The Best Spinning Rod and Reel co*bos, Tested and Reviewed
[html]These co*bos take the mystery out of matching a rod with a reel — and they'll save you money in the process
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It is a co*mon misconception that rod and reel co*bos are lower quality than what you would get from rods and reels sold separately. The truth is there are plenty of quality co*bos from top-notch brands that will help you land fish. Purchasing ready-made co*bos takes the guesswork out of trying to match the right reel with a great rod. Buying a rod and spinning reel as a package deal can also save you money. If you like the idea of bundling your gear, here are some of the best spinning rod and reel co*bos available.
How I Tested the Best Spinning Rod and Reel co*bos
Choosing a single best spinning co*bo is impossible. There are hundreds of fishing methods out there, and die-hard anglers change up their styles and preferences depending on the water they’re fishing and the species they’re after. Sometimes, the “best” co*bo can change multiple times on a single fishing trip, and co*paring a surf-fishing bait rod to a lure-casting crappie rig is like the cliché of pitting apples against oranges.
So for this story I’ve picked solid all-around co*bos that I’ve fished with and have had good success with over the years. I’ve spent hours on the water fishing for crappie, stripers, largemouths, and speckled trout with these co*bos. I pitched jigs, worked crankbaits, and fished live bait from the shore and a boat. Sometimes, I caught fish; sometimes, I didn’t. But casting, reeling, and fighting fish allowed me to evaluate balance, drag systems, sensitivity, castability, weight, and ergonomics. Each co*bo also spent some time riding in the bottom of a jon boat and sliding around in the back of a truck (for informal durability testing).
Best Spinning Rod and Reel co*bos: Reviews and Reco*mendations
Pros
- Excellent balance
- Lightweight
- Super-smooth drag system
- Durable
Cons
- White color shows dirt and grime
Key Features
- Rod length: 6 feet 6 inches; 7 feet
- Power: Medium
- Action: Fast
- Reel size: 3000
- Gear ratio: 6.2:1
- Bearings: 11
- Price: $300
With an optimized casting system, titanium guides, and a rocket line management system, the Abu Garcia Veritas co*bo has features well above its price point. The top-notch drag system uses carbon fiber discs that last longer than felt discs and apply consistent drag pressure for smooth line feeding during a fight. The whole set-up performs well enough to earn big tournament prizes without being too extravagant for fishing a back-forty farm pond.
The setup is lightweight, well-balanced in the hand, and has a smooth, quiet spinning reel. The whole thing offers that just-right Goldilocks merger of durability and sensitivity. I’m a big fan of the sturdy, stainless steel, single-foot Fuji guides, which are outfitted with smooth, zirconium inserts. Not only is it super fun to fish with, I don’t have to worry about it getting beat up when it’s riding around in the back of my pickup.
I tested the VRPS70, which is the 7-foot model. I used it to beat banks with a 1/16-ounce Johnson Original Beetle Spin and haul in pan-sized crappie and bluegill. It’s plenty sensitive for picking up those super-subtle panfish nibbles. It did a great job of dropping those lightweight jigs under low-hanging branches.
The Abu Garcia Veritas co*bo co*es in eye-catching white, which anglers absolutely love or co*pletely despise. While the rod color does not affect how well this rig catches fish, it is probably the most polarizing feature of this otherwise stellar co*bo. I think a white rod tip offers excellent visibility when fishing cast-and-wait natural bait, particularly when I’m fishing in low light. However, rod color doesn’t matter all that much to me when I’m pitching jigs. The white does seem to get dirty faster, or at least lets you see every mud smear and streak of fish slime.
Read Next: Best Baitcaster co*bos
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- co*fortable to hold
- Great reel quality
Cons
- Not sensitive enough for subtle bites
Key Features
- Rod length: 6 feet 6 inches; 7 feet
- Power: Medium, Medium light
- Action: Fast, Extra fast
- Reel size: 30, 35
- Gear ratio: 6.2:1
- Bearings: 10
- Price: $170
This is one of the rare co*bo models where the reel outshines the rod. It features a lightweight carbon body with machined aluminum co*ponents that work together to make it co*fortable to fish while keeping the weight manageable. The reel also has a stainless-steel 10-bearing system for a buttery smooth retrieve. I fished this one for inshore speckled trout. It casts a soft plastic jig a country mile and holds up to saltwater use surprisingly well.
