic body. I suggest getting both. In the picture of the gotcha plug above i linked is a gold body/ orange head/ metal body, I highllly suggest that, that is my go-to gotcha plug.

You said you already had line, but I suggest getting 12-20lb braided line. Braided line casts far and has better response.

Pliers. Last thing you want is a Spanish biting your finger. Have some pliers so you can pull the hook out of its mouth.

a big cooler. You may want to rent a cooler cart at the pier. It's a hassle to carry a cooler to the end of the pier, and then back full of ice and fish. bring a long cooler with you

food drinks. don't waste 20 minutes of good fishing by having to walk to the front desk to buy a $4 coke and $3 snickers bar, have that shit with you.


Get to the pier before sun break. You want to be on the pier, in your fishing spot ~15 minutes before the sun comes up. As of today, 6:19 AM is sunrise for Destin, FL. So, you want to be walking on the pier to the spot at like 6:05am. Spanish run early in the morning to about 12pm and then head back to deeper water (they return a few hours before sundown, when the water cools off). Can't stress this enough, be there before sunrise.

Here is a video on how to tie your mono leader to your main line.

When you get to the pier, you'll see other guys out there fishing for Spanish, you'll know where to be. generally it's somewhere in the middle of the pier. Just keep an eye on the other guys and watch where they fish and how they do it. When you cast the gotcha, you'll retrieve it fast with somewhat of a jerk here and there.

So, to recap, hopefully put 12-20lb braid on your rig. Tie with uni-knot 40-50lb mono leader to you main line. Tie gotcha plug to leader (no swivels or anything, just line tied to line tied to lure). be in middle of pier before sunrise. Cast as far as you can, retrieve lure fast with some jerking.

Oh, and when you leave the pier, wash your poles off with the water hose at the entrance to the pier. Especially with your gear that is not designed for saltwater. Saltwater is very corrosive and will lock your reel up if not washed off your reel when done. But, don't wash the reel too much and clean the lubricant inside of it. Just a simple wash will do.


extra: while you're at walmart, get a lure called a sabiki rig. looks like this or this (get sabiki brand, not cheap stuff) Tie to your line, and add a weight to the end. Go near a pilling and drop it to the very bottom, then real up a few cranks and manually bring your pole up and down (tip of pole going up and down about 4 foot). It's always good fun to catch 4-5 fish at the same time. Most of the time it's fish you throw back, but fun none the less. If you were fishing for King mackerel you would do this to catch live bait. You'll see the Korean people on the pier doing this


Most importantly, have fun. If you take my advice, you're bound to have fun! I'll be in Panama city here in about a week and will be fishing non-stop. update me with some pictures of fish!

edit: Here is the gear I suggest for Saltwater fishing from pier (with capabilities of surf fishing)

Pole: Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2

Reel: Penn Battle II 4000

Line: Power Pro Braided Fishing Line 20lb/300yards I use moss green. Color choice is up to you. High vidiabilty colors (yellow for example) do help when fishing on a crowded pier. People can see where you are casted at. Helps reduce hook ups with other fisherman.

I would go for a 2 piece or 4 piece light or ultralight action spinning rod. Amazon is full of suggestions with lots of reviews but for a low cost, relatively lightweight and tough rod an ugly stick is hard to beat. Here is a 6' light action rod which would be a great choice imo. https://www.amazon.com/Ugly-Stik-GX2-Spinning-Rod/dp/B00F0KM43G/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?keywords=shimano%2Bpack%2Brod&qid=1565000672&s=gateway&sr=8-19-spons&th=1 It is a bit more to pack than a 4 piece rod but strapped to the side of your pack should not be too obtrusive. As far as a reel again staying with the bang for the buck for the price I have had great luck with Pflueger President reels like this one. https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-PRESSP30X-President-Spinning-Fishing/dp/B074WHM4PV/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2PMKS1QL76NWO&keywords=pflueger%2Bpresident%2Bspinning%2Breel&qid=1565001151&s=gateway&sprefix=pflueder%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1-spons&th=1 I would spool it up with 4lb test.

