What Is The Best Fishing Rod For Me (And The Lady)?

[sb0]

I used to fish quite often when I was younger.

I want to get back into it; but there are so many choices and opinions on gear.

So I need to buy TWO rods.

 

First let me tell what kind of fishing I intend to do and what my budget is.

 

I'm in the $50-$100 range (for each rod/reel combo).

The type of fishing I will be doing:

 

1. Mangrove fishing (saltwater)

2. Bridge/Pier fishing (saltwater)

3. Charter fishing or friend's boat (saltwater)

4. Lake fishing (fresh)

5. Canal fishing (fresh)

 

I'm in South FL so expect the type of fish here (Biscayne Bay, Keys, etc.)

 

In saltwater I typically use live bait (shrimp, crab, worm, etc.)

In freshwater I typically use bread or worms.

I don't typically use artifical bait because I don't have any luck with it!

But let's not rule this out of my options.

 

I'm looking for a spinning rod/reel (not spincast and I don't think baitcast is best for me, is it ?).

 

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-rod-reel-for-most-fishers/

The article here is pretty convining on getting a Penn Battle II reel and Ugly Stik GX2 rod combo.

It's $150 which is over my budget but I think it's worth it.

 

Anyways I'm just seeing what more experienced anglers would recommend for me in my situation.

Should I just get the above and call it a day? Is it worth it?

 

I'd also like to you to include what length rod if it makes in a difference in my situation (like 6.5ft vs 7ft -- is that even a big difference?)

 

Let me know if there's any more questions I can answer to help narrow down my choices!

 

Since I'm buying two of them it would be nice to have two choices (or "styles") so I can compare !

 

THANKS!

[d-camarena]

Get the ugly stick elite combos. I fish saltwater and freshwater and i dont have any complaints. Not that sensitive but great rods and will last for years

[d-camarena]

Id say 6'6 because the 7ft ugly stiks are really heavy

[sb0]

Thanks for your reply d-camarena

 

After reading more I've narrowed it down at bit.

Right now these are my options:

 

Rods:

1. Shakespeare Ugly Stik (can't decide bewteen GX2 or the Elite yet)

2. Berkley Lightning (what's the real difference with the Shock series?)

 

Reels:

1. Pfluegar President

2. Pflueger Tricon

3. Penn Battle II (out of budget but not ruling out)

4. Penn Spinfisher (out of budget but not ruling out)

 

I should probably save now and get the more expensive reels later on. :undecided:

 

What I'm not sure on though is the length of rod and size of the reel.

I'm thinking 6' 6" ft for the rods and size 30 for the reels.

Maybe 7" for the Lightning?

 

I'm thinking maybe I should have the Lightning rod as a lighter, more sensitive, faster action set-up than the Ugly Stik.

I don't know I'm just throwing ideas out...

 

Thoughts?

Any help appreciated... thanks.

 

        

:fish1:

[poisonokie]

I think you should look into a Shimano Calais DC mounted on a Gan Craft Dead Sword Magnum. Maybe just a standard Dead Sword for the lady...

[bigbill]

Well I think you need to think about a freshwater setup and a inshore setup.

[Lendiesel22]

I think you should look into a Shimano Calais DC mounted on a Gan Craft Dead Sword Magnum. Maybe just a standard Dead Sword for the lady...

Lol yikes

[Lendiesel22]

sb0....since your needs are at both ends of the spectrum you will have a hard time finding equipment that does either side very well. Your canal and lake stuff wont survive long on your buddies boat or off a pier specially in FL. Salt down there eats gear lol. If you have to have your gear be hybrid i would talk with a shop in your area about trout set ups. I think those guys use 7 or 7-3 MH spinning rods, 25lb braid and 15lb fc leaders. I have seen them throw clacker rigs, jigs and shrimp, DOA lures, mirro lures, and top waters. All things that translate to similar things in fresh water. Its the only way i see you being able to balance fresh and salt while having fun with smaller fish and being able to handle something larger.

Please dont buy ugly sticks. No offense but they suck and with everything you have available today there is just no need. Sorry just my opinion. Good luck with finding your set ups

.

