good beginner setup?

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by SASQUATCH

i am new to kayak fishing. could anyone help guide me in selecting a decent rod and reel setup for ocean fishing? mainly for bass, rockfish, and halibut and such. don't want bottom line either, just about mid grade as far as budget goes.

How about a Daiwa SL20SH filled with thirty power pro, for use with 15-25 pound topshots, on a 7ft Seeker or Calstar rated for 10-30 pound.

Here's the logic: That reel is light weight, easy to maintain, casts great, has a great clicker, and a good fast gear ratio. The drag is not that strong, only really suitable 20 pound but is enough for what you want to target.

You can hold it all day without wearing your arm out, it casts well enough for plastics, has enough capacity with the spectra to fish deep, and it cranks fast enough for fishing rockfish.

Halibut wise the drag is smooth as silk, and with that clicker you can drift for butts clicker on reel out of gear.

A good all around reel about 100 bucks new on sale, or fifty to 75 used on ebay.

Rod wise Seekers and Calstars are tough, they a light enough tip for halibut, and enough backbone for cranking up rockfish.

Spectra will allow you to fish deeper with lighter weight for rockfish, keep you on the bottom with better feel for halibut and it will cut through kelp for bass.

Topshots 15 for halibut, 20 for fishing bass in the kelp, 25 for fishing light Iron for rockfish.

A plus is if you ever go out on a sport boat the rig will be ideal for bait fishing tuna, or yellowtail on paddies.

All and all that's a good setup that should set you back about 200 bucks if you shop around.

That's my take.

[SASQUATCH]

wow, great detailed response. thanks for the reasoning behind your choice.

[oneyedeer]

Originally Posted by Fiskadoro

How about a Daiwa SL20SH filled with thirty power pro, for use with 15-25 pound topshots, on a 7ft Seeker or Calstar rated for 10-30 pound.

Here's the logic: That reel is light weight, easy to maintain, casts great, has a great clicker, and a good fast gear ratio. The drag is not that strong, only really suitable 20 pound but is enough for what you want to target.

You can hold it all day without wearing your arm out, it casts well enough for plastics, has enough capacity with the spectra to fish deep, and it cranks fast enough for fishing rockfish.

Halibut wise the drag is smooth as silk, and with that clicker you can drift for butts clicker on reel out of gear.

A good all around reel about 100 bucks new on sale, or fifty to 75 used on ebay.

Rod wise Seekers and Calstars are tough, they a light enough tip for halibut, and enough backbone for cranking up rockfish.

Spectra will allow you to fish deeper with lighter weight for rockfish, keep you on the bottom with better feel for halibut and it will cut through kelp for bass.

Topshots 15 for halibut, 20 for fishing bass in the kelp, 25 for fishing light Iron for rockfish.

A plus is if you ever go out on a sport boat the rig will be ideal for bait fishing tuna, or yellowtail on paddies.

All and all that's a good setup that should set you back about 200 bucks if you shop around.

That's my take.

x2

[steveooo]

Originally Posted by Fiskadoro

How about a Daiwa SL20SH filled with thirty power pro, for use with 15-25 pound topshots, on a 7ft Seeker or Calstar rated for 10-30 pound.

That's good advice.

Sealines are great reels for the $. They are good right out of the box, and when you service them you can upgrade to the carbon-tex drags. The Sealines are pretty durable, and can withstand the abuse they see on the kayak. I'd do 50 lb braid, just to increase the top shot capabilities. With 50 braid, I fish anywhere from 15 - 35 lb flouro. Fill the reel to the brim with spectra, and in most situations you only need a short top-shot.

You really can't go wrong with the seekers or calstars. Look for a used one on CL, or the Seeker Stealth series is pretty nice rod for the price.

