SPRING BUYER'S GUIDE: Budget Fishing Rods And Reels That Work!

Affordable fishing gear! Its finally here!! Bass fishing doesn't have to break the budget anymore! These awesome rods and reels will save you a ton of money while offering great sensitivity and durability. The "BUDGET" category of bass fishing has erupted and we're really excited to take an in–depth look! Let's go!

From bait finesse to swimbaits, casting to spinning, Its hard to recognize the budget landscape from just a few years ago. Whether you're brand new to the sport, fishing on a budget, or maybe you're looking for the best value in fishing gear, this video is for you! We've looked across dozens of brands in search of the best gear at each price point and here is what we've found.

Below you'll find links to the exact rods and reels discussed in the video. We've listed them in the order they appeared and included our favorite sizes and models for each. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

SPINNING COMBOS...

COMBO #1... 

Rod– Shimano Sellus: http://bit.ly/2ro5vQu

Model: 7'1" Medium

Reel– Shimano Nexave FI 2500: https://bit.ly/3nhj4f1

COMBO #2...

Rod– Daiwa Aird X: http://bit.ly/2P7Z3Vu

Model: 7' Medium

Reel– Daiwa Revros LT 2000: http://bit.ly/34nCGCj

COMBO #3...

Rod– Daiwa Tatula XT: https://bit.ly/3n6Ojvx

Model: 7' medium, 7'1" Medium Light

Reel– Daiwa Fuego LT 2500 XH: http://bit.ly/2yDmdtQ

COMBO #4...

Rod– St. Croix Bass X: https://bit.ly/2r69Sj6

Model: 6'10" Med Light, 7'1" Medium Fast

Reel– Shimano Miravel 2500: https://bit.ly/3QZnwL5

CASTING COMBOS...

COMBO #1...

Rod– 13 Fishing Defy Black: https://bit.ly/32gzFnN

Models: 7'1" Medium, 7'3" Medium Heavy

Reel– 13 Fishing Origin R1: https://bit.ly/3wKSu12

COMBO #2...

Rod– Halo Fishing Rave Series: https://bit.ly/3mTXuPU

Model: 7'2: Heavy

Reel– Daiwa CC80: http://bit.ly/34ltqP9

COMBO #3...

Rod– 13 Fishing Fate Black: https://bit.ly/3xSUZB3

Models: 6'7" Medium, 7'1" Medium Heavy

Reel– 13 Fishing Origin F1: https://bit.ly/3qD6hpc

COMBO #4...

Rod– Shimano Clarus: https://bit.ly/3lqq2jM

Models: 6'10" Medium, 7'2" med hvy, 7'2" Extra Heavy

Reel– Shimano Caius B: http://bit.ly/2O3Dvuw

COMBO #5...

Rod– Savage Gear Squad: https://bit.ly/3tT8bS2

Models: 7'1" Medium Heavy, 7'1" Medium Topwater

Reel– 13 Fishing Modus C2: https://bit.ly/3HJdwnR

HIGHER END CASTING COMBOS...

COMBO #1...

Rod– Daiwa Tatula XT: https://bit.ly/3wqRhwq

Models: 7'1" Medium Heavy, 7'3" Heavy

Reel– Daiwa Fuego CT: http://bit.ly/35hugfH

COMBO #2...

Rod– Shimano SLX  A: https://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

Models: 6'10" Medium, 7'2" heavy, 7'5" Med Heavy

Reel– Shimano SLX A 150: https://bit.ly/3ZWPeho 

COMBO #3...

Rod– St. Croix Bass X: https://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Models: 6'8" Med Xfast, 7'4" Heavy Fast

Reel– Lews Speed Spool LFS: http://bit.ly/2xEElEw

SWIMBAIT COMBOS...

COMBO #1...

Rod– Shimano SLX A: https://bit.ly/3QbMjvs

Model: 7'8" heavy

Reel– Shimano Tranx 300 AHG: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

COMBO #2...