[d-camarena]

Out of those 2 options id honestly go with the berkley lightning. Lighter and more sensitive. And cheaper

[sb0]

I think you should look into a Shimano Calais DC mounted on a Gan Craft Dead Sword Magnum. Maybe just a standard Dead Sword for the lady...

 

Oh yea? You can send donations to my Paypal account.

 

sb0....since your needs are at both ends of the spectrum you will have a hard time finding equipment that does either side very well. Your canal and lake stuff wont survive long on your buddies boat or off a pier specially in FL. Salt down there eats gear lol. If you have to have your gear be hybrid i would talk with a shop in your area about trout set ups. I think those guys use 7 or 7-3 MH spinning rods, 25lb braid and 15lb fc leaders. I have seen them throw clacker rigs, jigs and shrimp, DOA lures, mirro lures, and top waters. All things that translate to similar things in fresh water. Its the only way i see you being able to balance fresh and salt while having fun with smaller fish and being able to handle something larger.

Please dont buy ugly sticks. No offense but they suck and with everything you have available today there is just no need. Sorry just my opinion. Good luck with finding your set ups

.

 

Thanks. I can pass by the tackle shop and see what they recommend.

But what's wrong with the Ugly Stik? I haven't heard anything bad and lots of ppl seem to love them.

 

Well I think you need to think about a freshwater setup and a inshore setup.

 

Thanks for narrowing down the styles.

I'll have to get a dedicated freshwater setup down the road.

Right now I'll need two rods that can go anywhere since I'll be fishing with someone.

[Lendiesel22]

Oh yea? You can send donations to my Paypal account.

Thanks. I can pass by the tackle shop and see what they recommend.

But what's wrong with the Ugly Stik? I haven't heard anything bad and lots of ppl seem to love them.

Thanks for narrowing down the styles.

I'll have to get a dedicated freshwater setup down the road.

Right now I'll need two rods that can go anywhere since I'll be fishing with someone.

Not that there is anything " wrong " with it. Its just a blunt tool and with all the options available today there is no reason to have a blunt tool in my humble opinion. We have all sorts of materials, actions, lengths, grips, colors, ect to choose from. If you want a tank of a rod thats biggest seeling point is that you can run it over with a truck than by all means go ahead. I didnt like em when I was 10 and I dont like them now. There are too many other products out there that do a much better job. Its my opinion and I stand with it.

[WRB]

Okuma Ceymar reel and Relexion rod are excellent value for your inshore and fresh water fishing.

I would suggest the size 30 reel and 6'6" medium rod is a good combo close to your budget; $115.

Tom

[sb0]

Okuma Ceymar reel and Relexion rod are excellent value for your inshore and fresh water fishing.

I would suggest the size 30 reel and 6'6" medium rod is a good combo close to your budget; $115.

Tom

 

I'll have to see if I can find them locally. I went out and to try out the rods. I felt the original Ugly Stik, the GX2, and the Elite.

The Elite feels best in my hand. I'm thinking of pairing that with President reel or maybe that Penn Battle II from the article.

Unfortunately they didn't have the Lightning -- but since I plan on two rods anyways it'll be great to compare with those Okumas!

Thanks for the size details!

 

Not that there is anything " wrong " with it. Its just a blunt tool and with all the options available today there is no reason to have a blunt tool in my humble opinion. We have all sorts of materials, actions, lengths, grips, colors, ect to choose from. If you want a tank of a rod thats biggest seeling point is that you can run it over with a truck than by all means go ahead. I didnt like em when I was 10 and I dont like them now. There are too many other products out there that do a much better job. Its my opinion and I stand with it.

I see your viewpoint. Still need to pass by the tackle shop though.

Sorry to sound noobish but what do you mean by 'blunt tool' ?

[Lendiesel22]

No worries bud. It means that the job calls for a knife and you would be using a spoon. Calls for a shovel and you have a sledge hammer, ect. You can get by with alot of things to get a job done, but if you had the right tool for the job it would save you alot of aggrevation and time.

[sb0]

UPDATE [Feb 2016]:

In case anyone was wondering or views this thread in the future I'll like to tell you what I decided on. 

After going to a number of places and trying things out I decided on these two combos.

1. Ugly Stik Elite with Penn Spinfisher 6500 LLV [Offshore] (haven't ordered the reel yet)
2. Berkley Lightning Rod Shock with Penn Battle II 4000 [Inshore/Freshwater]

I liked the way the Elite felt to me over the GX2.

