Help with newbie gear choice - rod size and reel model

[btong]

Hi, I'm new to this forum (and to the fishing hobby) but have been lurking for a few weeks.

 

I'm looking to purchase a budget setup for freshwater and light inshore fishing. I'm based in Singapore, where the fish aren't all that big.

 

For the rod, I have more or less settled on the Okuma Altera 6'6 ML. I've handled it in store, and it feels light (3.77oz) and reactive in my inexperienced hands. I can get this locally for about US$34.

I'll be putting 12lb braid (Kastking Superpower) on it. There doesn't seem to be a line test rating on this rod, so please do let me know if this is a bad idea.

I can also pick up the M size rod for minimal weight or price penalty, but then the lure rating is slightly higher (10-30g, instead of 7g to 22g). I presume this means I will have reduced sensitivity.

 

However, I'm mainly stuck on my reel choice. Currently, I'm eyeing either the Daiwa Revros LT 2000XH (US$42), Okuma Ceymar 30 ($US$41) or Okuma Epixor XT 30 (US$46).

Revros LT XH:

- Lightest weight (7.6 oz)

- Less ball bearings (if that matters)

- Higher gear ratio (6.2:1)

- Felt the least smooth/solid in my hands

- Well known/respected brand suggests durability

- Seems to have better warranty support in my area

 

Ceymar:

- Cheapest

- Middle weight (8.2 oz)

- Low gear ratio (5.0:1)

- Has the most reviews on Amazon/Youtube, mostly attesting to the smoothness and durability

- Felt better than the Revros but worse than the Epixor - smooth, but did not feel as solid, nor as satisfying in terms of drag sound or bail flip

- Unsure of warranty support in my area

 

Epixor XT:

- Most expensive

- Heaviest (8.8 oz)

- Low gear ratio (5.0:1)

- Fanciest features - slow oscillation, supposedly stronger frame than the Ceymar

- Good reviews from i_fish and tackle advisor on youtube, but also reports of defects

- Felt the most satisfying in store. However, they only had a large size in stock, which might have contribute to that positive feel

- Unsure of warranty support in my area

 

I'd love to get some opinions/suggestions. Do try to keep within these 2 brands (or Shimano), as I'm not sure if I can get other commonly suggested brands like Penn or Pflueger over here.

 

Thanks!

[bwjay]

Hey, welcome to BassResource! I can't speak from experience for any of the rods or reels you have suggested, but I can try to address a few points you brought up.

 

* 12lb braid on a ML power rod should be just fine. You could even step up to 15lb for a little more abrasion resistance, and it's still stupidly thin line. The thicker line will make knots easier to tie (and make them hold stronger too), so keep it under consideration.

 

* Generally, as you alluded to, if you go up in rod power rating, you can expect less sensitivity. So a lighter powered blank should be more sensitive, but only within the same rod line from the same manufacturer. It's going to vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, especially since rod power ratings are not standardized (some people's M is other people's MH, etc)

 

* You probably don't need to step up in power if your fish are pretty small, but if you have any sort of desire to hook into a 5lb fish on a regular basis, a M power rod is the way to go, but it won't load up/cast far with light baits like the ML. Maybe you start with the ML and in the future you step up to a more expensive, more sensitive M rod.

 

* More reel bearings ~= smoother reel. Not always the case but that's generally what they are for. Sometimes more bearings will mean a more rigid feel, as they reduce "slop" or "play" between some of the parts, so they are tighter together. Having tons of bearings doesn't really "matter" but if your reel has 2 bearings and feels like junk, then it does matter.

 

* Reel weight could be a factor, but with cheap gear, you're not gonna get real light. A heavier reel with your specific rod might help balance it, if the rod is tip-heavy. In that case I'd take a heavier reel and a more balanced combo overall. But with a ML rod, I have a hard time thinking you'd need an 8-9oz reel to balance it, so maybe a lighter reel is better for your rod choice.

 

* Larger spinning reels do feel more smooth to me as well, so that might be why the Epixor XT felt the best, but if you can try a 1000 or 2500 size, give it a shot. I believe I have read that lines comes off better from larger spools, and so they cast better, so keep that under consideration if you're trying to go for a small reel.

 

* If the Revros felt crappy, even if you know the warranty is good in your area, don't buy it. "At least if this piece of junk breaks I can get another piece of junk for a small fee". lol NOT THAT IT'S JUNK! Just that you said it feels the least smooth/refined of all the reels you mentioned.

 

* While I do love my Shimano reels (both BC and spinning), I don't own any reels from them under $150 (Stradic FK being the lowest tier). I have tried the Sahara a couple times at the store, and it feels OK. I don't like the color schemes of the lower end Shimano spinning reels but they feel smooth enough to me. If you can find one in your price range that feels good and you're OK with how it looks, you can generally depend on Shimano for performance, so if you like it, keep it in the running.

 

Hopefully this helps! If you have any follow-up questions about what I said, I'll do my best to answer them.  And again, welcome!

 

-j

[WRB]

Welcome to BR, very detailed post.

Look up each spinning reel for compatible to salt water use,  that should be on top of your list. Corrosion from dissimilar materials isn't an issue in fresh water, major issue in salt water. 

Tom

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

Agree with @WRB to check for SW use. 

 

Is a reason I went with Shimano reels that are both FW/SW

capable. Mine are Stradics, but they, and Daiwa, make some

of the best spinning reels on the market capable of fishing

both types of water.

 

Size of reel, balance on rod, totally in the hands of the fisherman.

I like shorter rods, lighter 1000 size reels. But with today's

materials, reels are getting smaller, bigger gearing, deeper spools

putting a 3000 at the size and weight of some 1000 models of

years past.

 

Good luck with your search!

[Hook2Jaw]

I have a friend who used to use Daiwa Revros 2500s for his fishing charter clientele -- they don't stand up to salt water exposure very well.  As stated previously, if you're planning on salt you should look around more and find a compatible reel.

[kayaking_kev]

Check out the Shimano Sienna if you can, they are around $30, very smooth reel for the price.

 

Okuma Celilo rods are pretty good too at around $30.