need to step up my spinning gear...rod/reel advice needed - The Hull Truth

striper97 · 10-10-2008, 11:05 PM

looking for a good inshore setup for bass and blues. Something that is good with top water plugs and heavier buck tails. My gear got beat up last week (Stradic 4000, Penn 360 Slammer). This is for fishing off of a boat.

wasabi1600 · 10-10-2008, 11:17 PM

I also need some input...I look forward to seeing any replies. I would like an all around decent Bass/Blues set up for fishing in Newport/Narragansett Bay. Thanks for any input. -PB

cave man · 10-10-2008, 11:38 PM

Stellas are pretty tough to beat. Have tried cabo's, van staals, and several others in the mid to high price ranges and have finally settled with a pair of stellas. Have not yet played with the Accurate twin spin or the Zeebass but not sure I would spend $800 on a spinning reel. My favorite stella is the 4500.

Ludicrous · 10-11-2008, 05:43 AM

My choice would be a Shimano Spheros FB 4000 ($109.00) on a Shimano Teramar 7' or 7' 6" rod ($100.00), either go with 10-12 # mono or 30# braid on it. Great setup for both applications. The Teramar rods also come in 8' er's if you need the extra casting distance.

Good setup that won't break the bank.

taJon · 10-11-2008, 06:43 AM

what price range.

I use okuma AE55s on custom 7' rods and they are awesome. I also use spheros reels too and they are very nice.

PROFINITY · 10-11-2008, 10:02 AM

A Shimano Stella with a 7' Loomis rod.

GMILLS88 · 10-11-2008, 11:01 AM

I have a bait runner 4500 that has been through hell and back. It's on a Tsunami trophy 7' Whole combo was less than $150 Stella's are nice, but with the difference in cost you could fill your gas tank and go fishing.. probably twice. Is it about looking good or catching fish?

Off the boat I like casting gear too, Abu 7000 ics is great. Very dependable when you have to wrestle through 15-18lb blues to get to the bass.

treedog482vs · 10-11-2008, 04:27 PM

I'm fishing Stella's and Gloomis rods.....depending on your budget.....I've got a few stradics with st Croix rods and they work fine as well.......a Baitrunner would be mighty heavy for top water fishing....compared to the stellas would feel like fishing with a boat anchor....I've got several baitrunners and they're durable and great for some applications but working topwater baits ain't one of them...

Jdizzle · 10-11-2008, 04:57 PM

Check out the tsunami air wave rods WOW the lightest rod I have ever casted

GMILLS88 · 10-11-2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

treedog482vs - 10/11/2008 3:27 PM

I'm fishing Stella's and Gloomis rods.....depending on your budget.....I've got a few stradics with st Croix rods and they work fine as well.......a Baitrunner would be mighty heavy for top water fishing....compared to the stellas would feel like fishing with a boat anchor....I've got several baitrunners and they're durable and great for some applications but working topwater baits ain't one of them...

This is true, it is a pig of a reel, almost as heavy as my 750ss I use for the surf. Big bluefish DESTROY tackle, you need something that can survive a few hundred angry blues and bass without self destructing. IMO the dirty bluefish aren't worth a fancy reel.

Lately i've been sight fishing for Albies and slot Bass on a shimano Sedona w/ 15lb braid on it. Very sporty, but the reel will be toast if i get thick into the albies again.

LI32 · 10-12-2008, 04:54 AM

We use a set of four Penn 750 SSM's ($120) and Ugly Stik 1101 7' 15-30 lb rods ($60) on my boat for jigging Blues. In the last four seasons, each has caught hundreds of Bluefish from 3-18 lbs without problems - haven't even had to replace the drag yet. Are there lighter outfits out there - yes - more durable and less expensive - no.
For bass we usually use conventional reels - Penn 975 CLSD's ($250) mated to Ugly Stik Custom's 7' 15-30 lb ($80) casting rod.

Prop Blast · 10-12-2008, 03:04 PM

As others have said above, "What's your budget?" It makes a difference.

The fish you're targeting according to your post are not reel killers for the most part, so it doesn't make sense to spend the $ on high end spinners like the Shimano Stella SW (or the "old" FA) or Accurates/Van Staal.

You may just want to upsize from the small Penn Slammer to the 460 or 560. If you like Shimano, the new Saragosa is said to be well made -- it's basically an upgraded Spheros.

PB

spooled up · 10-12-2008, 03:30 PM

Its tough without the price range bc then you have people recommending $1,000 dollar set ups and others recommending $150 set ups.

You have many good choices with reels.

Lower tier, but great for the money- Shimano Spheros, Penn Slammer, Quantum Boca.

Mid tier- Shimano Saragosa, Quantum Cabo, Shimano Sustain, (not a fan of stradics if they are going to be beat up)...

Top Tier- Daiwa Saltiga, Shimano Stella, Accurate Twin Spin...

As far as rods are concerned, I would prefer a strong stick that can also take a beating. My choice has usually been St. Croix, but Lamiglass is also a great choice. Loomis is a great stick as well, but I worry about chipping then breaking them if I abuse them.

captsuperfly · 10-12-2008, 04:05 PM

looking at the stuff you're using - I'm going to say that a good upgrade from the stradic is the Shimano Saragosa (as mentioned above) and the Quantum Cabo (40) is a nice match to the Stradic 4000. The issue with the stradics is that they are not true salt water reels, so they don't take the abuse. You can have them reconditioned though. The Saragosa is a very good reel, but a little heavy. I've also used the Quantum Bocas. A very good buy, but not as smooth as the Cabo.

On the rods, I've become a big fan of the Shimano Trevalas. I've used a ton of high end rods, and some economy stuff. The Trevalas are light but the lifting power is amazing. They are great for lifting big fish from the rips, but don't feel like a meat stick. They are what I prefer to throw at albies these days too. Don't have the model numbers I'm using but I could look them up.

Have you gotten back to Montauk? Had great fishing yesterday morning.