Help Selecting A Rod And Line

[radioflyer]

Hello I have a pflueger president reel that I need a rod for.

I was interested in the lighting rod shock. Checked it out in the store and I liked it.

I see that the rod is designed for "super line" Does that mean Im stuck using superline for best results?

I was looking at running the Yo Zuri hybrid that everyone seems to like. Is this considered a super line? ( I dont care for the rough feeling braid gives on a spinning rod)

Im looking for rod reccomendations in the 50$ range that isnt strickly for superline? (I didnt really care for the regular lighting rod)

Thank You

[sprint61]

You can use any line you like on that Rod. Don't pay any attention to that just a bunch of marketing crap. But Imo you can't buy a better Rod in that price range they are durable and a pretty darn sensitive for $50. I use them a lot for river fishing only dislike I have is number of guides wish it had one more.

[greentrout]

Cabela's has its Pro Guide rods on sale down from 6o to 47 dollars. Good deal, great deal, for the buck. Bass Pro and other retailers have sales, too. I own several of the Pro Guides and for the dollar they are terrific rods. I'm a mono man and still catching bass.

 

Old School Basser...

[Anantha Patel]

Hello I have a pflueger president reel that I need a rod for.

 

I was interested in the lighting rod shock. Checked it out in the store and I liked it.

 

I see that the rod is designed for "super line" Does that mean Im stuck using superline for best results?

 

I was looking at running the Yo Zuri hybrid that everyone seems to like. Is this considered a super line?  ( I dont care for the rough feeling braid gives on a spinning rod)

 

 

Im looking for rod reccomendations in the 50$ range that isnt strickly for superline? (I didnt really care for the regular lighting rod)

 

Thank You

Love the Pfueger President. Really is a good bang for the buck reel. I find mono messy not just for small reels. They are a lot of problems they have. Braid is going to last longer and is smaller in diameter. Most braid is good, but I like the spider wire. Don't pay attention to your "super line," it really don't matter. The Lightning Rod is also a bang for the buck rod. Friends use it no complaints.

[poisonokie]

the reason it says it's for superlines is because that rod has a moderate action that makes up for the lack of stretch, and they're right, in principle (I've never fished one, so I can't comment on the action, but I usually hear good things.) I always use braid so I like mod-fast rods (some companies call it regular fast, Daiwa calls it reaction). They cast better, they set hooks better, they play the fish better. That's if you use braid. If you only use mono or fluoro lines you'd be better off with a fast or extra fast rod because it's the stretch in the line that moderates hook sets and runs from the fish, especially lower diameter lines. That stretch won't help your casting distance or accuracy, though, and on a long cast it can stretch too much, really diminishing your ability to get hook penetration. That's why I'm convinced that braid paired with a reaction rod is the only way to go with leaders as needed in clear water or around rip rap since nylon and fluoro have lower visibility and better abrasion resistance.

[Fun4Me]

Not sure where you live, but you might want to make a trip to an Academy sports and see if they have any Ethos rods still on clearance. I bought my last one for less than $20, marked down from $80. Ethos rods get a lot of love around here.

[NotnatsSamoht]

I use a lightning shock rod and it's great, exceeded my expectations for the price.

[poisonokie]

Not sure where you live, but you might want to make a trip to an Academy sports and see if they have any Ethos rods still on clearance. I bought my last one for less than $20, marked down from $80. Ethos rods get a lot of love around here.

 

I was checking out their all star light rods, and they seem really nice. Each one has the technique it's designed for on the blank, Fuji ACS reel seats, Fuji Alconite guides. They were $90 and not on sale, though.

[Tmmytomato]

Unlike another poster I would hesitate to jump right into braid, aka:Supereline. If budget is an issue I'd stick with your YoZuri which is excellent line. Braid is pricey but it does last forever. It can have an issue with wind knots which you won't get with mono/co-polymer line. And if you get a serious backlash (we all do from time to time) braid can be a real mess, especially if you have to just break it off and cut a lot of line out. $$$

I have three to four dozen baitcasters and have about a third of them with braid and although not an expert I have been doing this fishing thing for over 50 years and find different lines have different characteristics and have varied applications. The simplest advice I can give is use what you seem comfortable with and stick with the YoZuri for a while - it's a good product.  And the guys who've posted about rods are giving you good advice.

[new2BC4bass]

Welcome to the forum.  Is it a spinning reel or baitcast reel?  You won't have to worry about backlashes if it is a spinning reel.  You will have to worry about line twist if you use any line other than braid.  You won't get line twist with a baitcast reel, but backlashes can happen to the best.  Well, that isn't strictly true.  Try throwing a spoon tied direct all day on a baitcast reel spooled with braid.  You will have to change the line at the end of the day.  I assume the results would be the same on a spinning reel.  I don't think you can remove line twist from braid like you can from any other line type.

 

I can't get past the looks of the Lightning Shock.  Personally I prefer the standard Lightning.  I've never used an Ethos, but they get very good reviews.

[radioflyer]

Thank you for the information.

It is a spinning reel. So spinning rod.

[radioflyer]

I'm also having trouble deciding what line to use.

At this point I do have another rod setup that I have braid on that I can use for topwater frogs and heavy cover ect.

So two rods total for now.

What line should I run on this new setup. At this point this new setup will be used for everything besides what I stated above.

What's going to be my best bet for line?

The choices are overwhelming these days.

[ned_riggins]

Ive tried dicking around with every type of line out there it seems and wasted a lot of money doing it and ive basically come to the conclusion that if it isnt a crankbait or a few select topwater lures im using braid and a flouro leader its way easier to deal with, lasts forever, sensitive, and you get the abrasion resistance of flouro but you dont have to deal with wanting to throw your rod in the water while your line turns into a slinky.

[smalljaw67]

If you are going to use a line that has stretch, and you are, then the shock isn't a rod you will want for bottom contact baits. You got great info from Poisonokie, the shock is a moderate action rod meaning it has a deeper flex or bend to compensate for lack of stretch in braid which is what they mean by "superline". If I were you I'd look at a regular lightning rod or something comparable.

[SMITTY0045]

I think you are in good shape getting a lightning rod, I have only heard good things about them. As was mentioned early, I would look into the Ethos rod at Academy. For $60 it is hard to beat

[jhc1]

Has anybody considered comparing the Lightning Rod (normal or shock) to the Fenwick Eagle GT ($59) and the Fenwick Silverhawk available at Cabelas now for $59? I'm in a similar position as Radioflyer, and am curious to see how they all compare.