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Started By
Message
Help pick out a baitcasting set up for my 14 year old son, please.
Posted on 11/15/21 at 6:48 pm
Posted on 11/15/21 at 6:48 pm
My 14 year old son has really taken to fishing the nearby neighborhood ponds (bass mainly) and I got him a cheap baitcaster 6 months ago or so after he "really wanted" one because all his YouTube follows were using them. I worked with him for a while and he's decent at it, still gets the occasional birdsnest and gets aggravated, but hasn't given up yet. I'd like to get him a decent rod/reel for Christmas (around $200 for both) but not familiar with what's considered decent nowadays. Shimano/All Star still good stuff or are there better options available at that price point? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
8
Posted on 11/15/21 at 7:14 pm to TomSpanks
I like Lew’s and Shimano. A Lew’s may be easier to keep in your $200 budget, but it can be done with a Shimano if you find a good deal on a rod.
Posted on 11/15/21 at 7:24 pm to TomSpanks
Citica
All Star rod
All Star rod
Posted on 11/15/21 at 7:44 pm to jimbeam
Shimano SLX DC combo
Yes, this is a legit site. A pop-up for 10% off will come up when you visit the site. Enter email, wait for coupon. Profit. Will be right at $200. You won't find a better deal, IMO.
Yes, this is a legit site. A pop-up for 10% off will come up when you visit the site. Enter email, wait for coupon. Profit. Will be right at $200. You won't find a better deal, IMO.
Posted on 11/15/21 at 7:46 pm to TomSpanks
I like shimano but manufacturing has gotten pretty good across the board. $99 bucks is about the magic number for a casting reel, less and they tend to be full of plastic and not last.
If academy has them in stock they may do the SLX buy the reel and rod both for $150, where each is usually $99. If you can find a 7’0 MH/fast and a reel to go with it you’re not gonna beat it for the money.
Do what hashtag said
If academy has them in stock they may do the SLX buy the reel and rod both for $150, where each is usually $99. If you can find a 7’0 MH/fast and a reel to go with it you’re not gonna beat it for the money.
Do what hashtag said
This post was edited on 11/15/21 at 7:49 pm
Posted on 11/15/21 at 7:58 pm to TomSpanks
Like others have said I've heard nothing but good things about the Shimano SLX combo, a 6.5-7.5 gear ratio on a medium heavy rod would be perfect for anything he wants to do
Posted on 11/15/21 at 8:12 pm to hashtag
SLX combos are on sale at Tackle Direct for $129. LINK
To the OP, that’s a hell of a deal for setup you are getting. My son has one (10) and it’s quality for that price.
I thought about posting this earlier for the OB fishermen.
ETA: looks like all the right handed combos are sold out, have lefties available.
To the OP, that’s a hell of a deal for setup you are getting. My son has one (10) and it’s quality for that price.
I thought about posting this earlier for the OB fishermen.
ETA: looks like all the right handed combos are sold out, have lefties available.
This post was edited on 11/15/21 at 8:17 pm
Posted on 11/15/21 at 8:20 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
Shimano SLX DC reel. It is hard to get a bird's nest and you can cast it a mile (almost, lol). Bass Pro sells for $189. I let a bass fishing friend try it at Big Lake and he bought 3 reels when he got home and he fishes mainly freshwater.
Buy a quality rod, like the Falcon Gulf Coast caster, 7.5 foot medium action. About $95 at Academy.
I use this same set up for salt (trout, redfish and flounder) and fresh water (bass). It can't be beat. Both should last a lifetime with proper care.
Buy a quality rod, like the Falcon Gulf Coast caster, 7.5 foot medium action. About $95 at Academy.
I use this same set up for salt (trout, redfish and flounder) and fresh water (bass). It can't be beat. Both should last a lifetime with proper care.
Posted on 11/15/21 at 8:22 pm to Splackavellie
Is that a DC? If so, I would snap that up quickly.
