Striper Combo for beach and kayak

[carrageenan]

Looking for baitcasting combo to use from shore/small inlets/kayak. Ideally up to 20/25# bass/blues if I’m lucky. Hoping to stay $300 or less, any ideas. Sorry, I know this is a pretty redundant question on the site.

 

EDIT: let me try another option. Which baitcasting combo would you suggest for targeting stripers from the beach? Plugs, soft plastics, bucktails, jigs/spoons up to 1.5 oz? 

Edited July 27, 2021 by carrageenan
Casting distance

[bulldog1935]

Tough target to hit, but for rods, I'd be looking at Tsunami and Okuma 7' rods, MH to H, based on the weight range you plan to cast.  Another really good rod for the price is Tackle Direct house brand.  

Personally, I'd increase the ante to get into a Crowder E-series Lite.  

 

You don't need the largest reel here, and many bass-fishing-aimed baitcast reels will work - the biggest problem is finding one at that price.  

That's another place I would be perfectly happy fishing my Super Duty G with 20- or 30-lb braid, and Lew's still has this reel on sale for $144 (shipped).  

150 yds 12-lb Abrazx may not be enough capacity for you.  

The Super Duty 300 has dual braking that many on the forum laud, and increases the capacity to 190-yds 14-lb.  Great brake system to learn with, and that capacity and mono/fluoro test is pretty perfect.  

 

Super Duty G is the first low profile baitcaster that impressed me enough to buy a second.  My first, after 4 years inshore, just showed its first signs of rust - they were in the brake magnets.  Ordered the correct magnets from Ali Express, and I've taken this reel out of service until I can get around to swapping 3 more drive bearings with HRCB rust-resistant.  

 

A reel I've never tried personally, but it sure looks good on paper, is Okuma Komodo - stainless drive for extreme wear and salt resistance.  I'd stick with the smallest 3-size.  Its capacity matches Super Duty 300.  

[Jigfishn10]

If you're a swimbait fisher for freshwater bass, you can use an outfit like that.

[carrageenan]

6 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Tough target to hit, but for rods, I'd be looking at Tsunami and Okuma 7' rods, MH to H, based on the weight range you plan to cast.  Another really good rod for the price is Tackle Direct house brand.  

Personally, I'd increase the ante to get into a Crowder E-series Lite.  

 

You don't need the largest reel here, and many bass-fishing-aimed baitcast reels will work - the biggest problem is finding one at that price.  

That's another place I would be perfectly happy fishing my Super Duty G with 20- or 30-lb braid, and Lew's still has this reel on sale for $144 (shipped).  

150 yds 12-lb Abrazx may not be enough capacity for you.  

The Super Duty 300 has dual braking that many on the forum laud, and increases the capacity to 190-yds 14-lb.  Great brake system to learn with, and that capacity and mono/fluoro test is pretty perfect.  

 

Super Duty G is the first low profile baitcaster that impressed me enough to buy a second.  My first, after 4 years inshore, just showed its first signs of rust - they were in the brake magnets.  Ordered the correct magnets from Ali Express, and I've taken this reel out of service until I can get around to swapping 3 more drive bearings with HRCB rust-resistant.  

 

A reel I've never tried personally, but it sure looks good on paper, is Okuma Komodo - stainless drive for extreme wear and salt resistance.  I'd stick with the smallest 3-size.  Its capacity matches Super Duty 300.  

Thanks a lot for the solid response! I’ll look into those.

[carrageenan]

5 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

If you're a swimbait fisher for freshwater bass, you can use an outfit like that.

I’m pretty new to baitcasting, usually I’m on a 9 wt or spinning rod. The idea of having a bass rod that doubles for the surf would be pretty awesome.

[Jigfishn10]

17 hours ago, carrageenan said:

I’m pretty new to baitcasting, usually I’m on a 9 wt or spinning rod. The idea of having a bass rod that doubles for the surf would be pretty awesome.

What is in your current spinning combo inventory? No need to change to baitcasting for stripers.

 

I see guys on kayaks in the bay up in Maine with 9 wt and Clouser streamers having a great time with stripers. 

[desmobob]

 

What's wrong with your 9wt for stripers?  That's been my go-to for 26 years.  ?

 

I do bring along a 7'6" MH Daiwa Ardito travel baitcasting rod and a Lew's Inshore reel on saltwater fly fishing trips for stripers, just in case.  

[bulldog1935]

On 7/26/2021 at 2:47 PM, carrageenan said:

EDIT: let me try another option. Which baitcasting combo would you suggest for targeting stripers from the beach? Plugs, soft plastics, bucktails, jigs/spoons up to 1.5 oz? 

 

ok, this is different than fishing from a kayak, though I also fish my 8-1/2' bait rods from kayak.  

 

My reel recommendations still fit, but for rod, I'd go with an MH steelhead rod.  Okuma SST is a good place to find a cost-effective one.  Also Lamiglas X-11.  

 

Here's my choice Lamiglas Rogue River Special MTC - Tyler, owner of corpusfishing forum, swears by his for casting lures from the beach.  

 

 

Purpose-built beach lure rod, custom Abu CT and 8' RH Composites 8' ML surf rod - this will cast beyond your imagination - just about triples your price target - but the tackle above is friendlier to use.  

 

 

 

Did a search on TackleDirect, just in case there was a long dedicated surf lure casting rod in your price range - none came up (but there are cost-effective spinning options).  There are several in much higher grades, Century, RH Composites...

Look at Steelhead Casting rods.  

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Here's my choice Lamiglas Rogue River Special MTC - Tyler, owner of corpusfishing forum, swears by his for casting lures from the beach.  

 

 

 

   That is an AWESOME rod!             jj

[MassBass]

I like an 8' 6" heavy salmon/steelhead rod. 

[carrageenan]

Great responses here! To those asking, sometimes I don’t feel like using the 9 wt. I guess when it comes to striped bass on the fly, I enjoy the back bays more. My spinning rod works just fine, but ive never used a baitcaster for striped bass, thought it would be a kick.

 

it looks like the Lamiglas Rogue River Special MTC Is no longer offered by lami?

[bulldog1935]

yes, it's been gone a long time, and the current G1000 MTC, a great rod in its own right, is Medium (closer to ML, but fast as the dickens).  

You gave us a budget to work with up front, and if Rogue River Special was still available, either it or G1000 wouldn't meet your target.  You pay a premium for US-made rod blanks.  

I included it mostly so you could read the length, line and lure ratings - those you can duplicate on most of the rods I mentioned.  

 

I've caught mackerel on RPLX7 (TS-250) and suspended snapper on 10-wt (TS-450), but it's something you have to want to prove compared to the lower effort of fishing conventional tackle.  

Where fly tackle always shines is sight-fishing stealth.  

[carrageenan]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

yes, it's been gone a long time, and the current G1000 MTC, a great rod in its own right, is Medium (closer to ML, but fast as the dickens).  

You gave us a budget to work with up front, and if Rogue River Special was still available, either it or G1000 wouldn't meet your target.  You pay a premium for US-made rod blanks.  

I included it mostly so you could read the length, line and lure ratings - those you can duplicate on most of the rods I mentioned.  

 

I've caught mackerel on RPLX7 (TS-250) and suspended snapper on 10-wt (TS-450), but it's something you have to want to prove compared to the lower effort of fishing conventional tackle.  

Where fly tackle always shines is sight-fishing stealth.  

I appreciate all the help! I just wanted to be sure that I wasn’t missing anything. 

[carrageenan]

Pulling a 180 and going light for inshore and back bay applications from yak, will let the other rods do the heavy lifting. Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies, this forum has been invaluable.