Folks, I'm very new to the bass fishing and I've been using spinning rod so far for that. Since the bass seems like more fun than crappies and bluegills I'd need advice on my first bitecast rod and reel. Budget up to $200.

Most times I'm fishing the ponds in north DFW, bank fishing only. I'm mainly throwing spinnerbaits, crankbaits and t-rigs. My heaviest lure so far is 3/8oz. On the spinning rod I'm using 8lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid and I guess I'll spool the same of bitecast reel too for now.

After extensive research in forum content, I came up with the following list in order of preference:

Reel:
1) Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier 2 Baitcast Reel
2) Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Signature Series Bass Caster Reel
3) Abu Garcia Revo SX Baitcast Reel
4) Abu Garcia� Revo� STX Casting Reel

Rod:
1) Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite Casting Rod
2) Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0 Casting Rod

You can get Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifer 2.0 Reel and Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite Casting Rod combo for $179 at BPS, which seems a pretty appealing deal.

Can you please advice?

Now on the parameters - what would be a good all-around first bass setup:
- reel - 6.8 ratio? or anything else?
- rod - 7', medium fast or anything else?

I'd highly appreciate your help.

Revo 7to1 with veritas mh 7'

If you want to put your hands on it, that BPS combo sounds pretty good. I've been bass fishing for close to 40 years now. I don't own any BPS combos but people seem to like them.

I can tell you that the Diawa Tatula is a great reel and you can find them for low 100s on the net. I would go with a 7.x retrieve ratio.

There are a lot of good rods in the 100 dollar range. I would look at the Falcon Bucoo SR. I would buy 7.0 - 7.4 Heavy, but I like stiffer rods and I've read that the Bucoo SR seems to be feel 1 power lighter than stated. I also like stiffer rods.

Through Sunday of this week Bass Pro has the Revo SX on sale for $99.95. Coupled with a Falcon Bucco SR or Abu Vertias you will have a great set up for $200.

Id go with the carbonlite combo. I own an older one and have used new ones, and for the money they are very solid.

Daiwa Tatula reel. You can get a new one on eBay for $90. Daiwa Tatula rod from academy for $99.

+1

You might think about a shorter rod if the ponds you fish have many trees and bushes around them. If not a longer rod is handy if there's much of a weed line in the water.

Go to Abu Garcia site. You can get a veritas and a revo s for under 90 bucks. Sx and veritas for under 100.

Search your local Academy's for the older Falcon Bucco. I was just going in to buy more fishing line, but I ran across the older model. It's been on clearance since before Christmas and for $37.48 it's hard to pass up. Add a Revo S to it and you have a hell of a setup!!!

Thanks for all the responses. That helps a lot. I'll certainly check Academy, $37 for Falcon Bucoo sounds just amazing.

Should I get medium or medium heavy in my case, using mainly spinnerbaits, crankbaits and t-rigs and max weight is 3/8oz? I don't thnk I'd be going anywhere closer to 1oz soon.

+2

I like you instincts on the reel. I have two BPS pro qualifiers (the original model) and I've read the second version is even better.

Old School found a needle in the haystack. Been searching multiple Academies for some original Bucoos (I have four, but I like them a lot, I'd like to find another one)

With the Bucoo, I'd get a MH. Their MH are more like a M+

7:1 Lews LFS speed spool.
7' Mh Falcon Bucoo rod

Trap caster is what you are looking for!

Just to summarize - I guess it was my lucky day:
1) Summer Clearance at Abu Garcia - picked up Revo STX 7.1:1 left for $79.99
2) Falcon BuCoo SR 7'MH for $89 (original $109) at BPS (left this rod in my online cart overnight and they sent me the promo email in the morning "Don't Leave A Good Thing Behind" with $20 off of $100... nice...)

Truly appreciate your help and guidance. Thanks a lot.