freshwater rod & reel recomendations?

[Clogston29]

Looking to get a setup for fishing some local lakes and ponds from shore early in the year. Bass, pickeral, etc. Any advice on a decent setup. I haven't done any freshwater fishing since I was a kid. I was thinking something rated for 8 lb line, 1/8 to 1/2 oz. lures, maybe 6' long - one piece. Not looking to break the bank. Maybe keep the rod and reel in the 125-150 range.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Back Beach]

Stradic reel- 2500 or 4000 size

BPS rod model XTR70MT- its a 7' spinning rod with long handle. I do a lot of wading and long casting, so the 7' rod works great in terms of managing long casts and setting the hook with a lot of line out. Handles everything from 1/4 to 5/8 size stuff.

[Clogston29]

thanks

[Brian L]

Agreed. If you're going to have one rod and reel for that type of fishing, I'd go with that basic set up. 7 foot med/med hvy graphite rod with fast action and a 4000 size Shimano reel. It'll deal with grubs/gitzits all the way to small/medium jigs and good sized topwaters. Stradic will break your stated budget if you're going with both of the things he suggested though. Not sure on the rod price, as I don't have one, but the Shimano Symetre goes around 100 bucks and is a nice reel for the money.

[Clogston29]

thanks. i have a stadic 4000 and a cabo 40 for schoolies so i'm covered in that size range. i was thinking of going smaller and lighter.

anybody have any experience with the shimano saros. i'm thinking about getting that in either the 2500 or 3000 series for now (need to give the wife some x-mas ideas) and look to score a 6'6" to 7'0" rod for a good deal at the RISSA show - it always seams like there are some good deals on freshwater rods there.

also thinking about using the stradic that i have and my 6'6" schoolie rod to target some pike this spring since there are supposed to be some good ones near by.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Save some cash and Go with a Shimano Symetre reel......Picked one up last year and am very happy with it. Butter smooth and the price tag was around $60.

Symetre FJ

Paired it up with a 6.6' St. Croix Triumph spinning rod and the whole setup ran me about $120

St. Croix Rods - Triumph

There's something to be said for an ugly stik too.......pretty solid rod for under $40.

[Vogt]

Shimano makes a decent rod for the money as well. I picked up one of their "Convergence" series rods a few years ago for like $50 and I've been very happy with it. Fuji components, the whole nine yards...

[Back Beach]

The rod I mentioned is about $60.

As for any other FW tackle needs, I simply sponge off my brother.

[RIROCKHOUND]

I'm thinking of doing the same thing in the spring since I'm right next to stillwater reservoir 1x a week all spring...

4" black Senkos and 4/0 wide gap hook....

[beaver]

I honestly think you can spend less than $100 and get everything you need. Right now when I'm wading for trout or bass I'm using a 7ft Fin-nor paired with a Diawa regal z 2500. I think the rod was actually a buy this reel get this rod deal, however, the reel is long gone and the rod is still going strong. I think the regal z is a great deal for the money (around 40 bucks). Out of my four freshwater spinning set ups I have three regal z and one shimano sienna. They work and they don't break the bank. Save the money for the saltwater gear.

[Clogston29]

cabelas has $20 off any purchase over $100 right now, so i'm going with the saros 3000. will pick up a rod later. can't really see ordering a rod online without being able to feel it out.

[stcroixman]

definetley a 6'6" or 7' rod. Pick up a couple of spinnerbaits - white and chartreuse, a package of white or black curly tails or 2" shads, 1/8 black jig heads and a topwater popper like a chug bug.

[Jenn]

I love my 6'6" St. Criox premier med/heavy action. Good sturdy rod to absorb what I like to call my "saltwater tendencies" Its been with me a while and outlived a few reels. I love tossing a 6" rootbeer senko just about anywere