New Rod And Reel, How Did I Do???

[CountBassula]

Hi Gang!

I just walked out of Sports Authority with Hurricane Redbone 7' Medium-Heavy Action Rod (RB-456), Shimano Sonora 2500FB reel, Power Pro 10lbs braided line, 2 poppers, and a fresh water fishing license... $150 because everything was on sale 25% OFF :-D

This is my first serious Bass fishing setup. Going to rig it for Senko tonight and keep my Walmart special for popper action.

So how did I do? Am I a sucker for paying so much for hardware, or is this a respectable setup that will last me for years to come?

Thanks!

Martin

[retiredbosn]

Congrats on the new equipment, buying new stuff is always fun. I've never heard of the rod and I haven't bought a spinning reel for quite some time, so I can't help ya there. Have fun on your trip

[EvanT123]

I don't know if it matters much someone with more experience will probably chime in but I think the redbone is a saltwater rod.

[Dwight Hottle]

You did fine. 25% off is a good deal. Just go out & enjoy fishing with your new gear.

[MCS]

It is a nice setup. Redbones are typically inshore rods, but in reality you can use it for freshwater just fine. And aren't u down is So Fla? U got urself a nice setup to go to the pond one day and a jettie the next, but u might wanna run 20 lb braid if you go to the beach with that. Dunno much about the reel I hear shimanos are very good. But deffinately nice rod.

[dam0007]

Sonora is good, I have a 2500 in my collection. Just make sure u keep it oiled. Good luck!

[central.PA.bass]

Sounds like a lethal combination! good luck man!

[skeletor6]

Hi Gang!

I just walked out of Sports Authority with Hurricane Redbone 7' Medium-Heavy Action Rod (RB-456), Shimano Sonora 2500FB reel, Power Pro 10lbs braided line, 2 poppers, and a fresh water fishing license... $150 because everything was on sale 25% OFF :-D

This is my first serious Bass fishing setup. Going to rig it for Senko tonight and keep my Walmart special for popper action.

So how did I do? Am I a sucker for paying so much for hardware, or is this a respectable setup that will last me for years to come?

Thanks!

Martin

Don't know much about the rod, but anything 25% off is nice. I would use wacky senkos, but also try mixing in some drop shot and other finesse techniques. Working on different techniques is fun and you can still use your senko to do so. Also, the more techniques you work on the better angler you will become and the more tricks you have to go to if certain times call for certain techniques.

Regardless, senkos always seem to produce, so go out there and have fun. If you ever decide to get another setup create a thread here first and we will be able to help you out in getting you what you want.

[kickerfish1]

For spinning reels any shimano in the 2500 series will serve you well. I can't comment on the rod but as far as spinning reels shimano makes a quality product, that when properly maintained will last for years.

Also there are lots of videos and articles written on senko fishing. Wacky or "normal" Texas rig both produce fish. If you have any worries check them out as a reference point.

Just make sure you close your bail by hand and possibly spray some line and lure conditioner on the line and you should be set. This will help reduce line twist and unneeded headaches while on the water.

[skeletor6]

For spinning reels any shimano in the 2500 series will serve you well. I can't comment on the rod but as far as spinning reels shimano makes a quality product, that when properly maintained will last for years.

Also there are lots of videos and articles written on senko fishing. Wacky or "normal" Texas rig both produce fish. If you have any worries check them out as a reference point.

Just make sure you close your bail by hand and possibly spray some line and lure conditioner on the line and you should be set. This will help reduce line twist and unneeded headaches while on the water.

Great advice!

[SirSnookalot]

I know a little something about redbone rods, been using them for nearly 10 years and I have 7 of them. Redbones have enough backbone to handle anything you'll run into, the rod you have I use for snook, jacks and juvenile tarpon. For the reel and line you bought, I would have gone with the med 7' 8/17, which I use for light beach fishing and sometimes for high banked canal bass fishing. You have it so enjoy it, in the future if it were me, I'd put a 4000 reel with 15 or 20# braid on your rod and do some ocean or ICW fishing and buy a lighter rod for your sonora. The redbones are not as light as some of their freshwater counterparts, which really makes no difference to me, never once have they failed me, a 10# fish is no match for what you bought.

Using braided line, don't worry about line twist. Closing the bail by hand is a good idea just because it's smoother than using the handle, any line twist (mono or copoly) is caused by the line wrapping around the spool when retrieving or bait turning over like a spoon.

[CountBassula]

So I upgraded my Bass setup today: got a second Hurricane rod, 6'6" Light action and I used my Shimano Sonora 2500FB reel on it with 10lbs braided line. The 7" Hurricane Medium Heavy action rod I got last week was upgraded with Sonora 4000FB reel and 20lbs braided line :-)

Also got a tackle box and few lures etc! See picture for details!

Martin

[67Ghost]

_{I've been looking at possibly getting a 7ft M Redbone for freshwater striper fishing. I normally only throw 3/8oz jigheaded flukes using 14lb mono. Will the M be a good fit or go with the ML? Don't have a store in my area to compare.}

[CountBassula]

_{I've been looking at possibly getting a 7ft M Redbone for freshwater striper fishing. I normally only throw 3/8oz jigheaded flukes using 14lb mono. Will the M be a good fit or go with the ML? Don't have a store in my area to compare.}

I didn't try ML, I did have MH and now have M. For me personally, I much prefer the feel of M over MH. SirSnookAlot says that for some reason Hurricane rods are bit stiffer thank others. I would go with M :-)

[SirSnookalot]

_{I've been looking at possibly getting a 7ft M Redbone for freshwater striper fishing. I normally only throw 3/8oz jigheaded flukes using 14lb mono. Will the M be a good fit or go with the ML? Don't have a store in my area to compare.}

If I were targeting stripers I would most likely be using a MH rod, if for no other reason it would be their size potential. A MH Redbone has a min lure wt of 3/8 oz, that jig head with a fluke on it should render no problem regarding the rod loading up to cast. The max lure wt. is 1oz, which I exceed quite often as I do with most of my inshore rods, no rod has ever suffered any ill effects regardless of brand due to that commonly used practice.

I question the motive to buy a sight unseen Redbone, just because someone like me uses them. As much as I like these rods there are negatives, such as being a little heavier in weight as compared to freshwater rods that a lot of people are used to. I've had the rod guides rust out from saltwater several times, and my biggest gripe is a short butt with the 7' models, the 7'6 ones have good butt length. Very common for me when fighting a larger fish to place that butt under my armpit, I like the added butt length for that reason, plus the 7'6 has more backbone, but it's heavier too. I've caught 40 and 50# tarpon, snook, 20# jacks with that rod. This is an opinion, I don't recommend when it comes to spending other people's money, I'd be looking at other options too.