I need a new rig. Any suggestions on a decent rod / reel combo? Looking to stay under $200.
Allstar? TTF?

Rod- at least a 7'- All Star, Castaway or Falcon
Reel- The best Shimano you can afford.

What he said.

I prefer American Rodsmith rods, but you can't go wrong with the first reply. Shimano is the best reel in my opinion.

In that price range, you might consider a Revo, too.

As mentioned above. Spool up Berkely Big Game, 12 lb. test.

+1 for american rodsmiths

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"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. " -Thomas Jefferson

I own an American Rodsmith rod. It was made in China.

Good rod, though.

perhaps the rodsmith himself, who is American, traveled to China to work...

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"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. " -Thomas Jefferson

If you're looking to stay under $200 for the rod & reel just go to Academy where they usually have a combo on sale. Lately it's been the Shimano Citica and a Castaway rod.

They have the saltwater Quantum Energy PT from the past generation on sale for $100 at Academy. I'd pair that with a Team All-Star Inshore rod ($80) for the best combo you can put together under $200 (tax and all, and all from Academy).

The Citica, Revo S, Ambassadeur 4600/5500C3 are the other reels I'd recommend in your price range.

For under $200 I would suggest a citica 100 dsv with an american rodsmits rod. If you ever try a Laguna rod or a waterloo paired with the new chronarch you will be ruined for life as every other rod will feel like a broom handle


Deliver Me!

Just say no to the Texas tradition of bait casters for saltwater fishing. Get a Shimano Sedona spin reel and an $60-70 base H&H rod and spend the savings on adult beverages. Go to the parts' schmatic for a Shimano Sedona and Symetre and try to find any internal part that is different. Nice $50 cover on the Symetre.

[This message has been edited by yakman (edited 7/29/2009 5:58p).]

Rod- preference.

Reel- avet SX will kick any shimano to the curb any day of the week. The better reels are gonna push you out unless it's used. I personally went over to spinning gear a couple of years ago, and never looked back.


[This message has been edited by Ag_of_08 (edited 7/29/2009 6:32p).]

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Reel- avet SX will kick any shimano to the curb any day of the week. The better reels are gonna push you out unless it's used. I personally went over to spinning gear a couple of years ago, and never looked back.

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I imagine they would. They weigh twice as much. I have always thought of Avets as surf reels and trolling reels.

A good spinning setup can be a lot of fun too. I have and use both, but my preference is still a baitcaster, especially when throwing artifical at tailing reds.


[This message has been edited by ghollow (edited 7/30/2009 8:09a).]

Do not get an Avet reel for inshore fishing, it is way too big. The Citica / Allstar combo at Academy is going to be the best bang for your budget. This is a very good starter set up that will easily fit within your budget.

ghollow is dead on.

Be sure you get a rod case to protect it. It is a real bummer to snap off the last 6 inches of your new rod on your first trip.

I have an avet for offshore. I didnt realize they made inshore/smaller reels.

http://www.charkbait.com/cs/csrAvet.htm#SX
I can´t creat brackets on this comp, just CC


That reel is the same size as most garcia standard profile reels looking at size comparisons. I know they are considerably lighter and smaller than the penn no9, and the old comparison photos show them to be about the size of most flip phones. NOTHING to big about that reel for SW use.

I own the next two sizes up from that one and the next size up is about the size of a pen 109. I realize MOST avets are built big, but that reel was meant for what he wants to do.

[This message has been edited by Ag_of_08 (edited 7/30/2009 3:59p).]

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but that reel was meant for what he wants to do

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What does "he" want to do?

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That reel is the same size as most garcia standard profile reels looking at size comparisons.

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That reel is closer to a 6500 or 7000. Those reels are way too big for throwing small baits at redfish. To the OP, think bass fishing.

My understanding was closer to the 5000 series than the 6000 series.


and if frisco is female I apologogize.

Waterloo Rod.....Shimano Reel

Go TEXAS on the rod! No foreign stuff!

BULL- except for the foreign made components and illegal immigrants assembling them Waterloo rods are made completely in Texas.

Finn,

You must have been on the tour of the facility in Victoria. Not saying they aren't good rods, but...

No illegals work in Victoria, they avoid it as it is the "Fatal Funnel".

Or Fatal Sledgehammer as we know it in Victoria. Every, EVERY Sunday in the Victoria Aggrevate we are bombarded by a rehash of it.

quote:

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Waterloo Rod.....Shimano Reel

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For under 200 bucks? If you can do that, get me three of them.


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"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. " -Thomas Jefferson

Old Sarge- nah, not through the facility. I just know there are only two or three companies that even cook rod blanks in the US these days. Two of the largest have gone belly-up in the last couple years.

Basically, if your rod isn't using a higher end Sage, G.Loomis or St. Croix blank it wasn't made in the US. Orvis also makes their high-end stuff in the US but they only do fly rods. And all of Sage, Loomis, St. Croix, and Orvis have a lot of their lower-end (i.e.- smaller margin) rods built overseas by an OEM shop.

None of the G Loomis rods....even the lower modulus have ever been made any where else. The Shimano rods have been.

Gary Loomis was the one that showed Roger Seiders....original Waterloo guy.....how to make the blanks. I think it was sold a couple of years ago to the south Texas Jiffy Mart son in Victoria. If you are a sports writer or a guide you have probably been given a Waterloo rod. That's how they have tried to develop a market share. Free rod....hey...I'll write an article about it.....same with the guides.

Gary Loomis's non compete contract expired a couple of years with Shimano. He has been on the sideline. Shimano has taken over the G Loomis plant and fired all of the reps. My 27 years of G Loomis rods at a cost less than Bass Pro's cost has evaporated.

About two weeks ago Gary signed a contract with Temple Fork to serve as a consultant on their rod design. He lost the law suit to get the G Loomis name back. He is about three months from the start up of his rod blank business......they will do great as he is an extremely smart guy.

I think the G Loomis market share will drop and you will see one of Shimano's world class market campaigns surface.

Waterloo Rods = St. Croix blanks