I see people asking what is a good price for a fishing combo? This relies on several factors including cost, quality, and how much you use the combo. You do get what you pay for with fishing gear. Yet, the quality tackle is not as expensive as some tend to believe. Also, what and where you fish has an impact on the tackle.
A person fishing a few times a month can spend less and achieve good results. Someone else fishing 3-4 times a week will spend more on a rod and reel. This is due to the quality and durability. A low-cost combo will wear in less than a year fishing a few times a week. In the long run, you save money buying better quality. If you fish more than a few times a month.
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Keeping the idea of price simple. Let us define the different levels of anglers. The casual angler goes 3-4 times a month. Someone in the moderate range will fish 7-8 times a month. People fishing 10 times or more a month are what I consider serious or avid about fishing.
Fishing Combos for Casual Anglers
These combos are the gear found in the big box stores. Places like Walmart, Dicks, and large retail stores. The combos are low cost and of lower quality. These rods and reels work for casual anglers. People in this category may be seeing if they like fishing or only go a few times a month in the summer.
What is a good price for a fishing combo at this level of fishing? People can expect to spend less than seventy-five dollars. A few combos will be as low as thirty-five dollars. Understand the lower the cost will or show lower quality also. These combos last a year or two before the reel or combo needs replacing due to failure. This is usually the reel. The reels are of very low quality with few bearings.
Suggestions
The Ugly Stik is a popular choice for casual anglers. This rod offers very good durability. There is a low chance of breaking the rod. The rod will last a long time. The reel is of low quality. It will become worn in a couple of years. There are low-cost reels in the 35-dollar range for replacing a worn reel.
The rod comes in many lengths. Some sellers have more power options. A medium-power is an all-around option. People going after smaller fish may want light power.
The Abu Garcia Black Max is a better quality fishing combo in performance aspects. It will cast and work lures a little better. The reel is going to last 3-4 years with good maintenance. Although not as popular as the Ugly Stik it is a well-known rod. It is number two in the low-cost category. I consider this a better rod and reel for entry-level and casual anglers.
The rod has better action. The reel is smoother while cranking and in the drag operation. This is a key factor in landing larger fish. A poorly operating drag will make you lose bigger fish.
Fishing Combos for Moderate Anglers
People falling into this category will need higher-quality fishing combos. You may need to buy a rod and reel separately. There are combos online but few in local stores. The small tackle shops have low-cost rods and reels you can pair together for a good combo. This type of combo is in the 100-150 dollar range for cost.
What can you expect at the price of a fishing combo at this level of fishing? The rod will be graphite making it sensitive and perform better casting. Sensitivity is how well a rod allows you to feel a bite. Plus, what a lure is doing in the water. The rod’s design will load better, making longer and more accurate casts. It will be lighter in weight also.
The reel will have better construction. The materials will be graphites, aluminum, and alloys. Instead of plastic in many components. The reel will last longer, be smoother operating, and be lighter in weight. Lighter equipment lowers the chance of arm and wrist fatigue. This is a factor for people fishing often.
Suggestions
A solid choice for people fishing at this level. The Eagle rod has a 5-year warranty. The rod has good power and action for all-around fishing. There are several lengths available also. The combo’s performance is close to the tackle for serious anglers. This is an exceptional entry-level or for casual to moderate anglers.
The reel is a slight improvement over the Black Max mentioned above. It has good line retrieve, drag, and cranking power for many species of fish. You can handle bigger fish with this combo easily.
This combo is a higher-quality rod with a good reel.
This combo is another very good choice at the level. The President is one of the better performing reels. It is a reel serious anglers use for walleye and finesse fishing. It is very smooth while cranking. The drag is higher quality than anything else at the price in a combo.
The Bass Pro rod offers good performance. The reel seat has a metal ring reinforcing the carbon on the screw portion. The combo offers a large selection of powers and lengths in the rods. The power ranges from light to medium-heavy. The lengths start at 5’6″ increasing to 7 feet in 6-inch increments.
This combo is a high-quality reel with a good rod. This rod and reel is a better choice having more options in power and lengths. You can match it to how you fish.
Fishing Equipment for Serious Anglers
People in this category will spend more than 150 dollars on a spinning reel and rod combo. Baitcast combos will run 200 or more depending on the rods and reels. This is the higher performance and quality tackle. It withstands fishing several times a week for hours each day. This tackle will save serious anglers money within 2 years. Gear with lower prices needs replacing after 2 years. The lower-price reels lack the quality bearings for heavier. Plus, the prolonged use at this level.
The equipment will not be found in retail stores. These rods and reels are sporting goods store-specific. That said, some do not have this level of gear. You will need to visit a local mom-and-pop shop, a retailer like Bass Pro, or Amazon for a rod and reel.
An angler at this level is also seeking a rod and reel for a specific species or style of fishing. These are not what is a general-purpose rod as in the previous categories. The rods have selections of powers and actions for certain lures of fishing techniques. People buying this gear are focusing on bass, walleye, or other popular sport fish. In other words, you have an idea of what you need from the rod’s performance. The same applies to a reel.
Search the site for rods or reels specific to your needs at this level. There are rod recommendations for bass, catfish, walleye, and musky fishing.
Conclusions
A good price for a fishing combo depends on how much and how you use the tackle. People fall into several levels of fishing. This impacts their needs in the tackle. Beginners or casual anglers spend less. As your use and level go up it does cost more. The added cost is worthwhile in performance and durability.