Affordable Sticks and Reels That Anyone Can Use

As a new fishing season draws near, it's time to meticulously study the finest details of the newest products on the market. I have to be completely honest here, doing this entertains me nearly as much as actually USING these products on the water! As I flip through catalogs and websites, I list out the products I need for this coming season. Everything from rods and reels, to lures, hooks and bobbers. The price I come up with at the end is enough to send a man into cardiac arrest! But then I got to thinking... "Could seeing these prices drive somebody away from fishing?" The answer is definitely "yes."

Lets take a second and think about that. Does the average weekend angler really need to have the finest Shimano Cumara rod with a Shimano Sustain reel? No, of course they don't. That got me thinking a little bit on how affordable this great sport can be for recreational anglers to participate in. Lets face it, for around $150 dollars you can get a high quality rod and reel that will serve all your needs, put a huge smile on your face and a lunker in your live-well. Some folks may see the $250 Cumara and $300+ G. Loomis and never believe that a stick under $100 could be any good. I'll be the first to tell you, they are!

My first recommendation is for the angler who gets out quite often (lets say 2 or more days per week) is the Shimano Clarus family of rods. These are technique specific rods, both in casting and spinning configurations. They are lightweight, sensitive and comfortable to fish with all day long. I personally own one, with plans to add another to my arsenal of fish hunting weapons. The best part is, new for this year, they feature Shimano's seamless reel seat. It is an up-locking design from the bottom, which eliminates the need to have threads and a lock above the reel on the blank, giving YOU more sensitivity. The retail price on the Clarus family is $69.99. Take my word for it, you won't find a better quality, tough as nails fishing rod for $70 anywhere. Until you fish with me you have no idea how much abuse my sticks take, and these rods suck it up like champs! Below is a photo of the Clarus, and I will include a link to Shimano's webpage at the bottom of the blog.

The next rod I will recommend to the budget minded angler is a classic that I'm positive every fisherman has owned in their lifetime... the Shakespeare Ugly Stick. This is a fantastic rod for someone who only fishes for a couple of hours each week. When I was in my pre-teen years going on weekend bicycle trips to fish with my friends I had 2 of these sticks and loved them! In fact I kept one of them until I was 18 and guiding on Lake of the Woods! There are 10 different rod configurations to choose from in the Ugly Stick line from a 4'8 Ultra Light to a 9' Medium power! That being said, there is an Ugly Stick for you whether you enjoy pan fishing with a float and a minnow, or like chasing trophy sized toothy gators! These really are a bullet proof rod. As a guide I brought one in the boat for my guests as a spinning jerk bait rod for trophy sized pike on Lake of the Woods and it held up flawlessly! Despite being so strong and bullet proof, they still manage to retain their sensitivity with the blank-through-handle design! I still haven't told you the best part... the Ugly Stick from Shakespeare ranges from $29 to $39!  

The third and final rod I will recommend in this article will be the St. Croix Triumph family of rods. The Triumph spinning rods come in 11 different sizes, powers and actions, so there is bound to be one that best suits your angling needs. I have had the privilege of fishing the 7' Medium power rod in a tournament with a weightless Texas-Rig Senko on the end. This is one of the most insanely sensitive rods I have ever used! I felt every bite single bite and the hook-up to strike ratio was through the roof! These rods go for $79, and believe me it is well worth it!  Included here is a link to the St. Croix Triumph website for you to explore! 

Now, none of these three fine sticks are any good without one crucial element... a reel! All three rods I recommended are spinning models, simply due to their ease of use and their versatility. When it comes to reels, I have only one recommendation for the budget minded angler, and that is the Shimano Sahara 2500FE. The Sahara is a wonderful spinning reel that anybody can use comfortably with simplicity. I own two of these reels now and, not shockingly, plan to purchase another in the next couple of months. Here is a breakdown of features:

• Graphite frame, side plate and rotor for reduced weight
• 3 stainless steel bearings, 1 roller bearing
• Shimano's Super Stopper Anti-Reverse
• 6.2:1 Gear Ratio giving you 35'' of line retrieve per handle turn
• Propulsion Line Management allowing you to cast farther

The best part is the cost at only $79 for a high quality, indestructible Shimano reel! Check out Shimano's webpage to check out the Sahara and other fine products proven to help you make the most of your time on the water.

There you have it guys! Those are my recommendations for rods and reels for those of you who enjoy fishing like I do, and are looking for affordable, excellent quality fishing equipment to chase the big ones! I truly believe that these products will help you enjoy the little time you get to spend on the water, and take your fishing experience to the next level!  For the record guys, I am not sponsored by Shimano and have no business affiliation with them. My recommendations of their products are purely from personal use. I use Shimano products almost exclusively now because the quality is amazing, they look and feel phenomenal and the customer service I receive when I do manage to break them is second to none! 

Keep an eye in the next couple of days for a couple of product reviews coming your way! Until then...

Tight Lines!