Thread: Rod choices

So ive found a reel that i am gonna get for my first trip down but now i need a rod. i was wondering what length is better 7 or 8 ft or is it just personal preference? also are there any "good" budget rods or do you get what you pay for? I know to stay away from a lot of the walmart combos. Any advice is appreciated.

If you talking about a rod for king fishing I'd have to say 8-9ft. I like my king rod to be either 8'8" or 8'10".

What reel did you get? The Salt Striker?
And what is YOUR personal preference?
Are you planning on mostly using it for trout or kings?

Rich gave some good advice on that size reel that he used last trip here. :headbang:
Longer is not necessarily better (or needed).
Match the tool to the job you want it to do...

I'm prolly gonna go with the salt striker but I also found a daiwa 2500c on a daiwa rod locally so I'll prolly get it too. I have a bait casting rod that I use for trout here in LA. It is 7 ft med action. I was just wondering if 7 is ok or do I need an 8 footer. Also any suggestions would be cool

Don't get me wrong, I LUV my 8 foot Lamiglass rod but,
I've been using the same 7 foot Seeker since I built in it 1999 :headbang:
[img width=720 height=970]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/pierpounder/9904GSPPking.jpg[/img]

IMHO if you're going with one of those two reels you would be just as well off with a 7 foot medium fast action rod rated for 12# line
4 of the 5 rods I usually bring on the pier are 7 footers

:fishing:

Thanks. I would prolly feel more comfortable with a 7 ft so I'll prolly go with one that length. Also 12# would be good or 15# to be safe?

Whichever will give you at least 250 yards of line on the reel to keep from being stripped.

Thanks for the info. We are getting everything together right now. Any suggestions based on experience with off the shelf rods?

I personally feel at my best control with a rod that is 6.5 - 7 feet in length. I totally agree with #er.

Off the shelf, I'd recommend something in the Shimano line between $50-$100 range. I personally love the feel and control of the Clarus rods. There are some nice low level St. Croix's near the $100 mark also that have some superb sensitivity.

If you want one of those thick Ling rods with steel guides, there are some generic ones I have seen around $100 or so at Bass Pro. If you have $200-$250ish to work with, you can get some of the custom built rods right off the shelf at J&M Tackle; and Mo Fishin' in Orange Beach has some Pier Pest specials as well.

I personally enjoy lightweight for the feel and ease of using for long periods of time without getting exhausted--I'm not all muscular like some of these other fishing buffs, and have some bone and joint weaknesses. I will pull the ling pole out when I see Jack Crevs, Cobia or Cownose Rays patrolling around, or if I am hooking up a tourist or newbie on their first bigun'.

Thanks Viking. I'm gonna find as good a rod that I can afford. We just don't want to make the 6 hr trip and have our rods broken and we r stuck and can't fish. Lol.