Posted on 11/15/21 at 8:43 pm to WacoTiger
quote:
Buy a quality rod, like the Falcon Gulf Coast caster, 7.5 foot medium action
I own that exact rod and it’s great for slinging a popping cork a mile but it’s a bit light for setting the hook on Texas rigs. I used it for years as a treble hook bait rod and it was excellent for that but not much in the way of backbone.
Posted on 11/15/21 at 9:13 pm to WacoTiger
No, the link to Tackledirect is the basic SLX, which is still a nice reel. The SLX DC combo is $290 compared to the $200 I posted above.
Posted on 11/15/21 at 9:24 pm to TomSpanks
Shimano’s DC. Hands down
Posted on 11/15/21 at 11:02 pm to TomSpanks
link to post on this exact topic 1 month ago. lots of good input.
Here's my original post in that thread too:
A Shimano SLX combo is a great setup. Individually, the rod and the normal SLX reel are about $100 and worth the price, but you can buy the combo for a pretty good discount at $140. Shimano SLX Combo - $140
However, you can get one of the upgraded slx reels and still keep it under $200.
The SLX XT is very similar to the standard SLX but has upgraded braking system with more precise adjustments and only costs a little more ($130). The combo with the SLX rod is $170 - Shimano SLX XT Combo - $170
The SLX MGL 70 is an awesome reel esecially for throwing lighter baits or for flipping/pitching. It's a smaller sized reel with a lighter spool (that's the MGL designation). The reel retails for $150 and the rod for $100, but here the combo is $170: Shimano SLX MGL 70 Combo - $170
The last option is a little outside your price range but you get a DC reel (a reel with a built in computer to minimize backlash and maximize casting distance). Separately the reel is $190 and the rod $100, but the combo is $220: Shimano SLX DC Combo - $220
Regardless which reel, I'd get either the HG (7.2:1) or XG (8.2:1) model. For the rod, I'd recommend either the 6'10" M/F or the 7'2" MH/F as they're your most versatile.
Other rod options in the same price range that I'd recommend include:
Rods:
Dobyns Fury (7'3" MH/F) - $120
St. Croix Bass X (6'8" M/XF or 7'1" MH/F) - $110
I really think the SLX reel is the class of that price range, but I haven't fished many Lew's options so other posters may be better able to offer insight there. I will say, I think the SLX is hands down better than the comparably priced Abu Garcia REVO models, and I have fished those a good bit.
Here's my original post in that thread too:
A Shimano SLX combo is a great setup. Individually, the rod and the normal SLX reel are about $100 and worth the price, but you can buy the combo for a pretty good discount at $140. Shimano SLX Combo - $140
However, you can get one of the upgraded slx reels and still keep it under $200.
The SLX XT is very similar to the standard SLX but has upgraded braking system with more precise adjustments and only costs a little more ($130). The combo with the SLX rod is $170 - Shimano SLX XT Combo - $170
The SLX MGL 70 is an awesome reel esecially for throwing lighter baits or for flipping/pitching. It's a smaller sized reel with a lighter spool (that's the MGL designation). The reel retails for $150 and the rod for $100, but here the combo is $170: Shimano SLX MGL 70 Combo - $170
The last option is a little outside your price range but you get a DC reel (a reel with a built in computer to minimize backlash and maximize casting distance). Separately the reel is $190 and the rod $100, but the combo is $220: Shimano SLX DC Combo - $220
Regardless which reel, I'd get either the HG (7.2:1) or XG (8.2:1) model. For the rod, I'd recommend either the 6'10" M/F or the 7'2" MH/F as they're your most versatile.
Other rod options in the same price range that I'd recommend include:
Rods:
Dobyns Fury (7'3" MH/F) - $120
St. Croix Bass X (6'8" M/XF or 7'1" MH/F) - $110
I really think the SLX reel is the class of that price range, but I haven't fished many Lew's options so other posters may be better able to offer insight there. I will say, I think the SLX is hands down better than the comparably priced Abu Garcia REVO models, and I have fished those a good bit.
