These are the best “Bang For The Buck” rods in bass fishing! If you want your money to go the farthest, it happens right here at the $500 price point! The sensitivity of these models is incredible, the weight reduction is amazing, and you can get it all at a very affordable price! There’s a reason you see these rods on deck in all our videos!
At this price point it’s all about sensitivity and durability. Each of these rods offers incredible value and should be considered an asset in your angling line up. The jump in quality from $300 combos to $500 combos, is the biggest increase at any price point in bass fishing. These are truly high end rods, without the high end price tag.
Below you’ll find links to the rods and reels in the video. We’ve included our favorite models for each line of rods as well as our preferred sizes and speeds for the reels. Additionally, we’ve included a list of our favorite multi–purpose models from the different lines. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.
*PREVIOUS BUYER’S GUIDES…*
•Hard Swimbait Buyer’s Guide: https://youtu.be/g314S4ZyT6g
•Bait Finesse Buyer’s Guide: https://youtu.be/bEXFgo5YaRU
•Jerkbait Buyer’s Guide: https://youtu.be/o8C9jW4Lxtk
•Chatterbait Buyer’s Guide: https://youtu.be/tRz6bTRPpxM
•Hover And Mid Strolling Guide: https://youtu.be/rwxsMZctqYo
•$100 Rod and Reel Combos: https://youtu.be/JmjS0XEa8P4
•$200 Rod and Reel Combos: https://youtu.be/CJVMWgw7Z4M
•$300 Rod and Reel Combos: https://youtu.be/lY96H4Zp4b8
*SPINNING COMBO #1…*
Rod– Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS: https://bit.ly/44O7Fqo
Models: 7’1″ Medium, 7’6″ Medium Light Medium
Reel– Daiwa Procyon MQ LT: https://bit.ly/46x4Ytp
Size: 2500–XH
*SPINNING COMBO #2…*
Rod– Shimano Expride B: https://bit.ly/2osaj3q
Models: 6’8″ Medium, 6’10” Med Light, 7′ Light
Reel– Shimano Vanford: https://bit.ly/2gu84t7
Size: 3000
*SPINNING COMBO #3…*
Rod– Megabass Orochi XX: https://bit.ly/2XkVoej
Models: 6’8″ Ronin, 6’11” Whipsnake, 7′ Shakeyhead
Reel– Shimano Vanford: https://bit.ly/2gu84t7
Size: 3000
*BAIT FINESSE COMBO #1…*
Rod– Cashion Icon Bait Finesse: https://bit.ly/3mLIIes
Model: 6’10” Medium Light Fast
Reel– Shimano Curado BFS: https://bit.ly/2QGRVF2
*BAIT FINESSE COMBO #2…*
Rod– Shimano Expride B: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Model: 6’8″ Light
Reel– Shimano Curado BFS: https://bit.ly/2QGRVF2
*BAITCASTING COMBO #1…*
Rod– St. Croix Legend Tournament: https://bit.ly/3Iow9KV
Models: 7’2″ MHM, 7’4″ Heavy, 6’8″ Medium XFast
Reel– Daiwa Tatula SV TW: https://bit.ly/401hGOK
Speed: 7.1:1
*BAITCASTING COMBO #2…*
Rod– Megabass Orochi XX: https://bit.ly/2OSVNwH
Models: Braillist, EMTF, Perfect Pitch
Reel– Shimano Curado 150 MGL: https://bit.ly/2TQHwrP
Speed: 7.4:1
*BAITCASTING COMBO #3…*
Rod– Shimano Expride B: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Models: 7’2″ Med Light, 6’10” Medium, 7’7″ Heavy
Reel– Shimano Curado 70 MGL: https://bit.ly/2apmDJt
Speed: 7.4:1
*BAITCASTING COMBO #4…*
Rod– 13 Fishing Envy Black III: https://bit.ly/3KtYZhv
Models: 7’1″ Medium, 7’3″ medium Heavy, 6’8″ Medium
Reel– 13 Fishing Concept C2: https://bit.ly/2NlzZhg
Speed: 7.5:1
*BAITCASTING COMBO #5…*
Rod– G Loomis IMX Pro Mag Bass: https://bit.ly/2lVATTC
Models: 7′ Medium heavy (843C), 7′ Heavy (844C)
Rod– G Loomis IMX Pro Crankbait: https://bit.ly/2FQj6CZ
Models: 7’1″ Medium Heavy (855C), 7’6″ Medium Heavy (906C)
Reel– Shimano Curado 70 MGL: https://bit.ly/2apmDJt
Speed: 7.4:1
*BEST MULTI–PURPOSE RODS IN BASS FISHING…*
•Shimano Expride B 7’2″ Medium Light: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Primary Use: Blade Bait/Tail Spin
Secondary Use: BFS Flipping, Finesse Jigs, Senko, Walking Topwater
•Megabass Orochi XX Braillist: https://bit.ly/2OSVNwH
Primary Use: Jig Fishing
Secondary Use: Small Glide Bait, Magdraft, Big Texas Rigs
