AR15.Com Archives
 Mid Size Reel and rod ADVICE
emcs31089  [Team Member]
7/7/2008 1:09:30 AM
Looking for a midsize rod and reel for spanish, specks, fish about that size. Maybe bonita and of course the skip jacks get on there. Pier, boat, surf fishing.

Looked at the Penn550ss and 460slammer today...No difference except the clerk said the 460slammer was made better to justify the doubling in price

What are y'all using for these species? Up until I've been using smaller rigs and want to step it up a notch.
M4-TUNA  [Team Member]
9/12/2008 9:45:30 PM
Something in the 7'6" or 8' lenght rod and a good Shimano Calcutta 400 reel. I run 14lb to 17lb on them. U casting or trolling ? either way this is agood set up for must of my fishing in big water.
emcs31089  [Team Member]
9/14/2008 9:53:40 PM

Originally Posted By M4-TUNA:
Something in the 7'6" or 8' lenght rod and a good Shimano Calcutta 400 reel. I run 14lb to 17lb on them. U casting or trolling ? either way this is agood set up for must of my fishing in big water.
Hey thanks for the advice I ended up getting a Shimano Sahara. I have plenty of bigger stuff but wanted something smaller that I could use on redfish and stuff from the kayak. It worked out well. Have it on an allstar rod not sure of length
M4-TUNA  [Team Member]
9/14/2008 10:21:21 PM
Good reel. So U went spinner that is a lil easier in a small boat. I run the Stratic's for spinners.

Originally Posted By emcs31089:

Originally Posted By M4-TUNA:
Something in the 7'6" or 8' lenght rod and a good Shimano Calcutta 400 reel. I run 14lb to 17lb on them. U casting or trolling ? either way this is agood set up for must of my fishing in big water.
Hey thanks for the advice I ended up getting a Shimano Sahara. I have plenty of bigger stuff but wanted something smaller that I could use on redfish and stuff from the kayak. It worked out well. Have it on an allstar rod not sure of length
emcs31089  [Team Member]
9/14/2008 11:41:38 PM

Originally Posted By M4-TUNA:
Good reel. So U went spinner that is a lil easier in a small boat. I run the Stratic's for spinners.

Originally Posted By emcs31089:

Originally Posted By M4-TUNA:
Something in the 7'6" or 8' lenght rod and a good Shimano Calcutta 400 reel. I run 14lb to 17lb on them. U casting or trolling ? either way this is agood set up for must of my fishing in big water.
Hey thanks for the advice I ended up getting a Shimano Sahara. I have plenty of bigger stuff but wanted something smaller that I could use on redfish and stuff from the kayak. It worked out well. Have it on an allstar rod not sure of length
I love the stradics also I have a small one I use for trout. They are so smooth.....
Q3131A  [Team Member]
9/15/2008 5:12:59 PM
Shimano Claurs 7' M or Crucial 7'M with Symmetre 4000 or Stradic 4000. Spooled with 20lb high viz power pro and a 30lb flouro carbon leader. For spanish use a double lenght shaft 2/0 hook.

Rod and reel depending on budget.

I caught a 32" spanish yesterday on my set up. It was a blast.
Q3131A  [Team Member]
9/15/2008 5:14:51 PM

Originally Posted By emcs31089:

Originally Posted By M4-TUNA:
Something in the 7'6" or 8' lenght rod and a good Shimano Calcutta 400 reel. I run 14lb to 17lb on them. U casting or trolling ? either way this is agood set up for must of my fishing in big water.
Hey thanks for the advice I ended up getting a Shimano Sahara. I have plenty of bigger stuff but wanted something smaller that I could use on redfish and stuff from the kayak. It worked out well. Have it on an allstar rod not sure of length


Return the Sahara for a Symmetre.

We have not had any Sahara last more than a season and 1/2. I have Symmetres that are 5 years old.
Stasher1  [Team Member]
9/15/2008 11:15:38 PM

Originally Posted By Q3131A:
Shimano Claurs 7' M or Crucial 7'M with Symmetre 4000 or Stradic 4000. Spooled with 20lb high viz power pro and a 30lb flouro carbon leader. For spanish use a double lenght shaft 2/0 hook.

Rod and reel depending on budget.

I caught a 32" spanish yesterday on my set up. It was a blast.


Don't forget about the Compre. It falls between the Clarus and the Crucial in Shimano's freshwater lineup.
emcs31089  [Team Member]
9/16/2008 1:07:49 AM

Originally Posted By Q3131A:

Originally Posted By emcs31089:

Originally Posted By M4-TUNA:
Something in the 7'6" or 8' lenght rod and a good Shimano Calcutta 400 reel. I run 14lb to 17lb on them. U casting or trolling ? either way this is agood set up for must of my fishing in big water.
Hey thanks for the advice I ended up getting a Shimano Sahara. I have plenty of bigger stuff but wanted something smaller that I could use on redfish and stuff from the kayak. It worked out well. Have it on an allstar rod not sure of length


Return the Sahara for a Symmetre.

We have not had any Sahara last more than a season and 1/2. I have Symmetres that are 5 years old.
How exactly does it fail? It stood up fine all summer on refish, bluefish, spanish, etc etc
Q3131A  [Team Member]
9/17/2008 7:59:54 PM

Originally Posted By emcs31089:

Originally Posted By Q3131A:

Originally Posted By emcs31089:

Originally Posted By M4-TUNA:
Something in the 7'6" or 8' lenght rod and a good Shimano Calcutta 400 reel. I run 14lb to 17lb on them. U casting or trolling ? either way this is agood set up for must of my fishing in big water.
Hey thanks for the advice I ended up getting a Shimano Sahara. I have plenty of bigger stuff but wanted something smaller that I could use on redfish and stuff from the kayak. It worked out well. Have it on an allstar rod not sure of length


Return the Sahara for a Symmetre.

We have not had any Sahara last more than a season and 1/2. I have Symmetres that are 5 years old.
How exactly does it fail? It stood up fine all summer on refish, bluefish, spanish, etc etc


The bail spring failed and internal workings. We fish year round on salt water. The Symmetre has held up the lesser reels have not.
Q3131A  [Team Member]
9/17/2008 8:01:40 PM

Originally Posted By Stasher1:

Originally Posted By Q3131A:
Shimano Claurs 7' M or Crucial 7'M with Symmetre 4000 or Stradic 4000. Spooled with 20lb high viz power pro and a 30lb flouro carbon leader. For spanish use a double lenght shaft 2/0 hook.

Rod and reel depending on budget.

I caught a 32" spanish yesterday on my set up. It was a blast.


Don't forget about the Compre. It falls between the Clarus and the Crucial in Shimano's freshwater lineup.


The Compre is a good rod too. All of them carry the lifetime warranty. I have had Shimano replace 4 rods in the last few years. They have great service.
npb5037  [Member]
10/2/2008 2:11:37 PM
My absolute favorite mid size rod and reel combo is my shimano 4000RI on my 6'6'' shakespear ugly stick with 30lb. spiderwire ultracast braid. Caught my biggest fish on it. 42 inch pike.