good beginner setup?

[tomahawk]

Diawa SL20SH as previously described or Penn 535GS. Seeker or Calstar 196/270/870 all in the 7 foot versions. 196 and 270 are fun bass rods and fish 15 to 20 lb really nice. The 870 is more of a 20 to 25 lb rod. If I was head to the islands and could only take 1 rod it would be either my 870 or my 270H-8. The 270H-8 isn't really necessary on a kayak IMO since there is no need to be able to fly line a sardine very far. It is also heavier and might be a little odd casting in a yak (i Haven't tried it). For fishing plastic, I really like a light weight 7.5 ft rod (8-15 lb test). I have a lamiglas MTxxxx (can't rememebr the numbers right now) graphite rod with an ABU 5600 tournament that you can throw a) cast all day and b) can cast a mile.

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by tomahawk

Daiwa SL20SH as previously described or Penn 535GS. Seeker or Calstar 196/270/870 all in the 7 foot versions..

Great info on the rods, exactly right on.

I've owned both the Penn 535GS, and 525GS, personally I prefer the Penn 525mag or the new SQL12 which is also has magnetic cast control, they both cast much better. Mags are great with spectra because if setup correctly they can almost completely eliminate backlash, and you can get great distance with them without backlashing. even when casting topshots through guides.

The newer magged Penns are really underrated. The Penn SQL12 is the same size as the Diawa SL20SH but will outcast it, and has a much bigger, stronger drag about the size the used to have in a 4/0. It's more expensive then the Daiwa, but not that much more and it's worth the extra money.

For smaller swimbaits I like fishing a Revo STX, larger swimbaits the SQL12, light Iron the 525mag, all mag controlled, all with spectra.

Originally Posted by SASQUATCH

could you explain what you mean by " braid " and " top shot " ?

Braid is braided line, or spectra fibre line, it's a stronger stranded line that's thinner, and cuts through kelp. One thing it's not is clear so we spool our reels with it then add short pieces of either clear mono, or even more transparent fluorocarbon line to it, and we call those topshots. Long topshots are generally anywhere from 10 to 300 feet, short topshots are generally 3 to 5 feet, but they are all at the end and called topshots because they are on top of the other line on the reel.

[SASQUATCH]

Originally Posted by Fiskadoro

Great info on the rods, exactly right on.

I've owned both the Penn 535GS, and 525GS, personally I prefer the Penn 525mag or the new SQL12 which is also has magnetic cast control, they both cast much better. Mags are great with spectra because if setup correctly they can almost completely eliminate backlash, and you can get great distance with them without backlashing. even when casting topshots through guides.

The newer magged Penns are really underrated. The Penn SQL12 is the same size as the Diawa SL20SH but will outcast it, and has a much bigger, stronger drag about the size the used to have in a 4/0. It's more expensive then the Daiwa, but not that much more and it's worth the extra money.

For smaller swimbaits I like fishing a Revo STX, larger swimbaits the SQL12, light Iron the 525mag, all mag controlled, all with spectra.



Braid is braided line, or spectra fibre line, it's a stronger stranded line that's thinner, and cuts through kelp. One thing it's not is clear so we spool our reels with it then add short pieces of either clear mono, or even more transparent fluorocarbon line to it, and we call those topshots. Long topshots are generally anywhere from 10 to 300 feet, short topshots are generally 3 to 5 feet, but they are all at the end and called topshots because they are on top of the other line on the reel.

thanks for explaining that. so a topshot is essentially a leader that potentially can be much longer. interesting.

i used to fish a lot when i was younger. got married, raised four kids, now the youngest is 15 and am finding more time to do the things i used to do. equipment and methods have changed somewhat since then. thanks again for everyone's help.

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by SASQUATCH

thanks for explaining that. so a topshot is essentially a leader that potentially can be much longer. interesting. i used to fish a lot when i was younger. got married, raised four kids, now the youngest is 15 and am finding more time to do the things i used to do. equipment and methods have changed somewhat since then. thanks again for everyone's help.

It's cool and I had the feeling.

Spectra and small lever drag reels are the big changes that came in the last decade and a half. I hear you. I remember when everyone fished darcron for rockfish. Spectra or "braid" is kind of like Dacron used to be, except it's stronger and thinner and unlike dacron which was cheaper then mono it's actually much more expensive.

Great stuff though. You will be amazed at how much more you can feel with it especially deep and by how it cuts kelp. I remember the first time I had a good yellow swim into a kelp paddie with it offshore. I was like that fish is gone, but then it kept going and cut it's way right out again.

It's pretty Awesome stuff!!!


Jim

[SASQUATCH]

Originally Posted by Fiskadoro

It's cool and I had the feeling.

Spectra and small lever drag reels are the big changes that came in the last decade and a half. I hear you. I remember when everyone fished darcron for rockfish. Spectra or "braid" is kind of like Dacron used to be, except it's stronger and thinner and unlike dacron which was cheaper then mono it's actually much more expensive.

Great stuff though. You will be amazed at how much more you can feel with it especially deep and by how it cuts kelp. I remember the first time I had a good yellow swim into a kelp paddie with it offshore. I was like that fish is gone, but then it kept going and cut it's way right out again.

It's pretty Awesome stuff!!!


Jim

RIGHT ON, CAN'T WAIT.