Rod/ Reel suggestions

[beerman1981]

I posted about jetty fishing a week or so ago, and you guys gave me some awesome advise. My next question is, does anybody have any suggestions on a nice, fairly heavy saltwater fishing real? I want it to also be something that I can use for steelhead this fall. I'm looking to spend under 100 dollars. I plan on putting it on my father's 9 foot steelhead rod. If the weather is too bad, I may end up trying my luck and surf fishing. If I do this, is my father's nine foot rod (it's got a fair amount of flex) going to be suffeciant?

Beerman (the virgin saltwater fisherman)

[A9]

I posted about jetty fishing a week or so ago, and you guys gave me some awesome advise. My next question is, does anybody have any suggestions on a nice, fairly heavy saltwater fishing real? I want it to also be something that I can use for steelhead this fall. I'm looking to spend under 100 dollars. I plan on putting it on my father's 9 foot steelhead rod. If the weather is too bad, I may end up trying my luck and surf fishing. If I do this, is my father's nine foot rod (it's got a fair amount of flex) going to be suffeciant?

Beerman (the virgin saltwater fisherman)

Unfortunately saltwater fishing/river fishing reels are slightly different. Many steelhead anglers prefer Shimano baitcasting rods, such as the 200 or 300 Curados...

What other types of saltwater fishing are you going to be doing? That's a big issue. Bottom fishing? Jetty fishing? casting off the beach? Downrigging?
Spinning? Baitcasting?

[beerman1981]

I posted about jetty fishing a week or so ago, and you guys gave me some awesome advise. My next question is, does anybody have any suggestions on a nice, fairly heavy saltwater fishing real? I want it to also be something that I can use for steelhead this fall. I'm looking to spend under 100 dollars. I plan on putting it on my father's 9 foot steelhead rod. If the weather is too bad, I may end up trying my luck and surf fishing. If I do this, is my father's nine foot rod (it's got a fair amount of flex) going to be suffeciant?

Beerman (the virgin saltwater fisherman)

Unfortunately saltwater fishing/river fishing reels are slightly different. Many steelhead anglers prefer Shimano baitcasting rods, such as the 200 or 300 Curados...

What other types of saltwater fishing are you going to be doing? That's a big issue. Bottom fishing? Jetty fishing? casting off the beach? Downrigging?
Spinning? Baitcasting?

Well, for this trip, it is going to be either surf fishing or jetty fishing, or both. Basically, as long as I have a reel that would be good for both of those situations.

Beerman

[Coastfishin]

Beerman,
I have fished off the jetty at Westport with an 8' Uglystik and a Shimano FX series reel with 12# test. It can be done.
Also, you hook a big Rock fish it can be a blast. If you use a spinning reel in salt water make sure to clean it good when you are done, Salt can tear them up fast.

[A9]

So spinning I assume? I'd got with a Shimano Sahara. 4000 series. I have a few on my 9' spinning rods I use for casting off the beach for salmon/steelhead and they are great reels. I think they were like $60 or so. It has enough capacity (don't put anything more then about 15lb test on it) and make sure to REALLY wash it down with freshwater when you are done.

[beerman1981]

So spinning I assume? I'd got with a Shimano Sahara. 4000 series. I have a few on my 9' spinning rods I use for casting off the beach for salmon/steelhead and they are great reels. I think they were like $60 or so. It has enough capacity (don't put anything more then about 15lb test on it) and make sure to REALLY wash it down with freshwater when you are done.

Funny you should say that. I have a shimano sahara 4000 FB attached to my 6 foot ugly stick trout rod. I figured for jetty or surf fishing I would need something heavier, but you've done a whole lot more saltwater fishing than me, so I will take your word for it. Thanks buddy.

Beerman

[A9]

4000 series Sahara on a trout rod????

[beerman1981]

4000 series Sahara on a trout rod????

I shouldn't say "trout rod," it's my all purpose rod. I use it for everything from Catfish to bass to trout. But yeah, I double checked and it is a 4000FD. I bought it at grumpy's in yakima last year, and love it!

Joe

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

My suggestion: for jetty/surf fishing for bottomfish, use a cheapo spinning reel. You don't need a high performance reel for these fish. A reel in the neighborhood of 10-30 bucks would be fine. 2500-4000 size are fine. After having jetty fished for almost 30 years, I can say that banging your reel against the rocks is easier to stomach with a cheapo than an expensive reel, and you don't really need the edge in reel performance.

For steelhead fishing, if you want to use a spinning outfit, use 2500 size higher quality reels. Sahara, symetre, stradic etc. are some of the better Shimano reels.

If you only want to get 1 reel, my suggestion is 2500 size. It is easier to use for hours of extended fishing without tiring your arm, plus you don't really need the extra line capacity of a 4000 size reel. Plus, the 2500 will be the closest thing to an
"all around" reel, even for surf fishing (contrary to popular opinion, you do not need a big reel with large line capacity to cast a country mile into the surf to catch the perch. The perch are often within 25 feet of the beach if you know where to look).

(BTW if you get an Okuma reel, you'll want the size 30, which is comparable in size to the Shimano 2500 series)

[gpc]

I wouldn't worry about it to much, I usually just use one of my beefed up trout set ups or a bass set up. A lot of people will say certain poles are for certain jobs, and they are absolutely right. But if you are anything like me, only doing that type of fishing once a year maybe, any 7ft+ medium action rod and a reel that can hold 150+ 12lb test will be more than enough.

On a side note, I know small fishing towns will rent out poles for the day. Some reels just arnt made for salt, no matter how much you wash it off, it kind of sucks loosing a reel to a weekend out on the salt. Especially if you only fish for 3 hours, its better to spend the $5 than loose your $30 reel for a matter of 3 hours out on the water.