(Part 2) Best products from r/bassfishing

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.

I really like the Blood & Guts Pant from Columbia. They aren't going to make you look aesthetic, but they are very loose to keep you cool in the hot summer days, and if you accidentally get wet, the water just repels off of them. They're also very, very sturdy. I have gone backpacking in them through thorns and nothing seems to tear them. I think these would be the best bet for a kayak, if you get some water on them, no big deal it'll just roll off.

I also really enjoy the Backcast Sun Pants. They're SUPER lightweight, but tend to be easier to rip and tear. Also, if you get wet they don't repel the water as well.

My favorite shirt is the Vapor Performance shirt. They're cheap, last a long time, and do exactly what you need them to do.

It may sound counterintuitive at first to wear long pants and long sleeves in the heat, but it actually does keep you cooler. It keeps the sun off your skin and creates like a "pocket" where you sweat can cool you down effectively. I don't know the exact science behind it, but it works haha.

Black max and silver max are cheaper, starter reels. They do the job, but don't expect it to be your last reel. If you enjoy using a baitcasting reel then spend a little more money for something better. Daiwa Fuego CT Baitcasting Reel is a reel that for $75, I would be happy to own.

There are reels from lews in the$80-100 range that are quite good. I would stay away from the cheaper models.

I would stay away from the lower end shimano reels. I haven't liked shimano reels for a while. However, I just got a curado k for $130 from American legacy on eBay based on some real use reviews. At below $150 this might be the best reel for the money. It looks and feels very nice. I hope I'm not disappointed.

I've been more successful with it going the opposite against my grain for LMB - lighter gear, simple. It's a finesse technique so it makes sense, but it's just not how I think we're wired for LMB typically.

Pick up the Zman Shroomz jigheads. Go with the 1/20th, literally the lightest one. Pair it up with the Zman TRDs - again, they're small and light and practically indestructible. Put all that on like 4-8lb test on a light spinning rod. I use 6lb test on a medium light 6 foot spinning rod, which makes nearly any fish you catch a fun fight. Now you're geared up.

I've done this pond fishing for LMB, and river fishing for SMB - it's great for both, but technique is different.

For ponds, cast it out, let it fall. It's very similar to wacky worm fishing, really. Fall, wait, pop and let it fall again. Repeat. Watch the line like a hawk. With light gear you don't want to set the hook hard - it's a small wire hook, it's going to go in pretty easily. This was the hardest thing for me to learn. All you have to do is raise or sweep the rod tip a bit faster than usual, and the hook will set.

I'm still working on the rivers part. But with light tackle it will just drift in the current, and smallies pick them up, often without you even feeling a strike. My buddy has just anchored in one spot below a riffle and just caught fish after fish this way. If the current is slower, you can do the same as the pond technique above. You could consider slightly heavier heads in faster current to get your rig down, but the heavier it gets the more chance of getting hung in the rocks where I fish, so you have to find the right balance. At this point I only carry the 1/20th and 1/10 heads with me.

I've caught LMB, SMB, big bluegill, falls fish - just about anything will hit a Ned. And it seems to work well even on colder, slower days when they're not hitting larger more active baits. It's quickly becoming a go-to technique for me.

The group on reddit is going to tell you to get a baitcaster. If you're used to them and don't need any help don't read any further.

If you are please keep reading:

I would suggest getting a spincaster. The old push button style. Zebco makes an all metal version called the Omega Pro Z3 that is around $54. It is a great 1st reel and it throws extremely far. The reason this is a great 1st setup as when you're ready to move to a baitcaster you will use this for your back up setup. This is then also used for a girlfriend or a friend who has no idea what they are doing. It's just a great all around easy to use reel.

On rods, Check out the Berkley Lightning Rod. They can be found around $35 bucks at Walmart or Academy. This is a great starter rod that is sensitive enough if you fish it with worms/jigs. But it's great all around.


Amazon Links:
Omega Z03 &
Berkley Lightning Rod

Best of luck. I would also tell you one other advice. Don't feel bad about losing lures. You've got to throw them in areas they will get stuck to catch big fish.

I agree with NuclearFishing, an anchor trolley is the way to go to keep a reasonable position in wind or current. Remember there are a few ways to attach to the anchor trolley. You can use a traditional anchor, a stake out pole, or a bush anchor/gripper. I know you said you were already full on gear so the choice is yours on what to bring with.

