This is the first year I plan on fishing throughout the fall at the south shore. I know most guys use at least a 10 foot pole from word of mouth and pictures, but I'm just curious if you guys think an 8-9 foot pole would do? Right now, i'm using that with 40-50lb test line of PowerPro and i'm bringing in 8-12lb bluefish. I'm not in the best financial situation so buying more equipment wouldn't be the best idea, haha. Do you guys have any recommendations?
Equipment for Fall Fishing
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I'm a newbie myself, I have penn spinfisher with c104 reel & 40# PP, it handles the bluefish fine but I haven't hooked up with any other species yet, I do happen to have an 8' ugly stick which I'll pair up with the above reel for fishing off the docks. I'm sure the more seasoned guys will have greater insight.
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AllStrZ wrote:
This is the first year I plan on fishing throughout the fall at the south shore. I know most guys use at least a 10 foot pole from word of mouth and pictures, but I'm just curious if you guys think an 8-9 foot pole would do? Right now, i'm using that with 40-50lb test line of PowerPro and i'm bringing in 8-12lb bluefish. I'm not in the best financial situation so buying more equipment wouldn't be the best idea, haha. Do you guys have any recommendations?
Good question. It sounds like you're not in a position right now to get a 10 or 11 foot rod which would be best for the south shore. If you keep your eyes open you can find a 10 or 11 foot stick for a reasonable price - especially at the end of the season. Can you catch decent size bass and blues on an 8-9 foot rod? Absolutely, and it can be a lot of fun! An 8-9 foot rod is more adequate for back bay fishing. Just remember there are certain places and situations where a 8-9 foot rod won't cut it. You never want to be under-gunned while fishing a jetty. If you hook into a decent size fish - that combined with a strong current will result in you wiping out many peoples lines - not a good way to make friends. I've also seen under-gunned anglers take so long to land a fish that by the time they realeased it, the fish was dead. You should also be sensitive to using a smaller rod while fishing a crowded open beach - the same problem could result, especially if bigger fish are present, which is very likely during the fall run. Light tackle fishing can be very fun and challenging but there is a time and place for that. That's my .02 cents.
This is the first year I plan on fishing throughout the fall at the south shore. I know most guys use at least a 10 foot pole from word of mouth and pictures, but I'm just curious if you guys think an 8-9 foot pole would do? Right now, i'm using that with 40-50lb test line of PowerPro and i'm bringing in 8-12lb bluefish. I'm not in the best financial situation so buying more equipment wouldn't be the best idea, haha. Do you guys have any recommendations?
Good question. It sounds like you're not in a position right now to get a 10 or 11 foot rod which would be best for the south shore. If you keep your eyes open you can find a 10 or 11 foot stick for a reasonable price - especially at the end of the season. Can you catch decent size bass and blues on an 8-9 foot rod? Absolutely, and it can be a lot of fun! An 8-9 foot rod is more adequate for back bay fishing. Just remember there are certain places and situations where a 8-9 foot rod won't cut it. You never want to be under-gunned while fishing a jetty. If you hook into a decent size fish - that combined with a strong current will result in you wiping out many peoples lines - not a good way to make friends. I've also seen under-gunned anglers take so long to land a fish that by the time they realeased it, the fish was dead. You should also be sensitive to using a smaller rod while fishing a crowded open beach - the same problem could result, especially if bigger fish are present, which is very likely during the fall run. Light tackle fishing can be very fun and challenging but there is a time and place for that. That's my .02 cents.
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Walleyman, you make a lot of great points that take all of us years to learn. That is what makes this site and this sport so great. We all help each other out from the VETS to the TFNG's.
Walleyman, you make a lot of great points that take all of us years to learn. That is what makes this site and this sport so great. We all help each other out from the VETS to the TFNG's.
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Glad I could help. Hey, I just pass on what I experience, observe and learn from many others in the surf fishing community who have been at this a lot longer than me. Listening to guys like Rich (RichTrox), John Skinner and others have shown me how much there is to learn. I'm thrilled to have someone like Rich as a moderator on this forum. It's hard to find a surf forum moderator anywhere with the experience, knowledge and ability to communicate that knowledge like Rich!
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This post edited by walleyeman 11:50 PM 09/06/2008
This post edited by walleyeman 11:50 PM 09/06/2008
I am not an expert at all and I dont have any fancy suer expensive setups but From what was said it sounds like it is being assumed that the 8-9' rod is a light tackle rod and it probably is because usually when you see a rod of that length it is light. But some shorter fishing rods can have a lot of backbone to them. I am not sure what the case is here.
As far as my opinion, an 8-9' is great for throwing lures and you can definitely get away with it if you are throwing bait as long as it is not too light at the tip.
This post edited by BASSSURF 04:47 PM 09/09/2008
As far as my opinion, an 8-9' is great for throwing lures and you can definitely get away with it if you are throwing bait as long as it is not too light at the tip.
This post edited by BASSSURF 04:47 PM 09/09/2008
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Depends
It really depends on the conditions of the day. I have an 8'6" Heavy Duty St. Croix, and that rod has a freaking backbone. I lunk 4oz lures with it no problem. It really depends on your skill, conditions, etc. You don't want to throw lures and they are down the beach on the cast. I think the best way to look at it all is to be prepared for ANY situation.
But Walleyeman hit the nail on the head, and I am basically reiterating what he said.
It really depends on the conditions of the day. I have an 8'6" Heavy Duty St. Croix, and that rod has a freaking backbone. I lunk 4oz lures with it no problem. It really depends on your skill, conditions, etc. You don't want to throw lures and they are down the beach on the cast. I think the best way to look at it all is to be prepared for ANY situation.
But Walleyeman hit the nail on the head, and I am basically reiterating what he said.
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It's not just the length, it's what the rod is rated for. As a general rule of thumb, a longer rod will give you a longer cast, but as for turning power, it depends on the rod. I have a 9' rod cut down from a larger heavier blank that I can drag teen fish across the surface with if need be, so it's not just the length. If you are going to spring for a rod make sure to check out what it is rated for so you don't waste your money. For the open beach, you can get away with most any medium action 9 ft, just don't crowd anybody. Many times the fish are right at your feet anyway. As for me, I always indulge in overkill when it comes to my equipment.
This post edited by RichTrox 01:34 PM 09/11/2008
This post edited by RichTrox 01:34 PM 09/11/2008
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i agree with rich, i have a 9' jettey stick and on the ricks o like having a slightly smaller rod, also deep water along with most of the fish ar right at your feet. just make sure the rods still has enough backbone to handle big fisharound the rocks and the heavy lures neccesary to catch them.
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