The rod in this spinning co*bo may not be the star, but it’s not shabby either. Made from 24-ton graphite, it offers a nice co*bination of stiffness, sensitivity, and durability. It provides excellent hook-setting power, although I found it isn’t quite sensitive enough to detect more subtle bites from apprehensive fish.
Read Next: Best Bass Lures
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable
- Easy to use
Cons
- The rod is of better quality than the reel
Key Features
- Rod length: 4 feet 8 inches, 5 feet, 6 feet, 6 feet 6 inches; 7 feet
- Power: Ultralight, light, medium, medium heavy
- Action: Moderate
- Reel size: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50
- Gear ratio: 5.1:1; 5.2:1
- Bearings: 4
- Price: $50 – $80
My first ever bass rod ever was an Ugly Stik. The brand is famous for being tough, long-lasting, and priced for budget-conscious anglers. That rod was no exception. I spent less than 25 bucks on it, and it survived years of abuse, including several dives overboard, lots of sliding around in the back of the truck, and one nasty slam of the rod tip in the tailgate.
The Ugly Stik GX2 co*bo lives up to that legacy of durability and affordability. I have this model in two iterations: a 7-foot ultralight with a size 40 reel (which is a darned near perfect crappie setup) and a 6-foot 6-inch medium action with a size 50 reel (which I currently have rigged for channel catfish). Neither of these rods has been shut in the tailgate, but they have been stepped on several times and walked away without a scratch.
The reels aren’t anything to write home about. They co*bine mostly plastic parts with some metal tossed into the mix. Chances are good that the rods in these co*bos will long outlive the reels. While these aren’t the smoothest reels I’ve ever fished with, they are dependable and easy to use. There aren’t a lot of bells or whistles, but they are built to take a beating and are priced perfectly for entry-level anglers.
Pros
- Affordable
- co*fortable for all day fishing
Key Features
- Rod length: 5 feet 6 inches, 6 feet, 6 feet 6 inches, 6 feet 10 inches, 7 feet 6 inches
- Power: Ultralight, medium light, medium, medium heavy
- Action: Fast
- Reel size: 1000, 2500, 4000
- Gear ratio: 5:1, 5.8:1, 6.2:1
- Bearings: 4
- Price: $30 – $100
The Shimano Nexave co*bo has a durable two-piece graphite-co*posite pole with titanium oxide guides and a soft EVA split grip. It also features a quality Nexave reel packed with patented features like a “G-Free Body” design and an AR-C spool. Cutting through the marketing speak, that simply means Shimano shifted the reel’s center of gravity to reduce fatigue and angled the spool lip to create less friction during casting. It works. It casts like a champ, and I can fish all day without my hand or wrist cramping. However, the reel on this one is relatively basic, and while it has held up well during several trips on the water, it doesn’t feel as durable as reels in some of the other co*bos on this list.
I tested the Shimano NEXS56UL2 co*bo, which includes a size 1000 reel and an ultralight, fast-action rod that is 5 feet 6 inches long. I had zero hand or wrist fatigue after a full day of jigging for crappie and panfish from a jon boat on a backwater beaver slough. The set-up is the perfect length for pitching lightweight jigs from a jon boat, and the rod made catching even the smallest panfish feel like lunkers.
Alice Jones Webb
Pros
- Sturdy rod
- Well-balanced
- Smooth reel operation
- Line management system prevents line twist
Key Features
- Rod length: 8 feet 6 inches, 9 feet, 9 feet 6 inches, 10 feet
- Power: Medium, medium heavy, heavy
- Action: Moderate fast, fast
- Reel size: 3000, 4000
- Gear ratio: 5.8:1, 6.2:1
- Bearings: 4
- Price: $110 – $130
The Shimano Symetre Salmon/Steelhead co*bo features a high-quality graphite rod blank with stainless-steel frame guides with titanium oxide inserts. The rod has enough backbone to handle heavier lures and larger fish, but it isn’t so heavy that it can’t cast lighter baits if I want to switch things up.
I tested the 8-foot 6-inch medium-heavy power fast action co*bo, and it could cast lures from 1/8 ounce to 3/4 ounce, although I struggled to get a decent casting distance with the lighter lures.
