best baitcaster

[Brenno]

Hi

I'm looking at getting my first baitcaster, and rod combo.

can you guys tell me what brands (perfer low profile) and lenght of rod i should be looking at?

got about $250 to $300 to spend.

Thanks

Brenno

[Brenno]

Sorry forgot to say would be looking at targeting Bream and flathead. Mostly around the Gold Coast.

[basserman]

if only starting have a look at the steve starling range of rod (about $110) and a midrange shimno baitcaster like the calssio (think spelling is right or simaler around the $100 also)

[agnes_jack]

Basserman
I think you mean the callisto?
Tony ???

[basserman]

thats the one thanks mate!
some how i knew you would know the one i ment

[theone]

I reckon you should go with something along the lines of these two combo's:

1. Shimano crestfire/callisto with a daiwa heartland/cheaper Angler rod.

or

2. The shimano coriolis with a penn pinpoint rod, the new or old series.

Cheers Brett

[Jeremy87]

Would have to agree with the Daiwa Heartland rod. Dad recently purchased a bream/bass set up with a a 4-8 pound rod and a shimano castaic reel for around the $300 mark i think. It's a pleasure to cast compared to his old baitcasters. Something like that with maybe a slightly longer rod(6 foot or so as apposed to 5"10') if your targeting flathead would be ideal.
Jeremy

[Fisherman02]

mate i got one word for you, ABU I got an abu which was given to me second hand and she is still going smooth!
cheers jack

[dazza]

brenno,
go with the abu's mate.
i have a couple calcutta 50's and a abu 5500, 6500, 6500c
the abu's are much more robust. i have probably get the calcuttas serviced twice for every once the abu's get serviced.
imho they are much better value for money
cheers
dazza

[beatle]

You cannot go past the Shimano Curado reel $280 approx. and the Steve Starling Shimano Chonarch rod $100.You cannot get a better outfit for most river,impoundment, and barra. fishing situations. Couple this combination with Berkley 6kg. Fireline or for bigger fish 10kg. Fireline and you will have a perfectly ballanced rig that you will be very happy with.-Beatle.

[PG]

Might be worth considering what kind of fishing you expect to do most before you buy your combo. I found a stiffer graphite rod best for flicking lures and I've got a Wilson Live Fibre rod now which I will take to the grave with me. I have a trusty old Abu 6500C3 with anti-reverse that's given me great service for a few years now.
Rod cost me $185 and the reel can be picked up at Super A Mart for $95 or so sometimes. Wilson make cheaper, lighter rods but for flicking lures for a few hours, a light weight stiffer rod will really shine through.
If you're mostly bait fishing, go for the fibreglass tip rods, god knows how many makes and models are out there but the sensitive soft tip is great for pickers like bream etc.
Think about line too, I fish with Fireline...makes a great mix for bait and lures.
Hope this is of help.
Paul.

[clutter]

I see you said you would be targeting bream and flathead mostly on the Gold Coast. If that's the case, I'd give the baitcaster a miss and go for a good spin outfit. I would be inclined to go for a 6'6" 2-4 kg Strudwick Sicstik ($160 from Captain Bligh's) with a Daiwa Kastor or Laguna (can't remember which is the cheapest) and run 6lb green fireline. If this is too light you could always upgrade to a 4-6kg rod and 8lb fireline.

Cheers, Clutter

[Bad_Bubby]

I would be inclined to agree with beatle and clutter. Most of the fish you are running into in your local area won't be much fun on a 6500 size Abu. I would recommend the curado 100 on either a Steve Starling Chronarch rod or a rod or a Procaster or Triforce Daiwa rod of some description. That would probably set you back over $300 because the Curado costs over $250 alone. Perhaps one of the cheaper Shimanos like the coriolis would match your budget a bit better. Another thing...forget fireline for baitcasters, it fluffs up and doesn't lay on the spool properly (especially on reels without synchronised level wind, all shimanos ). I have found tuffline XP to be a good cheap braid, a topshot of 150yrd of 10lb with 20m of mono backing would set you up nicely.

[Brenno]

while on my lunch break I saw a Penn Pinpoint 1000 at A Mart,

It was on sale for $109 done from $139 with a reel 10x line.

can anyone tell me what this real is like and any comments about the price?

Brenno

[whitey73]

Shimano Cardiff on a 5ft 6in Sylstar Crystal Powertip Rod with some 30-50 pound Braid . Catches all of them from Bream to Barra. Remember to get the best u can afford and look after them well and you'll have it for a long time. Service regularly and keep them Drag washers clean.