Rod– Savage Gear Squad: https://bit.ly/3tT8bS2

Model: 8' Heavy

Reel– 13 Fishing A3: https://bit.ly/3GLddq8

BAIT FINESSE COMBOS...

COMBO #1...

Rod– St. Croix Bass X: https://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Model: 6'8" Medium Extra Fast

Reel– Shimano Curado BFS: https://bit.ly/2QGRVF2

COMBO #2...

Rod– Denali Ryker: https://bit.ly/31bKfgp

Models: 6'6" Medium

Reel– Kastking Zephyr: https://bit.ly/3cy03ij

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to hats and hoodies! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

This Trick Makes Bass Fishing Way More Fun

Bait Finesse! Have you tried it yet? Nothing will turn a tough day on the water around faster than a BFS setup and some micro baits. A day full of tiny fish that would normally be a "tough day" is suddenly a blast! Its hard to explain just how fun this method of finesse fishing is until you try it for yourself, but if you're ready to change your fishing for the better, its time to try Bait Finesse!

Bait finesse isn't new. Its been around in Japan for decades and has slowly trickled into the US over the past 10 years. However, the arrival of the Curado BFS reel last year kicked the Bait Finesse movement into high gear. If you primarily catch smaller bass, fish small bodies of water, or your fish are heavily pressured, turning to BFS can completely change your fishing for the better!

While there are very few "BFS Baits" there are a lot of awesome finesse baits that work well for Bait Finesse Fishing. Below you'll find links to our favorite rods and reels for the technique, along with many of our favorite baits by category. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

BFS REELS...

•Shimano Curado BFS: https://bit.ly/2QGRVF2

•Kast King Zephyr: https://bit.ly/3cy03ij

THE RODS BY TECHNIQUE...

Micro Flipping– Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Light: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Micro Topwater/Spy Bait– Megabass P5 Z Crank Elseil: https://bit.ly/2wVOSbY

Small Crankbaits– G Loomis IMX Pro 7'2" MH Deep Flex: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Micro Crankbaits– Shimano Curado 6'10" Light Glass: https://bit.ly/2gUWTft

Micro Swimbaits– Dobyns Sierra 7' 0 Power (700): https://bit.ly/3C4PWgc

Ultra Sensitivity– G Loomis Conquest 782C MBR: http://bit.ly/2iL1PAY

Micro Finesse– Daiwa Steen AGS 6'8" Light: https://bit.ly/3RhFit1

LINES...

Fluorocarbon– Sunline Super FC (7 lb): http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Braid– Power Pro Spectra (8 lb): http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Braid– Sufix 131 (6 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

SMALL CRANKBAITS...

•Rapala Ultralight Crank: https://bit.ly/3qSt14V

Colors: Chrome, Shad

•Shimano Macbeth 39 Tiny: https://bit.ly/3xTsnG0

Colors: Clear Green Craw, Ghost Shad, Sleeper Shad

•Megabass Z-1 Crank: https://bit.ly/2Y9dkHB

Colors: Kasumi Ito, Wild Craw, Mat Craw 2

SMALL TOPWATER...

•Owner Cultiva Zip N Ziggy: https://bit.ly/3BTMLuh

Colors: Natural Minnow, Shiner, Brown Trout

•Whopper Plopper 60: http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Colors: Phantom Shad, Monkey Butt, Bone

•Rapala Ultralight Popper: https://bit.ly/3FzvsNP

Colors: Chrome, Clown, Yellow Perch

MICRO FINESSE SOFT PLASTICS...

•Zman Micro Finesse TRD: https://bit.ly/3d8bmBm

Colors: Coppertreuse, Green Pumpkin, The Deal

•Zman Micro Finesse TicklerZ: https://bit.ly/3BIABob

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Hot Snakes

NED HEADS... 

