To successfully catch fish that you want, you should have with you the right rod and reel. If you want to enjoy trophy fish and large catches such as pike and bass, the best baitcaster combo is what you need. A baitcaster combo features a rod and reel that are pre-assembled together for you so you can focus on the fishing task.
A good quality baitcaster combo is designed to handle heavy fishing lines which facilitate more line control and allow you to cast your rod from afar with more accuracy. The superior line control allows you to slow down the lure so it lightly falls into the water without scaring off nearby fish.
Additionally, its baitcaster reel offers superior power to allow you to pull in aggressive fish without much of a fight. So below, we’ve outlined the list of the 10 best baitcaster combos this year to help you find the ideal set for your next freshwater and saltwater fishing adventure.
Best Freshwater Baitcaster Combo
Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Carbon fiber reel housing for extra strength and lightweight performance
- Line ID system on the rod butt for better rigging on the casting deck and in the rod locker
- Advanced Fuji Fazlite guides for weight reduction
- Patented Winn grips for added comfort, stress relief, and accurate casting
- Unique skeletonized air reel seat for optimal sensitivity
Length: 6’6” – 7’9”
Power: Medium light – heavy
Action: Moderate – extra fast
Gear ratio: 6.8:1 – 8.3:1
Ball bearings: 9+1
Line weight: 6-14 lbs.
Braid Capacity: 30/150
Line capacity: 12/120
Lure weight: 1/16-1/2 oz.
Best Game Fishing Baitcaster Combo
Lew’s Mach Pro
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Best for game fishing
- Ultra low profile reel for added functionality and easy retrieval
- External adjust magnetic control system for fine-tuning your casting to accommodate different lures and fishing conditions
- High quality 10-bearing system with double-shielded stainless ball bearings and zero reverse one-way clutch bearing
- Fitted with pro-style hook keeper
Length: 7’2”
Power: Medium heavy
Action: Fast
Gear ratio: 7.5:1
Ball bearings: 9+1
Line weight: 12 – 25 lbs.
Braid capacity: 50/110
Line capacity: 12/110
Lure weight: 1/4-1 oz.
Best Baitcaster Combo For The Money
Abu Garcia Black Max
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Robust 24 Ton graphite rid for added sensitivity and strength
- Toughened stainless steel guides with titanium oxide inserts for smooth flow, feel, and line durability
- High density EVA handles for a comfortable grip
- Compact, low profile design for improved efficiency and easy storage
- 4+1 system with stainless steel ball bearings
Length: 6’6”
Power: Medium
Action: Fast
Gear ratio: 6.4:1
Ball bearings: 4+1
Line weight: 8 – 17 lbs.
Braid capacity: 30/145
Line capacity: 12/110
Lure weight: 1/4-5/8 oz.
Best Freshwater & Saltwater Baitcaster Combo
Shakespeare Alpha
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Low profile reel for easy handling
- Graphite reel comes pre-schooled with an 8-lb line for more convenience
- Multi-stop anti-reverse and ball bearing delivers smooth performance
- Tubular glass blank construction provides a responsive feel and long lasting durability
- EVA grips for better rod handling and comfort
Length: 6’
Power: Medium
Action: Medium
Gear ratio: 3.3:1
Ball bearings: 7+1
Line weight: 8 – 17 lbs.
Braid capacity: 30/145
Line capacity: 10/115
Lure weight: 1/4-5/8 oz.
Best Bass Fishing Baitcaster Combo
KastKing Crixus
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Power Transition System (PTS) makes the two-piece rod feel like a single piece rod
- Golf style super polymer handles for slip resistance and enhanced grip in wet conditions
- Stainless steel guides with zirconium oxide rings for long, smooth casts with fluorocarbon, monofilament, or braided fishing
- Highly sensitive and high tensile IM6 2-piece graphite rod
- Built for left handed anglers
Length: 6’6”
Power: Medium heavy
Action: Fast
Gear ratio: 6.5:1
Ball bearings: 7+1
Line weight: 10 – 17 lbs.
Braid capacity: 30/145
Line capacity: 10/115
Lure weight: 1/4-5/8 oz.
Best All Round Fishing Baitcaster Combo
Quantum Bill Dance Special Edition
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Can be converted to left or right had retrieve
- Sturdy graphite frame for added durability and lightweight finish
- EVA handle grips for added comfort and slip resistance
- Adjustable magnetic cast control for even better casting
- Strong and sensitive IM6 graphite blank rod
Length: 6
Power: Medium
Action: Fast
Gear ratio: 6.1:1
Ball bearings: 2+1
Line weight: 6 – 12 lbs.
Braid capacity: 30/170
Line capacity: 14/120
Lure weight: 1/4-5/8 oz.
Best High Powered Baitcaster Combo
Abu Garcia Revo SX
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- 9+1 system with stainless steel ball bearings and roller bearing
- Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag system for incredible drag
- Line ID system on the rod for tracking rigging
- High quality carbon coil technology in the rod for added sensitivity and strength
- Fuji Fazlite guides for lightweight function
Length: 7’
Power: Medium
Action: Fast
Gear ratio: 7.3:1
Ball bearings: 9+1
Line weight: 8 – 17 lbs.
Braid capacity: 30/140
Line capacity: 12/145
Lure weight: 1/4-5/8 oz.
