second rod for kayak

I'm with sailfish here.  ugly stick 7' both just enough to go around bow of kayak
cheap dependable

I'm with a lot of guys that think cheap and dependable.

I've seen a lot of expensive equip go into the big blue this year alone. Expect to take a spill or have a yard sale and don't carry anything you would hate to lose.

Stoggie

I've seen a lot of expensive equip go into the big blue this year alone. Expect to take a spill or have a yard sale and don't carry anything you would hate to lose.

Or just leash your rods. For a fairly cheap, dependable all around rod it's hard to beat the Shimano Trevala. The 6'6" MH is good for everything from stripers and halibut to rockfish and sturgeon...and I've landed sturgeon on mine. 


For smaller game I also really like my Wal-Mart bought Quantum IM8 Tournament Grade rods. I have a 7' MH conventional and a 6'6" M spinner. Both are great for stripers, SM, LM, and larger trout. I even use them for halibut...although I'd hate to hook into a monster with the smaller spinning rod. But those two are my Lake Mendo live bait trollers.

For a heavier stick (but very light weight-wise), I love my new Lamiglas Tri-Flex Inshore. I have the 7' TFX7030C, rated for 15-30lb line. Great for jigging large leadheads for RF and Lings and super light. But it'll get a real test in Baja next month.

For a fairly cheap, dependable all around rod it's hard to beat the Shimano Trevala. The 6'6" MH is good for everything from stripers and halibut to rockfish and sturgeon...and I've landed sturgeon on mine. 

Oh sure, rub it in! 

                         

Nice - some great options there. Very much appreciated - I think I'll hit a couple of the fishing superstores next week in Tokyo and see what I can find there. If nothing interesting there, then look locally into a Trevala or UglySTik.

What reel and line do you like to use with this rod? I'm leaning towards a low profile, high capacity reel with braided line. Something light enough that I could use it for bass (on the rare occasion), but would handle lings.

Kook

I have two Trevalas. Both have Abu Record 60s.

My Lamiglass is matched with a Daiwa Saltist 20H. SWEET set-up, but overkill for most of what we fish for.

I have one Trevala matched to an Avet SX. I suppose I could put the Revo Inshore on it which would probably meet the parameters you've laid out, but I have that on a Shimano Hotshot rod instead. I have used the Revo for bass fishing, and it works, but it feels like overkill.

Caught my biggest ling on a 6'6" light Trevala w/a Quantum Cabo low-pro caster spooled w/20lb Spiderwire Stealth. Best fight I've had from a kayak, so far. But my standard rig is the 6'6" MH trevala w/Abu 7000i and 50lb braid.

If you're looking for a saltwater rockfish/ling rod, you won't need to do much "casting." At least, not long distance. So the 8+ foot rods are ridiculously overkill (and only make it harder to manuever/land fish and more likely to break it). So, if you're just going for rockfish/lings, then get a 6-7ft rod. But if you are considering using it for stripers/butts, then 7.5ft is a decent choice because there will be times when you want to cast to stripers and the extra length comes in handy when trolling for + fighting a butt.

I have a Tiger Lite casting rod (I think 7ft) w/the cork-tape grip. It is a nice rod but the butt-cap is too big to fit in my normal Scotty rod holder. So I end up wedging it under my leg instead of putting it in the holder. Now I don't even use it for kayak fishing.
PK

 

Exactly my take on things...

I like a 1 piece for the salt, less to go wrong, and 7' is just right for stowing on a paddle holder, (with the reel stowed below) on potential wet landings.

Hi ObK:

       It's a personal thing and I would go FW and
try out the different Configs. to see how they feel in your Hand.
       Cheap and Light are opposites and, holding on to a Rod all day
can cause pain. Make sure to clip everything!
                                                                Sea-ya
                                                                Ernie
                                                               

Awesome information!

I have a question. I currently use a Penn 500 on a 8' ugly stick.  After Allen's fishing seminar last night I've decided I need to stow my gear before attempting a surf entry.  I need a rod that comes apart.

What rod would you recommend that comes apart for stowing?

Thanks!

Kim

Caught my biggest ling on a 6'6" light Trevala w/a Quantum Cabo low-pro caster spooled w/20lb Spiderwire Stealth. Best fight I've had from a kayak, so far. But my standard rig is the 6'6" MH trevala w/Abu 7000i and 50lb braid.

If you're looking for a saltwater rockfish/ling rod, you won't need to do much "casting." At least, not long distance. So the 8+ foot rods are ridiculously overkill (and only make it harder to manuever/land fish and more likely to break it). So, if you're just going for rockfish/lings, then get a 6-7ft rod. But if you are considering using it for stripers/butts, then 7.5ft is a decent choice because there will be times when you want to cast to stripers and the extra length comes in handy when trolling for + fighting a butt.

I have a Tiger Lite casting rod (I think 7ft) w/the cork-tape grip. It is a nice rod but the butt-cap is too big to fit in my normal Scotty rod holder. So I end up wedging it under my leg instead of putting it in the holder. Now I don't even use it for kayak fishing.
PK

 

I am sin coasts opposite here, 

I use an 8'+ 2-piece rod and like to cast from the kayak even when fishing for rockfish/lings (not always, but when the bit drops off, the horizontal presentation can work when the vertical one is not) I have hooked two halibut with the horizontal presentation when fishing for rockfish..

casting is also just plain fun. nothing like seeing that megabait flying through the air,  .

One cheap way to go is something like a cabelas tourney-trail 8'6" casting rod in the salmon/steel-head config. I would cut a little off the butt and add some counter weight and a butt cap to make it easier to handle while sitting.

John

If I were new to the sport and on a budget, I would buy an inexpensive combo from Walmart or Cabelas. Really don't need more to fish rockies. I am not a fan of the Baidarka rods because of the blank failures. A couple of weeks ago I was fishing with Sackyak and he had a guide break on his Baidarka. I repaired it for him but was surprised at the quality of the guide used for a rod in that price range. As far as 2 piece saltwater rods, those are not as common and can be fairly expensive. I built a St Croix Inshore travel rod - 7.5' 12-25# three piece but it was close to 200 dollars. The other problem with muti-piece rods is getting sand in the ferule.Using a tube can help prevent that.  There are really good rods made in America, something I factor into my decisions.

Scott

I started yak fishing with a 2 piece Ugly stick Tiger rod I got at Outdoor world for $48. I think they are more expensive now, but the rod has worked well. Largest fish I've landed on it (w/ 30lb mono & a Penn squidder reel) was a 23# Halibut.
It's now my backup rod. I loved the 2pc feature for stowing. My only gripe (8 years later) is that the guides are beginning to corrode. But I've certainly gotten my money's worth out of that rod.