Micro– Z Man Micro Finesse Shroomz (1/15th): https://bit.ly/3QDdlw7

Lead– Z Man OG (1/32 - 1/16th): https://bit.ly/3nyFyZc

MICRO TEXAS RIG SOFT PLASTICS...

•Savage Gear Ned Salamander: https://bit.ly/3rSNi8g

Colors: Green Pumpkin Purple Copper, Mojito

•Zman TRD BugZ: http://bit.ly/2oiavEE

Colors: Sprayed Grass, Green Pumpkin, Canada Craw

MICRO TEXAS RIGGING...

Weight– Swagger Tungsten Vader 1/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2NjDYtV

Heavy Wire Hook– Owner Rig-N-Hook Size 1/0: http://bit.ly/2BnniXN

Light Wire Hook– Owner J-Light Size 1/0: https://bit.ly/3HDg0SH

MICRO SWIMBAIT...

•Keitech 2.8" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad

•Megabass 3" Spark Shad: http://bit.ly/2XcLZk4

Color: Real, Albino

Head– Dirty Jigs Guppy (1/8 with 1/0): http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to hats and hoodies! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Topwater Popper and BFS (Bait Finesse) For Spring Bass!

Come along for a fun day of fishing! Need to go finesse but don't like spinning reels? Its time for Bait Finesse! We're fishing clear water on a sunny day but we know how to fool these fish! A small topwater popper and creature baits fished on BFS gear will do the trick!

Some days you have to turn to finesse gear to get bit. We turned a potentially tough day into an awesome day on the water by embracing light tackle! The popper got our biggest fish of the day but once the sun was high over head, nothing else would work except small ned creature baits rigged weedless on 7 lb line. Matt pulled out the Bait Finesse gear and went to work!

Below you'll find links to all the baits, as well as the gear Matt used throughout the day. We've also included some budget-friendly gear options that will work in this same situation. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

POPPERS...

-Megabass Pop X Popper: https://bit.ly/3i9T3sg

Colors: Deadly Black Shad, M Wakasagi, 

-Yellow Magic (1/4 oz): http://bit.ly/2al0dKP

Colors: Smoke Shad, Alewife

WALKING TOPWATER... 

-Evergreen ShowerBlows 105: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Colors: Skeleton Chartreuse, Bleeding White, Half Mirror

-River2Sea Rover 128: http://bit.ly/2acSVea

Color: Abalone Shad, Ghost Minnow

BFS BAITS... 

-Z Man TRD Bugz: http://bit.ly/2oiavEE

Color: Sprayed Grass

-Z Man TRD Crawz: http://bit.ly/2U9vx6P

Color: Motor Oil

BFS RIGGING... 

Peg- VMC Sinker Stops: https://bit.ly/38XLQd4

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Worm (1/16 oz): https://bit.ly/3c28mks

Hook- Owner Rig-N-Hook (Size 1): http://bit.ly/2BnniXN

STICK BAIT... 

Bait- Yamamoto 5" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Hook- VMC Wacky Rig (Size 1): https://bit.ly/35Gtj31

SWIMBAIT... 

Savage Gear 8" RTF Trout (Slow Sink): https://bit.ly/33GROg1

Color: Dirty Silver

AFFORDABLE POPPER COMBO... 

Rod- 13 Fishing Fate Black 6'7" Medium: https://bit.ly/3xSUZB3

Reel- Shimano SLX 70 MGL (XG): https://bit.ly/3gIUCgJ

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

HIGH-END BFS COMBO... 

Rod- G Loomis Conquest 842C MBR: http://bit.ly/2iL1PAY

Reel- Shimano Curado BFS: https://bit.ly/2QGRVF2

Line- Sunline Super FC (7 lb): http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

MID-PRICED BFS COMBO...

Rod- Shimano Curado 7'2" Medium Light: https://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Shimano Curado BFS: https://bit.ly/2QGRVF2

Line- Sunline Super FC (7 lb): http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

SWIMBAIT COMBO...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 80 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC100 35 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz