So, I'm going to check out a custom built 12' 6" surf rod this weekend. If I buy it, it'll be the most I've ever spent on a rod. It's kinda scary, but exciting too!
I surf fished a long time ago off Carolina Beach. My most recent fishing has been on inland waterways. Brackish to salt water. My friend has had his best luck in Bass Pond (Kiawah Island) where he's caught quite a few bigguns. Last time I was down there they just weren't biting. We had our best luck on some of the pond outflows but even those were just small 12-15" reds and trout.If you fish enough, and fish certain baits and techniques you'll appreciate high end gear. I've never surf fished so I have no clue on that set up. I have a several $200+ fresh water rods. For light line finesse fishing they are invaluable. IMO it just depends on your experience, skills and techniques. I also use a $50 fiberglass rod a lot.
We need to get up and throw some rigs! I just bought a 656 from Tommy a couple weeks ago and I love it! I threw it on a 12' Penn Battallion and am getting pretty consistent 100 yard casts with 5 ounces. I was a HUGE improvment over the Squall 25n I had initially gone with. Cheap is expensive!What kind of rod? what are the rods ratings? Fishing rods and reels are like anything else, you get what you pay for. I started surf fishing and was just buying the $30 combos at the local tackle shops. They were fine for a while but eventually I started collecting higher end gear. There is a certain smoothness to higher end gear and you can usually feel the quality in a good rod and reel combo. In certain areas and when fishing for certain species it behooves you to be able to launch your bait 150 yards. A decent rod and reel will get you out there with correct technique. I have developed a crush on Carolina cast pro rods and akios reels. My 12'8" 4-8oz rod was just a little over $300 and the Akios scm 656 was around $260. It is my favorite rod and reel and I can put a 6oz weight on it and launch it well over 100yds. Most of the time it is unnecessary to cast that far. I still love casting that rod though and if I had better technique, I could launch it 200+ yards
That is definitely a heaver rod. You would probably need at least 8-10oz to load that rod which is great if you fish those conditions. If you do not drum fish in heavy currents I would probably recommend something lighter.We need to get up and throw some rigs! I just bought a 656 from Tommy a couple weeks ago and I love it! I threw it on a 12' Penn Battallion and am getting pretty consistent 100 yard casts with 5 ounces. I was a HUGE improvment over the Squall 25n I had initially gone with. Cheap is expensive!
Iwas looking hard at a CPS, but just didn't have the extra hundo laying around. I ran across this rod on a fishing forum and it's just down the road from me. It's a custom build from Rod Father out of Hampton Va. 12'6" Rain Shadow 1509 blank, Fuji guides and reel seat. I've heard that the 1509 will throw 12&bait if not more, but I seriously doubt I'll be fishing in those conditions. But, you never know. So, it's a heaver rod. They tend to be stiff and some find them hard to load, but those that love them, love them.
What I will tell you is this.... fish dont care how much ya rod cost. I have 200 dollar bass rods and reels and fish harris, jordan lake by me and havent caught a fish yet. Up north had the lakes figured out and it was great. I think the fishing is a bit different down here and havent had enough chance to figure it out. But once you do, and you feel the difference in higher end gear it does make a difference in your fishing experience.
Rain Shadow 1509 blank,
I don't have the knowledge, but my 13 year old minion does. He's been all about fishing for years now. He likes to visit a neighbor's pond a couple times a week just to practice different combos and techniques. He loves taking the kayaks out on the lake and rigging stuff up too. Our last 2 summer vactions have been centered around fishing... Now he wants to get into fly fishing, that stuff gets expensive quick!Fly fishing is way more expensive. That seems cheap.
For a free boat ride I'll get you on fish at Harris.
Reservoir bass fishing IS different than fishing natural lakes to some extent.
Lol i wish.... im a lowly kayak angler. Although I do have an extra one one if you dont mind purple bought it for the wife i think its been used twice. I cant wait for a nice bass boat one day.
I was trying the shallows launched from the boat launch and paddled to toms creek area.
We did a lot of fishing in the Keys. Never knew what you might hook, especially at night.I have spent most of my life fishing in the salt.
Offshore, but mostly inshore for giant red drum, trout and flounder. (15 years of that as a professional charter captain)
If you like fishing that much and your gonna use it, buy good equipment, take care of it, and enjoy it. It will last you a long time. www.reelfishhead.com
I've got an 18' Tidewater bass boat with a Merc 150 I bought for $1100. Deal of the century. I've been threatening to take it down to Kiawah so that my friend and I can fish some different waters. It's all been fishing from the bank so far. I really need to find some time to get it in a lake around here and shake out any gremlins. Haven't had time to use it since I bought it.
You stole that! How do you sleep at night?I've got an 18' Tidewater bass boat with a Merc 150 I bought for $1100. Deal of the century. I've been threatening to take it down to Kiawah so that my friend and I can fish some different waters. It's all been fishing from the bank so far. I really need to find some time to get it in a lake around here and shake out any gremlins. Haven't had time to use it since I bought it.
It was a friend of a friend kind of deal. We gave him what he asked for it. But yeah, when he gave us the price, my arm broke the sound barrier reaching for my wallet.You stole that! How do you sleep at night?
It was a good deal from the get go. Guy said from 7 ounces and up it was a cannon. Can't wait to get some test hits on it tomorrow!Actually, 200$ for a custom 12'6" seems cheap.
Bass fishing has gotten crazy expensive. I remember when a good AllStar rod and Shimano reel was 200$ for the set.
Pretty much that is now doubled.