I am looking to purchase a baitcast combo for smallmouth. I don’t want to spend a ton since I have never used a baitcaster for bass, but I have for catfish. Cabela’s has a Lew’s Laser Pro Speed Spool combo on sale for $99.99 regular $169.99. 6ft 10in medium heavy 1 piece. Reel gear ratio 7.5:1. Just wanted to get the opinion of some of you more experienced smallmouth guys here. Is this a combo I should purchase or look around some more. Thanks in advance.
Lew's pretty decent get up.. I'd look for a pole that was little more flexible then what you are. Something that could handle 3/8 oz easier then the heavy. Be more versatile, you crank with it or spinner, worm.. etc..
I should have added that I already have a 7ft medium spinning set up that I use for senkos, tubes, and jig/grubs. I wanted a baitcast set up for cranks, top water, and swimbaits. In most situations I will probably use my spinning more I just wanted more versatility.
For cranks you want a rod with moderate action in the tip; in other words, avoid “stiff” rods with a fast (or extra-fast) tip. (Several manufacturers design rods specifically for throwing crankbaits). I also think a medium power is your best bet, unless the baits you plan on throwing are big and heavy.
All that being said, since you mentioned topwater, a medium-heavy is ideal for throwing whopper-ploppers in the 110 to 130 range.
I'd have to agree you would be happier with a medium action rod. Usually they will have an assortment of different power rods available on the combo deals.
Medium heavy is the only one that is offered. Cabela’s also has a Fenwick Silverhawk 2 with a Abu Garcia Silver Max combo for $140.00 which offers a medium rod. I have a gift card so I’m stuck on where I can shop.
Deazl is right, that combo is good for top water and reads like a froggin' setup. 7.5:1 is pretty fast for cranks. You can get away with 6.1 for square bills and some shallow and medium runners but that reel will wear you out if throwing deep divers. For the latter look into a 5:1
Thanks for the feedback. I’m going to Cabela’s next week to look and I may just buy a rod and reel separate and forget the combos. Seems you can get more of what you want that way.
Dude, look at the Cabelas Tournament ZX setup. Rod on sale for $69, reel for $50. The rod reviews are great, and the reel is a Diawa, even has the Diawa emblem on it. They almost always give you $20 bucks off if you buy a combo. That would get you a nice setup for $100. The rod has 2 medium options 6'9 crank bait and 7'1 topwater
Lews and Shimanos have both been great to me. From entry level models to Curados and Lews tournament series. You can get several models of Fenwick rods on sale at Cabelas routinely for $50. They are good rods. Temple Fork also makes a good rod. I have a 7’ MF paired with a Shimano Citica. It may very well be my favorite setup.
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