As far as "landing" any fish have you considered a collapsible fishing net? I got myself one of the Frabrill folding nets. It is incredibly lightweight but in the heat of the moment I wish it was more one-hand friendly. I do a lot of shore fishing and carry mine closed and on my belt. I pan fish a lot so every once in a while I'll hook something too big and will need the help of a net and having one I can deploy somewhat quickly is helpful. Also the very small mesh netting sometimes snags my barbs and that really grinds my gears. If your considering a collapsible net, check out video reviews to see how they are opened to which are more one hand friendly. Also the fish grips are not a bad idea either.

Rod, reel, LINE, & BAIT guys...jeeze. You don't need a $100 rod to get started.

This Pfluger President spinning combo (links at the bottom) is awesome for the price. It's running a little high on Amazon right now but you can get it for $70 at Walmart. The 6' 6" medium is the place to be. This is a great reel on a solid rod. A casting rod and reel might be preferred by some, but if you are new spinning is easier to learn and you can still use it as a finess setup if you get more gear later.

I'm not a fan of cheap line, but the goal here is $100 bucks, so go for a spool of 8 lb test mono like Trilene. That will run you around $4 for a small spool (which will be enough to spool the reel).

So now you've got a little over $25 left for baits. This is a little tricky since you didn't post where you live or what you are planning on fishing. I am going to assume spring and summer. In that case for $25 get a pack or 2 of knock off senkos ($4 each) a pack of super flukes ($4) a pack of 3/0 or 4/0 EWG worm hooks ($4) a 1/2 oz or smaller spinner bait by a decent name like strike king ($3 - 5) and a decent crankbait like the strike king KVD 1.5 ($5) OR a buzzbait ($5) OR a small lipless crankbait ($5).

That will let you cover a lot of spring and summer water. If you have a few more dollars grab some jigs, a Pop-R, a bag of trickworms, or a chatterbait to open up some more options.

Keep in mind the rod and reel won't be ideal for crankbaits and spinners, but it will do alright and it will rock the plastics which will give you a lot of stuff to play with.

I know everyone wants top of the line gear, but if you are on a budget maximize your spend. You can catch the same fish on this combo as a $300 combo. You may not have all the bells and whistles but if it gets you out there and fishing who gives a damn?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DTTRY0S/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?qid=1419737932&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Pflueger-President-Spinning-Combo-Rod/20893381

thanks for your input. i've added the line you recommended and removed the sebile swimbait as well as the truscend.

one setup will be for bass and one for pike. i've upgraded the pike setup to support up to 1oz lures as it's getting too pricey with everything adding up to go any bigger. does this look ok for that?

Abu Garcia 1430485 Veritas Casting 1Piece Rod, 6'10" Length, 12-20 lb Line Rate 1/4-1 oz Lure Rate, Medium/Heavy Power

Abu Garcia Pmax3-c

Also I was looking at the swimbait you recommended and I see they're going to be heavier than what I'll be able to handle. Any other recommendations 1oz or under? Are these good?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CTU2Y0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CTO2L4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_27?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

These are what I have for lures picked out so far. Any input greatly appreciated

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001445MZE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_10?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J9SU30/ref=ox_sc_act_title_11?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FKJTP4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_15?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CURA7Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_21?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GU6MRF8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HJ4DN4O/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1


This would be for bass I guess? Would like to get some smaller swimbait for bass as well, something that would work for pike and bass could be nice I suppose.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OSZ0TY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_12?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1


Here is a compiled picture if it helps. https://i.imgur.com/a6PEjID.jpg

One of the go-to bass lures is the Senko worm. They come in almost every color combination you can think of. To this day it is my favorite. Grab a pack or two of of 5'' Baby Bass or 5'' Pumpkin/black flake. with some Offset hooks set them up Texas rigged. Toss them in the weeds, close to the bank, off the bottom of the deep. They are pretty versatile. Play with them in the shallows to see how the action works. Good luck!!

Expensive, but a great product. Really well thought out design.

https://www.amazon.com/WT3604-Tackle-Lighted-Backpack-PT3600/dp/B00A0PA46U?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

If you're insane, then I guess I am as well. I'm a shore fisherman and pack a similar variety, but I carry three colors each: junebug/black, green pumpkin, watermelon candy for worms/creatures/craws; white, shad (silver two-tone) and some kind of bluegill imitator for flukes and swimbaits. I'm able to fit it all in a backpack, along with 2-3 3600 sized boxes, line spools, tools, etc., and it gets to about 16 pounds total. I keep all of the soft plastics in the top compartment in their own bags except for Keitechs, which I put in a binder. Presumably this size of bag would work in a kayak.

https://www.amazon.com/Fuji-EHKM-BC-Keeper-Black-Chrome/dp/B003HH5O86

These things are great for adding a hook keeper to any rod. I actually prefer rods that don't come with keepers now.

I designed for bass fishing lover.

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L85QD8Y