Rod/reel suggestions

Okotokian · #1 04-19-2010, 01:15 PM

So I've got a fly rod and small pack rod I'm really happy with. Then I've got a few 20 year old spinning rods laying in the corner collecting dust, none of them very good to begin with. I'd like to buy ONE rod and reel for just "normal" lake or larger river fishing from shore and from a sit-on-top kayak here in southern Alberta. Not looking for anything exotic, doubt I will ever use a downrigger, etc. I don't ice fish. Don't need to use it on the coast. Won't be flying into any lodges for monster lakers anytime soon. Just casting or trolling spoons, spinners, jigs, etc. for moderately sized fish.

SO, suggestions as to what I should get? Spinning or spincast? Things I should make sure I get or avoid with regard to rod or reel? I should also note I'm looking for something moderately priced. I don't need a Canadian Tire clearance bin rod, but I'd like to keep the rod and reel under $120-$140. And what weight line would you suggest for, say, glenmore reservoir, or some other lakes near here?

whitetail Junkie · #2 04-19-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okotokian

So I've got a fly rod and small pack rod I'm really happy with. Then I've got a few 20 year old spinning rods laying in the corner collecting dust, none of them very good to begin with. I'd like to buy ONE rod and reel for just "normal" lake or larger river fishing from shore and from a sit-on-top kayak here in southern Alberta. Not looking for anything exotic, doubt I will ever use a downrigger, etc. I don't ice fish. Don't need to use it on the coast. Won't be flying into any lodges for monster lakers anytime soon. Just casting or trolling spoons, spinners, jigs, etc. for moderately sized fish.

SO, suggestions as to what I should get? Spinning or spincast? Things I should make sure I get or avoid with regard to rod or reel? I should also note I'm looking for something moderately priced. I don't need a Canadian Tire clearance bin rod, but I'd like to keep the rod and reel under $120-$140. And what weight line would you suggest for, say, glenmore reservoir, or some other lakes near here?

Dont go to glenmore fishing,its in the city,with all the yuppy's,damm you live in okotoks,go west of longview and fish the highwood river,find the deepest hole you can,theres 15 pound bull trout in there.

#3 04-19-2010, 08:23 PM

Are any of those old reels gathering dust "Mitchell 300 or 300A" if they are, get them cleaned up. I'm a bit miffed at new reels, either too quick on the ratio or just too dainty.

DarkAisling · #4 04-19-2010, 09:24 PM

I would certainly go with a spinning reel over a spincast reel. Spincast reels can be a real pain in the backside when you have to take the cap off, untangle a mess of line, and get the cap back on.

I notice that the Fishin' Hole still has the Sidestab/Sojourn combos on the website. I don't know if they have any in-store, but you might like to check. A number of us on the forum bought them last year, and I think everyone is pleased with them.

If I was only going to have one line, I think I would try 8lb. That would be a little heavy for trout, but a little light for pike. You could tie a snap swivel onto the end of your line and use fluorocarbon leaders for trout and steal leaders for pike.

Geezle · #5 04-19-2010, 09:30 PM

I have that Shimano combo that DarkAisling mentioned and I'm quite happy with it. Since you're planning on going with one rod and reel consider tracking down a spare spool for it so you can load up a couple different lines for different situations. If you've only got one spool I'd suggest starting off with 10 lb braid of some sort, since you mentioned river fishing, and you tend to have to deal with a lot of snags in the river.

luckyme · #6 04-20-2010, 12:55 AM

they two are right, if you have any preferred brand you can start from there.i have 3 spinning set up my self. if you don't feel to explore some different brands get combo setup such;shimano,shakespeare,browning(BPS) or even abu garcia.with the price ranged you have you will have a good spinning set up,my rells from abu garcia 503,504 albi (they came with extra spool) paired with shimano fx rod (inexpensive rod) and spooled with 8lb mono (stren magnathin),12lb floro(berkley),15lb mono (ultraline) and 20lb braided (fireline).i'm not quite happy with my 12 floro though it's keep curled and twisting after each cast.hopefully you'll find what you looking for.

Cal · #7 04-20-2010, 09:38 AM

Definatly spinning.

For rods I'd say find a nice 6'6" or 7' medium action spinning rod. My pick would be either the shimano sojurn, Shakspear Ugly stick light, or the berkly lightning rod. You can spend alot of money and end up with a rod only marginaly better than these which are all under $50.

For reels I like shimano, pfluger, and abu garcia, for around the $50 mark you can get a decent reel from any of these makers. My main all around rod is a Pfluger reel on a shimano sojurn pretty sure altogeather it cost about $80. The phluger came with two spools and I have one spooled with 10lb test and one spooled with 6lb test. I've used it to catch most of the fish species in alberta and although I have more specialised rods that do certain things better if I had to get by with just this rod I would not feel that I was much inconvenianced.

Okotokian · #8 04-20-2010, 09:49 AM

Thanks gang. Sounds like there is lots that will do the job, but I'll go with spinning. The one thing you did get me thinking about is getting two or three spools with different weight line for different situations. That would be easy to do. Maybe 6 lb and 10 lb or similar.

Rick. · #9 04-20-2010, 10:11 AM

I think Cdn. Tire has an Abu Garcia spin cast combo for 60% off right now. I haven't seen it but I have many Abu reels and rods and I'm very happy with them. Some of my reels are over 30 years and have never broke down. I'm harder on rods. Rick.

Cal · #10 04-20-2010, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick.

I think Cdn. Tire has an Abu Garcia spin cast combo for 60% off right now. I haven't seen it but I have many Abu reels and rods and I'm very happy with them. Some of my reels are over 30 years and have never broke down. I'm harder on rods. Rick.

I had a look at those while today while I was picking up some paint, IMO the reels looked a bit small to spool 10lb mono on. My wife has a Mitchell Advocette reel which we tryed to spool 10 lb line on, stored in tight little wraps on that small spool the line litteraly exploded off the reel in big tangles about every 3rd cast. We got her a Sidestab 4000 and that solved the problem. My Pfleuger is about the same size as the shimano 4000 series reels, admitedly its a bit bigger than is needed for 6lb line but the added size is a much smaller inconveniance than the trouble you can have trying to run heavyer mono on a reel that is to small. For those who like the superbraids this may not be an issue but I dont like using braided line on my spinning rods. Somthing to think about.