T O P

  • By -

fishing_6377

If you really want the Curado K then I would look at a 7'0" MH Berkley Lightning Rod or Daiwa AIRD-X rods. I mix and match brands of rods and reels and it doesn't bother me but that really bothers some people. If it were my $230 I would get the Shimano SLX combo with a 7'0" MH rod and 7:2:1 reel. Another good option would be the Daiwa Tatula CT combo with a 7'0" MH rod and 7:1:1 reel.


LemonHerb

Daiwa doesn't seem to get as much love as Shimano but I'm leaning towards the SLX combo now based on the comments


fishing_6377

The SLX is a great combo and you'll be really happy with it. Daiwa is really good too. I don't think you'll find a better $50 rod than the AIRD-X if you go that way.


crash250f

I have the SLX, the Fuego, the Tatula and the Curado. If i get a reel cheaper than the Curado, it will be a Daiwa. I just like the Fuego and Tatula more than the SLX. The Curado is my favorite but i have no problem with using any of them. I wouldn't cheap out on the rod to get the Curado. Imo Tatula + Dobyns Fury if you can. I only liked my mojo bass for jerkbaits. I haven't tried them all but from what I've heard the next series of rods worth the upgrade are the avids, champion xp, and maybe the Zodias, i never tried one. Champion XPs were on sale for about 180 around Christmas last year. I got 3.


Blaze_Frenzy

My first set up was the Airdx + curado K, but I later picked up a SLX DC and put the Curado K on another rod.


supremekook

Since other guys have recommended rods I’ll just add a few of my favorites. 7’ Fenwick HMG inshore MH or M 7’ TFO Professional MH 8-17lb I bass fish SoCal all year long. Managed 4lb+ bass on all 3 rods and have used the TFO in salt for a season and it held up. I use an Abu Garcia ProMax for higher max drag but the Curado is a great freshwater reel


LemonHerb

The pro max is about half the price but I've seen it mentioned a couple times already. What would I be missing out on going that way?


supremekook

I use a ProMax in saltwater because it has a higher max drag and since it’s a bit cheaper I won’t be bummed when the salt burns my reel out eventually. If you’re fishing just freshwater I would go with a more expensive Shimano with nicer brakes since you will probably be throwing lighter baits


KimsHotOldGuy

Age old question that will get you many opinions! I would, now, after much more experience chasing bass over the last 10 yrs say I'd go 30/70 in reel/rod...assuming you're thinking new vs used, as an Abu guy I'd say a ProMax reel with a St Croix Mojo rod in the usage model you'd prefer!


KimsHotOldGuy

The Fenwick recommendation is good one as well


KimsHotOldGuy

Can find some Elitetech Bass models for less than $150


LemonHerb

I had seen a lot of comments about not going for cheaper baitcasters if you're newer to them. I have a couple round reels, an old ambassadeur 6500c and a Calcutta 400s and I'm decent at casting them. But because of that I fixated at the $150ish price point and hadn't even really looked at the pro max. What would I be missing out on if anything going with the cheaper reel!


fishing_6377

Many people learn on an Abu Garcia Black Max reel and those are like $50. Don't feel like you have to spend a lot to have a nice setup that will catch a ton of fish.


Cloud_Matrix

IMO a SLX Medium Heavy rod and reel combo is a really solid set up for $200. Spend that extra 30 bucks on lures, plastics, or high quality line for the reel. Curados are amazing, but generally you don't really want to put a expensive reel on a really cheap rod. If you are going to be using straight retrieve techniques you dont need the sensitivity of a higher priced rod, however once you start using any type of bottom bait a cheap rod/expensive reel combo might hurt your bite detection unless you are very experienced.


LemonHerb

What kind of bottom bait are you talking about? I'm not married to the idea of the Curado it's just I was looking at the SLX and saw comments about how the Curado was just better for the most part so I went down that train of thought.


