Rod/reel suggestions

Spend a few bucks.  To be happy with it every time you use it is priceless.  As you probably know, salt isn't friendly to gear and the cheap reels usually don't last.  Also, ignore everyone giving advice on the Internet. 

Sand

Check out 3$J’s link!

nando wrote:

You might wanna consider biting the bullet a little bit and springing for the Shimano Trevala 7' ML. (Everyone here is prob rolling their eyes cause this horse has been beaten to death).

Yep, from before trevalas were even available. It has been closely examined, from a multitude of angles over the years - if you’re patient and can make the time, there is lots to read and absorb.

I use Daiwa Harris M and L jigging rods, they're 6 feet and perfect for kayak fishing because they stow easily due to their length, and provide fun action for small to medium sized species. I pair them to Daiwa Fuego LT and Daiwa BG, both injected with grease for more saltwater proofing.

I just checked with the owner of Bay Tackle and he said he thinks they are still making them because he just received an order, and heard anything about them being discontinued. They had plenty in stock when I was there about a week ago.

Oh good, tackle shop owner I know mentioned this non-truth.  I stand corrected.   Go Shimano!

Hey Eddie, you may be correct, the owner of Bay Tackle just hadn’t heard anything.

Thanks for all the info everyone, I really appreciate it. One last and hopefully not too stupid question: can I cast swim baits with a bait casting reel?  I notice most people don’t seem to use spinning reels on their kayaks.

Thanks for all the info everyone, I really appreciate it. One last and hopefully not too stupid question: can I cast swim baits with a bait casting reel?  I notice most people don’t seem to use spinning reels on their kayaks.

Yes, swimbaits can be cast with a baitcasting reel.  The normal learning curve of casting with a baitcaster applies, though.  Be prepared for lots of birds nests as you learn.  Modern reels have magnets and other tricks to help prevent free spooling that leads to birds nests, but at the end of the day it all comes down to the meat popsicle with their thumb on the spool.  Like most things: practice, practice, practice.

That said, when you're jigging the reefs and rock piles, you're usually drifting swim baits and so you're not casting all the time.  You're dropping straight down -- whether it's a swimbait or flutter jig or bucktail.  So, I'd say hone your casting skills on land and utilize drifting with no casting on the kayak until those skills are well honed.  That will minimize your time spent untangling birds nests on the kayak and maximize your fishing time.

Spinning vs Casting.

Spinning reels are easier to learn.  In the old days, casting reels had better drags.

Not to threadjack, but I’m looking for a new reel too. I used a Tekota 500 for several years. It’s awesome except that the low retrieve ratio is hard on my wrist. So last year I “upgraded” to the Tekota 500HG. That solved the retrieve ratio problem and my wrist was happy. Unfortunately the drag is not nearly as smooth on the HG and I blame it—rightly or wrongly—for the loss of several nice fish.

So I’m looking for something similar to my beloved Tekota 500, but with a higher retrieve ratio and silky smooth drag. I’m willing to spend a bit. Opinions?

If you are going to keep using a spinning set up, take a look at the Daiwa BG $100 or Saltist $200 in the 4000 or 5000 series. Beware of really cheap deals. There are a lot of cheap Chinese counterfeits on line. 

Not to threadjack, but I’m looking for a new reel too. I used a Tekota 500 for several years. It’s awesome except that the low retrieve ratio is hard on my wrist. So last year I “upgraded” to the Tekota 500HG. That solved the retrieve ratio problem and my wrist was happy. Unfortunately the drag is not nearly as smooth on the HG and I blame it—rightly or wrongly—for the loss of several nice fish.

So I’m looking for something similar to my beloved Tekota 500, but with a higher retrieve ratio and silky smooth drag. I’m willing to spend a bit. Opinions?

Not quite the same category, but the drag on my accurate tern is the nicest I’ve ever experienced. I’m actually considering buying another in a bigger size. The 500xn is 45 inches of line per crank that’ll pull a fish off the bottom quick, or catch one charging the boat in a hurry!

accurate tern

$$$

Beautiful reels. I looked them up. I have the money to buy but here's the issue. My cheap stuff, Penn Jigmaster off ebay for 20 bucks mated to a Big Five spin pole, 30 bucks, cannot be lost on the water. Poseidon will not accept such a paltry sacrifice. However, that reel, and it must be coupled with a rod worthy of it, costing in the hundreds, is at high risk of being taken to the under depths to please the sea god. To illustrate: last year my watch fell off while jigging in Tomales. I thought it had gone overboard but no, unknown to me. it fell into my sweatshirt pouch. Sweatshirt went into the wash then dryer and when I picked it up, out falls the watch, a 12 dollar Casio ticking away keeping perfect time. Now if that had been a Rolex.....

Beautiful reels. I looked them up. I have the money to buy but here's the issue. My cheap stuff, Penn Jigmaster off ebay for 20 bucks mated to a Big Five spin pole, 30 bucks, cannot be lost on the water. Poseidon will not accept such a paltry sacrifice. However, that reel, and it must be coupled with a rod worthy of it, costing in the hundreds, is at high risk of being taken to the under depths to please the sea god. To illustrate: last year my watch fell off while jigging in Tomales. I thought it had gone overboard but no, unknown to me. it fell into my sweatshirt pouch. Sweatshirt went into the wash then dryer and when I picked it up, out falls the watch, a 12 dollar Casio ticking away keeping perfect time. Now if that had been a Rolex.....

This ...LOL..yep...

Haha 100%

Going on the third year for my main rockfish reel.  $20 quantum optix 6000 from walmart, still working flawlessly after many days and nice fish, and 0 fresh water rinses.  Paired with a "river monsters" rod I found snapped on the jetty, then repaired.  That rod has a nice action and I can't break the damn thing.  I essentially try to snap it before I take it out each time.  Hard for me to drop $500+ on a combo that does the same thing as my $20 special.

If I got one of these Cadillac setups some of y'all use, it would probably end up broken, stolen, or sacrificed to the salt on day 1.  

For a rod its hard to go wrong with an Ugly Stik Tiger, which runs about $70 really any model from the med-light -- med-heavy should be fine, all depends on what kind of fishing you'll be doing most, how many oz of weight you're mostly using etc.. For a cheap reel you could go for a Shimano Triton, those come in around $90 but you could probably do a bit better in the $100-$150 range (Penn Squall, Daiwa Sealine or Seagate are supposed to be good options).

A lot of guys like using the low profile reels on somewhat lighter gear which is great but I personally prefer a larger reel and a bit of a sturdier rod. There is nothing wrong with that approach and a lot of fisherpeople who are much more experienced than I am use that gear. In that case it comes down to personal preference.

Just wanted to add my .02 cents on reel selection. We were out one day and my bud dunked his Daiwa Lexus headed out into the surf. Found out it was seized cause sand got into the release trigger mechanism. Had to delay heading out because he disassembled/reassembled in parking lot, which was quite difficult on that reel.

I was almost going to pull the trigger buying that reel for my 2nd pole,  but chose to stick with Avet for my second reel to match my first.  Just simpler design, less moving parts, and relatively easily to clean/maintain, which comes with the territory for salt water fishing.