•Shimano Expride B 6’10” Medium: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Primary Use: Jerkbait
Secondary Use: Topwater, Micro Jig, Shaky Head, 5″ Senko, Free Rig
•St. Croix Legend Tournament 7’4″ Heavy Fast: https://bit.ly/3Iow9KV
Primary Use: Paddle Tail Swimbaits
Secondary Use: Frog, Swim Jig, Spinnerbait
•G Loomis IMX Pro 844C MBR (7′ Heavy): https://bit.ly/2lVATTC
Primary Use: Football Jigs
Secondary Use: Spinnerbait, Chatterbait, Buzzbait, Texas Rig
•Shimano Expride B 7’7″ Heavy: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Primary Use: Alabama Rig
Secondary Use: Flipping Jig, Big Worms, Carolina Rig, 6″ Soft Swimbaits
•Megabass Orochi XX Ronin: https://bit.ly/2XkVoej
Primary Use: Jerkbait
Secondary Use: Mid Strolling, Shaky Head, Tube
•Shimano Expride B 6’10” Med Light: https://bit.ly/2osaj3q
Primary Use: Dropshot
Secondary Use: Ned, Hair Jig, Hover Strolling, Tube, Popper
If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won’t be able to even see a difference but they’ll know you’re one of us!
#buyersguide #fishing #bassfishing
If you had to pick 7 ft mhf would it be expride or legend tournament? Im at a crossroad thank you for all the fishing questions tb answers that arise on the boat to fishing people around the world.
My gosh. I love to fish but man. If I could afford to drop $500 on equipment….
I caught 6 largies off that Curado BFS + Cashion MLF and a 2.8 kaitech underspin last trip. Half my haul that trip. Caught a few on yalls DD speed crank and the Legends glass crank MM and off the Legends carbon MMF chatters. Do yall just not like the Daiwa Tatula spinning reel Or the Curado DC? I love the new the old Tatula 2500s.
$500 for a rod and reel combo? That's insane.
On the TW website it says the exprides are not part of their discount? Or do i need to pay first before i see the discount?
Good stuff guys. 🤙🏽 Hey I’m curious, how do you boys feel about the Expride 7’2” ML Spinning? Any experience or thoughts on it? 🤔
Can you recommend a weedless swimbait rod for 2 oz lures?
Do the Gloomis and Megabass rods have discounts? I don’t see the sale price in my cart.
I loved the Vanford 2000 reel combo with the Shimano Zodias 7”6 light.
Are usually get the chimichanga combo with rice and beans
At least 70% of my friends fish
Three even do do on a semi-pro basis
None
Not one of them myself included own a $500 rod and reel combo
I personally can not possibly justify spending more on a rod and reel combo than half that
Fishing like hunting is getting ridiculously over priced
Especially when 90% of Fishing reels are made in China or other countries for a fraction of what they are sold for
What is the spec (length?, medium heavy
? Fast action? Or extra fast action?) for the megabass orochii xx(for jig fishing 1/4 to 3/4)??
I wish manufacturers would list the weight of their rods like they do reels.
🍺Bring on tomorrow already🤑.
Could anyone recommend me the optimal oil or grease for high-end Shimano reels? I'm aiming to ensure longevity and peak performance for my reels over the years
I grabbed a orochii XX launcher on Black Friday and when they say it’s one of the baddest deep cranking rods on the market, they weren’t lying! 🔥😂 and just got my new zodias ML BFS rod today and it’s extremely nice! It was only $130 on TW’s sale, so a killer deal right now on them. I hear all talk about them all the time so I hope I like the rod as much as y’all do!!! 🤙🏻🤙🏻
Finally got an IMX 783 MBR. NOT the Pro, just an IMX from about 15 years ago. Blew me away with its sensitivity and versatility. Paired with Curado 70 MGL. Amazing. My next rod is gonna be an IMX Pro 844 MBR for a do-anything rod.
Great Videos, I have learned a lot from you two as a young angler and have adopted many skills and tips into my fishing.
