Rod and reel matching for lakers and bigger pike

[Sparkle]

Hey guys. I'm looking to put together a spinning rod and real combo for Lakers and bigger pike. I have decided on the St. Croix Premier Spinning Rod PS70HF 7 Foot Fast Heavy 10-20 lb Line weight , 1/2 oz. - 1-1/2 oz Lure weight, in a one piece . Matched up with the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ Spinning Reel. I cant decide between the 3000 or 4000 size. I'll be using this rod to vertical jig Lakers and cast for Pike. What would be the best size reel to match up with this rod ?

[schleprock]

The 4000 series but I would go with the G loomis e6 rod as the st croits have next to no warranty in Canada.

[Hartly]

I would go with the 4000. I like Shimano and St Croix. As mentioned earlier St Croix warranty is costly to work with from Canada .

[Osky]

Be sure and write down the serial number on your St.Croix rod. I use only two piece rods due to the amount of planes I am on and off in a season, the upside is if one gets damaged for 30.00 dollars they will replace either half of the rod I need if it's not under warranty. They need the serial to match the make.

Osky

[WinefredCommander]

3000 reel, rod depends on what you want to do, jigging, trolling and size of lures you want to use. 7ft is short for Lakers at depth.

[Hartly]

Originally Posted by WinefredCommander

3000 reel, rod depends on what you want to do, jigging, trolling and size of lures you want to use. 7ft is short for Lakers at depth.

Originally Posted by Sparkle

Hey guys. I'm looking to put together a spinning rod and real combo for Lakers and bigger pike. I have decided on the St. Croix Premier Spinning Rod PS70HF 7 Foot Fast Heavy 10-20 lb Line weight , 1/2 oz. - 1-1/2 oz Lure weight, in a one piece . Matched up with the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ Spinning Reel. I cant decide between the 3000 or 4000 size. I'll be using this rod to vertical jig Lakers and cast for Pike. What would be the best size reel to match up with this rod ?

He does answer those questions. I think hes more concerned what size of reel to use .

[Osky]

Originally Posted by Hartly

He does answer those questions. I think hes more concerned what size of reel to use .

Agreed. I think the 7'0 choice the OP lists is a great compromise for the two uses he mentions.

Osky

[fishpro]

I actually own the same rod and went with a Shimano Stradic 4000 with it. I tried the Stradic Ci4+ 4000 on it when I was deciding what to buy and found it too light. Great setup though!

[Bushleague]

I would recommend looking into the new Daiwa BG series. I think the 4000 size would be a better for your intended purpose, but if you go Daiwa their reel sizing is sometimes different so you would have to check. To me a 4000 size reel should hold about 200 yards of 10 lb mono, with Daiwa their size designations can vary between the various models in some cases.

[dustinjoels]

I have the exact same rod with the 4000 series pflueger patriarch. In my opinion, if that’s the rod you’re going with, 4000 series are a perfect match.

[Jawjacker]

I'm thinking of getting the exact set up for Lakers as the OP mentions except the St Croix is a PS70XHF 7' foot Fast X-Heavy 12 lb. - 25 lb line weight . 3/4 oz. - 2 oz lure weight . Sparkle now you have me waffling between the Heavy and X-Heavy rod. I would be using the rod for jigging at Cold Lake .Any Laker experts out there? What would be the better rod? Fore-sure I would go with the 4000 size reel. The 3000 is a 2500 body with a deeper spool for line capacity.

[Fishwhere]

4000. It will also help balance your rod out when fishing or jigging with big/heavy hooks. With the 3000 you may feel like you are doing a bit more work. Cant go wrong with those stradics.

[Osky]

Originally Posted by Jawjacker

I'm thinking of getting the exact set up for Lakers as the OP mentions except the St Croix is a PS70XHF 7' foot Fast X-Heavy 12 lb. - 25 lb line weight . 3/4 oz. - 2 oz lure weight . Sparkle now you have me waffling between the Heavy and X-Heavy rod. I would be using the rod for jigging at Cold Lake .Any Laker experts out there? What would be the better rod? Fore-sure I would go with the 4000 size reel. The 3000 is a 2500 body with a deeper spool for line capacity.

I have found over the years for myself and clients a rod with heavy backbone is good for fish like lakers in that you can set the hooks good and deep when needed. That being said I prefer a rod a bit softer as it will still hook up well and the extra bend in the rod absorbs more of the nonsense a fish will try. Lakers with harder mouths are kept on better with the extra pressure from a deeper rod bow, and pike which can turn on a dime are less often getting slack and throwing hooks with a deeper bend in the rod. For the style I have developed for myself the med heavy works very well. Again, that's just me. In full disclosure I use a bit longer rods than listed above tho 7's will work fine.
Having a good reel drag set properly to the situation of the moment is very bit as important to the success as the rod if not more.

Osky

[fishpro]

Originally Posted by Jawjacker

I'm thinking of getting the exact set up for Lakers as the OP mentions except the St Croix is a PS70XHF 7' foot Fast X-Heavy 12 lb. - 25 lb line weight . 3/4 oz. - 2 oz lure weight . Sparkle now you have me waffling between the Heavy and X-Heavy rod. I would be using the rod for jigging at Cold Lake .Any Laker experts out there? What would be the better rod? Fore-sure I would go with the 4000 size reel. The 3000 is a 2500 body with a deeper spool for line capacity.

The heavy rod has a significant amount of backbone. I've only used mine a bit, but didn't feel it was too light for jigging, even with a large Bondy Bait.