Rod And Reel Pairing Advice

[tlkilian]

Hey guys, I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with the St. Croix Tidemaster Inshore 6'6" medium power, moderate action spinning rod (TIS66MM). If you are, what reel do you have paired with it? Any sort of insight on a reel pairing with this rod would be greatly appreciated. As a side note I feel obligated to say, as this question usually comes with these types of posts, I don't care about price range, for now at least, cause these are just ideas. Thanks!

[Sam]

TL, the secrete to paring your rods and reels is to read the specifications of each based on the fishing you do.

 

For example, the gear ratio is not that important when viewing the rod but the line test and bait weight parameters are crucial.

 

The technique is also important. Fast tip? Heavy vs. Medium Heavy vs. Heavy? Longer length for more power, deeper and casting power? Guides micro? Graphite? Technique specific rods?

 

So decide if you want a rod for a specific technique; read the line test and bait weight limitations; and match it with the reel of your choice based on the reel's line test requirements and its ratio.

 

You may also wish to pair up the rod and reel together in the tackle store to see how it feels. You may find some of the matchups that seem to be a good fit are too heavy or uncomfortable for your hands.

 

Some guys like to match the same brand reel with same brand rod. This is an option but I think you will find more options by matching different brands.

 

All the best and let us know what you decide to purchase and why.

[tlkilian]

Well, right now I'm looking at a Pflueger President. It doesn't break the bank and it looks like everybody loves it. Also it has the gear ratio im looking for and will hold a mile of braid. I wanted this set-up to be my crankin set up. The rods got the moderate action a cranking rod should have and a lure weight requirement at 1/4-5/8 and that's right there where i want it (im not throwing humongous crankbaits). I'd also be doing some very light saltwater with it as well and ive heard a softer action is better for live bait. I think the President would make a decent match cause its got that low gear ratio people like for cranking and a graphite body will resist corrosion when by saltwater.

 

But I'm grappling with size, between the 6930x and 6935x. The 35 outweighs the 30 by 1.6 oz. Both will hold endless amounts of braid in a variety of sizes, but if i wanted to switch to mono. it'd be trickier. The 6930x  says it'll hold 120 yards of .25mm line and since I feel comfortable using 10lb line its hard to find a mono that is even equal to that diameter. The 6935x will hold 140 yards of .28mm mono. and that opens things up but im hesitant about the larger size. Which reel would you pick? Your guys' advice on this is truly invaluable!

[tlkilian]

I just emailed the st croix guys. Thanks anyways...

[The Pennsylvania Kid]

I have a 7' Tidemaster MH and I paired it with a Pflueger Supreme MGX 

[The Pennsylvania Kid]

Also the spool on that reel is braid ready if your looking to fish braid 

[aavery2]

but if i wanted to switch to mono. it'd be trickier. The 6930x  says it'll hold 120 yards of .25mm line and since I feel comfortable using 10lb line its hard to find a mono that is even equal to that diameter. The 6935x will hold 140 yards of .28mm mono. and that opens things up but im hesitant about the larger size. Which reel would you pick? Your guys' advice on this is truly invaluable!

I think your confused, use whatever diameter line you want, the listing on the spools is there only to give you an idea of how much line you can expect the spool to hold when using that diameter. It is not a list of lines that you are limited to.

Also spinning reels typically have a very high I.P.T. in relation to their gear ratio because of the spool size. If you want to use a spinning outfit to throw crankbaits, get one with a smaller diameter spool so your I.P.T. is a little lower, it will help the baits work properly in the water.

[tlkilian]

Okay, I hear you. What would you consider an ideal ipt for a cranking reel?

[aavery2]

D

Okay, I hear you. What would you consider an ideal ipt for a cranking reel?

Depending on how deep you want to fish somewhere in the neighborhood of 22 IPT.

[tlkilian]

Any good suggestions for a reel? I just went through all the spinning reels on the BPS website and in the size that I need the President comes closest (if I get the 6930, which I'm still not sure is the correct size) to 22 IPT.

[aavery2]

Any good suggestions for a reel? I just went through all the spinning reels on the BPS website and in the size that I need the President comes closest (if I get the 6930, which I'm still not sure is the correct size) to 22 IPT.

I use the 30 size Pflueger spinning reels for my needs and they work fine, I am partial to the Supreme MGX, for $99 dollars it has a magnesium frame and is as smooth as other reels that I have that cost 2.5 times as much. I had the President reels a few years ago, but experienced too much frame flex to continue using them.