What's a good bait caster set up?

Been using spinning rod and reel set ups all my life, and I know how to throw my ole mans bait casters just never got out and bought one cause I'm on a budget. I know there are certain rod and reels made for different baits like crank baits, flipping, stuff like that. But if you had 1 reel and 1 rod Setup what would be a good one that could be good in all types of ways (crankin, flipping, spinner baits)

if you're on a budget, those Academy H2O reels are pretty good, and sometimes they go on sale for 50% off.

i've used Berkley Lightning rods for 20 years. last year bought a couple of the All Star rods on clearance for $20. they've held up well for catfishing and saltwater panfish.

I say a budget. My max is $200 for both rod and reel. My ole man uses falcon low rider with abu Garcia

Budget of $200

There have been some really good deals over the last two months, and you never know when another one will pop up.
There was an incredible Abu Garcia reel and rod sale about three weeks ago.
The best fishing gear deals are usually in the spring when companies are getting rid of the previous models.
Last summer, Academy sports and outdoors sold off all their old Falcon Bucoo rods for $60

Keep your eyes open for July 4th sales and Dick's Sporting Goods Flash sales

Best baitcasting reels I've purchased for under $90 (in order of preference)
Abu Garcia Revo STX
Pflueger Supreme
Bass Pro Qualifier
Daiwa Aird

Best all purpose baitcasting rods I have found for under $100 (in order of preference)
Medium Heavy is these brands
Falcon Bucoo
Falcon Jason Christie Signature series
Fenwick Silver Hawk
Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0

Check out Craigslist and pawn shops.
I just bought a new never used Abu c3 6500 still in the box for $100 off of Craigslist. Also bought a lightly use Abu c3 4600 at a pawn shop for $35. Bought 3 Shimano casting rods for $90 on Craigslist and sold one of them on eBay for $200 and bought the Abu 6500 with the money, put it on one of the other Shimano rods, so that setup was completely free.if that setup was new it would of cost me $250

I just got a hell of a deal. If you have PayPal go to PayPal gifts and they have Cabelas gift cards for 15% off. Get 200 worth for 170 bucks. Then go on cabelas.com and buy this item #139411. It's a Lew's baitcaster for $79.99, regularly $129.99. Then get rod item #139509, it's a Fenwick rod for $69.99, regularly $99.99. This is how I maxed out my money.

Cabelas's also offers 5% military discount so you can save even more if you are eligible for that discount.

Lews American Hero bait casting combo. Best setup for the money I have found. This thing will cast nearly twice as far as the Garcia Black Max with the same lure. Smoothest running reel I own. Academy for $79.99. A portion of the money goes to help wounded vets.

I would probably go with a 6'6" or 7' MH rod with a fast tip. You can do all kinds of fishing with this setup, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, T-rigs, jigs, drop shot in a pinch, shakey head in a pinch, topwaters, all around rod for most applications. Pair that with a 6.3 or 6.4:1 gear ratio and go fishing. The Lew's American Hero is a GREAT WAY to go, too. Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

This is exactly what I was looking for! I appreciate it man!

Look at a Lew's reel and a Falcon rod.
That's pretty much what I've always used.
Lew's since 1976, Falcon since 85.

Lews LFS reel $99, Lews Speed Stick (white) $99 forgot model but has Winn grips, have 4-5 combos different setups.

I like anything 13 fishing. The cheapest reel is the Inception at $120 but they have worked very well for me.

There are many good combos.

I like my H20 Xpress Mettle MT2 reel with the H20 Ethos rod, Sports Academy style!

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For a combo under $200..

Reel: H20 Xpress mettle (Best damn reels you can buy for under $100. I have the Shimano Curados, the high dollar Lews, 2 13 Concept reels, and those H20 reels are just as good to be honest.)

Rod: Falcon Buccuo or even an H20 rod. Those H20 rods are bad [censored] too.

Another plus side about the H20 reel.. If anything happens, take it back and exchange it, no questions asked. Life time warranty. don't even need the receipt. They will exchange no questions asked. Done it multiple times