Right rod for spinning with Shimano TSS4?

[Cheech]

I have a 7ft 5 - 8kg ugly stick for normal bay use with my tss4. It casts a fair way with a bit of weight, but not as much as I really need for palagics, and not that good with small slugs. Instead of buying yet another new rod, I was thinking about mounting it on a Shakespeare Synergy rod that I no longer use. It is 8ft graphite and rated 6 - 12lb. This rod casts a country mile, but will be a bit under powered when I get a good fish on. But is it worth the risk of having too little grunt, but have the casting benefits.

I will be giving them a go this season, but a bit like kingtin, I never have much success so do not want to waste money.

What do you think?

Cheech

[TheDeepSix]

Cheech

I lashed out and bought a live fibre 8-10kg. Fairly expensive at $175. I have heard those Synergy rods a good also. Hope to get out there next week and try mine out

Tiga

[bidkev]

Cheech

I lashed out and bought a live fibre 8-10kg. Fairly expensive at $175. I have heard those Synergy rods a good also. Hope to get out there next week and try mine out

Tiga

Never spent more than 49 bucks on a boat rod..................perhaps *that's* what I'm doing wrong when it comes to pelagics. OTOH, I've landed fish to 75kilos and am still using that rod 4 yrs later.

Spend the money on reels though

cheers

kev

[cooky]

yeh - kingtin I'm sort of the same - I can understand expensive rods (sort of), but i have a feeling the reel is more important in offshore outfits. Can understand the importance of rods on lighter fishing more. I haven't spent more than $200 on a rod, but lately I've bought 2 nice Shimano rods for around $50 to $100 and they're great.

[Bad_Bubby]

If you want something reliable in 2-piece check out the Angler advantage (AA230). It is sold at a certain shop beginning with A for only 80 dollars. Its 7'6" composite rod and rated 6-8kg. I have used this rod extensively with large metals and it has been superb especially with 65g raiders. I like the innovative grip lengths, with a pretty short butt and large foam foregrip that is fitted onto a powerful lower part of the rod. Due to this design you can really put alot of pressure on fish. If you are worried about it being two piece, have a look at how far the male section fits into the top section of rod. The total length of both sections measures 8', but when assembled is 7'6"...thats a damn solid connection and really is not going to present any problems with 6-10kg line class. You end up with a very light and deceptively powerful outfit. All up with TSS4's being so cheap the whole package is barely over 200 beans.

[ScottXVII]

Mate if you are looking at a cheap rod there is a Strudwick Sic Stick in a 6-10kg in a 7 footer that would match up with a TSS4 nicely... they are $75 at a certain large sporting goods store that rhymes with K-mart at the moment till Xmas eve i think. The AAT230 is also really nice though but i would go the sic stick for value of money. everyone that i have talked to seems to be really happy with the strudy but maybe someone here will disagree.

[LoveLutjanids]

For many years my fav spin outfit was a TSS-4 on a 8 foot, 8 to 10kg livefibre rod. a 30g tuna slug can be cast a hell of a long way with this outfit if your casting technique is good. A particularly successful aspect of this outfit is the ability to hang a fair way off skittish schools of mackerel or tuna and still put the slug past the school. How often do the little buggers go down just as you get close enough to cast?!!! A better choice of reel in the price/size class is the Okuma Epix 80 which is exceedingly smooth - unlike the clanky old speedmaster.

Cheers!

[LoveLutjanids]

Oh, if you're getting the live fibre take my advice and get it custome built with decent Fuji reel seat, runners and at least hardloy guides & sic tip. Standard live fibres use cheap rubbish fittings these days unfortunately

[TheDeepSix]

Thanks Lovelutjanids,

Already bought the livefibre rod, and have a TSS4. Ive spooled it with 500metres of platypus platinum 15lb line. I was going to go for 20lb line but the 15lb should cast further. I'll check out that reel though........

Tiga

[bignick]

8 foot Ugly Stik. You can get them for under $100 all day long and they last forever.

Cheers,
NICK.

[bignick]

That would be the 8 foot Ugly Stik in the 6-8kg range and spool the reel with something around 18-20lb Maxima Green or something similar. No need to go to these super flash (ie. expensive) line as you will go through a bit of line. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
NICK.