I'm a noob, and I need help picking a reel and line for a rod.

 

I've purchased a 2 piece Daiwa Crossfire 602MFS (6'0", 6-15lb). What lb test line should I get and what reel should I get? Is there some rule of thumb for matching poundage of line to reel to rod? Should the line rating be less than the rod rating? What max drag and line capacity for the reel should I have?

 

I'll be using the rod to fish ponds and lakes on the front range in Colorado for panfish, bass, and maybe some trout.

Start with a medium fast rod. A good quality medium grade rod that will let you detect bites is in the 100-150$ range

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-SHOPTSROD.html?from=basres

 
Same with reels.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-SHOPTSREEL.html?from=basres

 

I would start with this line.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Sunline_Super_FC_Sniper_Fluorocarbon/descpage-SLFCS.html

 

Once you can use that set up extremely well. Look for a medium heavy rod with a fast to extra fast action. 
 

Tackle and gear is a lifetime accumulation. If you buy better quality it lasts much longer.

 

 

 

The rod I currently have is medium with a fast action. Honestly, I primarily fly fish so I plan on putting most of my $$$ into that. I want this kit to be cheap.

 

Anyway, this didn't really answer the question, What weight line should I match with this rod?

 

I'd like to get the Daiwa Crossfire Reel to match the rod. I want the line to be rated to 6-15 lb to match the rod correct? Perhaps I should get the Daiwa Crossfire 4000.

Take the average from the two line weights listed on the rod.

6 minutes ago, zdrc said:

I'd like to get the Daiwa Crossfire Reel to match the rod. I want the line to be rated to 6-15 lb to match the rod correct? Perhaps I should get the Daiwa Crossfire 4000.

A 4000 reel is huge - more for large pike or musky fishing. For panfish, bass and trout I'd go with the 2000 or 2500.

 

Line ratings on rods are just a suggestion...for what you're targeting, I'd go with a good quality 8# mono... Berkley Trilene XL, Sufix Elite or Sufix Siege.

Thank you!

26 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Line ratings on rods are just a suggestion...for what you're targeting, I'd go with a good quality 8# mono... Berkley Trilene XL, Sufix Elite or Sufix Siege.

For 8lb line or 15lb braid, go with the 2500. For 6lb line, go with the 2000.

4 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

For 8lb line or 15lb braid, go with the 2500. For 6lb line, go with the 2000.

I guess I'm over-loading. I run 8# on my 2000-size, 6# on my 1000-size.

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I guess I'm over-loading. I run 8# on my 2000-size, 6# on my 1000-size.

Many of Daiwa's 2000s size reels run larger but the Crossfire LT does not. The BG 2000 would be fine with 6, 8 or even 10 is the same size as the Crossfire LT 2500.

While you could run 8lb line on a 2000, the 2500 would be a better choice in this case.

If you're a fly fisherman, your no stranger to leaders. I would suggest the 2000 or 2500 reel, with 15lb braid to a leader of your choice (something in the 6-8lb range). 

5 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

Many of Daiwa's 2000s size reels run larger but the Crossfire LT does not. The BG 2000 would be fine with 6, 8 or even 10 is the same size as the Crossfire LT 2500.

While you could run 8lb line on a 2000, the 2500 would be a better choice in this case.

Well, my Avocet RZT-2000 has 8#, and it's not a deep spool like most of the Diawas...one issue I have with Diawa spinning reels - I don't want a deep spool

 

For someone starting out...I can agree with you...start with the larger one for the 8#. I do KVD the crap out of non-braid line when spooling up and touch it up regularly...might be the reason I don't have issues.

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Well, my Avocet RZT-2000 has 8#, and it's not a deep spool like most of the Diawas...one issue I have with Diawa spinning reels - I don't want a deep spool

I never buy deep spool reels, the amount of line you have to add as backing on them is rather insane. Some Daiwa reels just happen to run larger, like the BG 2000 is a normal brands 2500 size - which is a good size because you can run 6, 8 or even 10 on it if you wanted.

 

6 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I never buy deep spool reels, the amount of line you have to add as backing on them is rather insane. Some Daiwa reels just happen to run larger, like the BG 2000 is a normal brands 2500 size - which is a good size because you can run 6, 8 or even 10 on it if you wanted.

 

The ones I was looking at were all LT series - and unless you go JDM, can't seem to find any that aren't deep spools.

 

I'll probably stick with my Pfluegers - unless PF does to the spinning line what they did to the BC line.

 

6 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

A 4000 reel is huge - more for large pike or musky fishing. For panfish, bass and trout I'd go with the 2000 or 2500.

I fish with size 4000 spinning reels and they work great for bass fishing. Have caught many big bass and other nice fish.

6 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

I fish with size 4000 spinning reels and they work great for bass fishing. Have caught many big bass and other nice fish.

Difference - you got a plethora of DD bass down there - our state record is just shy of 9#...don't need a 4000 reel to hunt bass up here.

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Difference - you got a plethora of DD bass down there - our state record is just shy of 9#...don't need a 4000 reel to hunt bass up here.

We also have bullseye snakehead, peacock bass, snook, tarpon, and other powerful fish in the same lakes and canals bass live so a size 4000 reel is a better choice for me than a size 1000-2000 spinning reel. You can also cast further with a size 4000 versus a size 1000-2000 and you can reel faster if needed since the IPT tends to be higher in larger spinning reels.

8 hours ago, zdrc said:

 

The rod I currently have is medium with a fast action. Honestly, I primarily fly fish so I plan on putting most of my $$$ into that. I want this kit to be cheap.

 

Anyway, this didn't really answer the question, What weight line should I match with this rod?

 

I'd like to get the Daiwa Crossfire Reel to match the rod. I want the line to be rated to 6-15 lb to match the rod correct? Perhaps I should get the Daiwa Crossfire 4000.

If you are going with the crossfire, I would suggest the 2500. The 2500 is a safe and versatile choice. It's actually one of Daiwa's shallow spool models, so the 2500 only holds 110 yards of 8lb mono, which is plenty. That's also less line than the comparable Shimano 2500 Sienna which holds 140 yards of 8lb mono. 

 

https://daiwa.us/collections/spin-reels/products/crossfire-lt

 

If you can spend a little more, the Revros gets good reviews. Also a shallow spool.

https://daiwa.us/collections/spin-reels/products/revros-lt

 

As suggested above, either straight 8lb mono or 15lb braid with a leader will work.

12 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

The ones I was looking at were all LT series - and unless you go JDM, can't seem to find any that aren't deep spools.

Yeah so I guess they only offer certain sizes without a deep spool now in the Tatula LT line. A couple years back, I could get any size without a deep spool and they only had it as an option in two sizes.

 

So I guess I did buy a deep spool reel, but didn't realize it yet (might be nice if they'd send me the rod I bought with it already so I could actually use it and notice these things lol)

agree on 2000 size reel, probably begin with 10-lb fluorocarbon, since it will be fine and limp enough to give you good casts, with enough backbone for most fishing.  

 

I do not recommend braid for starting off.  Learn to fish with the mono.  

Spinning with braid requires a few special efforts, such as good manual bail technique.  

Without it, wind knots will have you cutting out and throwing away more costly braid.