Thread: Thanks pier#r and opinions on rod/reel combo

Thanks first to pier#r for the emails and looking forward to meeting you late summer. Since we'll be staying at 4 Seasons with a shorter pier, he suggested I don't go for the big/heavy gear as the pier there is only 700 plus feet. I'm looking at a couple I'd like opinions/advice on please. Anyone like/dislike the Abu Garcia Cardinal Bruiser combo or the Daiwa D Wave? I'm getting good reviews from some places and then some that aren't as good. Looking to outfit both hubs and I for a week down on the water. Since we only come down 1-2 times a year, I have a hard time justifying really high dollar rods/reels. Thanks in advance for any opinions/suggestions.

My wife has a D Wave and it has held up pretty good since we don't get to go but a couple times a year. Make sure you rinse it off after every time you use it. I also usually remove all the line after I get home if it is going to be a few months before we go back. The line on the spool will hold salt which after some time will cause corrosion on the reel. Check J&M, they had a Shimano Solstace reel and Stimula rod combo for around $70 last time I was in there. I have one of those combos and also 3 more Solstace reels.

I don't know anything about any of the ABU Garcia combos, so no opinion there. I'm also unfamiliar with the D-Wave, but I did get a Daiwa D-Shock combo for my GF a year or so ago. It is entry level gear in price, but if I was forced to use it exclusively everyday for a month I think it would be up to the task and I wouldn't complain despite the fact that I'm somewhat of a gear snob.

I had a D-wave and it held up for about 8 months of consistent use. The bail spring broke on me. That's what did it in. They are decent combos and would give you at least 2-3 years of use out of them for what you do. I have had the shocks also and used them for inshore fishing from my kayak and they seized up in a matter of months. If anything I would go with the Abu Garcia combo. I am not familiar with it but I have two Abu Garcia reels(Cardinal 102i and 302i) for getting close to 2 years now. Looking at the combo on the website, the reel is a cardinal, but I it is not similar to what I have. Given that though, the cardinals I have are still their base models. I have serviced the 302 myself and it was still in great shape after a year(didn't really need servicing). My 102 I haven't opened up yet but still feels like the day I bought it, and hit has landed sheepies, specks, reds, Spanish, bluefish, and best of all went 2/3 on kings last year with it(both being in the 8-6# range). I got a discount on them because I sent them two outdated reels to receive them in place at a 45% discount. I had planned on using for soley ffreshwater, but since I don't do much freshwater fishing said what the heck. Didn't expectct this much use and abuse out of them but they have held up beautifully. I have even used them from my kayak without any lingering problems like the d-waves and shocks. So long story short if given the option I would go with the Abu Garcia combo. There are better things you can probably get, but if you need the choice between the two, go with the Abu Garcia. They have held up better than I imagined, and when I was talking to their customer service about my out of date reels they had excellent customer service. Sorry for the lengthy response but for once I have some knowledgeable experience to help out .

That was my thought on rods when I first started fishing the pier. But after the first time u get spoiled by a big tarpon or a smoker king u will think different. I've acquired several 706's and made rods for each and I wouldn't change a thing.
Well maybe a Vann Staal.

Sorry I'm so tardy in my thanks. Had a lightning strike at home Friday that took out my modem/ethernet. Computer in shop now.....booo hissss