Budget Surf combo that does everything?

[Damned67]

Hi All,
I know I'm asking a lot here, but I'm off to Fraser for a week next month, and I'm lacking in the Surf Combo department. Sadly, as I'm going through a divorce at the moment, funds are tight and I can only afford to cough up for one combo. Probably $300 max.
Basically, I would love something that's great for tossing slugs for tailor, and something that's perfect for lobbing out baits for Jew. Obviously, nothing is going to fit the bill. Best I could hope for is something that's average with both.
Unfortunately, Alveys are out of the question (I think), as I've never used one (well, not for about 10 years, and even then it was only for a weekend).....

I should add that I've got plenty of reels, but all in the 3-4000 size, with the exception of a Penn Slammer 560, but I think the spool will be too deep on that one.


So, if you were in my position, how would you be gearing up?

Cheers!

[dudley]

You should be able to get something for $300. Down here in melb, 12' ugly sticks are $150. X factor 12' -$190, 12' live fibre $179. There are okuma 6000 - 8000 reels for less than $150. What i do is get what i want and then ask the shop for a discount for the both.
Spend a little more on the rod than the reel. Hope this helps.

[FNQCairns]

Cheap 12,13,14? foot butterworth 2 piece will do it all, it did for me for years cannot complain after hundreds of hours of use, yes heavier to cast but they will get whatever you want out there and pull in whatever you catch back but buy a decently sized reel and it doesn't need to be very expensive either.

IMO a combo for this use is one that doesn't need large money spent.

[Stonkered]

Can I suggest not discounting the Alvey?

It'd seriously only take about half an hour with someone who can throw one to be able to cast it far enough to get onto fish. It's only fine tuning from there.

After a day or so you'll never look back. I converted an eggbeater mate a couple of years ago. Went fishing with him a few weeks ago (his Alvey was out of action... dropped it and cracked the spool) he didn't stop complaining about the eggbeater he was using.

You should be able to pick up a 6.5" drag model and a 13'6 rod from the Wilson stable for around the $300 mark. This outfit would do everything you mentioned reasonably well. It's what I'd be doing anyway.

I'll be up there around the Dundaburra area for a week from the 4th Sep, I'd be happy to give you a few casting tips if you are there at that time.

[robvee]

Went fishing with him a few weeks ago (his Alvey was out of action... dropped it and cracked the spool) he didn't stop complaining about the eggbeater he was using.

WHAT ???? A broken Alvey :D :D :D
I thought that there was no such thing?? So they are not indestructible then ;D;D;D
Give me my overhead all day, every day ;)

[Benben86]

Can I suggest not discounting the Alvey?

It'd seriously only take about half an hour with someone who can throw one to be able to cast it far enough to get onto fish. It's only fine tuning from there.

After a day or so you'll never look back. I converted an eggbeater mate a couple of years ago. Went fishing with him a few weeks ago (his Alvey was out of action... dropped it and cracked the spool) he didn't stop complaining about the eggbeater he was using.

You should be able to pick up a 6.5" drag model and a 13'6 rod from the Wilson stable for around the $300 mark. This outfit would do everything you mentioned reasonably well. It's what I'd be doing anyway.

I'll be up there around the Dundaburra area for a week from the 4th Sep, I'd be happy to give you a few casting tips if you are there at that time.

I'd have to agree. They are not hard to learn. My three year old learnt in 2 days.

[Stonkered]

WHAT ???? A broken Alvey :D :D :D
I thought that there was no such thing?? So they are not indestructible then ;D;D;D
Give me my overhead all day, every day ;)

Yes, I was very surprised when I heard.... Must have been some impact!!!

I have an 18 year old 6" direct wind, an 13yo 6.5" drag model, we have old Cedar and Bakelite spools floating around in our family that would date back to the mid 1940s.

I'm a bit too rough on my gear to be using overheads in the surf. Having said that, I enjoy casting with overheads, I'd get 50% more distance than with my Alvey I reckon.

[dudley]

I forgot to mention this reel. Tica dolphin 10000. 13 b/b . I have one of these which i use for rock bait fishing and boat for the large gummies here in vic. Had it for 6 yrs and can't break it. Drag is still brilliant. $89.95 which is over $100 cheaper than when i got mine. Still leaves you $200+ for a decent rod.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DOLPHIN-SE10000-Gold-Big-Reel-Tica-SE-10000-13BB-Reels-/190427537354?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_FishingReels&hash=item2c565d9fca

Hope this helps,
Peter

[Stonkered]

I have a Daiwa Emcast 6000. It's not bad, good drag. It's a big heavy reel though.

At $130 its about as much as I'd ever spend on a spinning reel for the surf....

It doesn't see much use. It sits on the rod holder rigged with a slug as a back up to grab quickly if I get busted off while they are schooled up and in a feeding frenzy :)

[nigelr]

Get a spare spool for the Slammer, use one with 5-6kg the other with 8kg or 10 kg if you beachfish at night.
Gary Howard Phantom, Magraphite White-tip Medium, or the big Silstar Crystal Power Tip, this is a great rod for the $.
Or as said, learn to use the Alvey, probably the most versatile of the lot.
Actually for $300 you could possibly buy two rods, one for up to 6kg for whiting, bream, dart, choppers etc and the other for heavier usage eg greenbacks, mulloway and other nocturnal creatures.
Cheers.

[Cheech]

I go to Fraser for a week each year. I have an $80.00 Shimano 12 ft surf rod, which works great and gets me out just as far as everyone else.

For the reel, the first year I went I used my Shimano tss4 with 20lb braid. Worked fine as it has a big spool and a quick retrieve for spinning. Though mostly I use bait. I never had a problem with hookups using braid. I also run a leader a bit longer than the length of the rod so that I have a couple of wraps on the reel when casting.

Last couple of years I have picked up an elcheapo big reel from anaconda that came with about 20lb mono already on it. This elcheapo catches as many fish as anything else I have used, and if it dies, I will just throw it away. I recently pulled it down and was amazed at how much sand was under the spool and in crevaces. I would not want to wreck an expensive reel. Keep in mind that sometimes you trip or get rogue waves that soak you and the reel.

I would be targetting under $200. Especially if you are not a regular. If you do get in to it more, your next set can be more expensive, and have one set up for slugs and the other for bait. That is what Straddie ( a regular beach fisho on this site) does.

[rockfisho]

You will pick up a good combo, with an alvey, for 300 bucks. For the record, i got a gary howard surf classic ppg, and a 650C reel for 350, pretty high end combo in my opinion. I would reccomend alveys for fraser, since they are easy to maintain, and they will cop a floggin from the elements. It isnt just that though, they are really very user friendly, with a powerful return, the fact that you can wind and keep contact of the line, both forwards and backwards...
Owen

[deepfried]

Get a spare spool for the Slammer, use one with 5-6kg the other with 8kg or 10 kg if you beachfish at night.
Gary Howard Phantom, Magraphite White-tip Medium, or the big Silstar Crystal Power Tip, this is a great rod for the $.
Or as said, learn to use the Alvey, probably the most versatile of the lot.
Actually for $300 you could possibly buy two rods, one for up to 6kg for whiting, bream, dart, choppers etc and the other for heavier usage eg greenbacks, mulloway and other nocturnal creatures.
Cheers.

i rekon thats what i would do as well but would chuck braid on one spool and look at a penn big game rod for spinning and one of the above rods for bait. the deep spool wont be a problem.

[Stonkered]

WHAT ???? A broken Alvey :D :D :D
I thought that there was no such thing?? So they are not indestructible then ;D;D;D
Give me my overhead all day, every day ;)

Just an update. Alvey replaced the spool free of charge :)

[Chamelion]

Grab a 70 size pflueger torsion from anaconda for $89 or 'grey' mart for $99. Match it to a rod of your choice.