How to Choose the Right Rod for a Baitcasting Reel
- By: Pat Ogletree
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Reels, Weekly Newsletter: 10-6-24
In this video, I’ll show you how to choose the right rod for a baitcasting reel based on the way you fish so that it performs at its best.
When shopping for the right pairing, it’s not as simple as going down to the store and picking out any random rod. The wrong combination can hurt the overall performance of your setup. It might not only cost you fish, but it could also ruin your whole experience.
Any questions or feedback? I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m able.
How to Choose the Right Rod for a Baitcasting Reel
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Essential Gear
- Reel 1: Daiwa Coastal 80
- Reel 2: Daiwa Tatula SV
- Reel 3: Daiwa Coastal 150 SV TW
- Rod 1: TFO PRO C
- Rod 2: Cajun Alted 872
➡️ Check out my review of the Daiwa Coastal 80!
Key Takeaways
- Baitcasting reels are different than spinning reels. By design, they have much more direct involvement in the casting process.
- Start with what lures and weights of those lures when you’re selecting the reel first. Then, choose a rod that’s rated with that weight range.
- The reel, rod, line and lure make up a complete system. By choosing components with that in mind, you can get the maximum performance out of your baitcasting reels.
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I’m looking for a rod to match up with the abu Garcia revo4 x-hs any suggestions?
What lures do you plan on using the most with it? That goes a long way in rod selection
Fantastic. Needed this guidance to complete my fishing reels. I use spin cast mail ly with bait caster for top water
Hope this helps! Thanks for watching Matt!
I had no idea that reel and rod had to match. Thanks
It makes a huge difference in performance David. Spinning reels are the same way, too big of a reel or too light of a rod and the whole set up is off. However, with baitcasters it’s exaggerated even more.
Thanks for watching!
Great information.
Thanks Robert!
Good tips, thanks Pat!
Thanks Amos!
I have never used a baitcast reel, As a kid I keep trying to learn on my dads but I always created a birds nest from the spin back. Since then I have just always stuck to the spinning reel. Maybe, someday I will try again.
Nothing wrong with a spinning reel but I will say, some of these new baitcasters you would have to try to make them backlash. I have a few that you can cast without ever having to touch the spool again after letting go of it.
Pat, great video with a fantastic explanation for this topic; been a long time since I heard anyone take the time to fully explain matching reel and rod for bait casting!
Tight lines,
Thanks David! I see a lot of post where people are having issues with their baitcasters and want to give up on them. I feel in most cases it’s just a misapplication issue and can be fixed fairly easily.
OK but….why use a Bait-caster instead of a spinning set up? Is it condition-based? If you’re throwing a 1/4oz jig head with a paddle-tail what would be the difference?
They both work well, a lot comes down to personal preference, but for me the baitcaster allows me to feel more connected to the whole set up down to the lure and I have more control over my casts.
I don’t want to over complicate things, so use what you are comfortable with and if you ever feel a need to switch, just keep these tips in mind
Thanks for the info Pat! When you look a the weight of the lures, is that the total weight (weighted hook + weight of plastic) or just the weight of the hook, jig head, etc?
Great question Mark! It’s both the soft plastic plus the weight of the hook. For instance, our 2.0 paddle tail rigged on am 1/8 oz Hoss Helix hook comes in at just under 1/4 oz total weight. That is the weight you use for selecting a rod to use with that lure.
Hope this helps
I have always used spinning reels, but see so many people using baitcasters these days has piqued my interest… Seems I’ll have to be a lot more intentional and selective if/when I dive into those waters.
For me, using a baitcaster makes me feel more connected with whole set up that a spinning reel just can’t do. I don’t feel one is better than the other, there are times for both.