[SmithtownJoe]

When I decided to give the surf a try last year, I made the mistake of buying a Southbend $50 combo at Sports Authority. Now that I'm hooked, I'm looking to pickup a new rig for the upcoming season. I primarily fish the Nissequogue area. I think I'm set on the reel, the Shiamano Baitrunner 4500. I've seen a lot of good feedback on this reel and since I use eels often I feel the baitrunner feature will come in quite handy in the Nessy. I would like to pair this up with reasonably priced rod, lets say under $100. Can anyone recommend one rod that I can use with eels/other live bait as well as lures? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

SmithtownJoe

 

[mattyblazer]

Diawa

The "Sealine X" rods are priced low and seem to work well.

Good luck

 

[cat14361]

diawa -great rods

i have a custome cork tape diawa (SL-X S1002MHRS) sealine X" 10 ft 2 pcs. 3to6oz. matched up with a penn5500ss.reel. use for plugging and bait.

 

[wader]

Tough question........

Unless (my opinion anyway) you're going to be tossing heavier lures (say 2 oz. plus) I don't know that you're going to find a rod capable of both.

Let me make a suggestion. Distance in the Nessy is not that critical. It seems most of the bass stick near the reed/shoreline. That coupled with the fact that the current is strong & will more then likely move your bait offering toward shore as well - you only need to get the eel or chunk out there about 50 feet or so.

If you can go a little more then $100 try finding a used 8.3 foot St. Croix. I started or should I say moved to this paired witha Penn 5500 3 or 4 years ago. It was fine for short distance casting of eels & threw light lures (1/4 oz to 2 oz) a country mile. Put 'em on the Short Bech side at high tide. About 20 yards onto the beach.
Never tried live lining with this set-up. I use a 10 foot St. Croix with the 3500 BaitRunner for that.

By the way - you're gonna love that reel.

 

[629660]

Under $100.
???????.I wish I could help ya.
I'd go with matty,but never fished 1.

 

[PaddleOn]

Daiwa Sealine X is a nice rod for the $$

 

[mattyblazer]

Personally I like the St. Croix

But for the money the Sealine X is a good deal.

 

[624924]

Smithtown Joe,

I build rods on the side, I can get you into a rainshadow 9 or 10 ft for a little more than $100 but you can bet it'll be 1st quality. let me know if yore interested.

BC

 

[littoral]

Smithtown Joe,
Trying to find one rod to fish eels and chunks as well as cast floaters is like looking for one hammer to make picture frames and bust up concrete sidewalks. Plan on buying two rod/reel setups. Decide which type of fishing is first on your priority list. Then "fish around" for advice in these discussion boards or at one or two local tackle shops. Unless you are lucky or patient enough to find one of those rare "real" bargains, equipment quality and performance is generally directly proportional to how much you are willing to pay. You might get a decent setup at Sports Authority or Walmart, but you'd probably be better off going to a real fishing tackle dealer and getting some good advice on the "ideal" equipment package for your particular needs. At the very least, you'll have a better idea of what you should be looking for at whatever place you decide to make your final purchase. And if cost is a real issue, telling a small dealer that you would be willing to take a "blemished" item or a discontinued model might just get you a super deal on a quality setup. (Never hurts to try)

 

[leakyrivot]

Baitrunner - blah!

I've had a baitrunner 4500 in my boat for a couple seasons now. It is about that old (2 seasons) & is an overpriced piece of junk. The drag sucks, the anti-reverse broke, the reel is bulky & a pain in the *ss. I bought the live-liner 560 - a much better reel. An excellent drag, contoured design, much more compact & rugged, and it lacks the reverse-reeling switch that broke on the shimano. The free-spool on the Penn also lets you retrieve with it on - so you can bring the eels in without switching to strike drag.

Had to put in my .02 when I saw the compliments on the reel choice - don't do it man! At least check out the Penn & other brands that now make free-spooling spinning reels.

Jon

 

[614058]

Go with a conventional!

The baitrunner is a bad idea. It's a heavy reel and the baitrunner feature will not help you with eels at all. Eels are more like plugs than live bait.

