New rod for Lingcod, Rockfish, Halibut, etc.

Hey B.A...... I like the Trevala too, but I believe the all-around combo I recommended to you at the show was the floating 7' Okuma Baidarka (BK-C-701M) e-glass rod set up with a Daiwa Sealine SL-X20SHA reel. 

Chuck -

The Baidarka is OK but suffers from poor quality guides and blank defects. If you get a good one you love it, if you get a bad one...    Let's just say I have repaired quite a few of them. For a rod over $100, I would expect it not to fail under normal fishing conditions. On a budget, the Ugly Stick would be my choice, if not on a budget the Calstar 700 XLH or L or an EK custom rod. Hard to beat the Daiwa Sealine SL-X20SHA reel but for live bait or jig casting the Newell -S220 would be my choice although $30 more. Buying products made in America is a factor for me, maybe not for others. If I were really on a budget, I would go to Walmart and buy a combo for <$75. It may only last a year or 2 but by that time you will know what you want.

Scott

Scott

just fyi, by cheap gear I didn't mean to imply walmart crap reels...

A Penn Jigmaster 500 and fiberglass boat rod will hold up to ANYthing and could be aquired for well under $30.

Tradeoff would be the weight, of course.

just fyi, by cheap gear I wasn't recommending walmart crap...

A Penn Jigmaster 500 and fiberglass boat rod will hold up to ANYthing and could be aquired for well under $30.

Tradeoff would be the weight, of course.

yeah those penn's never die I have two old long beach reels that I sweat you could drag behind a car and they'd still fish. They gotta be 25yrs old. I have a new Penn  9M level wind that will kick ass if we get salmon

I use to own a Trevala TVC70ML with 20-50 lb rating.  After one season I sold it at Craigslist.  After a several RF trips, I felt it didn't have a strong enough back bone to pull big fish off the rocks.
I have switched to a Calstar 700 XLH for my medium setup and Seeker Blue Lightning BCSW 708-7 for lighter setup. Both cost more but I believe in investing in quality tackle.  I agree with the other posts about graphite reels, my favorite yak reel is an old Daiwa SL 20 that I just maintain regularly.

I use the MH trevala and feel like I have no problem at all pulling fish up from the rocks. I figure if it is built to muscle tuna up from the depths it will handle a ling, and in my experience the rod it has worked great.

If I were on a budget I would go Ugly Stik. The mid range choice would be a trevala. If money were no object I would go CalStar or Seeker.

I'm not knowledgeable on rods/reels.  However, when I got started in yak fishing a year ago, I asked for recommendations for a good starter rod, and many people on NCKA recommended Ugly Stik Tiger rods or Okuma.  I got both, as well as a Clarus rod, and am very happy- thanks to NCKAers' advice.

I'm not knowledgeable on rods/reels.  However, when I got started in yak fishing a year ago, I asked for recommendations for a good starter rod, and many people on NCKA recommended Ugly Stik Tiger rods or Okuma.  I got both, as well as a Clarus rod, and am very happy- thanks to NCKAers' advice.

I also own a Shimano Clarus and Ugly Stik Tiger Rod.  All are great rods for the price.  It really boils right down to budget and personal preference.  I know rod enthusiasts like GB2, Erik Kunz, and others cringe when I recommend the Okuma Baidarka.  I know Okuma doesn't use the best rod blanks, but I guess I've just had very good luck with all of mine (even when I unintentionally high-sticked which is a big No-No).

If money was no object, I would get Erik "KZreelrods" Kunz to build me one of his custom floating kayak rods.

If you're not on a budget I truly love my Loomis pro blue.  I throw swimbaits with it too. 

I gotta agree with Chuck on the Daiwa sl20 series of reels. Either the older graphite spooled ones or the newer ones with aluminum spools are kick ass local reels. I have fished two of those reels alot for the past seven years for everything from rockfish and halibut to live bait albacore at the 601 and they have never missed a beat.

They don't have the strongest pulling power on the market but they do have a very strong and consistent drag, cast great and are downright bulletproof in the salt. I had Alantani go through my reels when I purchased them and all i've done since is rinse them with the garden hose when I get home (or sometimes the next day).

-Eliot

Another rod you may want to look at is the new Shimano Talavera.  they run about $89.00, have quality guides and a lifetime over the counter replacement warranty. I just bought a lighter one for 20# live bait fishing.

I want to get a Shimano Calcutta jig rod but I heard they were discontinued. I need a LIGHT rod for fishtraps paired with a Curado 301. Now I have to start all oover. 

Heren is a pretty good deal...

2 Ugly Sticks for $70 and 10% off with this coupon JHSUPER10

http://www.jandh.com/p-1444-shakespeare-ugly-stik-bigwater-live-bait-boat-rod-bwlb110170.aspx

Think I'm going the Daiwa/Ugly Stik combo route...

Reel: SL-X20SHA w/ 40# Spectra (as recommended by ChuckE and others)

Rod: "Which" Ugly Stik? Even within the "Tigers" there are several to choose from... I'm pretty sure I want to go with a 1-pc, 7'0" but not too sure about the other specs:

Handle Type ? Is this solely personal preference?
Action ?
Lb.Test ?
Lure Wt. Oz. ?
Guide Config ?

http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/index_rods.html

Anybody willing to take a look at their full line and reply back w/ a model or two - Thanks!

Jeff (a.k.a. Steelerhead)

I have the 2 pc BWC 2201-270 handy rod don't feel like a 2pc.
I might go with the BWCL 220070

Here is my new set up for rock fish...



NO JOKE its for those days when I get a top water bite on blues, and Olives. Gonna be fun and a challenge sure I can pull up a 1lb rockfish with a rod thats weighted for alot heavier but in reality this is in the ball park of what im wanting to have fun with...

DONT ONLY GO WITH THIS ROD...

I love ugly sticks and have 3-4 and love them. Almost bought a floating kayak stick the other day but dont really toss my rods in the water anyway... LOL