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Rods & Reels
Types of Rods for Bass Fishing
Spinning Rods
If you are brand new to bass fishing I would suggest starting with a spinning rod for the following reasons, unless you are purchasing for a child (will discuss this later).
First, they are easy to cast. With a little practice you can cast most light to moderate weight lures fairly accurately. Spinning reels are mostly trouble free. Also price to quality they are less expensive than bait casters.
Spinning rods come in a variety of lengths and strengths (measure in weights). I would suggest your first rod to be 6 1/2 to 7 feet long in a medium to medium heavy weight. A rod like this will cast most bass lures (except the heavy ones) pretty well.
Rod prices vary greatly. You can spend $30 up to many hundreds for a rod. Experienced fisherman know the difference as soon as they have one in their hands. But as a beginner, I would suggest to buy the best one you are comfortable affording. You can also buy a rod/reel combo (more on this later).
Spinning reels are sized in 10, 20, 30 etc., sometimes just 1, 2, 3. I would suggest either a size 20 or 30. You can spend from $25 to several hundred. Some manufacturers make half sizes like a 25 series. There are some really nice spinning reels available for $60 or $70. One of my favorites is the Pflueger President Spinning Reel. It's a great reel for the money. It is the one pictured and linked on the Equipment main page.
When purchasing a spinning reel take note of the number of bearings it has as well as it's weight in ounces. You would want to have the most bearing and lightest weight you can get for the money.
Many times you can get a better deal on a combination rod and reel set up. There are many combos available for under $50. If you are not committed to bass fishing and just trying it out to see if it's for you one of these would do fine. However I would suggest spending in the $100 range for a combo as there is quite a difference in quality.
Click to Item Pictured on
Bass Pro Shops website.
Spinning Rod/Reel Combo
Bait Casting Rods
Bait casters have the advantage of being able to cast and control heavier baits and baits that require more power to move through the water like deep diving crank baits. Once you are accomplished with this type of rod and reel you will have better casting accuracy with them as well.
Bait casing equipment takes practice to learn how to cast without getting backlashes. A backlash is a reel over run, meaning the spool keep turning faster than the line leaves the reel causing the line to run over the (other line) on the spool. Backlashes can be annoying and time consuming to remove.
Rods come in different lengths and strengths like spinning rods. A good starting point is a 7 foot length in a medium heavy weight. Prices vary greatly here as well. You can find them for under $30 with some running well into the hundreds. I think you can find a good one for under $100.
Bait casters also come with different butt lengths. From pistol grips to long two handed butts. I suggest one with sufficient butt length for two hand casting. If you decide to get serious about bass fishing you are going to want to have at least a few different rods for specialty applications like spinnerbait/bladed jigs, worm/jig fishing, pitching, flipping and a crankbait rod. If you are new, stick with my basic recommendations.
Baitcaster Rod/Reel Combo
Spin Cast Rods
Spincast reels are basically closed face spinning reels. Instead of needing to hold and then release the line while casting, a button is used instead. Since they sit on top of the rod like a bait caster, the rod for a spin cast set up is similar to a bait casting rod.
I do not recommend these setups for adults. They don't cast as far or nearly as smoothly. The line does not come off the reel as easy as with spinning equipment.
They are a fine choice for children, under the age of ten. Their simplicity in casting and avoiding tangles in the reel area make them great for kids. There are many models that have short lengths and even designs and themes the kids know.
Rod/Reel Combinations
A good way to save money when first starting out bass fishing is to buy a rod/reel combination. They tend to be cheaper when purchased in tandem like this. Most experienced bass fisherman who are looking for higher quality set ups probably wouldn't choose a combo as they are looking for particular things in a rod and reel and most likely wouldn't find them in a combo. Also the higher end rods and reels usually aren't sold this way. Never-the-less when starting out they can be a good choice.
Spincast Rod/Reel Combo
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