What rods and reels do you have?

So I have been fishing Penn for years and have never had a problem- except breaking one- but I knew I have been missing the touch and feel that other rode have.

I just made a switch and I couldn’t be happier. I purchased a St Croix Premier 7M, St Croix inshore 7mh and a St Croix mojo Bass 6’10”ML. I have paired the larger rods with Diawa BG’s (4000) with 20lb and 30lb Suffix Braid. (Been power Pro for life but the suffix is much smoother) I can’t contest to it durability yet. And I have the little rod with a 2500 Penn Battle II. It will be upgraded to a BG 2500.

Where am I going with this? I could not be happier with my decisions. I have never felt the bait, lure what ever it may be like this before. I am able to tell the difference between a fish, a rock, grass whatever it may be even when it bumps through a school of fish I can feel everything. With that being said they are also monster rods. They have extreme strength and will pull the biggest fish in with ease.

I opted to go with these rods due to the price point and my type of fishing. They are much more expensive rods out there but I didn’t feel the need, especially since 85% of the time I am in a kayak.

If you are a kayaker work of caution. I have a SOT kayak, but I do not have an elevated seat and the inshore is a little long in the butt. With an elevated seat it is not a problem. If I were to do over I would get the mojo bass as it has a better blank SCIII, and a shorter stock.

I am one of the Pro-Staff for SRFC, Susquehanna River Fishing Club in Baltimore Maryland. If you are ever in the area hit me up and we can try to get you on some fish.

Anyway thanks for listening.

What is everyone else running?

 

Fred water bass I use:

Cousins 733mbr 10-17 lb paired with a shimano metanium

Gloomis glx 843c mbr 10-17 lb paired with a shimano metanium

Deep sea:

Seeker super rods paired with shimano Trinidad’s A.

Calstar grafigther rail rods paired with shimano talica Rods.


I actually want to buy a penn torque 25n just try it out. I heard nothing but good feed backs from that reel.

 

Just bought this yesterday for a really good price. It was spooled with Spider Wire (not sure of test) but has never been mounted on a rod. Does anyone else have one and do you like it?

 

My buddy has one of those, and he let me try it out. I thought it was a decent setup for the price. I liked it.

 

I'm a fan of Shimano reels. I do a lot of shark fishing from the surf and the Baitrunner series is great for this. Paired with an 11' heavy action Tsunami Airwave rod. I need a decent cast in the surf and this setup allows for that.
Throwing a lure; I have a Quantum Cabo 2000, Shimano Ultegra 3000 and a Tsunami Shield 6000. I pair these with a couple of different rods depending on the targeted species. An Ande Tournament Surf 9' or a Shakespeare 8' medium action.
When boat fishing I use conventional reels with pairing rods.
On another note, I do wish more reel manufacturers would offer reels without the anti-reverse. I have never needed or understood this function, and to be honest its the one function on the reel that fails first constantly.

 

If anyone is currently looking to buy a new spinning reel, I highly recommend the Daiwa BG. I have a 5000. I bought it last year for use on the TX gulf coast and they are fantastic reels. It's paired with a Diawa Harrier 7'6" MH rod. It's a perfect pier/jetty rig for big 3 oz spoons and topwaters in the surf. I also have a somewhat lighter inshore set up, a penn battle II 2500 on a ugly stik inshore select 7'. I have other rigs, but these are my main two rigs when I hit the coast. I have a baitcasting rig, but I am looking to upgrade to a Shimano Curado.

 

I got a new setup this spring a St. Croix walleye rod and a pfleuger presidential spinning reel with braided line. Been super happy with it so far.

 

Since I didn’t have them when I posted, here’s some pics with my truck whoring in the background...

 

++on the Daiwa BG. Absolute best bang-for-the-buck spinner on the market. I still have a couple old school Penn 750SS spinners spooled with mono for soaking bait as well as SSVs and Battles which are all solid reels, but the BG is my new crush. Ultra smooth actions, braid friendly, and large capacity even through the smaller sizes. Having said that, Penn is coming out with the Conflict II in a few weeks and it is supposed to be the shit. What can I say, I’m a tackle whore. St. Croix is my rod of choice, Premiers, Premier Surfs(discontinued) mostly, with a few ticas, airwaves, customs, and others. (Too many). I’m going to Hatteras next month and I’m going to pick up a couple Carolina Cast Pro rods can't wait to try em out.