? about BPS Pro Qualifer Baitcast Reel and Rod

[B_Grimsley]

Since I'm new to fishing and can't just run down to BPS.. I have $125 grift card. Was looking to throw in about 40 of my own money to pick this combo up.

Anyone have some hands on with BPS Reels and Rods ?
What to buy and what to stay away from?

Do they make a good product or are you paying for the names on these rods and reels.

I have a Shimano CSC-610MH with a Bantam Curado Reel. Also have a Lamiglas MBC 703 7' M paired with a Shimano Cresfire CR-1000.

What rod type length ECT would be best for me to buy already having these two setups.

Rember I'm new to this so try and keep it simple..

Thanks, Bryan

[lippy]

I used to use the bionic blade witch was a darn good rod.I would get a 7 medium heavy good for texas rig and carolina rigs and if you pitch some small stuff on the delta. Just my 02

[gcopple]

i use all bps reels. all qualifiers. in my opinion, they are worth every penny. they are durable, dependable and affordable. i have been told that they are made by pfluger, someone also told me some of the older models i have was when bps had shimano making their reels. that is just hear-say so take it with a grain of salt. but i do own 16 baitcasters and they are all bps. rods, i can't help you with and neither with their spinning reels.

george

[B Becker]

I, too, have all BPS stuff.....you cannot buy a better rod for the money---any of their lines.....I use, and love, their "crankin sticks" for all my crankbaits and topwater (medium action)---they go on sale for $39.....for my worms and jigs, I love the Johnny Morris series, the pro-qualifiers, and the extreme series....all medium heavy....I throw all 6'6" rods, some people disagree with me, but I like picking up the same length rod all the time.....it is kind of a balance thing for me......Love the Rick Clunn series reels, and the new Pro-lite (yellow reel--$99)...that Pro-lite is worth every penny.......and those Rick Clunns hold a ton of line and are very smooth......I used all this stuff before I was sponsored by BPS, so this is not a sales pitch from me......depends on what you are looking for, but for $125-165, you could get a sweet cranking outfit with the Rick Clunn reel and a Crankin Stick for about $125.....go with what ever size and action you want on the rod....I swear you will love it.....for a worm rod, get a Pro Qualifier rod, and a pro lite reel.....sorry that may run about $200.....good luck and fire any questions you want....remember also, that BPS owns Browning too...great rods...bulky reels, but smooth, but the rods are awesome (Midas series $129)....sorry for being long winded....

[B_Grimsley]

Thanks for all the info so far guys.. and anyone can talk all day I don't mind..

I love hearing or reading all I can right now.

So B.Becker you can keep on if you want .

I really like throwing a Carolina rig or Texas rig. I have been using my SHimano Clarus CSC-610MH , but I also feel that I'm not geting all the sensitivety I would like.

So you think I'll find that in the Pro Qualifer Rod.

Also this PowerHump Grip... I have what I would say as small hands anyone think this Powerhump would be hard for me to handle.

[mark poulson]

I have small hands, and the power hump is very comfortable for me. You can cast all day and not get a sore wrist.

[MaddMaggs]

I have a BPS extreme (green) with a Woo Daves 6'6" spinner/cranking rod (6m graphite) and love it. It was my second combo since starting back into fishing approx 6 months ago. The power hump is great! I too have smaller hands and can cast that rod all day long. It has the counter weight system built it (extra for the weights) but I dont use them. The Woo has a huge exposed backbone for extra sensativity.

Only problem I had was getting use to the Magnetic braking, I too have a Bantam Curado with the internal braking, but the more I use the Extreme in the wind the more confident I get. Takes a little time to get it tuned right but over all, I would by BPS only if there was a store near by.

Dont forget the extra shipping on rods over 6 foot.