The reel in the Symetre co*bo is one of my all-time favorite budget spinning reels. Alice Jones Webb
The Symetre reel is easily one of my all-time favorite budget spinning reels. It retrieves smooth as glass, the cast is just as sleek, and the drag, which has a max setting of 19 pounds, is a total boss when handling long runs. The reel also features Shimano’s proprietary line management system, an array of elements that work together to ward off line twist, thus preventing wind knots, broken lines, lost casts, and tons of frustration.
Lew’s
Pros
- Three rod choices
- Sensitive IM6 graphite rod blanks
- Quick retrieve ratio
Cons
- No medium-heavy or heavy option
Key Features
- Three Rod Lengths: 6 feet, 6 feet 6 inches and 7 feet
- Two piece graphite rod construction
- 6.2:1 gear ratio
- Split grip EVA handle
Over the last decade or so, Lew’s reestablished itself as an industry leader by giving serious tournament anglers what they want and need, at a wide range of prices. These three co*bo options continue that trend, and they do so in a package that is both durable and refined. I found that you could take these rods pounding through waves, use the tips to dislodge snagged lures, and boat flip big fish, and all they did was co*e back begging for more. The blue accents stand out among a sea of bland copycats, and while I’d generally prefer one-piece construction, the ferrule created no meaningful loss of sensitivity or fluidity. Indeed, some anglers may prefer that it makes it easier to transport.
Read Next: Best Travel Fishing Rods
How to Choose a Spinning Rod and Reel co*bo
While opting for a co*bo can reduce the number of decisions you have to make, there are still a few things to consider before you buy. Different co*bos are better suited for certain types of fishing and for catching different species of fish. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when shopping for a spinning rod and reel co*bo.
Rod Length
The length of the rod affects how far you can cast your lure and how accurately you can get it there. Shorter rods (under 6 feet 6 inches) are generally better for precision casting in tight spaces. Longer rods are typically better suited for open-water fishing, especially when you need to be able to chuck your bait a fair distance.
Rod Power
Rod power is a measure of how much pressure it takes to flex the rod. It is also a good indication of how much weight it can handle without breaking. Power ratings range from ultralight to extra-heavy. Lighter power rods are best for crappie, panfish, and small trout while heavier power rods are better for catching heavier fish like striped bass, redfish, or hefty catfish.
Rod Action
Action refers to where the rod flexes along the blank, with faster action rods bending closer to the tip and moderate action rods bending closer to the center. A rod with an extra-fast action has tons of tip sensitivity and will generally offer a faster, heavier hook set, making it a smart option for jigging. You may lose some tip sensitivity when fishing a moderate action rod, but you get a longer casting range in return. Medium action rods are also a good option when fishing with crankbaits or other lures with treble hooks because the moderate bend helps prevent snatching the bait from the fish’s mouth before it engulfs it.
Reel Size
The size of a fishing reel determines how much line it can hold. It can also affect the balance of the co*bo. Lighter reels (1000–2500 size) work well for small crappie, panfish, and other small freshwater species. Medium (3000–4000) are built for bigger fish. Even larger reels (5000+) are generally used for large saltwater species.
Smaller reels work better for catching smaller fish. Alice Jones Webb
Gear Ratio
A reel’s gear ratio determines how much line is retrieved with each handle turn. A gear ratio of 6:1 means the spool will make six rotations for every crank. Higher gear ratios deliver a faster retrieve. Lower gear ratios offer a slower retrieve and can provide more power for fighting large fish.
Ball Bearings
The number of ball bearings a reel has directly affects how smoothly it operates during retrieval. A greater number of bearings reduces friction between rotating co*ponents for smoother and more consistent spin. A quality co*bo reel should have at least four ball bearings. However, the quality of the bearings is almost as important as the number. High-quality bearings perform better than low-quality co*ponents, even in smaller numbers.
co*fort
A co*fortable grip and good balance between the rod and reel will help reduce fatigue, particularly on long fishing trips. EVA foam or cork handles provide a co*fortable, stable grip.
Final Thoughts on the Best Spinning Rod and Reel co*bos
Buying one of the best spinning rod and reel co*bos is a great way to ensure you get a fitting rod/reel setup. It’s also a smart way to save a few bucks. Whether you’re a beginner searching for a versatile setup that won’t break the bank or an experienced angler looking for durability and precision, there’s a co*bo to meet your angling needs. The co*bos I’ve listed here have proven their worth on the water and offer a range of features from durable designs for battling big fish to lightweight options that provide much more finesse.
The post The Best Spinning Rod and Reel co*bos, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.
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