RE: i need some help
 

Bigbass which ever rod and reel you end up with the rigging is just as important. Don't overfill the spool with line. I like to leave a healthy 1/8" or more between the top of the spool and the line. Most bait casters work best on mid weight or heavy line. I don't go any smaller than #10 but prefer #12, #14 or #17 line. I usually use the 17 on my spinnerbait rig and the 12 on carolina rigs in deeper water. I step up to the 14 for shallow riggin in the weeds. If you set up a pitching rig go with heavy mono or braided line due to the snags and the need to horse the largemouths out of the cover. I like 12 for top water. If you like lite line in the 4-8 pound range stick to spinning rods and if you really want to use a baitcaster on lite line you have to spend some bucks. I bought my son in law a 200 dollar Diawa and it casts lite line and lite lures like a dream. Most of my reels are Garcia and Quantam and cost between $75 and $125. I have had good luck on the Cabela brand of rods but not the reels. Have patience because the learning curve can be a little bit especially if you try to cast in windy situations. Good luck and when you do start to use them you will be really happy with the results.

RE: i need some help
 

Oh bigbass I just thought of another thing that will help you. It is important to use good line and keep it fresh without any knots or kinks. After a while the line will take on a memory and start to break down from the sun. To save money I fill the spool to the 3/4 mark with some cheap line in a color I don't usually use. I determine how far I can cast and add about 30 yards more. I join my good line to the filler line with a blood knot and wind that on. If I notice that the differrent color is getting closer to the end of my good line I respool just the end section back to where the different line ends. That way you keep good line on the reel and don't have to use the expensive stuff all the way back to the spool. Saves money and time and tends to keep better line on the business end of the spool.

RE: i need some help
 

As far as reels, I love the Bass Pro Shops® Extreme™ Baitcast Reels....last year I bought 3 on sale for $50 a piece and loved them. I used cheap rods last year..Berkly Lightning Rod (2 med heavy 6 ft, 1 7 ft heavy)...they're about $30 a piece at walmart...not a bad place to start. I thought I'd replace the rods this year with some higher priced ones, but I think I 'll stick with these. Here's a link for the reels.... $50 for a reel, and $30 for a rod certainly won't break the bank, and I think you like the set up...
http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...rTarget=browse

good luck, let us know what you go with

RE: i need some help
 

Champlain Islander that is great all of it so i've narrowed it down to a Quantam Accurist PT, Pflueger President ,Ambassadeur D6 or do you remember the name of the lite line one you bought and when you put line on one why do people use different colored line any more help is great :);):D sweat i will look at that link right now thank you which one do you guys think i should get.

RE: i need some help
 

Bigbass all the reels you mentioned are really pretty good and will certainly do the job. Ask around and see if any of your fishing buddies have any of them and give them a try. Every reel is different and some you will like and others you won't. Find a setup you are comfortable with and go with it. Different colored lines for different applications. I like green line for my spinnerbaits and jigs because I am usually fishing stained water around weeds and wood. I go with clear or blue line when I drop shot or spin fish lite line in clear water. Here on Lake Champlain we have plenty of stained water in the weedy bays but the broad lake has zebra musscles and they filter the water so most of the smally fishing is in clear water. I like Berkley Triline line but any of the top end stuff will work just as well. If you get large capacity spools you will save money in the long run.

RE: i need some help
 

I use 15 lb. test Berkley Trilene. I don't fish anywhere with clear water, so I prefer green.

RE: i need some help
 

sweet that is awsome :D:)[8D];)

RE: i need some help
 

ok i have cut it down to the final 3 i think they are all great and i can't decide so i want you guys to vote on which one is the best and in the end i will add up the points the voting is between the following Quantam Accurist PT, Pflueger President ,Ambassadeur D6 so vote for the best one and that is what i will buy along with one of the rods you guys selected.:)

RE: i need some help
 

Tough decision. All 3 reels have about the same gear ratio and price. The Pfluger has a 10 bearing system and the quantum has 5 and the ambassadeur has 6. If all is equal the unit with 10 should be smoother. Of the 3 I like Quantum because I use them and they are a good product. The Pflueger sounds great but I would want to try it out or at least look at it and feel it before I bought it. I wouldn't go with the ambassadeur because it is a round reel and the others are low profile. I like the low profile especially if I am fishing with it all day. I find it is easier in my hands due to the way I hold the rod and reel. As far as the rods I have quite a few of the Bass Pro rods of different quality and price. They aren't the best rod on the market but they are a good value for a mid range reel. If I was going to put a $200 dollar reel on a rod I would opt for something better like a G.Loomis or a St. Croix. Bass pro has nice combo set ups that are really priced well. They offer a Pflueger president/ and Bass Pro Extreme XPS combo for $169.98. A Quantum VanDam/ Pro qualifier for $159.98. A Quantum Accurist/ Bass Pro Extreme XPS for $149.94. All these combos will save you from 60 to 70 dollars if purchased separately. Go with either a 6' or 6' 6" rod in either M or MH. I would suggest trying a 6' 6" in Medium as a good all around rod.

My pick would be the Quantum VanDam/ Pro qualifier for $159.98. The reel is similar to the Accurist and the rod is better than the Extreme model.

RE: i need some help
 

That would probably be my first pick. I haven't ever used that model Pflueger, but it seems like a really nice reel. Next time I'm in the market for a reel, I may have to try one. (Now look what you've started!:))

Second pick. The Pflueger has more ball bearings, but this is still a very nice combo. If I was a Quantam fan, I'd probably get one of these.

Third pick. The rod is better, but I think you'll notice a lot more difference in quality of this reel compared to the other two than this rod compared to the other two.

My priority is opposite CI's. I try to match rods and reels as evenly as possible, but tend to spend more on the reel than the rod. After they get past about 60 million modulus graphite, I'm not sure I'm good enough fisherman to make a difference. I like a reel with a 6.2 or 6.3 to 1 gear ratio. I will agree with the 6'6" medium action rod.