What to look for when buying rod and reels?

[Golden Monk]

Hi there again,

What should one look for when buying rods and reels.

Should they be like graphite?
Should they be light? etc...

Your advice most appreciated please

Thanks!
Daniel

[swoffa]

When I buy reels I look at three main things; weight, drag, and BB's. I would only ever buy either a Shimano or Daiwa spinning reel, so I cut the cheap rubbish out of the equation straight away.
When looking for a bream reel I don't want anything more than about 220gms or with less than about 6 bearings, that's just my personal preference. I know that both Shimano and Daiwa produce decent quality drags for breamming, but it's also improtant to me that it's waterproof as I tend to just hose my gear at the end of the day.
I suppose the main factor in choosing one reel over another is the price, I'm a firm beleiver in "you get what you pay for", therefore if I pay a top dollar I expect a top shelf product. I'm yet to be dissappointed with this line of thinking...

Then there's always the motto: "If in doubt, just buy both".

When it comes to rods, I stick to Millerrods. If anybody in this country knows about rod building and blank selection it's Ian Miller!

[Golden Monk]

Can spinning reels also be used for baiting?, or do you have to buy a reel for baiting, and a reel for spinning?.

Also with the above, do you need a spinning rod, and a baiting rod?


Ohhh...ive gone and gotten all confused again

Thanks!
Daniel

[Nath_18]

Daniel you can use your spinning reel for baiting if you want there no difference.
You seem very new to all this so dont be afraid to ask question after question till your satisfied you know it all!
Where all more than happy to load you full of info.....prob more than you can handle LoL :P

chears, Nathan

[Golden Monk]

Originally posted by Nath_18
Daniel you can use your spinning reel for baiting if you want there no difference.
You seem very new to all this so dont be afraid to ask question after question till your satisfied you know it all!
Where all more than happy to load you full of info.....prob more than you can handle LoL :P

chears, Nathan

Hehe, and I thought I knew about fishing....so much to learn, I have learnt so much in the last couple of days reading forums on various sites...so far this is the most helpful and active site

If I was to have a guess, I would imagine the same for Rods as well then.

Thanks
Daniel

Yes.....U have much to learn.....young padawan

[Nath_18]

Yerp you hit the nail on the head. For rods it gets a little more complicated though.....
For boat work you might want something not so long as what you want for chuckin softies or hards on the flats and when your shore based you want something smaller than flats but a little bigger than a boat rod LoL ahaha hope that was confusing

For fishing the flats you want something about 7'
For boat work you want something 6' or smaller
and for shore bashing around boats and structure you want something 6' or more and sometimes less

chears, Nathan

[CHUNQX]

I think firstly you'll need to work out HOW MUCH you're willing to spend.... I would suggest $200 at the very minimum for a good outfit otherwise you'd be looking to upgrade after 2 weeks and sell it cheap 2nd hand and lose the difference which might have gone into a good outfit first up. If you can, stretch that to about $500 and you're set. You won't need upgrading for a LONG WHILE with that.

[swoffa]

Originally posted by CHUNQX
I think firstly you'll need to work out HOW MUCH you're willing to spend.... I would suggest $200 at the very minimum for a good outfit otherwise you'd be looking to upgrade after 2 weeks and sell it cheap 2nd hand and lose the difference which might have gone into a good outfit first up. If you can, stretch that to about $500 and you're set. You won't need upgrading for a LONG WHILE with that.

TYou don't need to go to $500 for good gear, that's the price of awesome gear. You can get a decent reel for about $400 (ie Sustain) and a good rod for about the same (GL3 or BD).

[smellyfish]

Got One Niddrie has the Sic Stik for $160. From what I've read in these forums, many people are using this rod.

[i_wanna_fish]

in a reel look for all metal parts, tends to improve the life of the reel

[yogi]

For me, I normally go for a decent rod 1st. Find something with the action you want like fast taper or extra fast for soft plastics(my preferance) in the length you want then go hunt for a reel within your budget that balances the rod. Currently I use a 7' 1-3kg 2 piece Strudwick sic stick pro which I got at a bargain when they 1st release and a Shimano Symetre 1500. They match perfectly and is great for soft plastics and small hardbodies. Cheers!


Yogi