[tomahawk]

Diawa SL20SH as previously described or Penn 535GS. Seeker or Calstar 196/270/870 all in the 7 foot versions. 196 and 270 are fun bass rods and fish 15 to 20 lb really nice. The 870 is more of a 20 to 25 lb rod. If I was head to the islands and could only take 1 rod it would be either my 870 or my 270H-8. The 270H-8 isn't really necessary on a kayak IMO since there is no need to be able to fly line a sardine very far. It is also heavier and might be a little odd casting in a yak (i Haven't tried it). For fishing plastic, I really like a light weight 7.5 ft rod (8-15 lb test). I have a lamiglas MTxxxx (can't rememebr the numbers right now) graphite rod with an ABU 5600 tournament that you can throw a) cast all day and b) can cast a mile.

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by tomahawk

Daiwa SL20SH as previously described or Penn 535GS. Seeker or Calstar 196/270/870 all in the 7 foot versions..

Great info on the rods, exactly right on.

I've owned both the Penn 535GS, and 525GS, personally I prefer the Penn 525mag or the new SQL12 which is also has magnetic cast control, they both cast much better. Mags are great with spectra because if setup correctly they can almost completely eliminate backlash, and you can get great distance with them without backlashing. even when casting topshots through guides.

The newer magged Penns are really underrated. The Penn SQL12 is the same size as the Diawa SL20SH but will outcast it, and has a much bigger, stronger drag about the size the used to have in a 4/0. It's more expensive then the Daiwa, but not that much more and it's worth the extra money.

For smaller swimbaits I like fishing a Revo STX, larger swimbaits the SQL12, light Iron the 525mag, all mag controlled, all with spectra.

Originally Posted by SASQUATCH

could you explain what you mean by " braid " and " top shot " ?

Braid is braided line, or spectra fibre line, it's a stronger stranded line that's thinner, and cuts through kelp. One thing it's not is clear so we spool our reels with it then add short pieces of either clear mono, or even more transparent fluorocarbon line to it, and we call those topshots. Long topshots are generally anywhere from 10 to 300 feet, short topshots are generally 3 to 5 feet, but they are all at the end and called topshots because they are on top of the other line on the reel.

[SASQUATCH]

Originally Posted by Fiskadoro

Great info on the rods, exactly right on.

I've owned both the Penn 535GS, and 525GS, personally I prefer the Penn 525mag or the new SQL12 which is also has magnetic cast control, they both cast much better. Mags are great with spectra because if setup correctly they can almost completely eliminate backlash, and you can get great distance with them without backlashing. even when casting topshots through guides.

The newer magged Penns are really underrated. The Penn SQL12 is the same size as the Diawa SL20SH but will outcast it, and has a much bigger, stronger drag about the size the used to have in a 4/0. It's more expensive then the Daiwa, but not that much more and it's worth the extra money.

For smaller swimbaits I like fishing a Revo STX, larger swimbaits the SQL12, light Iron the 525mag, all mag controlled, all with spectra.



Braid is braided line, or spectra fibre line, it's a stronger stranded line that's thinner, and cuts through kelp. One thing it's not is clear so we spool our reels with it then add short pieces of either clear mono, or even more transparent fluorocarbon line to it, and we call those topshots. Long topshots are generally anywhere from 10 to 300 feet, short topshots are generally 3 to 5 feet, but they are all at the end and called topshots because they are on top of the other line on the reel.

thanks for explaining that. so a topshot is essentially a leader that potentially can be much longer. interesting.

i used to fish a lot when i was younger. got married, raised four kids, now the youngest is 15 and am finding more time to do the things i used to do. equipment and methods have changed somewhat since then. thanks again for everyone's help.

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by SASQUATCH

thanks for explaining that. so a topshot is essentially a leader that potentially can be much longer. interesting. i used to fish a lot when i was younger. got married, raised four kids, now the youngest is 15 and am finding more time to do the things i used to do. equipment and methods have changed somewhat since then. thanks again for everyone's help.

It's cool and I had the feeling.

Spectra and small lever drag reels are the big changes that came in the last decade and a half. I hear you. I remember when everyone fished darcron for rockfish. Spectra or "braid" is kind of like Dacron used to be, except it's stronger and thinner and unlike dacron which was cheaper then mono it's actually much more expensive.

Great stuff though. You will be amazed at how much more you can feel with it especially deep and by how it cuts kelp. I remember the first time I had a good yellow swim into a kelp paddie with it offshore. I was like that fish is gone, but then it kept going and cut it's way right out again.

