The hope is always there Anglers can be an optimistic bunch. They have a certain type of optimism reserved for guys in the checkout line of a large retail store with a $20 bill in one hand and visions of 1000-pound bags swimming around their heads. The lure of that next big breakthrough wrapped in a bright orange package are hard to resist, particulary when the voice in your wallet tells you to buy gas and maybe a loaf of bread.
But the truth about budget crappie combos is not so much buried treasure as it is knowing what you’re giving up to get them at such a low cost. Good news: You’ll actualy catch crappie on low budget gear. It won’t cost more than a nice dinner for two, but bad news is… it’s going to act like low-budget gear.
It’s not an investment in a lifelong fishing buddy. You’re investing in a tool that do a single thing moderately well. If you don’t understand this distinction, you’ll throw your rod into lake in total frustration.
Real Talk About Budget Crappie Fishing Combos
Understanding Budget Crappie Gear
Typically the first thing that break on these combos is the rod. Because they are designed to save money, most combos under one hundred dollars uses graphite blends that lean heavily toward fiberglass to keep costs low. The result is an unyielding rod that are stiff as a board at tip section.
Rod Construction And Durability
Sounds horrible for a delicate presentation but it’s not so bad on typical jig and minnow retrieve. You won’t feel those small bites as easy as you would with more expensive all-graphite rods, but you will get more durability. It is a trade-off.
You won’t feel as many bites but the rod isn’t nearly as apt to break next time you inevitably hang up on a log or hook a catfish.
Reel Mechanics And Performance
A lot of budget combos really skimp when it comes to the reel. Look for a simple roller bearing setup and plastic geared mechanism.
Many times you’ll find that Ugly Stik GX2 pair its rods with reels from companies like Pflueger or Okuma. While these reels will gets the job done, they’re certainly not as smooth as high end drag system. As a crappie runs, the reel may spit out line a little and stutter along the way.
That’s not because there’s anything wrong with the reel; it is simply the mechanics doing the bare minimum. Rather than trying to rely on the drag to do all the work, you’ll quickly learn to pull your rod back gentle.
Line Capacity And Replacement
You also have to manage your expectations about line capacity.
Many of these combos is spooled with monofilament line that’s had its day. In fact, some of the line may actualy date back to last year. It can be brittle and perhaps even too light for crappie fishing, though it’s not a bad thing if they’re throwing around small jig.
Choosing The Right Fishing Line
If you’re looking for something reliable, change out the line right away. For this price point, I really like a good twenty pound test fishing line. It’s thin enough to allow small jigs to get down easy but it’s still thick enough to pull fish through cover.
Five bucks will go a long way when buying new line.
Ignoring Cheap Combo Accessories
Typically, all of the accessories they throw in the box are fluff to try and market themselves. They include a bobber for a plastic plant, some extra hooks, or a net.
Who cares? Why spend the money on a cheap combo if you aren’t getting the reel and rod pair right? Find one with a good reel and a decent rod and you’re golden.
Toss the other stuff in your boat console, just like you would anyway. In short, a less than one-hundred-dollar crappie combo isn’t the grand prize, but it’s an entry ticket. It doesn’t hurt your wallet to get on the water and learn how this game is played.
Break it? Replace it. Catch fish?
Celebrate. Simple pleasure, simple philosophy. Cast.
Wait. Hope. And when the line twitches, you pull and know that’s all you ever asked for, all you ever got; exactly what you paid for.
You should of known this would of happened with cheap gear.