Be sure to check the regs of where you are going bait may not be allowed but even if it is I would stick with lures. I would not want to fool with backpacking live bait, nothing stinks as bad as dead worms. LOL

Panther Martin, Roostertail and Joe's flies spinners are my go-to baits for trout. Small minnow baits like rapalas can be super effective as well. I am not going to list links for all but these but panther martin spinners are pretty deadly lures in my experience. https://www.amazon.com/Panther-Martin-UV6-Violet-Assortment/dp/B00AU5WNQO/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3A07BIDNZTDYW&keywords=panther+martin+trout+spinners&qid=1565001635&s=gateway&sprefix=panther+%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-4

Last but not least. Someone else suggested a Tenkara outfit and I have to agree with him. It is a very simple and lightweight system that lends itself well to backpacking. The learning curve is not as steep as you may think and really the only downside is casting range but on remote streams and lakes a lot of the time you don't need to cast as far. Here are a couple of blog posts I wrote about what I use backpacking. I am a fly fisherman but maybe it will give you some ideas.

Backpack fly fishing gear

Tenkara

The answer to your question is out there. Only, we cannot answer since we don't know your flaws. The best thing to do is get a single lesson from a pro, ask him to give you some drill and even ask him what training aids would be beneficial for you. He even might use some training aid during the lesson.

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https://www.amazon.com/Yunn-Training-Alignment-Accessories-Right-Handed/dp/B07RK9L1DK/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=putting+tutor&qid=1565915875&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Putting tutor to make sure your putts are starting on line



https://www.amazon.com/Callaway-CT29024-Alignment-Stix/dp/B00H88JDKU/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=alignment+sticks&qid=1565915947&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Alignment sticks can be used for an enormous amount of drills

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J1BLGC4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used this aid to help my elongated back swing. Took me a while but now I have much better tempo and actually get more speed.

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https://www.amazon.com/Tools-STRAIT-LINE-Aluminum-Refillable-Irwin/dp/B0186JTY7G/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=strait+line+chalk+line&qid=1565916149&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-10

This is the best putting aid you will ever use CHALK LINE!!!

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https://www.amazon.com/Diriway-Training-Correction-Inflatable-Adjustable/dp/B07RW8CLM6/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=GOLF+TRAINING+BALL&qid=1565916213&s=gateway&sr=8-14

This is a good tool to use on your swinging to make sure your upper body is working in unison.

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Check out some of these tools and look up some drills. I am sure you can find a few that would help your game. Good luck!

Can't go wrong with the Ugly Sticks for the price, however you might want to go down a weight... medium heavy (MH) is a bit much for the species you're targeting unless you're using really large lures and mostly going for big carp, and heavy is way too much. It'll be pretty stiff and with lighter line result in larger fish being more likely to break you off vs a medium action which will flex more when fighting the fish. You could even go medium light if you're catching more smaller walleye, crappie, and rock bass. I do prefer the Ugly Stik Elite over the GX2 though, they're 10 bucks more but lighter with a nice cork handle. Either way is fine though. Also, you mention casting rods and spinning reels... that won't work, you will need either a spinning rod and spinning reel (which is what I would go with) or a baitcaster reel and a casting rod (which is harder to get used to).

The reel you're looking at is not one I've used personally, but they're quite popular and most people love them here, so from everything I've heard it will be a fine choice. I use mostly Penn reels which I've been very happy with, and the compatible Penn would be the new Fierce II which is also a good choice.

If I were buying a new all around use freshwater setup today, here is what I would buy... I'm posting the Amazon link because it's easy to find, but you can get this stuff most anywhere:

Penn Fierce II Spinning Reel size 2500 or 3000. I use the Battle II line which is just a step up, but the Fierce is reliable and durable as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Penn-FRCII4000-Fierce-Spinning-Reel/dp/B011LVCGA8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487770336&sr=8-1&keywords=penn%2Bfierce%2B2&th=1&psc=1

Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Rod - this is a matter of preference, but I like a 7' rod for casting out a bit farther, 2 piece for easy transport, in medium power so it has some flex to help with casting and fighting larger fish on lighter line.

https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Elite-Spinning-2-Piece-7-Feet/dp/B00QJ4IE6S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487770384&sr=8-1&keywords=ugly%2Bstick%2Belite&th=1&psc=1

My choice for line (either way you go reel wise) would probably be 8-10lb mono, like this one, or 15-20 braid. If you get an extra spool for the reel you buy, you can have both.

https://www.amazon.com/Stren-Monofilament-Fishing-10-Pound-Fluorescent/dp/B00LDYHTQU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487770474&sr=8-1&keywords=stren%2Bmono%2B10lb&th=1&psc=1

I would look for a spinning combo with a medium power rod and a 2500-3000 size real, that's a good middle ground for starting freshwater fishing... stout enough for larger fish but not so big that you can't cast lighter lures.

For 50, your best bet is probably an Ugly Stik GX2 combo, probably go with model MODEL # USSP662M/35CBO myself.

http://www.uglystik.com/uglystik-combos-spinning-combos/ugly-stik-gx2-spinning-combo/1314552.html#specifications

If you want to go up a bit in price, you'll get a bit more out of an Ugly Stik Elite combo version of the above, or a Pflueger President Spinning Combo like model PFLPRES2-70COMBO:

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/pflueger-president-spinning-combo-15pflupflprs2spn2com/15pflupflprs2spn2com?recid=nosearch_PageElement_nosearch_rr_1_2564_&rrec=true

If it were me, I would probably save up a bit more and pair a Penn Fierce II 2500 with an Ugly Stik Elite 7' rod, which for the money gives you a versatile combo with will last a long time and a can handle light salt water use as well. Both pieces are about 50 bucks, here's what they look like from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011LVCGA8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VS0S1IO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Any of those are pretty comonly available at places like Cabela's, Dicks, Bass Pro, and some even at Walmart if you want to check them out in person. Any of those paired with some 8-10lb mono line like Stren Original or whatever you prefer, or 15lb braid will work well for most freshwater situations.

Other than rod/reel, I would get a decent tackle box, I like the soft side ones with a strap that make hauling your gear around a bit easier... I have a couple of them from Plano that were a bout 50 bucks. I would also get a decent pair of pliers or similar, ideally with a cutter to trim line, so you can unhook fish that took a lure a deeper in their mouth easily, especially toothy fish.

I agree with those who have said Tenkara is great for ultralight backpacking but not for fishing from the shore. A nice spinning set-up is great from the shore. I've given up on poles that breakdown and just buy telescoping rods now. They are not as great of rods, but they are so much easier to break down and carry. It is a PIA trying to keep track of and protecting all of the pieces for a rod that comes apart.

I would look for a telescoping rod 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 feet with as light of action as possible. The tiny little lures don't cast well with a stiff rod. For a spin set-up, the standard recommendation is to spend your money on the reel, not the rod (vs. fly fishing where you want a solid rod and don't care too much about the reel).

A cheap decent telescoping rod is South Bend:

https://www.amazon.com/South-Bend-Neutron-Spinning-Telescopic/dp/B00GIA9IF4/ref=pd_day0_hl_200_3/145-5623006-2978351?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00GIA9IF4&pd_rd_r=b06a9bb2-6b90-11e9-81c3-e19ee3aed6a0&pd_rd_w=HUvrt&pd_rd_wg=Vd2x6&pf_rd_p=ad07871c-e646-4161-82c7-5ed0d4c85b07&pf_rd_r=FHH3TMQ49E06Y74B4CM9&psc=1&refRID=FHH3TMQ49E06Y74B4CM9

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I have one and its a great deal for the money. If you want a real nice one I bought a Balzer rod. Definitely nicer than my South Bend rod but a heck of a lot more expensive. If you want as cheap and light as possible check out Pen Rods: http://penfishingrods.com

I ended up not getting a Pen Rod because they only work with their reels and those reels look pretty cheap and crappy to me.

For a reel I like the smallest Pflueger President PressP20 Spin reel: https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-President-Spinning-Reel/dp/B074WHM4PV/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?keywords=pflueger%2Bpresident%2Bspinning%2Breel%2B20%2Bx&qid=1556661646&s=gateway&sr=8-3-fkmrnull&th=1

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It is a heck of a deal for the quality of the reel.

yeah i mean you probably dont neeeed to change the reel, especially if your going to tone it down with the line. but if you do this one here will hold you over for a long long time a lot of respect for this one out there. at let me just finish up with this one on the line situation. your gonna have people giving you all kinds of suggesting, eventually people are going to start telling you ya gotta throw braid blah blah blah. bro if you set the drag right, 6lb test can land just about everything. im over here carp fishing 10lbers on a 4' ultralight and 4lb test. my reel might be a bit shot but, totally do able. you may want to get yourself a net, love having a net. nothing worse than losing a fish at the shoreline trying to pick it up with the line rather than your hand or...a net

https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-President-Spinning-Reel/dp/B071X36WTS

Are you going to be fishing primarily from shore, or going out on a boat? If you're going to be on shore, a recurve will work great! But in my experience it can be a little tricky to maneuver a longer bow like that when you're on a boat, so a compound might be a better choice there. You can check craigslist or yard sales for an older compound bow, and then get a reel for like $80 online or in-store. Also, this might just be my opinion here but I would stay away from the spool-style reels and just get a bottle or spinner. The spools can be frustrating, IMO. You almost have to set the bow down and pull the fish in by hand, and then you have to wind the line back up by hand. And often it gets mildly tangled when you're pulling it in, so you have to spend more time untangling and re-winding. Well worth the initial expense to get a reel right away, but again - JMO.

You can get better reels for cheaper, IMO. The AMS reel is ~$80, as is the Muzzy spincast style reel. Even cheaper if you get the older Muzzy reel, but then you'll need a reel seat too which is another $10-$15 anyway.

Arrows usually run about $12-$15 if you're not looking for anything too fancy, so you should be able to get a very nice reel and an arrow for ~$100. Could also check on Craigslist if there's one near you, I've had good luck there.

Do you already have a bow, or is this a brand-new venture you're getting yourself into?

Tackle Bag: (Edit: after reading your post again I see that you already have a tackle bag but I will leave this in anyways) I'm not sure what size bag you are looking for but I got one of these in yesterday from Cabelas that is currently on sale for $60 that I really like: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Rapala-reg-Tackle-Bag/2125652.uts

Reel: This will depend a lot on how much you want to spend on the reel but the Abu Garcia Revo S is a nice upgrade from your Silvermax. Other than an occasional eBay deal I've not seen it cheaper than the $110 Amazon is selling it for. https://amzn.com/B00927037M With your budget you could probably purchase a couple of them if you wanted to have more reels on hand.

$50-$100 for the rod and reel or including tackle?

In that price range I would look closely at the 7’ medium Daiwa Aird-X paired with either the Shimano Sahara or Pflueger President. The Pflueger Trion is another great budget option but would be about as cheap as I would personally go on any reel.

But if you are needing to account for line and tackle in that budget as well your best bet would probably be to look at the Ugly Stik GX2 combo

ah, thanks for the picture this actually explains a lot about why my casts don't go that far. Basically, the situation I'm in right now is that I just started fishing "for real", in a sense. I've been fishing since I was young and was using whatever setup my dad gave me but I recently started researching more about fishing and how to make the best out of it. Finding out the difference in line types, casting methods, what reels, etc. My dad has been using these gigantic reels with rods that are both 10-15 years old so I figured it was time I got my own, but on a budget I could manage.

The current setting I'm looking at is this:

Reel: Okuma Avenger ABF40 or ABF50

Rod: Daiwa Beefstick 10ft 14-40lb

Line: Power Pro, Not sure which yet.

