Newbie looking for Rod and Reel advice - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

taggermike · 11-20-2008, 07:47 AM

I'll have to second what Brother Matt said. Both the Shimano TLD and Daiwa Sealines reels are very affordable and hold up great under kayak fishing conditions. I'm partial to CalStar and Seeker rods. They're made in So Cal and they work in So Cal. That said there are many great rods and makers out there. I checked out Okuma's Baidarka rods a few days ago and they were pretty sweet. They're made for kayak fishing and they actually float. Longer rods are usually no too handy on a kayak and can be impossible to store under hatch for rough landings. Generally 61/2 to 7 feet is fine. Just long enough to lead a fish around the bow of the yak. I do bring an old school 9' jig stick and have caught many YT on it. It's fun but clumsy and if I didn't own it already I wouldn't have bought it just for kayak fishing. It sounds like your ready to fish with the 2 out fits you have. Get out there and add gear as you find you need it. I used to paddle out to the kelp on a long board with one rod in my teeth and I usually caught fish. Use what you have. Mike

PescadorPete · 11-20-2008, 08:23 AM

Saltwater fishing in Phoenix? I'm guessing you must wander out here to the edge from time to time. It depends somewhat on what/where/when you fish. Bass fishing in the kelp or boiler rocks, I use a Calcutta 250 and 400 and Seeker inshore graphite rods. Bigger fish hunting, I use a Daiwa SL-X40HA and a Torium 16 or 20 and Calstar graphite rods.

Billy V · 11-20-2008, 10:20 AM

Matt's recommendations are solid advice.
-Add in the Dawia Saltist Series too. $180

-I fish mostly the reel mentioned above, and the Dawia Sealine-X in 4.9:1 ratio 40 class, or the 30 class in 6.1:1 ratio.
These reels stand up to saltwater kayak fishing and are priced somewhere around $110.

You could spend much more but You don't have to.

mc08066 · 11-20-2008, 04:17 PM

Saltist 20 and Sealines 20 to 50's are great reel options. Last a long time
and easy to do maintenance.

fearnofish · 11-20-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taggermike

It sounds like your ready to fish with the 2 out fits you have. Get out there and add gear as you find you need it. I used to paddle out to the kelp on a long board with one rod in my teeth and I usually caught fish. Use what you have. Mike

Good advice Mike I am with ya on that! I have been out some and am haulin the yaks down to San Carlos Mexico next week and will be fishin with what I have. They have been catching some yellowtail and corvina so hopefully I will get lucky. If not it will still be a blast.

What I am looking to do is add to what I have so I can have things rigged and ready to go when I switch methods instead of having to re-rig. I may go with a torium like Matt suggested on a Calstar or another Seeker.

Pete you are right I "wander" out every now and again but am wanting to do more. I have my eye on one of those mothership trips one day but want to have a little more experience first so I get my money's worth! I also want to get over to the LJ area and check that out too, never been there!

Glad to see so many Saltist fans... mine casts like a dream!

Thanks to all that have replied so far.

Rusty · 11-20-2008, 09:16 PM

I agree with Matt. Specifically I think 7' Seeker Black Steels with matching toriums are sweet cause they work for the yak and the sporties.

I have a 870 with a Torium 14 for 20#, a 970 with a torium 16 for 25#, a 670 with a torium 20 for 30#, and a 6470 John Grabowski Model with a torium 30 for the yo-yo and 40 flyline 'dines. I've caught yellows and varius tuna on all of these sticks and they're all great, and relatively inexpensive. These work for tuna and paddy fishing on the sporties and yellows on yak... They're forgiving on the back compared to calstars graphiters, but they still put the heat on the fish.

Handymansd · 11-21-2008, 09:37 AM

As you know from your experience so far, what you like will be your personal preference. There are lots of very successful kayak fishermen that use lots of different equipment. So it sounds like you are on the right track. I personally use Avets as I can rebuild them myself, they are reasonably priced and perform really well. (no pun intended.) For my Rods I have tried many but I personally like the Seeker Black Steel. You already have one but a great rod. I prefer it over my custom G-loomis GLII, Custom Calstar 970, and my Diawa VIP 80j. It is a rod that can serve multiple situations. Cheaper than most comparable rods too.
My 0.02.

11-20-2008, 04:17 PM	#4
mc08066 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 51	Daiwa's Saltist 20 and Sealines 20 to 50's are great reel options. Last a long time and easy to do maintenance.

11-21-2008, 09:37 AM	#7
Handymansd Ancient Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: On The Water Posts: 935	As you know from your experience so far, what you like will be your personal preference. There are lots of very successful kayak fishermen that use lots of different equipment. So it sounds like you are on the right track. I personally use Avets as I can rebuild them myself, they are reasonably priced and perform really well. (no pun intended.) For my Rods I have tried many but I personally like the Seeker Black Steel. You already have one but a great rod. I prefer it over my custom G-loomis GLII, Custom Calstar 970, and my Diawa VIP 80j. It is a rod that can serve multiple situations. Cheaper than most comparable rods too. My 0.02. __________________ All men are equal before fish. -Herbert Hoover

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11-20-2008, 07:47 AM	#1
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	I'll have to second what Brother Matt said. Both the Shimano TLD and Daiwa Sealines reels are very affordable and hold up great under kayak fishing conditions. I'm partial to CalStar and Seeker rods. They're made in So Cal and they work in So Cal. That said there are many great rods and makers out there. I checked out Okuma's Baidarka rods a few days ago and they were pretty sweet. They're made for kayak fishing and they actually float. Longer rods are usually no too handy on a kayak and can be impossible to store under hatch for rough landings. Generally 61/2 to 7 feet is fine. Just long enough to lead a fish around the bow of the yak. I do bring an old school 9' jig stick and have caught many YT on it. It's fun but clumsy and if I didn't own it already I wouldn't have bought it just for kayak fishing. It sounds like your ready to fish with the 2 out fits you have. Get out there and add gear as you find you need it. I used to paddle out to the kelp on a long board with one rod in my teeth and I usually caught fish. Use what you have. Mike

11-20-2008, 08:23 AM	#2
PescadorPete Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Leucadia, CA Posts: 261	Saltwater fishing in Phoenix? I'm guessing you must wander out here to the edge from time to time. It depends somewhat on what/where/when you fish. Bass fishing in the kelp or boiler rocks, I use a Calcutta 250 and 400 and Seeker inshore graphite rods. Bigger fish hunting, I use a Daiwa SL-X40HA and a Torium 16 or 20 and Calstar graphite rods.

11-20-2008, 10:20 AM	#3
Billy V Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Ho Posts: 1,382	Matt's recommendations are solid advice. -Add in the Dawia Saltist Series too. $180 -I fish mostly the reel mentioned above, and the Dawia Sealine-X in 4.9:1 ratio 40 class, or the 30 class in 6.1:1 ratio. These reels stand up to saltwater kayak fishing and are priced somewhere around $110. You could spend much more but You don't have to.

11-20-2008, 09:16 PM	#6
Rusty Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: LJ Posts: 201	I agree with Matt. Specifically I think 7' Seeker Black Steels with matching toriums are sweet cause they work for the yak and the sporties. I have a 870 with a Torium 14 for 20#, a 970 with a torium 16 for 25#, a 670 with a torium 20 for 30#, and a 6470 John Grabowski Model with a torium 30 for the yo-yo and 40 flyline 'dines. I've caught yellows and varius tuna on all of these sticks and they're all great, and relatively inexpensive. These work for tuna and paddy fishing on the sporties and yellows on yak... They're forgiving on the back compared to calstars graphiters, but they still put the heat on the fish.