Help Needed With buying a new rod and reel (Chrissy Present for the OH)

[warmedfawnz]

Hello Ausfish fourmites!

I am clearly new and asking for some advice!

For christmas I would like to get my boyfreind (im female, not gay thanks) a rod and a reel, (I was thinking buy each separately and spend up too $170 on a rod and $150 on a reel)
Honestly I have no Idea what Im looking at I enjoy fishing but I dont know much about the rods and reels, he loves fishing and I would really like to buy him something good as he has rods and reels but mostly has cheapish stuff. So I would just like to buy him something special and good :)

Could anyone please let me know what is good and in my price range (doesnt matter if its a little over) and could you explain what it has and the difference to the other rods out there?

Thankyou

Mel (warmedfawnz)

[004dam]

What species are you targeting? Lures,plastics bait? If it were just a general river combo I would go a pfluguer trion 2-4kg with a 2500 symetre or Stradic with a 6lb braid. Good enough for a starter lure rod and nice enough for bait as well.

[warmedfawnz]

with the lake fishing he goes for small mullet for live bait and then when they go out on the boat with the live bait they are trying to catch dewys?
A rod that would be good for boat fishing, he likes to use the plastic lures but hasnt had much sucess with them, which is why he is using live bait at the moment.

hes also tried to catch flattys before he fishes in the illawarra (NSW)region so a rod and reel that would suit what is around here fish wise would be good (ill try and find some more info)

[STUIE63]

Mel as has been said if you say what sort of fishing and target species it will really help us give you the answer .

[STUIE63]

I was too slow typing . for the reel I would look at a shimano baitrunner in the 4000 size which is a little bit over in price but look at a shimano raider rod which is a little bit under in price so the combo would be about the right price

[warmedfawnz]

Sorry, Mostly he is aiming at catching the Deweys? I will have a search and have a look at those you suggested, yea the price doesnt have to spot on, can be a bit here or there, Thankyou! -Mel

[warmedfawnz]

Random question, When I went into the local fishing store I was asking about fishing rods and he mentioned the graphite rods are better, I looked up the Shimano and im assuming its fiberglass???? doesnt really mention on there what it is made off, but are the rods made of graphite better? worth me spending a bit more for him on one? Or is the sales guy telling me a bit of rubbish to get a sale?

[STUIE63]

just get something nice and light in the tip with enough power in the butt to handle your line class . I would also suggest braid for the line .

[timddo]

This is what i use for jewies

1. Ugly stick platnium 6-9 kgs ( i actually bartered it for some lead)
2.Tss4 as a reel with 8 kg line

( this is the combo i use for snapper, mackeral, jewies and threadies)

As the TSS4 is no longer in production a baitrunner 4500B is good or the newer model.

[lethal098]

Look at the 4500b Baitrunner, Will get one under $150 ( I recently paid $140 for one), Rod wise there are lots of different Choices, Maybe a Shimano Raider 6-10kg rod???

[SnowE]

I would suggest getting him a voucher for the cash that you are talking about and go with him when picking it out, rods & reels can be quite a personal thing - ie what one person enjoys another dislikes. But if I was to have to pick something that suits me for that budget, I would get a Stradic 3000 on a 7 foot spin rod in the 5-8Kg range, there are loads of choices, and like I said they can be a personal sort of thing.

[Blythy]

Ney mel, you've got a lucky guy, I tell my missus what I want and then i go and buy it, i'd be totally stoked if she went and got me something.
Buying a fishing combo is a hard decision at the best of times, if your man mostly live baits than it's hard to go past the 4500 baitrunner (i think that every fisher person should own at least one), if he does live bait but wants to get more into a bit of lure casting, than the stradic is definitely a good option as snowe has said.

The rod I would look at a 5-10kg, 7' model, fibreglass rods will take more punishment then a graphite rod, but are heavier and less responsive, the graphite rods are lighter more powerful but don't like being abused. for lure fishing i would definitely say go with a graphite rod something like the shimano raider (really good rod for the money). For live baiting either will do, in glass the ugly sticks are worth looking at as has been said.
Good luck with it.