Hello everybody..I have been a long time fly fisher and have recently started bass fishing.  I was hoping to get some advice on equipment.  I was looking to buy some rods and a reel.  Here is what I was looking at:

All star select rod..$60 dollars(a few of these rods said coastal select..what does that mean)

Johnny Morris 10 BB baitcasting reel for $79.88(normally $150 dollars)

I don't want to cheap out, but at the same time do not want to break the bank.  I am going to lake wylie in a few weeks to visit my brother and do some fishing.  I also plan on moving down there by the end of the year.  Any help would be appreciated..

Welcome aboard!

You have come to the right place. I'm sure you will receive several comments on the equipment you are considering and some suggestions for alternatives.  

Welcome To The Fourm!

a few of these rods said coastal select..what does that mean

Don't know about RW there, but every time I hear the word coastal on rods or reels I think a saltwater setup. Could be on the rod they are using guides that are suited for salty environments, or using foam or hypalon as grips, could also mean a heavier taper on the rod blank. You didn't mention the ratings on the rod.

Can't comment on the reel, other than BPS house reels are hard to get serviced.

Tight Lines!!!

 Haven't used that rod or reel, so probably not much help. Get a few more specs on that rod then ask reelmech, he knows his rods (actually most all equipment). Quite a few folks on the forum use BPS reels. Someone will chime in with an opinion. I try to stay somewhere between cheaping out and breaking the bank myself. It's not easy sometimes especially when you want to upgrade.

 Wanted to say WELCOME to the forum. Some really great folks show up here...

                                                     As Ever,

                                                      Skillet

I don't know who has the contract this year.  Last year it was reported that Pfleuger made the BPS house brand reels.  Personally, I stick with a name brand reel.  My preference is the Shimano.  I suggest that you buy a Citica for $120 and get a decent rod.  The reel will probably be trouble free for 30 years with a little care and maintainance.  It might cost more at the beginning but be cheaper in the long run.

I have four Johny Morris reels and they are very nice, sturdy, and smooth reels.  I have not had any problems with them at all from normal use.  BUT, I was cleaning one of them myself last year and screwed something up.  Even BPS didn't want to work on them.  Luckily, I found a guy that I fish against in tournaments that loves tinkering with stuff like that and he got it back together after working on it for a couple weeks.  So I definitely agree that they are tough to find service for after they are out of their warranty.

Thanks for the replies.  Sounds like I should stay away from the johnny morris reel.  This past christmas someone gave me a st. croix premier fiberglass crankbait rod(6'6") with a daiwa triforce 150i reel.  I have tried it several times and love the reel and rod.  Have not backlashed it once(knock on wood).  I like the magforce magnetic braking system.  I think I might try another daiwa reel then.  Anybody have any feedback on the procaster 6+1 series(model number pr100-h).  I am hesitant to buy a shimano reel.  I bought one last summer and backlashed every couple of casts.  I ended up taking an aluminum bat to it and smashing it to pieces. As far as the all star rod, I don't have the model number.  It is a 7 foot, fast action, medium heavy rod.  It said all star select. I looked on all star's website and it was not listed.  There was a success story on the site from one person who won a tournament with it.  I found it at dick's sporting goods store.  I looked on their website and it was not listed there. I'm also looking for a spinning rod and reel.

The spinning reel i was thinking about is the daiwa exceler, model number exc2500.  Any thoughts on this reel?

I am hesitant to buy a shimano reel. I bought one last summer and backlashed every couple of casts. I ended up taking an aluminum bat to it and smashing it to pieces.

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my......okay deep breathes,  he didn't mean it, he didn't mean it.  This is just a bad dream.  You're going to wake up and check all your reels, and everything will be just fine.

I have a procaster 6+1, like it alot. Aluminum body/frame, mostly(if not all) metal internally. The magforce brakes are a little less 'aggressive' versus a Fuego I have, but not a problem.  For the money, it's a good real.  Whether you go with the All Star rod, or something else, match them up in store to see how it feels in hand.

I am hesitant to buy a shimano reel. I bought one last summer and backlashed every couple of casts.

If your are backlashing Shimano reels I'd have to say it's more to do with operator error than the equipment. All reels have to be adjusted before you cast them. I have a bunch of Shimano reels and do not have this problem. Every reel will backlash under certain conditions. I'm not reel familiar with the lower end Shimano reels, Curado is as low in the product line that I've used.

                       If your are backlashing Shimano reels I'd have to say it's more to do with operator error than the equipment. All reels have to be adjusted before you cast them. I have a bunch of Shimano reels and do not have this problem. Every reel will backlash under certain conditions. I'm not reel familiar with the lower end Shimano reels, Curado is as low in the product line that I've used.      

Exectly right  Hot n Tot   It is the man not the reel.

I hear what you're saying about the person using the equipent instead of the equipment itself, but my opinion comes from experience.  I have only used 2 baitcasters, a shimano I had last summer and a daiwa I have now.  I have used both of them.  When I had my shimano I backlashed it just about every 5 casts, then spent the next 30 minutes picking out the mess.  The daiwa I have now I have cast well over 100 times and have not backlashed it once.  That tells me that in this scenario it might have a little more to do with the equipment than the person using it.

I don't think guys were picking on you, the problems you were having with the Shimano were probably due to adjustments or the lack of the proper adjustments. Some of the members here are big fans of Shimano, that's all it was about. If you like your Daiwa and you are not having any problems with it, why don't you just buy another? I don't know much about the Johnny Morris reels, but Daiwa is popular with a lot of our members.