If you could only have 1 rod and reel for NCAL saltwater, what would it be?

The Revo Toro has been the NCKA favorite since they were released. They do fish and cast well. They have some corrosion issues and aren't fun to work on. I sold mine recently and bought a Daiwa Lexa for less than $200. Will post a review next year.

Yeah Scott, I've been looking at the Lexa after you mentioned it to me, and especially after I lost an Avet SX.  Gotta broaden my horizons sometimes.

-Allen

No clicker on the Lexa is my only beef but I am using it for swimbaits and surface iron so not a problem but a no go for nightime ghost hunts.

Allen, the Revo Toro low profile just has to be fished with to understand the level of comfortability and ease of operation. This is just for me. Ive fished with round reels forever and until I bought a Revo 3 years ago i didn't know what I was missing. The reel body itself fits in my hand so it totally eliminates the rocking back and forth of the rod. The thumb release is especially neat when when rockfishing and I'm constantly dropping an retrieving to stay on bottom structure. The castability is amazing also. Very very smooth . I have upgraded the bearings to ceramic and since doing so have not had an issue with SW intrusion. Also the factory grease is crap. I upgraded the  drag washers also. Mike Dennis in Forestville did the work. Kayak fishing in saltwater is extremely hard on gear and reels especially.

I would like to add that while some will use the Revo 60 with confidence for WSB and sturgeon I prefer to use mono in these instances and the Revo 60 just wont hold enough 30 lb mono to satisfy me.

No clicker on the Lexa is my only beef but I am using it for swimbaits and surface iron so not a problem but a no go for nightime ghost hunts.

I was thinking about getting a lexa too. But no clicker is my problem too. Would love to hear a review on it. Thanks !

No clicker on the Lexa is my only beef but I am using it for swimbaits and surface iron so not a problem but a no go for nightime ghost hunts.

I was thinking about getting a lexa too. But no clicker is my problem too. Would love to hear a review on it. Thanks !

I wonder what the thinking is behind no clicker.  I'll ask the Daiwa rep.

-Allen

The Lexa magnetic cast control is way better than the Avet in terms of more setting options and the ability to turn it completely off when you want freespool.

The Lexa magnetic cast control is way better than the Avet in terms of more setting options and the ability to turn it completely off when you want freespool.

I've never felt the need for magnetic cast control.  What's the matter with my thumb?  Damn, you guys are making me feel really behind the times w.r.t reels.  Of course I still love my Pro Gear 251 and consider a plain Avet SX as my upscale reel.

-Allen

would the lexa be able to fish WSB? or sturgeon?

The Lexa is more of a casting reel and less of a bait reel so comes in 6:1 or 7:1 retrieve options. For bait fishing for big game, a slower retrieve gives you a little more cranking power. All that said, you could use the Lexa for WSB or sturgeon, you would just have to pair it with a rod with good lifting ability. A lot of the guys use revos for WSB. For value and all around fishing, the Avet SX 5.3 would be my choice but you do have to take care of them. I have used an Avet SX 6/4 for 5 years every week 6 months a year for saltwater kayak fishing and it has never let me down. I picked the Penn 975 CS because it casts better and I really like Penn Internationals, but $100 more than the Avet.

The Lexa is more of a casting reel and less of a bait reel so comes in 6:1 or 7:1 retrieve options. For bait fishing for big game, a slower retrieve gives you a little more cranking power. All that said, you could use the Lexa for WSB or sturgeon, you would just have to pair it with a rod with good lifting ability. A lot of the guys use revos for WSB. For value and all around fishing, the Avet SX 5.3 would be my choice but you do have to take care of them. I have used an Avet SX 6/4 for 5 years every week 6 months a year for saltwater kayak fishing and it has never let me down. I picked the Penn 975 CS because it casts better and I really like Penn Internationals, but $100 more than the Avet.

I think i might pick up the lexa and give it a shot. Also Daiwa is giving away free sweater for 10$ shipping.   

I don't know if I'm behind the times or just cheap, but thanks for all recommendations this might be the year I upgrade.

Don't know about Avets and such , my go to is a 21 YO ( can legally drink ) Shimano TLD5 that is usually teamed with a lite Fenwick Pacificstik and 15-20lb. class mono .

Also like my Abu's although they wont stand up to the salt as well  as graphite .   I rinse my stuff after fishing but don't disassemble unless its for regular maintanance .

Ok I can beat that DanV.  I still use a rewrapped Trueline rod with a customized Jigmaster 500.  Both from my teen years fishing out of Long Beach.  Still that Toro sounds like a neat real to use from a kayak.

Ok I can beat that DanV.  I still use a rewrapped Trueline rod with a customized Jigmaster 500.  Both from my teen years fishing out of Long Beach.  Still that Toro sounds like a neat real to use from a kayak.

Can't beat that barefoot1 , my jigmasters and Penn 155 from childhood are long gone . I do use a 32 yo TLD15  quite often and just passed a red ABU5000 that is around 40 yo to my son .     Funny thing is that little Abu ( bushings , no bearings ) has caught my biggest halibut , salmon and stripers ! 

Ok I can beat that DanV.  I still use a rewrapped Trueline rod with a customized Jigmaster 500.  Both from my teen years fishing out of Long Beach.  Still that Toro sounds like a neat real to use from a kayak.

Can't beat that barefoot1 , my jigmasters and Penn 155 from childhood are long gone . I do use a 32 yo TLD15  quite often and just passed a red ABU5000 that is around 40 yo to my son .     Funny thing is that little Abu ( bushings , no bearings ) has caught my biggest halibut , salmon and stripers ! 

Thats awesome that you have had those reels for that long and are able to pass them down.