If I go with the ABF50 Reel, and 30lb 300Y braid, the total comes to around $100 USD, whereas the ABF40 with 30lb 150Y braid, comes out to just under $80 USD, and if I come up short on the braid, I can use some of the one I have right now. Would it also be possible to put some of my 30lb braid I'm using right now on the spool first, then attach like a 10 or 15lb braid onto that so my cast gets far?

These are normally $36 on amazon with free shipping. Although they are pretty decent reels for the money I would recommend you spend the extra money and get a higher quality reel, especially if you are a beginner, as it will make learning to cast accurately and smoothly much easier.

https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-PRESSP30X-President-Spinning-Fishing/dp/B074WJS5FF

My brother bought me one a few years ago for christmas, it's been the best spinning reel i've ever owned by far. Admittedly, I've never owned any high dollar rod/reel combos, but I have used a few. If you like spinning reels and are in the market for one, I highly recommend them.

can't go wrong with $5 fishing gear though especially when you get decent brands from people that just don't know what to sell it for.

I recommend an Ugly Stik Elite Medium Action rod paired with a Penn Fierce II size 2500 and spooled with 8lb mono line. It's a combo he can use for anything from brim to bass to catfish and even some light saltwater use. It's easy to use, and pretty tough and low maintenance. Here's the items on Amazon that are around your price limit with free prime shipping. The other option would be a Bass Pro / Cabela's / etc. gift card so he can choose his own.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QJ4IE6S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

+

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011LVCGA8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1&psc=1

+

https://www.amazon.com/Stren-SOFS4-15-Original/dp/B00MGBG6M2/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1491522800&sr=1-1&keywords=stren%2Boriginal&th=1&psc=1

What kind of budget?

Edit: Echo Base Fly Rod (7'6" 3wt) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C4SY5L0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_soc3Db8WA5KZ1


Piscifun Sword Fly Fishing Reel with CNC-machined Aluminum Alloy Body 3/4 Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191J5BYK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hpc3DbX1VYQW2

I’ve been very happy with this pairing. Not very expensive but works great so far.

Well i think that most people would tell you the same thing I will. Get the Penn Battle 2. It's widely accepted as one of the best saltwater spinning reels and is available for as low as $70 on Amazon.

Penn Battle II Spinning Reel, 4000 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LDYJ7CO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.qJqybKRAJNFW

I would probably go with the 4000 or 5000 size depending on what line weight and type you are using. (Braid, monofilament). If you plan on ever using it for bigger fish or offshore fishing then maybe go for the 6000. Hope that helps. If you have any question let me know.

You can't go wrong with a Penn Battle or Penn Spinfisher V. I personally own the Spinfisher and they're solid as can be. For sharks and rays grab a 6000 or 7000. For trout, snapper, and the like grab a 4000.
As for a rod, look in the 6-7 foot range. Star Rods, Shimanos, and Penn all make quality products. And you can't go wrong with going to your local tackle shop and asking for advice. It's hard to match a rod and reel without feeling it, so I actually strongly recommend checking them out.

I use one of these, specifically the SLV 56, and it's awesome. I've cast thousands of times with it and caught hundreds of fish, and it's like new. Plus, it's right at your budget!

I've got an ugly stick gx2 casting rod ($40) with a Piscifun 13+1 reel (good Amazon reviews) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MOPC17O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_QAAhzbK1H6J9Y ($36)

I have really enjoyed the combo but don't have any experience with high end reels.

Landed hundreds of LMB with this and a couple dozen pike. Also with mention was a 10.5 bluegill.

Happy fishing!

Yeah I figured. Thanks dude! Also too, Its on amazon for $99!

I have a daiwa Fuego 3000 that I really like. On eBay you can get it for about $60 at times.. Lowest I've seen it today is about $80. here is a daiwa bg 2500 for$75 which is a good deal, also. Check American legacy on line and on eBay. They have good deals.

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B015L58RFI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_v3mJzbYX87M2J

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Never forget to smile again | ^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

http://smile.amazon.com/KastKing-Royale-Profile-Baitcasting-Fishing/dp/B010MAVNYY?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

Picked this up just for fun a few weeks back, and after one adjustment, I'm pretty impressed. It's not the most amazing reel, and you can tell that the materials aren't as high quality as my other reels, but it works great.