Posted on 11/15/21 at 11:50 pm to The Last Coco
I was in same position for my 12 year old son, same exact reason him getting more into fishing and watching YouTube videos
I took the suggestion from Last this was brought up the Shimano SLX DC Rod and Reel Combo was perfect for him and he's loved it. We are going to get him a spinning rod next to have both. Glad to see your son is enjoying being outside also instead of stuck inside on a screen like alot of kids now of days
If anyone has a suggestion for a solid spinning rod and Reel for same price range please let me know (200)
I took the suggestion from Last this was brought up the Shimano SLX DC Rod and Reel Combo was perfect for him and he's loved it. We are going to get him a spinning rod next to have both. Glad to see your son is enjoying being outside also instead of stuck inside on a screen like alot of kids now of days
If anyone has a suggestion for a solid spinning rod and Reel for same price range please let me know (200)
This post was edited on 11/16/21 at 6:07 am
Posted on 11/16/21 at 6:13 am to The Last Coco
Appreciate all the feedback and help.
Just ordered the Shimano SLX DC combo, seems like the perfect set up for him.
Just ordered the Shimano SLX DC combo, seems like the perfect set up for him.
Posted on 11/16/21 at 6:55 am to davidlsu
quote:
If anyone has a suggestion for a solid spinning rod and Reel for same price range please let me know (200)
For a spinning combo, most of the same rod recommendations will apply ( Shimano SLX ($100), St. Croix BassX ($110), Dobyns Fury ($120) and H20 Express Ethos HD). Depending on what other rods/reels he has, I would either get a Medium/Fast or Medium Light/Fast rod somewhere around 6'10"-7'.
For the reels, the 3 that you should look at are the Daiwa Fuego LT ($100), the Daiwa BG ($110) and the Shimano NASCI ($110).
They're all phenomenal reels at that price point. I would say the general concensus is that the NASCI is a little more rugged and the Daiwas are smoother, but there isn't a clear winner here in my mind. Regardless of the one you pick, get it in a 2500 size.
If you want an exact combo, I'd personally get the Daiwa BG in the 2500 series and spool it with 12lb Berkley Nanofil or Ardent Gliss line. I'd pair that with the H2O Express Ethos HD 7' M/F ($80).
I know from personal experience that the ethos hd rod is very nice and is more of a Medium Light+ power than a true medium which should allow him to throw a wide range of things on it.
This post was edited on 11/16/21 at 7:09 am
Posted on 11/16/21 at 7:47 am to TomSpanks
quote:awesome. he'll love it. I'll add this, go buy him some overpriced Googan Squad stuff. Pretty much anything. If he's watching youtube people, those are the guys he is probably watching.
Appreciate all the feedback and help.
Just ordered the Shimano SLX DC combo, seems like the perfect set up for him.
The rod and reel is more important (to those of us who are mature enough to know better). But, that boy wants some Googan green gear. They probably have a lot in store in Florida there for you to find something.
Posted on 11/16/21 at 9:43 am to TomSpanks
I have a Daiwa Tatula 150 on a cheap Berkeley Cherry wood medium action rod. I'm very happy with this setup using fluorocarbon line. The Daiwa air brake system and T wing are pretty effective. I can make a long cast easily and if you have the reel dialed in, making it backlash isn't easy.
Posted on 11/16/21 at 10:14 am to davidlsu
quote:
If anyone has a suggestion for a solid spinning rod and Reel for same price range please let me know (200)
Daiwa BG, hands down. I have nicer spinning reels but they were much more expensive, and when I switch to the BG the only instantly noticeable trade-off is the weight. If there's a better $100 spinning reel I haven't fished it, and I've fished a lot of them.
Rod, it depends on what you want to do with it.
Posted on 11/16/21 at 12:09 pm to hashtag
quote:
Googan Squad
Thanks for the tip, just ordered him a t-shirt
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