Best All Around Saltwater Rod and Reel

Ocean Fishing must have combo in my books and from what I have seen from other OG's on the board

....not all of em. 

Be careful about the bearing and gear ratio hype.
 
Just because a reel has 10 bearings doesn't mean it is better than a reel with 5 bearings
 If the 10 bearing reel (A) costs 69.99 and the 5 bearing reel (B) cost 99.99 it's a good indicator that reel (A)   is using lesser quality bearings. A decent bearing runs about 10.00 so figure the quality from there = 10 quality bearings should cost around 100.00 + the cost of the other components which make up the reel at about 150.00

Same with gear ratio.
 It is possable for a reel (A) with a ratio of 6-1 to actually be slower than a reel (B) with a ratio of 5-1.
If Reel (A) has a spool radius of 1.5" and reel (B) has a spool radius of 2.0" = It will take more winds on reel (A) to equal the distance around the spool on reel (B) = which means reel (B) is in reality pulling in more line per turn of the handle

If you want to get a new setup start with a known performer like the pen 500L Jigmaster paired with a Shakespear Tiger rod or for a light setup a Ambassadeur 6500 and pair it with a light weight heavy action rod like a Shimano Clarus. These combos have proven themselves and should be easily in the $100.00 - $150.00 range

Good luck with your decision - hope this helps.


See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

Thank you everyone for some great advice. I will try the penn and the old rod., however, I forgot to mention...

I also was given a 7' foot 12-30 pound test line Tiger Ugly Stick without a reel. I am wonder if I should find a reel for that Tiger rod? If so, What would be a quality SW reel for that rod?

.... this is a spinning rod. Any advice for a quality but resonable reel for that ugly tiger stick? Thanks

awesome! im in the market for a new ocean rod/reel. the only advice ive ever gotten was to go cheap, because the saltwater will probably ruin it before you know it.

thanks for the post!

Hi Gang! Considering Ugly Stik Tiger as a Christmas gift for my bro-in-law who's fishing off a OK Prowler 15', but not sure on which "specific" Ugly Stick to pair with either a Penn 500/501 Jigmaster??? From Shakespeare's website, here are the choices:

Ugly Stik Tiger Rods:

Model #    Length    Pcs.    Handle    Action    Lb.Test    Lure Wt. Oz.    Guides
BWS 2200 70*    7'0"    1    B    ML    12-30    1/2-4    6 + Tip
BWS 2201 70*    7'0"    1    B    M    20-50    3/4-6    6 + Tip
BWS 2201-2 70*    7'0"    2    B    M    10-50    1/2-6    6 + Tip
BWC 2201 66    6'6"    1    B    M    15-40    3/4-6    7 + Tip
BWC 2200 70    7'0"    1    C    ML    12-30    1/2-4    8 + Tip
BWC 2201 70    7'0"    1    B    M    20-50    3/4-6    8 + Tip
BWC 2201-2 70    7'0"    2    B    M    10-50    1/2-6    7 + Tip
BWC 2202 70    7'0"    1    B    MH    30-60    3/4-8    8 + Tip
BWCA/O 2201 70    7'0"    1    B    M    20-50    3/4-6    8 + Tip
BWCA/O 2202 70    7'0"    1    B    MH    30-60    3/4-8    8 + Tip
BWD 2200 80*    8'0"    2    A    ML    12-30    1-4    8 + Tip

UL - Ultralight; L - Light; ML - Medium Light; M - Medium; MH - Medium Heavy; H - Heavy;
BCL - Pistol Grip Baitcast; CAL - Straight Handle Casting; CALB - Straight Handle Live Bait Rod;
CALM - Straight Handle Musky Rod; SCL - Spincasting Rod; SPL - Spinning Rod;

BWC 2200 70    7'0"    1    C    ML    12-30    1/2-4    8 + Tip

good all around bay area rod (RF, Butts, dinos). The 2201 is OK as well but a bit beefy IMHO. I don't like rods less than 7 feet. Hard to clear the bow when the fish runs. May be an even bigger issue in a longer boat like the T15.

Again my knucklehead 2 cents.

I think the BWS are all spinning rods

> BWC 2202 70    7'0"    1    B    MH    30-60    3/4-8    8 + Tip

Without looking at it, I *think* this is what I got recently. $30 at FW. I think it's a real bargain. I wouldn't consider my Baidarka to be much superior, really. I've also come to respect my Abu round reels more than their price would indicate they deserve. Between the two you can have a very reliable (most important) setup that won't make you cry if you screw up and it slips into the deep.

Ben

Eric/Ben - Thanks for the expert, hands-on advice!

Jeff

yeah I too have come to love my round Abu's....never been out gunned with the 6500. Added the power handle and its been #1 reel. I have a 5000 on a med ugly stick jig rid. Looking fwd to using it in shallow water and/or for schoolie blues and blacks.

Thanks for the expert, hands-on advice!

LOL ... obviously we've never met!

No expert here, but I've been having a lot of fun the last couple years.

There are people on the site, however, who actually know what they're talking about.

Ben

My main all-around reel for norcal is a Trevala rod with a Revo reel.  Caught RF, cab, ling and halibut with it this year.

If I want expand the range to include WSB or sturgeon (neither of which I've caught yet  ), my setup is an Avet/Calstar combo, although it's probably slight overkill for RF.

I just bought a Shimano Calcutta 400B reel that I think may be the closest "All Around" reel for me thus far.

Check out the Shimano Trevala 7' w/ braided line wt: 20 50lb with the power medium light action paired with the Avet SX 5.0.1
I also have the 6'6" Travela Jig Rod w/ braided line wt:30 to 80lb. paired up with a Shimano

Ocean Fishing must have combo in my books and from what I have seen from other OG's on the board

Excellent, thanks again folks! - Jeff

old topic


http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,22898.0.html

If I only had to choose one rod and reel for kayak fishing NorCal, and wanted to go inexpensive, it would be my Shimano Clarus hotshot rod (rated for 20lb test and up to 5 oz lures) paired with my Abu 6501 C3. Short of a big sturgeon there isn't anything else you would have a hard time hooking and landing with it. The rod is also lighter than an Ugly Stik, has an over the counter return policy, and only costs $5-$10 more than an Ugly Stik. The Abu C3 is a work horse, easy to disassemble/clean/repair, has a clicker for live bait fishing, and can hold 300 yds of 50 lb braid.

However, I don't have to pick just one!  
My go-to rod/reel is a Shimano Trevala MH paired with an Avet SX. I also launch with the Compre hotshot rod paired to an Abu Revo Inshore, or an Abu Tiger Lite paired with the C3.
The Trevala/Avet combo really will handle any fish you're likely to hook in NorCal, including sturgeon.
The Hotshot/Inshore combo is nice and light and my favorite for jigging lighter lures and swimbaits.
The Tiger Lite/C3 combo is my favorite for fishing live bait and has easily landed some monsters despite the light action of the rod.

Hi Gang! Considering Ugly Stik Tiger as a Christmas gift for my bro-in-law who's fishing off a OK Prowler 15', but not sure on which "specific" Ugly Stick to pair with either a Penn 500/501 Jigmaster???

I would choose one of these if I were going to get an Ugly Stik for "all around" kayak fishing:
BWC 2201 66    6'6"    1    B    M    15-40    3/4-6    7 + Tip
BWC 2200 70    7'0"    1    C    ML    12-30    1/2-4    8 + Tip