Best Rods

[Frothychop]

Hey guys, I have a couple of decent baitcating outfits but I need to buy some new gear for fishing plastics. Intend getting serious with plastics this year in the estuarys on Sunshine Coast and wondering if I could use the same gear for plastics and the smaller hard bodied lures for bass in the dams.

Also intend doing some plastics and bait fishing in the bay on shallow reefs (20 to 40 ft) and maybe take a couple of trips to Awonga and Monduran to hopefully catch my first real Barra (caught a couple of little salties in Arlie Beach a few years back) Wondering if I could use the second bigger outfit on the reef and maybe chase some Jacks here on the coast and then use the same gear for Barra as well.
Would appreciate some advice would like to keep the cost to around $200 for the smaller outfit and maybe up to around $300 for the second one.

Cheers,

Frothy

[reidy]

Good day,
The smaller outfit
Shimano rack raider 6'8" 2-5kg at around $99.00 at the momment matched to a Penn Affinity 2000 at around $120-$130 should give you a good solid outfit for around the $200 mark.
Have a look at the on line tackle store thats named after the bar owner on the Simpsons
Cheers
Reidy

[MeePee_99]

If you intend to take up sp and hb fishing seriously then 200 is going to get you nowhere (it will just cost you money) as the more you fish then the more you realise that you need a better setup.

I started with a 300 dollars set up and within a few week i had a 400 then a 500, now my setups are between 800 and 1250.

I would be looking around the 500 dollar mark, maybe a daiwa sol or shimano stradie or twin power with a shimano t-curve rod (1-4kg or 2-4)

[Horse]

If you intend to take up sp and hb fishing seriously then 200 is going to get you nowhere (it will just cost you money) as the more you fish then the more you realise that you need a better setup.

I started with a 300 dollars set up and within a few week i had a 400 then a 500, now my setups are between 800 and 1250.

I would be looking around the 500 dollar mark, maybe a daiwa sol or shimano stradie or twin power with a shimano t-curve rod (1-4kg or 2-4)

I beg to differ with the above . I have never owned any SP outfit worth over about $350.00 and my regular bay outfit of a Strudwick Sic Stick/ Penn Affinity 2000 cost a lot less than $200.00. That outfit has landed many hundreds of Snapper and a good number of Spotties, Doggies and various Tunas

Anyone who tells you that you need to spend huge amounts to enjoy throwing a few lures around is playing with themselves .

Most of the reasonably priced offerings from the major companies will see you having a ball with them. Remember....only a bad tradesman blames his tools

[loophole]

Horse has it rite i dont think that post was real apropriate by meepee.

You said u got a budget.


ok if u want a lite out fit for sp id get a raider or plufger rod in the 2-4kg range
and set it up with a daiwa excellor or there is one below that i think both in the 2000 size.

[matt__hill]

hundreds of snapper ay?
big call
or hundreds of undersized squire? lol

[leelee]

Frothy for you $250 out fit try this one for size -

RODS

Pflueger Contender
Daiwa Procastor A
Daiwa Tierra
Starlo Stix Tourny (4-8kg)
Raider ( Bass raider)

REELS

Daiwa Excellor
Daiwa Excellor Plus
Shimano Seido
Shimano Symetre 2500
Penn Applause
Penn Affinity

After you have sussed out those it should give you a good indication of what your $350 combo will cost you.

Also Horse is spot on when it comes to combos. 1k combos can catch the same amount of fish as $200-$300 combos you are chasing. Its all about the skill of the angler.

Cheers

Lee

[Horse]

hundreds of snapper ay?
big call
or hundreds of undersized squire? lol

They are all Snapper No such thing as a Squire . It would have accounted for close to 200 legal snapper (35-70+) over the last three years. Just not many over the last 9 mths .

As for specific outfits I would look at something like the Snapper Raider or Dropshot for the heavier work and a 4000 size reel to suit your budget (some good buys OS) and a dropshot, starlostix or Sicstick in the 1-3 or 2-4 kg size and a 2000-2500 size reel from any of the majors

[Barraboy7]

Yes I note too a lot of guys feel better with the dearest gear they can buy, but I dont think the difference is anywhere near what the price range implies.
I have no hassle with people who believe they need the high range expensive stuff..good for you! but to suggest others are not going to do any good without it is ludicrous.
I fished with a $900 outfit for 6hrs with a guide on Sps, and it was nice, but me, Im still ramping up my gear. So at the moment Im catching heaps of fish on a 89.00 Berkley Dropshot and a Okuma 2500 $159 reel I bought from Super #####. drag is sweet and smooth with 6lb braid and 8lb FC leader.
Dropshots are outstanding value for money, I have also got an Exceler coming from USA for a second rod which is a $70 Tsunami rod. I have caught well on it as well and blowed if I can tell the huge difference in this rod to a big bucks one.
My goals are 2 rigs aroung $350 range.
Good thread this, as a lot of people buying new gear feel they must spend a fortune, not so, IMO.
Barraboy7

[2manylures]

If you intend to take up sp and hb fishing seriously then 200 is going to get you nowhere (it will just cost you money) as the more you fish then the more you realise that you need a better setup.

I started with a 300 dollars set up and within a few week i had a 400 then a 500, now my setups are between 800 and 1250.

I would be looking around the 500 dollar mark, maybe a daiwa sol or shimano stradie or twin power with a shimano t-curve rod (1-4kg or 2-4)

[reelchippy]

I just picked up a couple of these as backups $29.99 US



Attachment 34021




A sweet, super-sensitive IM-6 graphite rod with top-grade Fuji® Concept guides.

Don't let the price fool you. These rods are serious fishing tools featuring high-grade IM-6 graphite blanks, and they'll give you all the lightweight sensitivity you need to take your limit. Every model is built with Fuji aluminum oxide guides, for near-friction-free casting performance and enhanced "feel" on the retrieve. Each model is strong, flexible, and so responsive you’ll feel every twitch and be able to react instantly. We’ve fitted them with quality cork handles and our own super-comfortable, lightweight graphite reel seats. Each rod has 6 guides which includes tip.
6-17 LB1/4 - 5/8 OZ 6' 6" MH 2-PIECE

[Frothychop]

I didn't realise what a can of worms I was opening, I will have to go start writing doe some of your sggestions.Hey thanks to everyone so far. I notice also no one has mentioned if I am being realistic with what I want to use the gear for. At risk of opening another can ??

Cheers,

Frothy

[reelchippy]

Hey thats life everyone got opinion

[plaztix]

Its definately not necessary to spend big bucks to catch good fish on sp.

I would think that $250 is probably a respectable amount to pay for your entry level smaller combo. $100 on a rod and $150 on a reel. A 7' graphite rod in the 2-4kg range and a 2000 size reel will do the trick for your estuary and impoundment fishing.

For your heavier combo you will probably want to pay a little bit more ($150) for a good strong (but light) rod again 7' but probably around 6 - 10kg and you'd probably be better off spending a little bit more on your bigger reel ($200) in the 3000 - 4000 size range for barra and offshore fishing.

The more you get into sp's the more you will develop a feel for what you like. Some people are happy to use cheap gear and continue to catch great fish and some will fall ill with fishing tackle fever, spending thousands to try to find a cure.

At the end of the day its all down to what makes you happy, personally i have started to develop a healthy appetite for quality gear and i find it makes the whole experience a lot more pleasurable but each to there own.

[leelee]

Mate the heavier style of rods i mentioned will do your light offshore stuff, but if you start putting heavy weights on them you might need to retink your rod selection.

Cheers

Lee