Coffee Grinder for YT? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

TCS · 05-22-2011, 08:36 PM

First of all, just let me tell you that I gave up on being cool in the 80s. Also keep in mind that this question is being asked by someone who knows with certainty that if a school of yellows boils more than 75 feet from my kayak (okay, maybe 100'), my current jigstick, in my hands, probably doesn't get the surface iron over the fish. So bring it on, you won't hurt my feelings. I'm comfortable with whatever lambasting I might get for even considering this, particularly if it results in me getting one of those boiling yellows.

Background: Grew up fishing spinners in freshwater and can cast those. Got into kayak fishing a couple of years ago and have pretty much figured out how to use the gear, with the exception surface iron casting. I have an 8' jigstick that is pretty heavy (no name brand) with a nice narrow saltist on it. When I try to get distance in a cast the result is mild to severe birds nesting, or no distance, sometimes both. I feel like the jigstick is not helping me much. Its heavy, doesn't load up. I hate stacking the line for the next cast.

So I've been thinking about a new jigstick. I like the 8'0 and 8'6" shimano teramar cause they're really light which could help when casting sitting down. But I'm still concerned that I'll drop a couple hundred on a nice setup that I can't use well.

Been looking at the youtube videos of kingfish fishing in Australia and NZ, and those dudes are using spinners, so.....

I'm thinking that maybe I could pick up one of the newer heavy spinning outfits, (in the $150 range for a reel) load it with powerpro, and use that for the occasional surface casting. Hell, since I'm alienating myself from the traditionalists, maybe I'll even put a waxwing on it!

So I have two options,

A) Get a better jigstick with my current reel, suck it up and learn to use it. Risk screwing the pooch at the critical moment if I don't practice enough. Don't have a lot of time to practice.

B) Get a heavy spinning outfit that I could toss a lot further and don't have to worry about stacking the line.

What do you think? Also, for both options, what's the best setup for limited budget. Combo on the spinner? Any reasonably priced spinning reels that can stand up to saltwater on a kayak? etc etc.

Thanks, Tom

05-22-2011, 08:36 PM	#1
TCS Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 478	Coffee Grinder for YT? First of all, just let me tell you that I gave up on being cool in the 80s. Also keep in mind that this question is being asked by someone who knows with certainty that if a school of yellows boils more than 75 feet from my kayak (okay, maybe 100'), my current jigstick, in my hands, probably doesn't get the surface iron over the fish. So bring it on, you won't hurt my feelings. I'm comfortable with whatever lambasting I might get for even considering this, particularly if it results in me getting one of those boiling yellows. Background: Grew up fishing spinners in freshwater and can cast those. Got into kayak fishing a couple of years ago and have pretty much figured out how to use the gear, with the exception surface iron casting. I have an 8' jigstick that is pretty heavy (no name brand) with a nice narrow saltist on it. When I try to get distance in a cast the result is mild to severe birds nesting, or no distance, sometimes both. I feel like the jigstick is not helping me much. Its heavy, doesn't load up. I hate stacking the line for the next cast. So I've been thinking about a new jigstick. I like the 8'0 and 8'6" shimano teramar cause they're really light which could help when casting sitting down. But I'm still concerned that I'll drop a couple hundred on a nice setup that I can't use well. Been looking at the youtube videos of kingfish fishing in Australia and NZ, and those dudes are using spinners, so..... I'm thinking that maybe I could pick up one of the newer heavy spinning outfits, (in the $150 range for a reel) load it with powerpro, and use that for the occasional surface casting. Hell, since I'm alienating myself from the traditionalists, maybe I'll even put a waxwing on it! So I have two options, A) Get a better jigstick with my current reel, suck it up and learn to use it. Risk screwing the pooch at the critical moment if I don't practice enough. Don't have a lot of time to practice. B) Get a heavy spinning outfit that I could toss a lot further and don't have to worry about stacking the line. What do you think? Also, for both options, what's the best setup for limited budget. Combo on the spinner? Any reasonably priced spinning reels that can stand up to saltwater on a kayak? etc etc. Thanks, Tom