Novice requires knowledge on middle range rod/reel

[doggers]

I am a Novice fisherman wanting to buy a new rod/reel. I am looking for advice on what light weight egg beater reel and rod I could buy for estuary fishing - predominantly in the Georges River and Botany Bay area. Fishing for bream and flatties mainly, using bait and SP. Okuma, Daiwa, Shimano.....any suggestions, feedback and prices would be appreciated.

[Shooter]

I have a Shimano sustain 1000 reel with 8Lb braid on a one-piece 7ft Shimano T-curve rod. I use this for SP chasing Bream, Flatties, Whiting, etc. The reel comes with a spare spool and on this I have 4 Lb mono on it for when the fish are a bit spooky.

[BrandonH]

To get you started resionably cheaply i would go for a 6foot dropshot (or cheaper Graphite rod around the 4kg mark) with a shimano sustain 2500. If you are gentle with the rod it should last you awhile. Or for an extra $30-$40 get a raider rod, I Have one of these and have given it a very hard workout and it hasn't faulted yet
If you wern't wanting to fish plastics i would sugest a fiberglass uglystick as they are near unbreakable!!
get some 8 or 10lb fireline and you should have no problems with Bream and good sized flathead as well as other bigger fish that might jump on the line

The smaller gear is good fun and can catch the fish but if your just starting i would go for something that is a little easier to catch fish with untill you get the hang of fighing fish.Also if you get some 4-8 and 10lb vanish for leader you can go lighter if the fish are spooky. All up i reckon for this setup you would be looknig at around $200 (inc braid). Vanish prices arn't that good but its a dam good leader line!!

[nabs12]

Hey
I mainly fish SPs and i use a Berkley dropshot and a daiwa procaster. They are 2 very nice rods that i got for around the $100 mark.. I use a daiwa capricorn reel that costs about $200 but depending on your budget you can gow cheaper or higher..
A cheaper reel you could go mayb a daiwa laguna or Kastor or shimano maybe a symetre or a stradic. For rods i reckon most decent ones start at around $100. It makes it easier if you can give us your budget...
Hope this helps

[doggers]

Hi all, thanks for the start on this information. I forgot to put my budget there - looking to spend no more then $200 and would like to think I can get rod, reel and line for this. I mentioned I would be fishing SP and bait - to be honest I am so new at SP its not funny (or maybe it is)...but really keen to learn the art of SP fishing, so would like to think the outfit I buy can be used for both.

So graphite vs fibre glass rod for SP fishing is a must?

Is a one piece rod recommended?

[Fafnir]

Graphite is definitely better for soft plastics, and a 1 piece rod is always better than a 2 or more piece rod.

But having said that, it depends on how you're getting your rod to and from where you're fishing. Sometimes 2 piece rods are easier, because you can fit them in any car.

Also, nothing comes close to graphite for casting. But graphite is very brittle, and the tips in particular break very easy, especially if you bend them past 90 degrees. If you're new to fishing then it might be safer to go with a light fiberglass rod to start with.

Longer, fast tapered rods are easier to cast light weights with. Something around the 6'6" or 7 foot mark would be a good starting point.

Hope this helps.

[nabs12]

Hey
I reckon for your budget i would go for a berkley dropshot rod...
For a reel maybe get a daiwa laguna and some 8lb fireline should be good... but this will cost around $250 all up. Im not sure of any cheaper reels...

[Huggy_B]

Abu Morrum Braid 2-4kg is pretty good value at ~$85, Penn Accord for $65, spare spool ~$30, 250m 12lb mono ~$15, 250m 4lb braid ~$40.

Total: $235

1 x spool with 12lb mono
1 x spool with 4lb braid and 12 lb backing

left over 12lb for leader.

[doggers]

Have been away for a couple of weeks, so no replies. Thanks to everyone for their advice. I will take all of this on board and get some gear real soon. I can't wait to get out there.

[2iar]

Berekely Dropshots are a decent rod in your price range, but at $89 I reckon your better of grabbing a Shimano Raider from BCF in the current sale. $99 is a bargain IMO, and there's a decent range of lengths and a mixture of one or two piece in the range. As already mentioned, be carefu not to highstick a graphite rod (I've done two in the last 6 months). >

You're probably not going to get a middle range reel to match with it for the remaining $101, but you'll certainly be able to pick something up that's reasonable to get you started. A Shimano Stradic 2500 or the Daiwa's already mentioned would be ideal, but will blow your budget.

You'll also need line. Grab one (preferably 2 - one for the spare spool) spools of Fireline and some heavier mono for backing, and some flouro for leader. I'd suggest 8lb on the main spool and 4lb on the spare, so you can change depending on what's biting. This should be able to handle most of what you're after. If you're confident or want more of a challenge, go a bit lighter.

Good luck,
Mike