The choices for line are numerous. So I'm starting with the Berkley Trilene Big Game Mono at 10# for the Lightning Rod/Battle 4000 combo.

I'll probably go 20# or 30# braided for the Ugly Stik/Spinfisher combo.

Down the road I'll have to experience and see if the Lightning Rod pairs better with a 3000.  If I decide it does then I can get a third rod and put either the 4000 or the 6500 on it 

Now.....all I need is some hooks/sinkers/bobbers and I think I'll be all set! Researching this now... 

[JohnnyRebTX]

On Thursday, February 04, 2016 at 0:52 AM, sb0 said:

UPDATE [Feb 2016]:

In case anyone was wondering or views this thread in the future I'll like to tell you what I decided on. 

After going to a number of places and trying things out I decided on these two combos.

1. Ugly Stik Elite with Penn Spinfisher 6500 LLV [Offshore] (haven't ordered the reel yet)
2. Berkley Lightning Rod Shock with Penn Battle II 4000 [Inshore/Freshwater]

I liked the way the Elite felt to me over the GX2.

The choices for line are numerous. So I'm starting with the Berkley Trilene Big Game Mono at 10# for the Lightning Rod/Battle 4000 combo.

I'll probably go 20# or 30# braided for the Ugly Stik/Spinfisher combo.

Down the road I'll have to experience and see if the Lightning Rod pairs better with a 3000.  If I decide it does then I can get a third rod and put either the 4000 or the 6500 on it 

Now.....all I need is some hooks/sinkers/bobbers and I think I'll be all set! Researching this now... 

I'm in the same boat. No pun intended. I just got three new rod and reels for Christmas  (which I love), but I wanted to upgrade one of my old, first spinning rods. It is the cheapest of cheap.(Shakespeare Durango $9.99 at Walmart, but still caught a 2# & #3 Spotted Bass on it yesterday) I have been looking very closely at a lot of rods suggested here from other posts, and I've narrowed it down to the Ugly Stik Elite, and the Berkley Lightning Rod Shock. Maybe someday I'll look closer at a Cabelaa's Whoppin' Stik, a Bass Pro Shops Carbonlite or Bionic Blade, or an Abu Garcia Vengeance or higher. . I own an Ugly Stik GX2. It handles bass with ease. I also own an Ugly Stik Tiger rod with a Catmaxx reel for the hawgs of freshwater (flatheads, blues, gar, and carp) as well as a Berkley Glowstik. I like them both. Since you have used both the Elite & Shock, do you prefer one over the othet? 

[new2BC4bass]

How are you holding the bread on the hook?  I fished worms (the bigger nightwalkers) a lot in my youth.  You aren't going to want a MHF rod if you just run the hook through the worm a couple times.  Too easy to whip it off on the cast.  You will need a very soft tip.  I eventually picked up a 9' Fenwick glass Night Crawler Secret rod for nightwalkers.  Says made by Vanguard on it.  That was like 50 years ago, so don't look for one now. 

[Angry John]

I would recomend looking at inshore rods.  They have components that will stand up to the salt and work good in the freshwater situations.  I cannot recommend a rod in your price range as i fish st croix and their inshore is more than you quoted.  The rods made for inshore are corrosion resistant and will last.

[fishnkamp]

Go look on West Marine's website. They list a Penn Battle 2 4000 series reel (and a 3000 series reel ) available in combo with a Penn Battle 7 foot Medium rod for less than $120. Now normally i would say go a little smaller reel like the 3000 ( and you could decide to) but you could hit a fish that can really run like a snook or even a baby tarpon so line capacity should be important. For your needs I would either spool with say 40 pound braid or maybe 15 pound to 20 pound mono. The thing is that you have 52 West Marine stores that are located in Florida.  Chances are you will not have too much trouble going into one. They will have people in their fishing departments that really know what you will need to fish for the fish in your area, as well as help you pick out the right gear.  I am friends with the manager of the fishing department in our store here in MD.  We have enough serious striper fisherman, as well as guys that go after perch, sea trout and croaker, that he stocks and sells quite a few of those combos..  That store is located right here next to the Chesapeake Bay.