Phenix = Seeker / Mem Day Wknd Tackle Porn
 

Stopped by Squidco yesterday to pick up a rod I thought would be a good first all around 20-40 lb. class choice for yak fishing and I went with the Seeker Black Steel 670. This was going to be my first real tuna/wsb rod primarily for yak fishing and I was pretty excited about it! I was leaning towards the Stealth 670 but they were out of that. Didn't really want to spend the extra money on such a nice BTB rod, to tell the truth, but I also needed a rod for this Monday when I go out with a friend on his boat. While I was there, I also picked up a few irons and some live bait tackle.

But... I decided to stop by Squidco again today for some more stuff and I started looking at the Phenix Black Diamond rods, while still thinking about whether the Seeker was the rod I really wanted to go with. The 670 has such a light tip. Not something I'm entirely always fond of.

So I picked up a few of those Black Diamonds and then got the PSW 700H in my hands, and oh wow, it kind of just blew the Seeker away. The Black Steel 670 is definitely a nice rod but I thought about my experiences of fishing for freshwater toads in hydrilla down in Texas and the Phenix just kind of felt like the tool that'd let me control those tuna and wsb around the kelp so much better. It felt crisp, light and well balanced with those awesome components, and made me feel like I was going to be a little piranha on the water fearlessly attacking those bigger fish.

So I drove back home, picked up the Seeker because Joey was gracious enough to let me exchange it, (thanks again, Joey!) and left with the Phenix, and yet a little more tackle.

Thinking I'd really like to couple this rod with a Saltist BG30.

Actually, since this is my first yak rod/reel, I'm already thinking about what a good next rig would be. I really do not anticipate spending that much money on my following rigs and I'm envisioning going with a Seeker Stealth of some kind and another Daiwa of some kind, probably.

What would be a good 2nd yak rod that I possibly could also use for sharks and maybe even bring on 1-2 day tuna boat trips? Do you guys pretty much mostly stick with 7' models or do you go up to 7'6 or even 8'?

As always, appreciate all of your input. Looking forward to posting some better pictures soon, complete with some decent fish... but for now, a bit of tackle pleasure.



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I may be completely dense. What is BTB fishing. I've been hearing it allot lately.

Back to Basics

Congrats on the purchase. You gotta be gnashing at the bit to get it wet. I checked out the phenix rods at the LB Hall show and was impressed by their quality and wide range of rod models. I picked up a 9' phenix abyss for light iron from Joey not long ago. I'll throw a bit in on seeker and calstar though. They have been made in so cal for a long time and build many rods that are focused on our fisheries. The seeker black steel series are great rods. Many of their rods have lighter tips that make casting and fishing live bait easier. They've been rare lately but for decades so cal bait fishing was based 100% on anchovies. Casting a chovie with a stiff graphite rod can be frustrating. With the deans we've been seeing a stiffer rod is great. Our yak fishing uses, usually, mackerel and with them a softer rod tip is not helpful at all. IMO 40lb is about as heavy as you ever need to go on a kayak so for a next rod maybe go with a lighter bait stick, calico bass rod, or with a long rod for the surface iron. Mike

I think BTB is Beyond the Breakers. I have a Phenix Black Diamond 909H for surface irons. I love it.

BTB is used more heavily with surf fishing, it's a bragging right if you can cast "BTB."

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OK so what is its significance to kayak fishing? I mean does it just apply to all cast fishing and describe a rod that can cast far? I've just never heard of it and am curious about what this BTB fishing is from a kayak. Maybe with a little insight i can actually catch a fish

Really has no place with regards to kayak fishing. Maybe something for newbies to look forward to, "paddling BTB." I've never used it before with kayak fishing, see it all the time on the surf fishing forum though.

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Well whatever you call your gear, those are some good solid purchases that I'm sure you will be happy with.

Btb in kayaking refers to fishing open ocean versus harbors and bays. The term is used more in the Gulf Coast region and the East Coast. They have much more protected inshore areas than we do.

This makes allot more sense now.

Mike, that explanation really helps! What happened to those 'chovies, though?

That was something I was a bit worried about. The 700H is a fast action and has a really stiff tip and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to cast live bait effectively, but really, I chose the Phenix as more of a casting rod for irons and anything else I may want to throw since I can't drag live bait for very long without getting a little antsy or bored. Your suggestion about picking up a lighter rod for that application sounds good, and I may eventually get that 670 after all.

William, yup, BTB = Beyond the Breakers.

There's another good yak site I enjoyed reading when I was in Texas:

www.texaskayakfisherman.com

If you scroll down, there's a page dedicated to BTB fishing. Those guys mostly fish for reds, sharks, kingfish, and occasionally tarpon but there's definitely a lot of good information about rigging, etx... etx...

Yes this is true. I used to live by the Gulf Coast. I BTB. It means going beyond the breakers. Some go couple yards out some go as far as 8 miles out to find the blue water. Ive only been 4 1/2 at most. We usually hit up gas rigs to fish and troll them. In fact I learned alot of what I know from TKF. We all like to get together and fish. Its a bit different on the west coast. Different lingo and fishing methods. Still trying to adapt.

Don't know about others, but I don't cast live bait often from the kayak. Just drop the bait over board then paddle/peddle away a ways. Lots of casting with plastics and irons though. 5-20, I'm right with you about trolling, boring, but on the kayak you're going at a perfect live bait trolling speed so you might as well have one back there. Drop a mac back, put clicker on, put in rod holder, and let the bait do it's thing. I find that a strong point of fishing the kayak, you're always fishing. Mike

Thanks, mike and everyone else for the tips/advice.

Btw, fwiw, i'm pretty sure i jigged up a bunch of anchovies (in addition to macks and greenbacks) yesterday. I actually wasn't sure what they were until i got home and surfed the net for different images of baitfish.

That's a killer rod. I have wrapped a few of them and have one myself. I used mine for the BFT last yr in the 35-50lb range. I have mine paired with a Saltist 30 2speed