your opinions please: laying down cash for new rod/reels

GET A BADARKA! BK-C-701M. I got two. They are great kayak rods!

hey is that guy chucking his rod in the water on this link?

Steve -

I posted a thread http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,11521.0.html on what I use for Pelagics. I won't go into all of the reasons I don't like shimano reels, but the calcutta TE's are nice reels and hold up well but overpriced, IMO. I have used an Avet SX 6/4 all season last year and dunked it several times. I have so much confidence in this reel, that I carry only one rod and reel for surf launch ocean fishing. (Calstar GFX 700ML + Avet SX 6/4). No reel will last long without proper care. This is what the guys at Charkbait say you should do...

Like all Avet reels these are leverdrag designs, featuring six shielded bearings with the best anti-corrosion treatment available.  They are easy maintenance reels.  Just button down the drag and dunk them in fresh water after use.  Then back off the drag and allow them to air dry.  Once a year I'd suggest having us or someone familiar with them (or yourself) take them down and apply some lubrication.  They are made from high quality aluminum all machined, not cast, for tight tolerances. and fit.

I follow this procedure but take down the reel to let it air dry and lube the bearings after each use. The Avets are really easy to take down and reassemble, believe me I am no Allan Tani. Part of my devotion to Avet reels is that they are made in America, but truth is that dollar for dollar they are the finest reels made and they have never let me down, IMO. I have owned some reels which have let me down, but the only reel I have owned that massively failed under pressure, and I mean the frame exploded was a Shimano TLD and it was only a 50# class tuna.    I think the Shimano rods are reasonably priced and I do own some of their butterfly jigs. 

Scott

Thanks great bass--

Shimano gear is always overpriced...their cycling stuff is the same- very bomber,but costly. Usually, their next down from top-of-the-line is actually the best in terms of wear and tear, and capability.
Do you know if same is true for their reels?

The Calcutta TE is a great reel. If I wanted to spend a little less I would consider the Daiwa Luna 300. A really sweet reel which I also own . It casts a little better than my Penn 975 and has an awesome drag. Sean really likes his Abu Revo, but I like to have a little more line capacity in case I am fishing from a boat. Match these with a Calstar GF 700XLH and you have a great 20# class set up. This is my favorite rig which I will be taking to the East cape next month.

scott

first reel down--

went with the Avet SX 5.1 -- with the new handle-- 150 at Charkbait.

second looks to be a Revo....but still thinking about it

first reel down--

went with the Avet SX 5.1 -- with the new handle-- 150 at Charkbait.

second looks to be a Revo....but still thinking about it

if you do go the revo route (I think it is a complicated hard to service reel that wont last long in salt, see tani's post) you might look at the $50 black max version of the reel which seems to be the same, just with less likely-to-fail bearings.

I think you should just get a second backup avet myself.  if one fails, you have the other. if both fail, you can probably get a single working one from the other two. besides, you might want to troll two rods.

thanks for letting us chime in on your purchase. it's a lot cheaper to enjoy somebody else's buying decisions, 

J

and probably less nerve wracking too!

so true.

you should get some 'cal's grease', from www.smoothdrag.com or charkbait. you can grease your drag washer, all your screw holes and actually pack your bearings with that grease too for total saltwater kayaking protection. I know you can cast fine with greased bearings cause I do it all the time. it reduces freespool, but when there is a load on the bearings like when casting an iron they spin real well. likewise, a drop works just as well. you just can't impress your friends with 3 minutes of freespool.

regarding the rod, the baidarka has a short butt section.

the long foregrip will float your avet if the rig goes overboard. if you are nervous about plunking down the cash, I would be nervous about rods ending up on the bottom of the ocean.

I feel like somebody should make you look at those harder.  cause if you don't have some flotation on your rod, you should consider adding some if you are going to be riding around with a brand new avet or two. the baidarka has it built in.

pescador is right, in that link the guy is tossing the rod in the water, then he paddles over and retrieves it. and you know if the all the bearings and the drag in that reel are greased, the reel is probably going to be okay too if it is rinsed off, opened up and allowed to dry.

John

GET A BADARKA! BK-C-701M. I got two. They are great kayak rods!

hey is that guy chucking his rod in the water on this link?

Yes, probably to advertise the fact that the rod floats. 

The Avet, IMO is a great "Boat reel" ....where it stays "high and dry".

Just my  2 cents.....

Whoa Joel -

I have never disagreed with you but "them are fighting words".    Before I say something I will regret, what did you do after each fishing trip to maintain your Avet?


Thanks! Scott

Scott, I have to admit that I'm not the best when it comes to reel maintinance - you got me there BUT I do wash my rod and reels down with fresh water when I get home after every trip.BUT, I have NEVER opened any of my reels for further "tender loving care". Which comes to my point.....compared to my Shimano TE, it's been made obvious to me that the Avet requires more "love" than the battle tested Shimano TE. In fact, Mr Tani handed me my Avet today (Thanks again AT ) and upgraded it to where it will need less maintinance - I believe he greased up the bearings to keep it "safer" from the elements...and even safer because the fact that I'm too lazy and incompetent to perform "reel maintinance surgery" from time to time 

With that said, The Calcutta TE was made for guys like me IMO: the TE is the Toyota of all reels...built strong and stays strong....with very little maintinance needed

i'm right handed and have been casting with my right arm for way way too long to change now... I can reel with my right, but can't cast a lick that way- and don't intend to change.  bah humbug.  So, my choices get limited with a left-hand retreive.

I got a Newell left hand retrieve for the Islander trip last year and it handled my yellowtail with no problems at all. Affordable too.

Thanks guys.  There is some great education in this thread.  Now I need to find an AT seminar that I can attend.

To be honest- i'm not worried about dropping my rods overboard-- never have in 10 years of yak fishing-- not sure why that history would be any different with another rod.

I am looking at the baidarka-- so far not too hot on the half mile long fore grip, or the 1" butt...but am gonna play with it a bit more in the local shop. the construction is nice, and the little nose ring thing is a cool gimmick. It may be my second new rod-- we'll see.

Figured I'd close this topic- with what i ended up wiht- thanks to all that piped in with opinions.

Avet SX 5.1 40# powerpro
Shimano Trevala MH 6'6"

Daiwa Luna 300L with a Tekota30 handle
Baidarka 761ML

I can mix and match the reels to the rods....

To be honest- i'm not worried about dropping my rods overboard-- never have in 10 years of yak fishing--not sure why that history would be any different with another rod.

Because now you have good ones you don't want to lose!  Nice choices.