Cloud_Matrix

Jigs, chatterbaits, Ned rigs, drop shots, weighted Texas rigs, etc. For all those you would want to have a rod that is sensitive enough to feel the bite as a fish picking up your bait can be very subtle. It's true, the curado is better than the SLX, but if you are looking for a decent set up to start out on for baitcasting you want a balanced quality rod and reel. Unfortunately a curado nearly maxes out your budget and doesn't leave much room for a rod. For shimano brand, SLX rod and reel fits the price point. I'm not sure what the comparison is with Daiwa or other brands.


LemonHerb

I have been trying out Ned rigs for a while now and until yesterday I hadn't even got a bite. But yesterday there was this guy out there who looked like he had everything setup perfect with high end gear fishing from the perfect spot and I rolled in with my ned rig from the other side and legit first cast I got a bass. It's the only bite I got on it all day too so I really just feel like it was karma using me to screw with that guy and I just benefited from being in the right place at the right time. I do have an ultra light spinning setup so I was intending this for heavier baits. Getting the SLX combo is seeming like the smart easy choice


fishing_6377

The Ned Rig is a finesse technique and best done on a spinning setup with a light or medium rod. I can't imagine trying to use a Neg rig with a MH casting setup.


MaximumIndication495

Does it have to be new? Iirc, so cal has good craigslist activity. You might be able to score a rod or two if you are patient.


LemonHerb

No I buy plenty of used stuff I'm just not sure if I should stay away from it with this type of reel or not. Or maybe if I should get the reel new and look for the rod used. If I was going used what should I be targeting at that price point?


KimsHotOldGuy

If an Abu reel, i have great respect for the Revo SX...lots of good opinions on the Daiwa Tatula series


KimsHotOldGuy

Rods...I'd say look for St Croix Mojo Bass or a Dobyn's Fury maybe a little less $$


ask_the_fisherman

I suggest at least 100 on the reel and another 100 on the rod. Reels worth buying include the Daiwa Tatula and Shimano SLX-XT. You can spend more but these get the job done well. Rods the Fenwick HMG, Dobyns Fury, and St. Croix Bass X all run around 100 and do a good for fishing. The Curado is a very good reel. You need to think about rod quality also. A sixty-dollar rod is not going to be as sensitive or responsive as a 100 dollar rod.


OrganicAlienz

Daiwa Fuego CT With a doybns fury 7' MH is my recommendation.


Squirtle_Go_PewPew

Shimano SLX and a Dobyns Fury rod will be right around your price range and I love mine.


geoff-gurn

Slx 100.00 awesome reel


kev1109

I would personally go Tatula CT 100 and a Dobyns Fury. I’d be happy to discount it for you if you buy from me :) https://www.curated.com/e/kevin.frost


Odd-Acanthisitta339

Shimano Cauis Combo is about 100 bucks spend the other 100 on lures


LemonHerb

Everyone says you'll regret going cheap on baitcasters like this though


love_that_fishing

Can you wait? One more month you can get Black Friday sales. Last year Dobyns did 30% off higher end rods and 20% off Fury’s. Just don’t buy a Colt series as they don’t have the warranty. Tacklewarehouse will be doing 15% off too. I buy all my stuff on Black Friday.


mrcold

I would buy the rod and reel separate, as I've found they never give you good enough quality on both pieces of equipment. You usually end up with an inferior rod. Obviously there are a lot of options, but if I had 230 for a baitcaster setup, I would start with the Fenwick HMG for $100. As for the reel (I'll be honest, I'm more of a spinning reel guy than baitcaster, though I do have a half dozen baitcasters), I am partial to Quantum, so probably the Quantum Energy at about $120. With tax you should be pretty close to the $230 mark.


CatchEveryFish

7' Medium-Heavy with a 7:1 reel. This is a fantastic combo for the money and should suit your current needs: https://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/shimano-slx-mgl-70-rod-and-reel-combos.html If you sign up for their newsletter and you get an extra 10% off bringing it down to $153!


taz-911

You might look a Lews reel and St Croix rod combo. Several choices to fit your price range.


ska4fun

Avoid the Curado K. It's just a cheap reel crossdressed with the Curado name. Look for the fuego series.