In fly fishing, the emphasis seems to be put all your money in the rod and not the reel. When it comes to upgrading your conventional outfit (casting or spinning) which is more important the rod or reel?

It depends on what kind of fishing you do. Different techniques dictate different equipment requirements. Precision casting light baits at distant targets would require a smooth casting reel. Soaking bait on the bottom with a heavy weight, or under a weighted float, wouldn't. Trolling wouldn't. Vertical jigging wouldn't. I could go on and on..........

I would rather have a good rod than reel any day. Especially when fishing something crawling on the bottom where good feel is really important.

I have to agree with jim. Take a spinnerbait, it can be thrown on any rod basically. For my favorite technique the tx rig though the rod is ultimately important.

The reel just keeps the line, but the rod is the most important when it comes to fly fishing

I have some rods that I paid $10 for brand new. I think the most expensive rod that I've purchased over the past 10 years is around $40. The reel is what cost me. So for me - reel.
It just depends on what kind of fishing you do.

Rod - always the rod.

I vote the reel. Fishings no fun if it keeps tangling your line or failing to work properly. Rods are pretty fool-proof.

Both.

Rod of course!!

simple answer is the "rod".

But when you are constantly having issue after issue with a cheap reel, you will determine that both are of equal importance.

Appreciate the input. When I started fly fishing I bought higher end rods because casting is so important. In my conventional fishing I have always leaned toward moderate priced reels and cheaper rods. I use a Citica reel and like it very much with a Castaway CTX from Academy.

Recently I have used some Waterloo and Castaway rods in the $150 plus range and I felt the difference, just like I did with a $400 fly rod. I believe I will move towards a better rod, so thanks again for enabling my fishing tackle addiction!

I believe they are equal.

The Rod every time, I can do alot with a great Rod and a mediocre reel. The opposite is almost never true. This is with the understanding that Reel technology has come such along way that even a lower priced reel will still perform well enough, that the extra benefit will almost always be seen by upgrading the Rod.

Casting lures all day a good, light, sensitive rod is a must. But, drifting live bait for stripers or blues, I like a strong in-sensitive rod like an UglyStik with a good reel that has a smooth drag.