Gazz Posted July 17, 2020 Posted July 17, 2020 I head south to Virginia for one week each year and I spend most of that week fishing for flounder and whatever else will bite. I did pretty well this year. 2 nice keepers that we ate and a few lost on the dock flip and many more lost halfway in. Some of it was user error but a lot of it is due to crap gear. I’ve been riding out some cheap gear I’ve had for a bit as I only use it once a year. I don’t need a crazy setup to collect dust 11 months of the year. Granted, I’m sure that I can get a nice all around setup that can be used for bass as well so maybe I’ll consider that. Today was the last straw for the cheap gear. I was using a $70 Quantum medium combo that has been okay thus far when I got hit by what was absolutely the biggest flounder of my life. I truly believe it was a monster flounder as I could feel it fight while I was hooked up. However, I handed out what you would called an absolute hammer of a hookset. I was sick of letting them off halfway to the dock so I was determined to skewer this one. My combo on the other hand was not up to the task. The reel snapped clean off at the reel seat. I thought I had felt it flexing here and there when hooked up before but didn’t pay much attention to it. I can feel the biggest flounder of my life fighting away at the end of my line while I held my reel in one hand and the rod in the other. I tried to hand line it in but the delay and slack given allowed it to get off. I was honesty heartbroken as it had been a rough day fishing up to that point. I have always really disliked Quantum but in all fairness I have only really used their lower end gear. This put me over the edge though. Also, the rod had just started to spin freely from the seat reel about an hour before that. I guess I should have seen it coming. Even if it was a trophy flounder, a reel should NOT snap clean off a rod like that. I added the picture of the deceased combo and some of the success stories. They were fantastic eating. Any suggestions for a solid flounder/salt rig would be greatly appreciated. I’ve used medium setups up to this point but have felt like I could use a bit more backbone considering the size of the hooks and sinkers used for bumping bottom. Thanks! Quote
mrmacwvu1 Posted July 19, 2020 Posted July 19, 2020 I use a medium heavy rod, various ones in a 7 foot model. For reels the penn battle reels in 3500 to 4000 size with 15 pound braid and 30 lb flouro leader is what I use 90 percent of the time. I have landed everything up to 100 lb tarpon with this set up. Quote
Gazz Posted July 19, 2020 Author Posted July 19, 2020 I was considering a Penn Battle II combo in 3500-4000 either Medium or Medium Heavy. Any experience with the rod? Quote
mrmacwvu1 Posted July 20, 2020 Posted July 20, 2020 The rod is not bad. I don't spend a bunch on rods down here as they get beat up pretty bad in the mangroves getting baits and fish out. That Rod would be all you would need for flounder and for 100 bucks you can usually find them for sell online. Quote
Super User Chris at Tech Posted July 22, 2020 Super User Posted July 22, 2020 Lures or bait? How heavy weights/lures are you using? And lastly, what is your price range? Quote
Gazz Posted July 22, 2020 Author Posted July 22, 2020 49 minutes ago, Chris at Tech said: Lures or bait? How heavy weights/lures are you using? And lastly, what is your price range? I typically use a combination of both. A ton of gulp minnows and buck tails with teasers and such and then the occasional fluke rig with squid strips or other baits. The weight range is almost always 1/2-3 oz total weight. Mostly use a 1- 1.5 oz sinker with a rig so total weight is mostly 1-2 oz. only really bump up when the current is strong and I want to keep bottom contact. My price range is likely somewhere around $300. I’d prefer to stay fairly under that but will go up to $300 to get the right stuff. Thanks! Quote
Super User Chris at Tech Posted July 22, 2020 Super User Posted July 22, 2020 Battle Combo would be ok. Quote
Gazz Posted July 23, 2020 Author Posted July 23, 2020 Any suggestions on a setup a little better than that? In case I decide to go on the higher end. I now have an irrational fear (not really irrational since it happened to me already) of my reel flying away as I set a hook. I’m also not sure what I should be looking for in regards to action and weight ratings. Should I look for 1-3oz rating with a medium power or something along those lines? Quote
Super User Chris at Tech Posted July 24, 2020 Super User Posted July 24, 2020 Shimano Stradics and Daiwa BG have served me well Quote
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