Do yourself a favor and go get an Abu-Garcia conventional. I'd go with a levelwind.

It's not hard to learn how to cast one.

Here is why I'd choose a conventional over a spinner.

First, for casting heavy loads like bait, your thumb will give you much more control than your finger will with a spinner.

Conventionals are baitrunners essentially. Just toss it in free spool and turn on the clicker and you are in business.

Once you get the control down, if you'd like to upgrade your line to braid, conventionals do much better with it than a lot of spinners.

If you want to use eels, a conventional is your dream come true. Cast that eel into the current, leave it in freespool and thumb it. If you don't get a taker, just retrieve it and start over. If you hook up, turn the reel handle, set the hook home and you're in business.

If you are casting heavier plugs, conventionals will work with them too.

A conventional is more sensitive than a spinner. A spinner makes your line turn at a 90 degree angle making it impossible to keep in direct contact with the line. That's not a big problem on high end graphite rods but since you, like most of us, are on a budget, you need to get the most feeling as you can.

They are cheap. Look around. You can get the basic abu C3 for less than a hundred dollars and get upgrades and have the meanest reel out there.

Guys who fish Van Staals and Stellas, when they reach for a conventional, they reach for an Abu. Some prefer the Calcutta or the Penn International series but the Abus are fine.

Like I said before, the abus are fully upgradeable. The sky is the limit. Want magnetic casting control? Upgrade the bearings? Drag Washers? Handles? Sure and the parts are cheap.

Abu is owned by Purefishing. The parent company of Berkely and a whole bunch of good equipment.

I can only think of two downsides to them. First, you have to learn how to cast one. And second, they aren't the greatest for light lures but once you train your brain, thumb, eyes and ears to act as one unit, you can go lighter and lighter.

The size is your preference for where you fish as well as the rod.

Good luck.

 

[leakyrivot]

Pat - I disagree

Conventional reels have their use; you get a little extra control & greater casting distance - that's if you really know how to use one, but there are drawbacks. I couldn't picture easily whipping a 12 ft surf stick w/ a conventional caster. They are great for trolling, big game, and deep water.. aside from that, freshwater bass.

I fish lots of eels & switched back to the spinning reel after going to the conventional. It's less stress - no worries about letting a fish run with the bail up or free spool on spinning reels. It also isn't neccesary to bother with your thumb - just hold the rod & wait. I tend to clamp down on the spool when I get a strike - stopping the line.. couldn't seem to get over that reaction. From the surf it's really not practical.. I know some of the old timers did & still do use conventional surf rods today - it's just there are better options. I only object to the shimano reel. My .02,

Jon

 

[623428]

Ah, the legend returns.

This should be fun.

(This post edited by windcatcher on 03/15/2003)

 

[wader]

BAITRUNNER

Went to the BaitRunner last year & I'm very happy with it. Gives me more control when drifting eels from shore.
Had previously just left the bail up. The BT gives me a little faster reaction time as I don't have to drop the bail & you have a little slower line "run-off" then if the reel was in free spool or the bail was up once a strike occurs. Now I pretty much fish the Nessy exclusively & having the line free to move with the current works great back there. In the surf on the South Shore having a free spool option might be a problem - I honesty don't know. Not enough experience fishing there.

Also works terrific when live lining shade, herring or bunker.

Knowing that it works equally well when fishing artificals is another plus.

Two reel in one. I haven't fished the Penn equivelent so I can't comment on whether that is a better reel or not.

Gotta agree with Leaky - spinning reels are much easier to use & less worry from the shore. Especially if you don't have the time to practice. Decided to try a baitcaster 2 years ago & I spent more time untangling the line then fishing. Granted - they are supposed to cast better - but - I like I said - you need to practice & if you don't have the time that ain't gonna happen. Same reason I have a Flyrod sitting in the garage now for 2 years. Would love to try it but my fishing time is limited to pretty much once a week & I'd rather be using that time hunting then practicing.

(This post edited by wader on 03/15/2003)