pauldconyers Posted July 19, 2017 Posted July 19, 2017 The other day I bought a Vexilar SP100 SonarPhone portable fish finder unit. (They are pretty cool, check them out!) The basic concept is you tie it on a rod and throw it out and it sends the fish finding info to your phone. The unit itself is about the size of a tennis ball and has the weight of a real large lure. My question is regarding what kind of reel and line I should use with it? I do not want to spend much money on this rod but I DO NOT want to throw my new $100 toy out on the water to watch it go sailing away! I figure I will get a 6.5 or 7 foot MH rod but should I go with a bait cast reel or an open face spinning reel? I am thinking the open faced one as I am just going to kind of sling it out to a general area and am not worried about precision. Also doesn’t an open face spinning reel use the weight of what is tied on to get greater distances? Obviously I want to get some pretty stout line but should I go with mono, braid or does it matter? Quote
d-camarena Posted July 19, 2017 Posted July 19, 2017 If your gonna get a rod specially for that just get a spincast Quote
dsqui Posted July 19, 2017 Posted July 19, 2017 I would think a cheap swim bait rod would work best. Another option would be a cheap catfish combo to help cast that kind of weight. I would run some stout line 20# plus depending on spool capacity old probably lean towards something that floats like a cheap mono or braid 1 Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted July 19, 2017 Super User Posted July 19, 2017 Get a cheap catfish combo as dsqui has mentioned. You could really use any anything but a spinning set up with mon will be the best bet for a few reasons. Braid is fine but it can dig into itself and please don't take offense to this but, the term "open face" spinning is something I remember being used in the 70s and isn't thrown around too much anymore except by casual anglers that I know that aren't into newer methods or equipment. So that is why I think you make it as simply as it can get, the spin cast would also be good but I think seeing the line to make sure there is no tangle before casting would be the best bet, and as long as the rod can handle the weight of the unit you'll be fine. Quote
huffman1988 Posted July 20, 2017 Posted July 20, 2017 I would go with a cheap catfish combo and get some heavy braid. Quote
pauldconyers Posted July 20, 2017 Author Posted July 20, 2017 This all confirms what I was thinking. Thank you for the input! Quote
CroakHunter Posted July 20, 2017 Posted July 20, 2017 20Lb p-line cxx on a cathunter combo from wally world. Like 25 bucks Quote
Kyhokie Posted July 20, 2017 Posted July 20, 2017 I don't know why you have to cast that thing so far. You really only need to cast it as far as a normal cast would go Quote
pauldconyers Posted July 20, 2017 Author Posted July 20, 2017 15 hours ago, Kyhokie said: I don't know why you have to cast that thing so far. You really only need to cast it as far as a normal cast would go I don't have to cast it that "far" really and that was not the point of the question. In essence I only need to "see" the areas I can get to via my cast to fish. The question was based more upon what kind of rod and reel setup would be best for this task. The "sensor" you throw out there has a good am of weight to it. I'm not about to throw it out and snap the line or rod or whatever and watch over 100 bucks float away... Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted July 20, 2017 Super User Posted July 20, 2017 If you are going to use a cheap spinning reel, cut the bail wire off. I have sent a few heavy saltwater lures sailing to portugal when the bail on my surf reel snapped shut during the cast. Quote
pauldconyers Posted July 20, 2017 Author Posted July 20, 2017 6 hours ago, Bunnielab said: If you are going to use a cheap spinning reel, cut the bail wire off. I have sent a few heavy saltwater lures sailing to portugal when the bail on my surf reel snapped shut during the cast. Hmm, how would this effect performance? I guess you could still "flip" the little knubs that would remain to cast it, correct? The problem you are describing is when you cast it hard out there and with your hand you flip through bail and it jerks to a stop and the lure goes flying, correct? I don't have a reel in front of me to look at but doesn't part of the bail "collect" the line as you are reeling it in? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 21, 2017 Super User Posted July 21, 2017 Ugly stick, Kastking reel, 50# braid. Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted July 21, 2017 Super User Posted July 21, 2017 19 hours ago, pauldconyers said: Hmm, how would this effect performance? I guess you could still "flip" the little knubs that would remain to cast it, correct? The problem you are describing is when you cast it hard out there and with your hand you flip through bail and it jerks to a stop and the lure goes flying, correct? I don't have a reel in front of me to look at but doesn't part of the bail "collect" the line as you are reeling it in? Yes, the bail snaps shut and your lure keeps flying. The lack of the wire means you have to manually move the line onto the roller after the cast. For lobbing a sonar out there it should not slow you down too much. Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted July 21, 2017 Super User Posted July 21, 2017 Barbie or maybe Batman should do the trick Quote
Jelvas Posted July 21, 2017 Posted July 21, 2017 On 20/07/2017 at 6:27 PM, Bunnielab said: If you are going to use a cheap spinning reel, cut the bail wire off. I have sent a few heavy saltwater lures sailing to portugal when the bail on my surf reel snapped shut during the cast. I can confirm this... one of them landed in the wind shield of my truck, expect a bill coming your way! Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted July 21, 2017 Super User Posted July 21, 2017 46 minutes ago, Jelvas said: I can confirm this... one of them landed in the wind shield of my truck, expect a bill coming your way! Hah, call the consulate and complain, maybe I can get a free trip over there for the trial, it would be fun to loose some lures on the other side of the Atlantic! Quote
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