Maggs

[cleb19]

Bryan Just go out and buy you some St. Croix..... I went with those and I love em you know and then put some Quantum PTI's on there that set up should work.... No Im heading to Tahoe tonight but Ill be home On tuesday maybe next weekend We'll drive up to Shasta so I can prefish for the FLW coming up let me know.. Oh yeah I have a power hump rod and they seem to be good go with a 7'6 heavy so when were in that delta you can pull em out Later man

chad

[B Becker]

Ok Bryan....here's more....you can't go wrong with any of the rods that have been talked about compared to your shimano clarus.....a clarus (if I'm correct) is an IM-7 graphite rod....the Pro Qualifier is a 70 mmg, the Johnny Morris is an 85 mmg, and the Extreme is a 60 mmg.....write now the PQ is $119, the Johnny Morris is on sale for $119, and the Extemes are on sale for $69....go to the BPS website.....you can click on the link below my name......get the Johnny Morris for $119 over the Pro Qual.....the more mmg (graphite composition) the more sensitive and lighter the rod....I do use the balance system and swear by it (especially on all soft plastics) I don't balance my reaction bait rods......believe it or not the balance system makes the rod more sensitive and will feel lighter in the palm of your hand......I palm my reels so that one finger can rest on the exposed rod blank under the reel seat....the Clarus should be set up the same way, but I would never buy a rod with out an exposed blank-through rod.......that gives you the feel.....all the BPS rods I mentioned are more sensitive than the Clarus.....you will love the power humps......I have a few Browning rods without the power humps and it feels weird to me.....once you use the power humps you will probably never go back......good luck....I wish I lived closer, you would be more than welcome to try anything out......the extra shipping on the rods is well worth it.....look at it this way, you won't be paying tax, so what is $5 more .....plus I keep all my rod tubes for when I travel to tourneys....well worth the $5........on-line and catalogs will have better (or different) deals than the actual stores......they always go on sale so just keep checking.....

[flipthatjig]

hey dude to keep it simple ur 6'10mh is good mulitpurpose rod good for senkos spinnerbaits t-rigs stuff like that. ur limaglas is more of a crankin rod with the m action. i dont know what ratio ur reels are neways i used to use nothing but shimano castics/curado reels then i bought a couple johnny morries reels last years model and they are just a smooth if no more than my castics. BPS came out with a new jonny morrise reel and it looks nice. about the pro qualifer im pretty sure they are just as good. Bass pro they do make good quality reels. ppl just over look them because they say Bass Pro Shops in stead of shimano- daiwa.

warnin-
bass fishing can and will take over ur life. ahahha

[Paul W]

I dont have any on-the-water experience with BPS rods/reels, but living here in FL I have thoroughly checked out all the gear in person at the store. The pro qualifier rods seem excellent....they look very cool and unique in person....kind of a copper colored blank with blue and copper wraps. They are also very very light and seemed ultra sensitive. The PQ reel felt really good and had a decent free spool......it looks pretty damn good, but not quite as cool as the Johnny Morris reels. All their higher end rods/reels are really nice now, and I would definitely try one out if you wanted to mix up your tackle a bit.

Paul W

[basstamer]

I BELIEVE Bass Pro reels are made by Pflueger-that right there is enough for me! As far as I am concerned Pflueger is my favorite...I have used ABU's,Shimano's,Quantum's,etc-I personally prefer and use ONLY Pflueger reels and Lamiglas Rods. Good luck!
Scott

[Paul W]

I think you are right......Pflueger also made the BASSMASTER reels that were sold in there the last couple years. Pflueger makes excellent reels right now....I have 2 president spinning reels and absolutely love them. Id like to get my hands on that new Johnny Morris Elite reel, but I'd like it to be on sale for under $200 first.

Paul W

[mark poulson]

Check out the Pflueger Summit reels at BPS. They have 10 ball bearings, throw heavy or light line and lures, weigh less than 8 ozs., and are only $160+-.
Great for worming with a baitcaster, light ripbaits, lightweight rod, reel, and lure combinations in general. Will also handle heavier line, but the spool is smaller, so don't use it for stripers with heavy line. You will be spooled.