Fishing Forum

I've decided to get my first baitcaster rod/reel combo and i am heavily considering the

Daiwa Exceler combo

[url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21404-cat21406-cat601359&id=0066762124204a&navCount=14&podId=0066762&parentId=cat601359&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true"]http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21404-cat21406-cat601359&id=0066762124204a&navCount=14&podId=0066762&parentId=cat601359&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true[/url]

what do you guys think? does anyone have any experience with it?

thanks.
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I am not a big fan of bait casters, they require a lot of skill. Especialy in the setting of dials area.

the rong setting will cause a birds nest in every cast.

then you are extremly limited to the line you can use, where as a spin cast you can pop the spool off and place another spool on with a different weight line. "most spinning reels come with a spare spool"

dont get me wrong, if you have the skill, bait casters to a tremendous job pulling in them hogs.
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you mite want to by an older one off ebay to get the hang of it because it's not one of the thing to can get a hang for over night

but if you don't want to do that I think that you should look at bass pro's site
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Its a great idea to give baitcasters a try. If i were you I would go with a mid level baitcaster like the Quantum accurist Pt. Its way easier to start and learn with a quality reel. The biggest mistake you can make is wasting money on a cheap baitcaster.
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[quote ZMB] If i were you I would go with a mid level baitcaster like the Quantum accurist Pt. Its way easier to start and learn with a quality reel.[/quote]

$99 is a mid level baitcaster.. jeeeze. i think i may just get the pflueger president spinning reel in 14lbs for $60 and stick it on the rod i have now.. i dont have that kind of funds for a baitcaster right now it sounds like.
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COUGH COUGH!! you should look bass pro they have good reels for like 20 bucks COUGH COUGH man what am i coming down with ?
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Dont let them guys talk you out of that combo. The Exceler is a Mid lever reel and i will do you just dandy. I have 3 exceler reels and i do really well with them. As of now they are may fave baitcaster. I looked at the combo you are getting and i think it is a deal for 79.99. I paid that just for my exceler reels alone. So its like they are giving you the rod for free. I dont know anything about that rod, but what does it matter when you are getting it that cheap. I taught my buddy how to use a baitcaster with that reel and he learned very fast. My recommendation is to set the dial on the side all the way up to #10 full on while you are learning. As you get better you can turn it back. Good luck!
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[quote bigpikeguy]Dont let them guys talk you out of that combo. The Exceler is a Mid lever reel and i will do you just dandy. I have 3 exceler reels and i do really well with them. As of now they are may fave baitcaster. I looked at the combo you are getting and i think it is a deal for 79.99. I paid that just for my exceler reels alone. So its like they are giving you the rod for free. I dont know anything about that rod, but what does it matter when you are getting it that cheap. I taught my buddy how to use a baitcaster with that reel and he learned very fast. My recommendation is to set the dial on the side all the way up to #10 full on while you are learning. As you get better you can turn it back. Good luck![/quote]

thanks a lot. thats the kinda feedback i really wanted. someone with experience with the actual reel.

not that i dont appreciate everybodys feedback i thank u all.

but i dont really care about the rod quality as much as the reel quality. i kno theres sposed to be all sorts of advantages to this rod and that rod but in my opinion if the fish bites and the rod doesnt snap on the way in its a good rod.

and i did look at bass pros site and they dont really have much in my price range other than a bps brand.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores..._THUMBNAIL

i figured for the same price why not get a name brand? anybody know anything about that one in comparison
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Glad i was able to help! Just t let you know i turned 4 other guys onto that reel and they never looked back. I do own some more exspensive bait casters but to be 100% honest i really dont see that much of a difference in the performance of the 2 reels. The best thing you can do is every once in a while give your reel a shot of oil where it needs it. At least once a year take your reel apart and and clean it real good. Ardent makes a really nice reel cleaning kit that comes with everything you need. After you do that you may even notice that your reel works better than it did new. You do that and your reel will last you for years.
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i have decided on the BPS model. somthing about the daiwa is giving me troubled thoughts.. no real reason other than a bad feeling. tho im going to bps tomorow and im going to play with them both. heres what i think im going to get.