It's pretty Awesome stuff!!!


Jim

[SASQUATCH]

Originally Posted by Fiskadoro

It's cool and I had the feeling.

Spectra and small lever drag reels are the big changes that came in the last decade and a half. I hear you. I remember when everyone fished darcron for rockfish. Spectra or "braid" is kind of like Dacron used to be, except it's stronger and thinner and unlike dacron which was cheaper then mono it's actually much more expensive.

Great stuff though. You will be amazed at how much more you can feel with it especially deep and by how it cuts kelp. I remember the first time I had a good yellow swim into a kelp paddie with it offshore. I was like that fish is gone, but then it kept going and cut it's way right out again.

It's pretty Awesome stuff!!!


Jim

RIGHT ON, CAN'T WAIT.

[SASQUATCH]

Originally Posted by steveooo

That's good advice.

Sealines are great reels for the $. They are good right out of the box, and when you service them you can upgrade to the carbon-tex drags. The Sealines are pretty durable, and can withstand the abuse they see on the kayak. I'd do 50 lb braid, just to increase the top shot capabilities. With 50 braid, I fish anywhere from 15 - 35 lb flouro. Fill the reel to the brim with spectra, and in most situations you only need a short top-shot.

You really can't go wrong with the seekers or calstars. Look for a used one on CL, or the Seeker Stealth series is pretty nice rod for the price.

could you explain what you mean by " braid " and " top shot " ?

[FishNinjaY]

Originally Posted by Fiskadoro

How about a Daiwa SL20SH filled with thirty power pro, for use with 15-25 pound topshots, on a 7ft Seeker or Calstar rated for 10-30 pound.

That's my take.

What exactly is the difference between this SL20SH and the Sealine-X, X20SLH reels? From the description, the ratio seems the same, but the X described as "ultra high speed" and has 3 bearings and described "free spool".. but practically-speaking, for kayak fishing.. which model is better?

Thanks..

[bad brady]

I'm looking into a new setup also. Debating between a 30 saltist paired with shimano trevalla or avet sxj paired with shimano terez. Mostly halibut fishing off the yak. But I wanna be able to use it other applications as well. Any input is greatly appreciated.

[spottie slayer]

Originally Posted by bad brady

I'm looking into a new setup also. Debating between a 30 saltist paired with shimano trevalla or avet sxj paired with shimano terez. Mostly halibut fishing off the yak. But I wanna be able to use it other applications as well. Any input is greatly appreciated.

for throwing waxwings i like the saltist on the terez
avets are hard to cast and have shitty drags. But their anodized and resist corosion.

[bad brady]

Is the sxj MC any better with casting? What's the deal with there drag?

[Whiting17]

Go to a any tackle shop and talk to them, have some ideas they will piece all your ideas and questions into a quality setup. I like an avet my self. MXJ or SX braid with a decent top shot on an 8ft termar. But that's just me, get some gear in your hands see what feels right.

[tacmik]

Originally Posted by Whiting17

Go to a any tackle shop and talk to them, have some ideas they will piece all your ideas and questions into a quality setup. I like an avet my self. MXJ or SX braid with a decent top shot on an 8ft termar. But that's just me, get some gear in your hands see what feels right.

That's what I did. Went to Squidco, told them how much I had to spend, what I was targeting and that I was fishing out of a kayak. They set me up in no time. Nothing like using local businesses and knowledgeable people in the business.

[spottie slayer]

Originally Posted by bad brady

Is the sxj MC any better with casting? What's the deal with there drag?

honestly the mc does absolutely nothing. I call it a donkey dial. extra 50 bucks for nothing. The video on their site is misleading.

[spottie slayer]

Originally Posted by bad brady

Is the sxj MC any better with casting? What's the deal with there drag?

If you hook a large fish that takes a lot of line the drag has a very good chance of melting and causing the reel to explode. I work and Dana wharf and I talked to every deckhand that used to work long range down there and they all say that avets have this issue. Plus it happened to my mxl.