Okay, so the wife thinks she wants to try her hand at baitcasting. She's pretty good at a spinning reel setup so i am confident that she'll get the hang of it but until I see her real interest level i don't want to spend a lot on a rod /reel so I've got a 25% coupon for DSG and I'm looking at the Lew's Mach 1 Speed Spool and the Origin SE rod & reel combos...which of those do you think would be better and why? Any others around that price range that you'd add to the equation?

Let her try one of yours first. If she says she likes it, then you'll know you need to get her one.

 

All I can recommend is if you're going to buy her a casting reel, don't skimp. Matter of fact, make sure it's something you'd be willing to use.

 

This is MHO, but it is far easier to learn how to use a casting reel when it is of higher quality.  So at the very least the Tatula or Shimano equivalent.  They're just simply easier to use and learn from.

 

Not only that, if she decides she doesn't like it, you just added to your arsenal a reel you'd use. ?

 

I can't comment on the lews reels, but they sure look nice.

 

 

get a quality rod and real, but it doesn't need to break the bank

 maybe a daiwa tatula ct 7.3:1 and a doby7ns fury 7'0" MH with 12 lb mono or 30 lb braid covers pretty much everything.

 

get the same hand retrieve in case she doesn't like it so you can add it to your arsenal like said above!

 

That lews combo would work man, no need to spend more

Do Lew's rods or Origin rod's run close to spec as far as lure weight? Lighter? Stronger? Like I know Abu rods usually run heavier than list like a MH fishes more like a H and can handle lures above it's listed rating.

19 hours ago, islandbass said:

All I can recommend is if you're going to buy her a casting reel, don't skimp. Matter of fact, make sure it's something you'd be willing to use.

 

Not only that, if she decides she doesn't like it, you just added to your arsenal a reel you'd use. ?

Good advice and very true.

 

Go with the Lew's it's on sale right now for $124 https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/lews-mach-1-speed-spool-baitcast-combo-16lewumch16ft10mhcom/16lewumch16ft10mhcom

 

 

With the other combo, the reel is great but the rod is junk.

So I found a good deal for her. I didn't end up going with a DSG combo for $100 - $120, instead i went with another online vendor out of Kentucky who has a promotion going on right now that if you buy an Abu Garcia Revo S, SX or STX reel you get a Veritas 3.0 rod of your choice for free. So I got her a 4th Gen Revo S (which is white which she likes) 7.3:1 LH reel and a 7'3" Heavy/Fast (lure weight: 3/8oz. to 1-1/2oz.) Veritas 3.0 rod for $129.99 (no tax and free shipping). I personally think this is a much better deal than any of the DSG combos for that price range and on the off chance she ends up hating baitcasting I won't shed a tear if i have to add that setup to my current lineup !

11 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

So I found a good deal for her. I didn't end up going with a DSG combo for $100 - $120, instead i went with another online vendor out of Kentucky who has a promotion going on right now that if you buy an Abu Garcia Revo S, SX or STX reel you get a Veritas 3.0 rod of your choice for free. So I got her a 4th Gen Revo S (which is white which she likes) 7.3:1 LH reel and a 7'3" Heavy/Fast (lure weight: 3/8oz. to 1-1/2oz.) Veritas 3.0 rod for $129.99 (no tax and free shipping). I personally think this is a much better deal than any of the DSG combos for that price range and on the off chance she ends up hating baitcasting I won't shed a tear if i have to add that setup to my current lineup !

What is with Abu lately? DSG has a similar promotion, buy a Revo SX baitcaster or spinning and get a free Vendetta rod. The bonus was the Revo SX are on sale for $99.99 right now

Sounds like you just bought yourself another frog/jig rod. 

 

Good deal.  Hope she enjoys it.