Best Baitcaster Combo For Style
Ugly Stik GX2
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Patented Ugly Tech construction integrates a blend of fiberglass and graphite for a sensitive and robust rod
- Proprietary Ugly Tuff single piece stainless steel guides for added longevity and to eliminate insert pop-ups
- Ugly Stik Clear Tip design for added strength and sensitivity
- Single ball bearing design with graphite spool – pre-spooled with 12lb line
- Multi-disc drag system for powerful and smoother drags
Length: 6’6”
Power: Medium
Action: Fast
Gear ratio: 6.2:1
Ball bearings: 9+1
Line weight: 8 – 20 lbs.
Braid capacity: 30/140
Line capacity: 10/150
Lure weight: 1/4-5/8 oz.
Best Travel Fishing Baitcaster Combo
Sougayilang Speed Bass Fishing
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- 4-piece rod construction for easy travel and transportation
- 13+1 high quality corrosion resistant MaxiDur ball bearings for smoother operation
- Specially designed CNC aluminum spool with line roller to reduce line twists and breakage
- Pan carbon fiber rod blanks allow for fishing with worms and jigs
- Golf material handles for high grip even in wet conditions
Length: 5’9” – 7’8”
Power: Medium
Action: Moderate fast – fast
Gear ratio: 5.5:1 – 7.0:1
Ball bearings: 9+1 – 13+1
Line weight: 10 – 20 lbs.
Braid capacity: 30/140
Line capacity: 10/230
Lure weight: 3/8-2 oz.
Best Tournament Baitcaster Combo
Bass Pro Qualifier 2
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Bass Pro Qualifier 2 Baitcaster Combo
- Pin release side plate for quick brake adjustment
- Built-in lube port for easy maintenance
- Sleek and light functional recurve reel handle
- Split grip lightweight Eva handles with X-wrap grips for optimal comfort in any conditions
Length: 6’6”
Power: Medium heavy
Action: Fast
Gear ratio: 5.6:1
Ball bearings: 6+1
Line weight: 10 – 20 lbs.
Braid capacity: 30/150
Line capacity: 12/120
Lure weight: 3/8-1 oz.
How To Choose A Baitcaster Combo – Buying Guide
Gear Ratio
The gear ratio determines how many times the spool turns in a single revolution of the handle when using a baitcaster reel and rod combo. The best baitcaster combo is built with a higher gear ratio as more line is retrieved per turn of the handle. Commonly, you will find a gear ratio that ranges from 5.2:1 to 8.1:1.
A gear ratio of 6.4:1 is a perfect balance as it allows you to use a wider selection of bait and different bait fishing techniques such as jigging and shallow cranking. Lower gear ratios of around 5.2:1 allow you to reel bait slower thus, they are ideal for baits such as big diving crankbaits and heavy spinnerbaits that pull hard. Higher gear ratios are faster and ideal for techniques where you use topwater frogs and baits.
Spool Size
The spool size tells you how much drag power your reel can support. Typically, baitcasting combos boast a drag power of least 10 to 20 lbs. Small spool size is ideal for short line applications such as flipping whilst a larger spool size is designed for small line coils that are easy to manage.
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Handle Size
A shorter reel handle is ideal for fishing techniques that use worms or jigs, however, they are not ideal for handling larger and heavy bait such as crankbaits and swimbaits. A larger and longer reel handle is ideal for a heavy and tough fighting catch.
Brakes & Tension
The brake system is designed to control the line towards the end of casting whilst the tension knob controls the line as you begin to cast. The best baitcasting combos are designed with a braking system that helps to control spooling, especially during windy conditions. Additionally, a good quality braking system and tension facilitate long casts with a range of lure weights without any hiccups or backlashes.
Bearings
Ball bearings are designed to make reeling smooth. Having fewer bearings is in fact better as it increases the reeling speed without losing control. Furthermore, when you are choosing the best baitcasting combo, opt for ones with ball bearing shields as they help to keep dirt and grime out of the bearings.
Commonly, you will find ceramic or stainless steel ball bearings. Both offer incredible weather resistance, however, ceramic bearings are lighter, more robust, but more expensive.
Material
The best baitcasting combo is made with an aluminum, magnesium, graphite, or fiberglass rod. For saltwater fishing, you want to go for graphite rods as the graphite material protects them from corrosion.
Additionally, for both saltwater and freshwater fishing, graphite rods are more common thanks to their cheaper prices and superior strength to weight ratio. However, aluminum rods are more rigid and rugged whilst fiberglass ones are lighter, more sensitive, and more expensive.
FAQs
Q: What Should I Look For When Buying A Baitcaster?
When choosing a baitcaster to invest in the key features to look for are the gear ratios, the spool size, handle size, and bearing number. Depending on the fishing environment, the material and rod length are also important features to consider.
Q: Why Is Baitcaster Better Than Spinning?
A baitcaster is designed to handle heavy lines and allow for longer casting compared to a spinner of the same size range. Typically, a spinner is built with a smaller and narrow spool, thus, making it difficult to fit a line with a large diameter.
Q: Can A Baitcaster Go On Any Rod?
You can fit a baitcaster on a spinning rod, however, for successful fishing, this is not recommended. Unlike baitcasting rods, spinning rods are built with larger guides thus, if you put your baitcaster on a spinning rod, the lines will not be as balanced and stable as they would on a baitcasting rod.
Globo Surf Overview
The baitcaster combo reviews share excellent rod and reel options to use with heavy lines and for longer casts. Unlike spinners, baitcasters are excellent for those quick, large, and aggressive catches during both freshwater and saltwater fishing. So pick your favorite set from the 10 best baitcaster combos above so you can enjoy fishing without struggling with your catch.