Advice on a new setup

S

SuzukiGS750EZ

Joined
Dec 30, 2008
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4,562
I thought i posted here but I guess not. Here's my dilemma. I have 0$ right now, but i'm trying to get a list of stuff together that i want/need for when i come into some money. I NEED a new setup. My current setup it a 2 piece light 5'6" red shakespeare that came off a combo my brother found, i had to replace the rod tip because the guide insert was cracked and fraying my line, which i was unaware of until it happened and i looked. So, i replaced the tip with a stainless steel one from my rod that had snapped under the strain of a huge pickerel, thats right, pickerel. It was shorter than most that i catch and very heavy and strong. So, i fixed this new rod but i hate light rods and the 5'6" just isn't doing it for me. the only thing i like about it is its useable and it's a 2 piece. Anyways, the reel is a mitchell avocet silver series spooled up with spider wire super mono xxx, i've had the reel apart a few times to clean it and lube it hoping to get at least one season out of it. My complains are the handle flexes so much under 5+ lb largemouths and it feels like it's just going to snap. The drag is touch and go, sometimes it has good days, sometimes not so much. So i was thinking of getting this setup:

-Either a Pflueger Supreme spinning reel with an 8 or 10lb test max, nothing smaller
-Shakespeare ugly stik (cheap, durable and i like em) in a 2 piece medium action 6'6"
-Suffix line either braid or mono depending on money restraints

I also need to get some new frogs and mice, and more of a selection of rapalas, but as of right now a setup is in order.
 
what are you fishing for?

do you like medium rods for lightweight lures or medium heavy?

open face or bait caster?

are you fixed on mono or would you like a flouro / hybrid line?

are you set on certain brands?

lots of questions

how much are you willing to spend?
 
1 - I'm fishing mainly for bass, trout and pickerel.
2 - I like Medium light or medium for their stiffness and because i cast heavier lures
3 - Spinning Reel (I have a quantum accurist PT baitcaster with a 6'6" med. ugly stik 1 piece)
4 - I am willing to use whatever. Has to be abrasion resistant and at least 10lb. I've wanted to try braid but it frays a lot
5 - No certain brand, i just want the best reel for 70$ or less, 10 bearings and a sealed drag seem good for me.
 
A Pflueger Supreme reel and Ugly Stick rod would make a nice combo. I have been using Suffix braid and have no complaints. The combo options are endless but I believe that for the money you're on the right track.
 
Braid doesn't necessarily fray a lot, unless you have some bad guides or bad roller on your spinning reel.
You can check them with a cotton swab.
If wisps of the cotton pull in the guides, you need new guides.

As for the drag, the drag stack is under the drag adjustment knob.
There will probably be some sort of spring clip holding them in.
These clips love to jump out and hide.
You can take out the drag washers and clean & lubricate them.
You must be very careful to keep them in order and with the correct side up.

You can use brake cleaner to clean the drag washers.
Brake cleaner is NASTY stuff, bad for you and bad for painted surfaces.
Or you can grab some windex and work a little bit harder on it.
Lube is a "little is a lot" sort of thing.
I use silicone grease and only a tiny bit.

Can't help you with the handle flexing on the reel.
Just go easy on it.
Fight the fish with the rod and crank when you bring the rod tip down.

As for new stuff, save your money and get something decent so you won't be in the same place next year.
Shimano Sedona reel and Scimitar rod should be around 60-80 on sale.
 
I check the guides on my rod with q-tips after i clean them lol funny you say that. As for the drag i remove all the washers, felt and stainless and clean and lube them, the reel is just a cheap walmart reel. I love shimano but am not up on those products. Is it a combo?
 
Mine was a combo from Sports Authority.
They had a sale tent set up on a holiday weekend.
Wifey was looking for shoes, I was waiting for her so I played the "find an unbroken fishing rod" game.
I found 2 Scimitars (MH casting & MH spinning with the Sedona spinning reel).
I was standing there with them in hand when wifey walked up to me and said:
"I can't find shoes and it's hotter the heck in here. Are you getting those?"
How could I refuse?
Got the whole bunch for $60.

There are deals out there :)
 
The shimano sedona is a decent reel. I personally like shimano over most other reels, i have a symmetre on a fenwick rod and its caught tons of fish. You can get a decent shimano reel/rod combo for any price range your looking for. I have a cheap plastic combo thats in my truck at all times that still works flawlessly and i paid 10 bucks for it.
 
The Sedona surprised me.
Working out well for a WTF impulse buy.
My surf spinning reel is a Spheros and it is superb.
Other than those two, I don't fish much spinning stuff.

I got the Sedona and 2 Scimitars for my fall run East River Striper fishing.
One spinning and one casting rod. The casting rod has an Abu 5500 loaded with 40 lb suffix braid.
The Sedona is loaded with 20lb power pro.

In the colder weather it is nice to be able to switch from casting to spinning.
In my experience, it's the rod hand that gets cold and the cranking hand stays warmer.
Being able to switch back and forth is nice.
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
1 - I'm fishing mainly for bass, trout and pickerel.
2 - I like Medium light or medium for their stiffness and because i cast heavier lures
3 - Spinning Reel (I have a quantum accurist PT baitcaster with a 6'6" med. ugly stik 1 piece)
4 - I am willing to use whatever. Has to be abrasion resistant and at least 10lb. I've wanted to try braid but it frays a lot
5 - No certain brand, i just want the best reel for 70$ or less, 10 bearings and a sealed drag seem good for me.
Click to expand...

heavy lures need a medium heavy rod. light lures (like weightless worms or lizards) should be used on a medium rod.. do not go medium light for bass. setting the hook on a large bass with a ML rod will be hard and you may miss many fish before figuring out you need to swing like tiger woods... as for trout and pickeral you can use the ML rod, but not for bass..

ugly sticks are tough rods but not very sensative. i use them for catfishing. find a shimano combo for around 40-60 bucks.. a great buy..

as for line, suffix, pline and others are good BUT keep this in mind.. whatever your reel says it will handle and it will say it on the reel. DO NOT go over that lbs it says.. i learned that the hard way.. most spin reels are 10-12lb TOPS!!.. so dont over do it.. 10-12lbs pline, suffix, braid, or flouro is fine. if you are from up north big large mouth bass 6lbs+ is harder to come by so i would go with 10lb test unless you fishing lots of grass and etc. if you have to go over 10-12lbs use a bait caster, thats what they are for.


my cheap rod set up that i call my pond rod is a 70$ combo abu garcia from walmart. its a medium rod about 6'6" with 8lb test Yozuri Hybrid line. that 8lb test has a break lb at 16lbs or so.. its very good line imo.. 4-10lb yozuri hybrid is awesome.. google it and read the breaking points for each test.
 
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