How To Pick a Boat Fishing Rod & Reel
Can anyone help me pick a boat fishing rod & reel for saltwater in-shore fishing. I am mostly fishing in the long island sound, for blues fluke and strippers.
I would like to do bait fishing and also use poppers and jigs. Is there a rod and reel combos that would accomplish both types of fishing?
Also what lb test line is good?
Also what type of line should i buy? (braided, mono, flouro)
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Tagged with: amp • fishing rod • flouro • fluke • lb test line • long island • long island sound • rod and reel • rod and reel combos • Shore Fishing • strippers
Filed under: Marine Fishing
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In my opinion, your best bet for an inexpensive but well built boat rod (for trolling or bottom fishing) would be an Ugly Stik.
Here are some links to some good ideas:
>> Shakespeare Ugly Stik Big Water Boat Rods
For Topwater fishing (with Poppers) and Jig fishing I would suggest you go with a higher graphite content rod such as one of these:
>> Daiwa Coastal Inshore Coast-to-Coast Spinning Rods
>> Falcon Coastal XG Series Casting Rods
Fluke fishing is mostly a "bottom bouncing" affair. Although you can easily catch Fluke/Flounder with bait, a better way to fish is by using artificial lures. Here is a decent article on Fluke fishing-
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/fishing_articles/Regional_Fishing/United_States/New_York/10_Ways_to_Catch_Fluke_134.html
If I was setting up for Striper, Fluke and Blue fishing I would have 4 different outfit’s- 2 heavier action "boat rods" for bottom fishing/trolling and 2 medium/heavy action rods for tossing lures.
What TYPE/BRAND of outfit’s is strictly up to your budget.
Here is what I would pick-
1. 2 Ugly Stik Boat rods with Shimano Charter Special reels. Shimano Charter Specials:
>> Shimano Charter Special TR-2000LD Reel
OR
Abu Garcia 7000 C3i:
>> Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 7000C3i Round Baitcast Reel
OR
Abu Garcia C4′s or C3′s:
>> Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C4 Classic Round Baitcast Reels
and 2 "lighter action" outfit’s consisting of:
1. The above Daiwa Inshore Rod with either 2 Penn Slammer Reels:
>> Penn Slammer Spinning Reels
OR
2 Fin-Nor OFS 65 Spinning reels:
>> Fin-Nor Offshore Spinning Reels
MAKE SURE to read all the reviews on the reels and rods I’ve suggested.
Other options?
Penn SSM Spinning reels, Shimano Symetre and Sustain reels, Shimano Calcutta reels, Quantum "Cabo" Spinning reel, Pflueger Supreme XT, Etc.
14-17LB Mono line is common. Braided line allows for better sensitivity to strikes, no stretch, and higher strength. If you can afford Braid it works well for most fishing situations EXCEPT for trolling. I suggest you TRY braid on one of your 4 outfit’s and see if you like it before spending extra money on all 4. If you decide to go with braid you MUST use a leader, (getting un-hung on a snag can be a major hassle without a leader). I personally like Power Pro braided line, but there are other lines that will work just as well.
So in regards to your "mainline" it is strictly a "preference issue" which you need to experiment and find what works best for you.
However, in regards to Flurocarbon leaders, I think everyone will agree that Fluro is an important part of ANY type of fishing and you should probably have at least some leader material in your tackle box.
Anyway, hope this helps ya? Good luck!