So im kind of new to this website, all the help i could get is greatly appreciated. So im going up to arizona in a couple weeks and im going to be stopping at bass pro shops along the way. I have $225 to spend and i need a more higher end baitcasting reel than i already have, I also could use a good all around rod for all fishing techniques especially top waters, spinners, crank baits, and even finesse fishing if i choose to. I was thinking about the shimano citica paired up with a st. croix 7' mojo bass medium, or medium-heavy rod. If there is anyone that has either of these products, maybe you can explain to me the experiences you had with them, good or bad. If anyone knows of a better choice for my price range it would be great to hear about those too. Thanks

I've got a Citica and have really been enjoying it. This thread: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/92534-fishing-rods/ , gives alot of the info your looking for.

NGaHB

The Citica E is the best bang for your buck for sub-$100 reels. The BPS pro-qualifier is a close second. IMO of course.

So im kind of new to this website, all the help i could get is greatly appreciated. So im going up to arizona in a couple weeks and im going to be stopping at bass pro shops along the way. I have $225 to spend and i need a more higher end baitcasting reel than i already have, I also could use a good all around rod for all fishing techniques especially top waters, spinners, crank baits, and even finesse fishing if i choose to. I was thinking about the shimano citica paired up with a st. croix 7' mojo bass medium, or medium-heavy rod. If there is anyone that has either of these products, maybe you can explain to me the experiences you had with them, good or bad. If anyone knows of a better choice for my price range it would be great to hear about those too. Thanks

The set-up I use for those purposes, my friend, is a 7' MH/F Shimano Compre with a Shimano Citica 201E spooled with 12 lb Sufix Siege. Best $230 I ever spent; I bought everything at full retail.

I got a dedicated cranking rod, and most of my finesse fishing is done with a higher end spinning rig. The Compre-Citica fishes the topwaters and rattletraps mostly, and occasionally spinnerbaits and heavier casting jigs.

Thanks for the advice guys... and deep, ill definitely be sure to check out the shimano compre.

Thanks for the advice guys... and deep, ill definitely be sure to check out the shimano compre.

I hope you find one of the old cork-grip Compres, which is what I have (or a Crucial). Shimano phased them out, and I don't think the newer Compres are out yet.

Mojos are good rods too from what I hear. So are the St Croix Premiers. Plenty of options for your price range. Hang around for the other folks to chime in. You'll have a ton of good advice.

The best part is you will actually be able to hold and store-fish the rods you wanna check out, which is not an option for some people, including me.

Good luck!

Shimano Citica 200E with a St Croix Premier or a BPS Extreme.

Own all of the above and couldn't be happier.

You can get a pfluger patriarch for $109 at tackle warehouse it's the wide spool version though.