No idea on longevity, but I can cast a hell of a long way with it, and it's got all the right adjustments.

edit Looks like the price has gone up, I only paid $40 shipped to my door through amazon prime. Check back in a few days and see if they have that price back up, or you can buy it here for $45. http://www.eposeidon.com/kastking-royale-legend-high-speed-baitcasting-reel

Battle 2 is dope if you can go $6 over budget. And most importantly it would look cool with green I think

Id get something SUPER cheap. Literally no reason for a reel on a 3wt other than a line holder. Check out this one or this one

I just bought this setup. Literally going freshwater fishing for the first time in 25 years, next month. Cost me just under 100.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010MAVNYY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Laser_SG_Speed_Stick_IM6_Casting_Rods/descpage-LLSC.html

--edit--
I did a fair amount of research and it led me to this purchase. They're both still in the mail so I haven't gotten a chance to test them out. Might as well ask while I'm here, anyone else have any input on this setup?

Most name brands will have a catfish rod, shakespere and ugly sticks are pretty common. really any heavy duty casting rod will work. if you want something high end St. Croix makes a cat fish rod

most will come with a reel that will work fine but if you want to upgrade I highly suggest the Okuma Baitfeeder reel Size 50. this reel has a unique feature that allows fish to pull line without leaving the bail open. on amazon https://www.amazon.com/Okuma-Avenger-ABF-Graphite-Feeder/dp/B000F7UPRG?th=1&psc=1

I really like the Daiwa BG spinning reels. They MSRP for around $100, but I've bought some 2000 and 2500 series from Amazon for $80-$90:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JH8FHXU/?coliid=I2UGNIU66VFV03&colid=1K2M3V0PM38NC&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

I would recommend the following.

https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Ugly-Stik-Spinning-6-15-Pound/dp/B00GGKM3Y4/ref=pd_sbs_200_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00GGKM3Y4&pd_rd_r=47DMVKBTFV13NXVRH732&pd_rd_w=FQfGp&pd_rd_wg=8n2OL&refRID=47DMVKBTFV13NXVRH732

https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-President-Spinning-Reel/dp/B071X36WTS/ref=pd_sbs_200_8?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B071X36WTS&pd_rd_r=MJ3NAKRTJFVSD8AXB43C&pd_rd_w=0qeER&pd_rd_wg=rDmkB&refRID=MJ3NAKRTJFVSD8AXB43C

I love my Okuma SLV 56. The drag system is incredible for the price. I've used reels 5 times the cost, and really don't notice a large difference. Also, depending on where you fish, you will very rarely actually utilize the drag.

I usually avoid combos, I have cabela's catfish rods, they're nothing special. If I were to upgrade them, I'd look into like an ugly stick 2 piece, about 7-10 long, fiberglass, and about a medium action. If you look into european stuff the sky is the limit. I got some okuma avenger bait feeding reels, the 50 size which is a little big but was cheaper, I really like them, but recently had a couple line related mishaps that were probably caused by my inattention when setting them up.

Sure bud,


Reel:
https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Revo-Low-Profile/dp/B00927037M/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1492185050&sr=8-8&keywords=Revo+stx


Rod:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019TWHQVU/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_11?ie=UTF8&smid=A118ET3SYKM3QX&th=1&psc=1

As with all Ultralight the cheaper you go the heavier it gets. But this combo will weigh around 5-6 total oz more thana tenkara and you won't be limited in casting distance, drag power, or lure selection.

Sorry for the formatting, on mobile.

KastKing Royale Legend High Speed Profile Baitcasting Fishing Reel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010MAVNYY?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

That's available for $37.

KastKing Spartacus Maximus Metal Baitcasting Fishing Reel – Saltwat... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XW8T28M/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_z-cfAbTJY604R

I got this one back in September for $34, which is a hell of a deal. Just have to keep your eyes open.

Good luck.