[url "http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_104163_100003001_100000000_100003000?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL"]http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_104163_100003001_100000000_100003000?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL[/url]

and i;ll probably get 14 or 16lb triline XL smooth casting mono line for it.
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well i got down to bps and everything i looked at and thought about just went out the window and i got the quantom KVD rod and reel. 7ft m action. i put 14lb line on it and went straight to the pond and caught a nice bass on it. i love it so far.. if only i was a pro at using a baitcaster!
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haha did you sing up up for a bass card??
I am going to get my next bait caster at bass [angelic]
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores...00_100-1-1

I was thinking of this one[cool]
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Now that you set up for baitcasting, here are a few suggestions to help with your casting.
Start by setting your spool tension cranked up tight, then put on a jig or texas rigged worm. hold the rod out and press the tumb bar and see if the jig slowly lowers to the floor. If it does not loosen the spool tension until the lure you have tied on falls to the floor and the spool stops rolling at the same time. If the spool keeps rolling the tighten it up a bit. Now that you have the spool tension set, start casting or pitching short distances and see how the spool reacts. (Remember that as you change lures you will need to make slight adjustments of the spool tension depending on the weight of the lure your throwing.) Now try short casts,remembering to thumb the spool and increase the distance as you learn.Once you have that down try casting with each arm as there will be times on the water where you'll be in a tight spot or need to get the right angle to hit your target. I do not know a Pro on any of the big bass circuits that cannot cast with each arm.
Hope this helps.
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[quote theazfisher]haha did you sing up up for a bass card??
I am going to get my next bait caster at bass [angelic]
[url "http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_104116_100001001_100000000_100001000_100-1-1"]http://www.basspro.com/...00_100001000_100-1-1[/url]

I was thinking of this one[cool][/quote]

im pretty sure they have a combo with that reel online. probably an extra $20 or so but hell if you're like me you like to have a rod for every reel.
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thanks too fishdayandnight. i have practiced with it in the back yard and im doin pretty decent wih it. i got the brake set on 3 (of 9) and its casting a mile. eventually do i want all the brakes to be off? im not really sure..

i never thought about casting with my other arm ill have to give it a shot. im ambidextrious in other things so i dont think it;ll be too much of a problem.

i had one major backlash and it was so bad i had to hack off alot of the line which is a bummer but bps hooked me up with free 14lb line so thats not that big of a deal ill get some triliene sooner or later.

but all and all i love the KVD baitcast combo and its onsale in store (atleast the one in cinci oh) for $139.99 which is a killer deal
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I was going to get an cheap lite action from wal mart for $10
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that works too. long as u got somthin that'll bring in some fish!
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I have a KVD quantum biatcaster and it is a nice reel. I paid more for it than i did for my exceller. if i were to put the to reels head to head i would take the exceller anyday. For one it is lighter and it fits in my hand alot better so i can feel my bait alot easier. Another thing i like better is the exceller is alot smother on the casts ad i can get more distance out of it. All in all though the KVD reel is not a bad reel.
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smoothest485, eventually you will may want to have the brake set to zero but not the spool tension knob. The brake will be numbered but the tention (on the opposite side of the reel from the brake) will have to be set to some degree.
In my earlier years Ive had backlashes or birds nests that ooked like eagle nests.
I actually travel the country putting on fishing and conservation seminars as well as marketing outdoor products at major tournament trails and fishing a few tournaments inbetween events.
Come down and see me at the Dick's Sporting Goods store Grand Openings in Florence, KY 5/30 or at Eastgate (Cinci) on 6/27 and I'll show you a few things that will help you out down the road.
I have only met one person in my 40 plus years of fishing that owns a baitcasting reel and has never had a backlash with it. That would be my brother-in-law, true story, as he has never put it on a rod....
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I have only met one person in my 40 plus years of fishing that owns a baitcasting reel and has never had a backlash with it. That would be my brother-in-law, true story, as he has never put it on a rod....[/quote]

I believe it. haha
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