what pole and reel???

Ohhh ... the clarus rods are good too.  I think they are possibly the best bang for the buck WITH over the counter warranty.

The Clarus rods are the bomb for the price.  The advice Squidder K gave you on the Penn 500 jigmaster  and 100 surfmaster is solid.  Get a decent used jigmaster, (e-bay), installl the smoothie drag system, when done using it hose it off with freshwater.  Open the gear box up with the one finger screw, soak the gear box with wd40, throw some reel butter on the bearings, and it'll serve you well for  a lifetime.  I have three that I have used since I was in high school.  Graduated in 67 so there you go.

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so i am  a stranger to round reels and have always had open face spinning reels...any learning curve ahead for me here/

thanks for all the replies....i am going by J&D auto in seaside cali to see jim thursday at lunch and shop his stuff ...he said he will get me into the right rod and reel at a good price and carries most of the stuff mentioned here

conventional vs. spinning becomes a "tasters choice".  I usually carry 1 spinning to every 3 conventional.

Bill

my big complaint with spinning reels on the yak is that they seem to get in the way -- I'm always knocking the reel into my lap or the side of the yak, especially if I'm getting pulled down pretty hard And for me at least it seems that I have to hold my arms up a little higher than comfortable to reel and still avoid these same obstructions.

that being said they're pretty simple to operate -- digging out a birds nest OTW can be a quick trip to sea sickness and you will get a few birds nests if you're just starting out with a baitcaster. practice with it a lot beforehand and remember to keep good thumb pressure on the spool when you're dropping a heavy weight.

For saltwater you're going to almost surely going want a conventional reel.  Just keep your thumb on it.

FYI a Penn Surfmaster 100 is almost identical to a Jigmaster, just scaled down to a more realistic line capacity, a more comfortable size, and 5.5 oz lighter.

The old penns are pretty easy to take the spool out of on the water should you get a bad birds nest.

Another +1 for the Shimano Clarus.  I have the 8' 6" MH with a Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500C3.  This is my go-to rod/reel for rock fish, salmon, halibut, striped bass.  I think I paid about $180 or so 6-7 years ago for this combo.  I keep it spooled with 12-15lb mono.

Pretty funny ..this stuff on this site almost mirrors our advice to new riders on my old kawasaki chat site...some poor kid gets his uncles old bike and wants to know what oil to run...etc...etc...what tips etc....fifty replies later the poor kid dont know his but from a hot rock and members are taking their own buddy's and going back and forth....

I cant decide now...so confused  now...I will get a decent set this thursady and then for sure buy more later...the good thing is ...as said before by someone here...I will be buying a few rods
I am going out friday to fish with whatever rod i leave Jim's store with ,and then going to the monterey bay kayak derbi sunday15th to show you guys how it's done!!!
newbie style ....win me a darn yak and land a 100 lb hog....
but really ...anyone on this thread gonna go to the sunday derbi in monterey would be cool to meet folks and learn from the pros

Hey what time you going to J&D's on Thursday? I'll meet you there! I need to pickup a few things for the tourney on Sunday. And I normally sneak in there during my lunchbreak.
Pat

here ya go bro

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/spo/4047022764.html

60 bucks gets you a decent reel and a break it if you can rod. then get a good rod.

one thing about abu garcias. they are work horse reels and if it breaks its super easy to get parts and fix. and you can upgrade them

vin

8'6" for kayak fishing? High stick a lot do you? I have a Penn 350 level wind. I'll give it to you for free. The go and buy a Trevala 66 MH. and you got a combo that's is solid. Then you can upgrade the reel when you feel like it. I just cleaned the Penn up. I don't need it and it sounds like you do. PM me and Ill ship it to you also. If you are going to be in Monterey on Sunday I'll bring. I'll spool it with 30 mono P-Line green. You pay for the line. Deal?

wow...kind of hard to turn down free.....I would feel weird taking something from you for free.....I would still like to get an open face reel and Rod from Jim @ J&D tis thursday @ 11:30 I'm going to leve work should be there at 11:50 or so (also sneaking away on my lunch) would that work for you Sin Coast?
ravensblack I will for sure take the the reel and pay you a fair price and for string too sunday...I was going to be there in the morning what time does it kick off 7 a.m? right...

I want a trevala 66 mh for sure and was kind of lost with the different handles and m or mh and such...that is why I was hoping to go to J&D for this friday and sundays fishing...i have many light rods and have caught a lot of rockfish and sand dabs for the table with my light rods...feels like catching a salmon with the little rod and a big rock fish....but I want a better ocean rod and must return my bosses unused basement fenwith shimano 6000 combos before something happens and her kindness goes to waste loaning me them and getting lost or damaged.....

thnaks guys ...btw...this kayak fishing is the best...the ocean...the sky...the solitude and tinge of great white fear..sitting right on the glassy water out there in the morning fog....very cool...
thanks..let me know guys
Craig

The other day I was showing Jan how to count off pulls on the line when we are on the charter boat.  Her hands are small and 2.5 pound is a lot for her thumb to try and hold.  So I adjusted the drag so she could just pull off the spool without over stressing her thumb.  This did the trick for her.If I may suggest, you may wish to try a variation on this until you get used to using a conventional.  If you let a Penn free spool without a thumb on the spool you will quickly become a birds nest unentangling expert, don't ask me how I know.  Over time it will become second nature, but before you release the lever, have thumb in place.

I was watching ytube on using one and may buy a ocean medium open face for this first bigger rod and reel...got a line maybe on a conventional or e-bay later...love the way it sits and the gearing ...i just dont want to deal with tangles this first bigger reel and being new and all the junk i got sliding around tied off and jumble screwed newbie etc......we'll see what i leave the store with...the best laid plans yada yada

Lots of good advice. My only suggestion would be to go with a levelwind reel. Other than the obvious levelwind feature, you can get a good idea of your depth by measuring the line release over the end to end travel of the line guide. Usually 6' -8' on an ocean reel. Simple multiplication will give you an idea of how much line you have out. Important when targeting suspended fish or trolling