Your Idea of Best rod/reel combo for both reds and specks
 

I am looking to update my fishing tackle. I was wondering if there are any good rod/reel combos that can be used for both reds and specks? I won't say money is no object, but I do want a quality product. Or should I get one combo for reds and one for specks?

I like two set ups (but I have like twenty)
Depends on your skill level.
I like Shimano products.

If i were you i would do a spinning combo with braid. Amd then a a baitcast combo with mono

spinning or baitcast?

I prefer spinning. I know baitcast reels have really improved over the years, but after a childhood spent untangling bird nests on baitcast reels, I just don't care for them.

my personal favorite is the shimano symetre I think they cost around $100. All I do is rinse them off and they have been going strong for about 5 years. My uncle dropped one off the side of the boat at grand isle this year, I picked it up and rinsed it off sprayed some oil inside and it has been fine since. I would think a 6'6"-7' med action rod. I like shimano because any of their rods over $100 come with a lifetime over the counter warranty

I use a shimano 200e7 on a 7' 2" cumara and a 200e7 on a 7' clarus. Both with power pro line.

haha
 

ugly stick and zebco $70 catch em all:D

Get a 7'0 Medium Duce rod and a Lews reel. The rods are awesome and the lews reels are extremely easy to cast.

Go Light.....

For topwater and hard baits use a 6/6....I would not use any rod heavier than a 3.5 oz rod

And jig rod for plastic use 6/8 rods...

Reels I use Shamino


Best Rods for saltwater fishing are
Waterloo
Duce Rods
Some guys make rods on here I have not tried yet...

Jude makes some light rods


Also for the money Stick em makes a great rod at great price

Absolutely!!!!!! Spinning=braid. Lot less wind knots, no memory, more sensitivity.

If you want a spinning reel check out the new shimano stradic 3000.....I bought one a few weeks ago and it is smooth as butter. Hard to beat a shimano rod with the lifetime warranty over the counter.

i have a 7' Duce Twisted and an Abu Revo that i fish everything with and have ZERO Problems. I have 20lb Power Pro on it and can Horse in a bull red in no time. I tie a 4' flouro leader when trout fishing.

Thanks for all the replies. I have to make decision...how much to spend and how to keep wife from knowing what these combos cost! May you guys limit out every trip.

6'3 Texas custom rod (corky, topwater) with a 200 size citica or curado (40lb fins windtamer) with a core 50mg the combo is under 9oz
7'0 falcon xd (popping cork) with penn 4000 friece (30lb fins windtamer)
And about to place an order on a 7'2 or 7'4 Texas Custom Rod for my croaker rod.

I was the same way 15 years ago. I wanted a better reel that would hold up to saltwater fishing so I got a mid range priced baitcaster reel to try it. It was great....but did not last a year. I now have 3 Curado's.

You would be amazed how easy the new baitcast reel are to cast. You can set the spool drag a little tight and it will not backlash. After a little casting, you will be "lighting up" the spool [just a little bit at a time] to get more distance.

I really recommend you go fish with someone that has a good baitcasting reel and give it a try.

You can thank me later.

I have a few reels that I like. Shimano for all of them. I have three Shimano Caenans that I really like very smooth casting for 80 dollars. I have two Shimano Citicas that I used mostly for swim baits and rattle traps. These are like 120. Then I have two curados E7 and E6. Mostly for Jig fishing. I use mostly TTF Gun Dog rods 7ft - 7' 6" all medium action. But Jude is going to build me a couple of his custom rods which I cant wait to get. Shimano also makes the sellus and voltaeous rods price range 40 to 60 dollars that you can match up with any reel. My father uses these and they have very good action and good flex factor. He uses Daiwa Spincast reels though either the SC017 Silvercast or GC012 Goldcast. Hope this helps!

OCR 7'3" yellow mouth w/ chronarch. Can't beat it!!

I win the lottery and I will buy one of each. Lot of good info here. Glad I came back to posting on here. May all of you limit out each time you go fishing!

I have a tournament choice 7'7 med heavy from academy with an H2O reel. Love it for all kinds of fishin.