I have just invested in a BFS reel (SLX BFS from japan). I would like to pair it up with a rod, looking into the ML or L Expride. I would like to mainly use it for small topwaters and potentially smaller plastics. I have that karashi along with the baby popx. Something that could handle 1/16 – 1/4 oz would be ideal. Any words of wisdom?
You guys have a crazy amount of rods and reels😂
How does my shimano core50mg7, and 7’ e21 carrot stix wild black stack up as a mid 2000’s $500 combo? 😂
Last years guides seemed longer and more in depth
I've been watching your YouTube videos religiously for over 6 years. I take your recommendations seriously. Thanks for your efforts and the time and money you spend researching all levels of quality fishing gear.
So you guys like the MBR rods for Jigs over the JWR rods made for jigs? That is interesting, what makes it better than the JWR? the action? Is the sensitivity better than JWR?
The most I'll ever spend on a reel and rod combo is $200 each , $100 reel and $100 rod making it $200, I'm not ready to spend that kind of money.
Is "Buttery Smooth" the new "Burn, Burn, Burn, Pause"?
I gotta know if you guys have ever tried the phenix BFS classic!?
Thank you for introducing me to the Expride line!! So good and the perfect price. I am slowly replacing all my rods (spinning and casting) with Exprides.
Oh snap! The Tatula AGS made it into a TB video, my wife will finally approve 🔥🔥🔥
Yeah my wife just gave me the death stare when she heard the five hundred dollar combos 😅
Good stuff as always fellas… I'm in the market for a good dock skipping combo and stuck on the fence. Any suggestions?
Thank you for the informative videos. I have purchased two Exprides based on information you provided. They are by far the best rods in my arsenal. Also purchased a Curado 150 MGL. What is your recommendation for a cranking rod? St Croix?
Do either of you have any experience with the Daiwa Tatula 70 SV TWS for BFS fishing? The description of the reel is for light line and light baits.
Can you guys confirm if rods that do not show up with sale prices on TW will get the discount at check out?
Asking specifically about exprides!
Just get to the good stuff! Do it right once and move on!
Expride 🥱. I would love for these guys to get scales out and weigh the rods.
Are you going to give us a technique specific list this year like you have done in the past with your favorite rods paired with baits? I am looking for specific Expride for 2.8 Kietechs 1/8 head and Tactical underspin 1/8 with 2.8 kietech maybe 3.5 Largo shad? Thank you again for all you do. Bless you and your families around the Holidays and keep all of you safe.
Im so glad Shimano doesnt listen to you guys. LOL You have been beating the Expride drum for so many years and how they are under priced. The new B is incredible. I have both models A and B because of you and want to be able to buy more without the price going through the roof. LOL Here is my drum beat. Amazon Amazon Amazon. Thank you for all you do.
Dobyns champion xp and shimano Curado dc, great $ 500+ combo.
I like what you mentioned about the MGL spools I’ve been thinking about getting the curado M with the newest version of it would I benefit from that or would getting the 150mgl be better is it just size or is there a performance thing going on there?
Vandford/Zodias & Curado mgl/Zodias are clean for 400$ combos. Especially how many rods are in that line.
Great tips and combo's hope you all have a very happy holidays
Have u guys tried the Kisler rods? Curious for your input.
Save yourself some money. I sold my Levante Shakyhead for an Orochi Shakyhead. Expecting a huge jump up. It wasn't there. The Orochi is a bit stiffer and has faster recovery, but its not worth the jump in price. The sensitivity is about the same on both. If I had it to do over again I'd just keep the Levante or if I wanted an upgrade I'd get an Expride. Megabass look nice, but you're buying them for the specific actions. Expride or Zodias is going to win the sensitivity battle.
Thank you so much for the secondary uses of the specific rods! It helps a ton when stretching the budget to know I'm getting a rod that will perform well for multiple presentations
Have you guys tried Edge Rods at all? I do know Gary sold the Gloomis company, started a new company, now called Edge Rods. Thank you for all the great information. Best fishing youtube channel hands down!
I didnt see sales for all rods ? Just limited
Managed to grab the curado casting 7’2 ML that you guys mentioned I think last year for BFS. It was on clearance for $99 🤯 they are gone now
You 2 should give the favorite soleus xcs a shot (not a fan of the color schemes, besides the gun metal one). They are light as hell, corrosion proof, and can send it farther than my tatula 103svtw. Not to mention, they have a lifetime warranty. Was able to pick one up for my son from favorite for 108⁰⁰ before the jumped back up to 143. Better than the 180 retail stores ask for it.