Hi.I'm new here,as you can tell.
With all this down time I've discovered this wonderful place and have been reading a lot of your posts before I decided to register and there are A LOT of knowledgable people here.
Over the past few years I've had this casual obsession(ok,complete addiction) with lite tackle plugging.I've been using 7'-7'6" 1pc. Uglystiks and Uglystik Lites with Penn SS and Slammer
reels.Nice inexpensive setups that've served me well for the most part on my budget.
But I'd like to step up a notch.I'd like to get more distance out of my casts and the short lengths of my current rods make fishing places like 2nd beach and similar places difficult when there is any type of surf.And I'd like something a little less tiresome to cast.
Understand I'm still kinda a poor and can't afford a custom Lamiglass rod or a Vanstaal reel,but there's got to be something
out there affordable but a step above what I have.
Any suggestions y'all could throw my way I'm sure would be most helpful in pointing me in the right direction.

Your friend and fellow fisherman,

Basswipe

If you like light sticks like me, I highly recomend the 8ft Tica graphite medium action.... you can cast all day with it because it is so light, and its suprisingly strong. Also, for some reason, I can out cast many of my fishing buddies who are using 10' rods... dont ask me why. And the sweet thing is the rod is only 50 or 60 bucks if I remember right.

I'm in love with my tica. :love:

which buddy's do you mean eben?

I 2nd Ebens reply on Tica Rods. Hard to beat for the money

I have to agree with the others here...for the $ those tica and Tsunami rods are a heck of a value...sort of like a poor mans st croix. You might want to step up your reel to a small shimano baitruner.. or one of their other models. A bit nicer to fish with IMO. Buy an extra spool and load it it 30# powerpro or stealth braid. The combo of the stiff tsunami 8 or 9 footer with the lighter smoother reel along with limpness and tiny dia of the braid...casts like a higher end custom rig with 8# test mono. (tape your index finger, braid tend to cut. )

I have two set ups that seem to work quite well;

9ft Tica with Penn 704Z, loaded with 30lb PP
10ft Tica with Abu 6600, loaded with 50lb PP

www.digitaldagger.com has great prices for Tica rods and Mike at www.capecodtackle.com has great prices on 704Z

Hey Basswipe,

Nothing like lure fishing with light tackle.

You may also consider having atleast two setups. A buck tail rod and a poppin rod.

Newport has alot of different terain. Some times they are in close and sometimes you need that extra weight for getting out there.

When checking the rods pay attention to the weight recommendations.
For instance;
My 7'6" fast action is rated 1/4 to 3/4 oz, perfect for bucktails and plastics.
My 8'6" medium-fast is rated 1/2 to 2 oz, a blast for poppers & needle nose lures.

St. Croix are a little more expensive than Tsunami rods, but I love fishing with them. Can't afford a Lamiglas myself.

If you have room in your truck go one piece.

Save the ugly stick for when your brother-in-law comes down.

If you do get heavy into lure fishing this year, I would deffinently consider getting a pair of corkers.

Welcome to Newport.

Hey Basswipe,

Nothing like lure fishing with light tackle.

You may also consider having atleast two setups. A buck tail rod and a poppin rod.

Newport has alot of different terain. Some times they are in close and sometimes you need that extra weight for getting out there.

When checking the rods pay attention to the weight recommendations.
For instance;
My 7'6" fast action is rated 1/4 to 3/4 oz, perfect for bucktails and plastics.
My 8'6" medium-fast is rated 1/2 to 2 oz, a blast for poppers & needle nose lures.

St. Croix are a little more expensive than Tsunami rods, but I love fishing with them. Can't afford a Lamiglas myself.

If you have room in your truck go one piece.

Save the ugly stick for when your brother-in-law comes down.

If you do get heavy into lure fishing this year, I would deffinently consider getting a pair of corkers.

Welcome to Newport.

Originally posted by blackeye
which buddy's do you mean eben?

dont worry sweet cheeks... some of the other guys I fish with...

you can outcast me anyday:love:

Thanks guys.Will start looking around the net for the above mentioned rods.Maybe I'll take a ride out to Buckos in F.River.If I remember correctly they had a impressive selection of rods,though kinda pricey.Retail.
Caffiene,I do have a truck.I wouldn't consider buying anything but a 1pc. rod.I don't trust 2pc. rods especially in the lite category. I've spent the last couple of seasons fishing the Portsmouth end of the island.Lots of eel grass and tidal salt ponds to muck around with plenty of schoolie to small keeper size fish,but the truly big fish are being caught off the Drive and Sachuest.I've been procrastinating on buying korkers(I'm cheap).A new set of waderswouldn't hurt either.
Any websites for checking out rods that you guys could suggest would realy help too.
Let the winter be short and spring be early.

Thats what i use for a light tackle set up. 7ft ugly stick light with a shimano sedona, and i also have a 7ft ugly stick intercoastal with a shimano corsair. Except i have to get my Corsair repaired since its a junk....... I used the corsair like 10 times before it broke. When i reel in it seems like the gears skip and it stops reeling then catches again. I haven't been fishing in a ouple years besides some togging here and there when i find time hopefully I can get some time in this year! :happy:

You can get a batson 1087 and its good for 1 to 3 oz
or one with more balls like a 1088.
I used this blank most of last year and have taken countless fish on it to 45 lbs....

welcome to the site basswipe. i'd say check out mikecc's website at www.capecodtackle.com

mike's shop is also well worth the drive

I second redcrbbr!...

I live across the street from bucko's and i'll drive else where to buy swivels or line, never mind a rod and reel and i'll hack my own reels when they need servicing.. too many bad experiences to list.

what size reels ya got?
I use my Penn 5500SS and 6500SS all the time with PowerPro 50# no problems...

The BaitRunner is nice but if a new reel is what you want take a look at the hardbodyz from Daiwa... also the Okuma Inspira is a good reel.. Nothing wrong with the baitrunner but the extra weight and the extra features want to make me second thing that purchase... If I'm going to be throwing lures 99% of the time why would i need the BR feature?
Take a look at the Stradic too... excellent reel.

Anybody know what the difference is between the Tica 8 foot model # that ends with the letter C versus letter S ???

Casting vs Spinning

Thanks.... my daughter would have said Duhhh... I thought it was Cork vs Something else.

Hey Basswipe,

If you want to go custom, my buddy highly recommends CMS enterprise in New Bedford. He says they are amazing. 508-995-2372. Call first, they have some funky hours right now.

I'm with Bassmaster. Those Batson blanks cast and fight fish well, and a custom built on one won't run much more than a factory Tica.

Mike T and CMS both build on Batson blanks and retail them at great prices. I have nothing against Charlie at CMS, but Mike sponsors this site and Charlie doesn't ;) Also, Mike carries the Tica rods, so you could do a side by side comparison of them against one of the Batson's he has waiting for pick-up and see which one you prefer.

Wow.Thanks for all the information guys.I did check out Capecod tackle website and the prices on the Tica rods definitely meet my budget requirements.Just might have to make the drive up to Wareham one of these days,time permitting.
The current reels I have are all Penns,4500ss,5500ss and a 560
Slammer.I'm looking at the 8' MH Tica rod as my #1choice,though
I'll keep the suggestion of a Batson in mind. I'm still debating whether to use one of my current reels or looking into going with something different.I like my Penns,especially my 560,
but alternative choices are always good.Any reel suggestions?

the 560 slammer is a perfect fit. Or at least Thats what I would use;)

probably casting and spinning , oops, should have the rest of the post :poke: