Buying a bigger trout setup: Shimano Symetre 2500FJ + WHAT ROD?

[michaelmcgo]

I would like to build a bit bigger trout rod for the larger rivers around here. I currently use a 4.5' Ugly Stick with decent Daiwa reel (500 series I believe). This setup just doesn't have the balls to cast across the river and I've been dealing with line twist issues lately (flourocarbon line and I do trip the bail manually every time).

I was thinking of something from Shimano in the 2500 line. My use would be trout up to 16" in rivers that are at most 50' across. I tend to use small Mepps spinners and Rival lures. My plan was to get a 6' Ugly Stick and call it a day. Should I be looking at other sub-$50 poles for this setup? Thanks!

P.S. I haven't been salmon fishing in years (just got back into trout fishing about 2 years ago), would this size reel be able to land a decent Michigan inland king salmon? I might get back into salmon fishing but probably won't this year if it means ANOTHER setup to buy...

[omedford1975]

The shimmano is a nice reel the 2500 should be fine. I use the 2500 with a 9"ft loomis gl2 rod 1084s. I can throw lures and use it to drift any kind of bait. The length should be at least 7ft+ for the rod. If you get a shimmano pair it with a lamiglas rod maybe a rogue river special half pounder. Line test should be 6-10. I wouldn't use it for salmon maybe a step up in to the 3500-4000 with a line capacity of 10-20. Ugly sticks are proven but if u can spare the coin a loomis or lamiglas even a st. Croix would be sweet. Good luck.

[michaelmcgo]

I looked at those rods, and they look prefect... A little too perfect. Some of them cost around $300!
I found a Lamiglas 7' 2-piece medium-action rod for $60, are there cheaper rods worth looking at? I can tell the difference (feel + quality) between a $40 Daiwa and a $100 Shimano reel with my eyes closed, does the same hold true for rods? What do I get with a $200+ rod?

The saying goes "spend at least as much on a scope as you did on the rifle", should I be looking at spending 3 times as much on the rod as I did on the reel?

[Larry from Bend]

I've had a 2500 Symetre for several years. Recently the bail started acting up (not closing) and the factory told me no parts were available for my model. I've had a bunch of Shimano but this kinda bothered me and I ended up buying a Plueger President to replace it.
I like 2-piece, 6' rods that are classified as Medium-Light. I can't tell the difference between IM-6 and IM-7 and IM-8 graphite so don't spend much $$$ on rods.

[omedford1975]

Well my loomis was 225 and worth every penny because I paired it with my symmetry. I also suggested laminglas because they make a very good rod and I happen to have two of them. One is a 7ft g1000 4-10 lb test it's more of a lake small river rod but I've used it on the rogue river just not in fast or heavy current. It is so sensitive and a dream to catch fish on I have that rod paired with a sahara. The rod was about 150 and all these rods there made in the us. The other series is a rogue river special from laminglas that is 7ft and about 100-150 but it was made to handle most river settings You might get lucky on Craigslist I bought a used gl3 7ft rod for 50.00 and my daughter loves it and caught her first steelhead on it which actually had a pfluger president reel. It's a good reel but I like shimmano a lot more. Good luck
Ps that loomis 1084s and symmetry together is by far my favorite it is easy to cast and excellent line control plus it is sensitive. The laminglas 7ft g1000 series is by far the favorite loaner of anyone who has fished with it. It's worth spending the money if you can. Maybe not 300 but if you spend a c note for a reel then maybe 100-250 is worth a good rod.

[fishiker]

My trout rod is also a G-Loomis but it was around $200 several years ago. Since then I have bought trout rods for my son and my girlfriend and we chose the triumph series rods from St.Croix. Retail price is listed as $70-$80 but I have seen them in shops for $49.99. I haven't had any personal experience with warranty service but have a close friend who did and he was very happy with the results.

[michaelmcgo]

So I went into my favorite tackle shop (half fly, half spinning, all for trout) and decided to go off their recommendation. They had a lot of G. Loomis for $200-$300, as well as a few from St. Croix and Fenwick. I am no expert fisherman and the Fenwick looked and felt excellent, equal to the G. Loomis for me. I walked out with a Fenwick HMX 66ml-2-mf and couldn't be happier. The Medium-light action is perfect for the small river.

[Nickelsig229]

In that size I use a 1500 Stradic on a St croix premier 5' light fast action. It's a murderer of fish. I fish it from the river banks and wading in the shallows almost exclusively with Rooster tails, spinners, phoebe's and kastmasters. I've pulled in some large trout, over 10 lbs with 6 lbs test on this little tank.

If your heart set on the 2500, do some homework, my stradic 3000 is really just a 2500 with a larger spool. The symetre might be the same so getting a 3000 will be the exact same as 2500 using a larger spool giving extra line which is good in case you end up cutting line a time to many.

The St croix premier line is probably the cheapest top of the line production rod. You can get Glomis and other brands that are better, and custom made as well. But the St croix are no slouch, and very affordable in the 90-150 dollar range with an excellent warranty. No questions asked for 5 years on the premier line, and lifetime on the more expensive lines.

[sherlockbonez]

I've caught lots of great lake kings with 1500 symmetry and stradics. 2500 is a over kills of 16" trouts.

[michaelmcgo]

By overkill do you mean weight or is it something else?
The reason I ask is there is only a .6oz difference (9.5oz vs. 10.1oz) and it seems like that would hardly matter. I do wish I bought the 1500 size, but if it's only half an ounce we're talking about then I don't think I'll return it...