what do you guys recommend for a match? question #2. if i decide on that reel, anybody want to build me a rod? thanks.

To throw what where???

-spence

thought about what and where but i guess i forgot to type it. that's pretty funny considering when i read some posts asking questions like this i say to myself, why didn't they tell what and where etc. i fish mostly at the canal but i would like to venture out to some beaches, jetties etc. so therefore i was looking for a combo that would throw lighter wood like needlefish and the like. also going to try my hand at some eel fishing. i'll probably also use it at the canal for throwing smaller poppers and pencils than i normally throw. thanks for the reminder spence.

How much $$$

What's a smaller plug ???

:D

My fav for smaller eels or plugs on the beach is the Arra 1204, I'm sure the Lami 120L is just as good but I don't own one. I don't think I'd be using this at the ditch though...

-spence

man spence, i'm oh for two tonight. i'd like to get my first custom so we're talking blanks here. i realize they ain't cheap so i'm looking for the rod that will do the work and go the distance, we'll worry about fundage later. second, i throw on average 4 oz. jigs and 3 oz. wood or metal with my conventional. what i want out of this new set-up is dunkability and eel and maybe 1.5- 3 oz. lure capability. that way i should have the full weight range covered in 2 rods. please don't tell me i struck out!

ARRA XRA-1084 for a 9 footah

GSB-1021-L for a 10

I think Eben means 12O1L, it is rated 2-6oz., graphite,and is definently a sweet stick. I have built a few for friends and they are very happy.

woops yes thats what I meant :D

I have a Lami 1201L wrapped spinning and it is pretty much a great all around rod for 1-3.5 oz. It has a medium action and is more forgiving when using braid. That action also helps in slinging the eels and keeping them on.
It is a 1-piece 10ft rod.
If one piece is an issue the Allstar 1145/2 is 9.5ft and the Allstar 1265/2 is 10.5ft, both are two piece. These are also very popular. I have the 1145/2 and can recommend it as well. I do not have a 1265 but have heard lots of good things about it.
Hope this helps

The GSB 120 1L doesn't have enough nuts for the Canal---sorry.

The 1M does. And since it's parabolic, it'll still throw some lighter wood.

Arra 1205 is another good choice.

All Star or Batson SU 1208.

hey mike p. i assume you mean not enough nuts for the canal in that it's not enough rod to fight a fish in the current, correct? i'll probably throw pencils and poppers at the slack with this rod then switch so current shouldn't be a factor. i've got room so 1 piece isn't a factor. thanks for your input guys keep up the good work.

Even at slack, you need a rod with enough lifting power to keep a fish from sounding all the way to the bottom, and to steer it around things like lobster pot cables when you get it close.

I had a 29# crash a yellow Polaris at dead slack and sound like a Trident sub heading for the bottom. I was using an old S-glass SSB 132 2F that had 8" taken from the tip, and I had to lean into it to keep her from bottoming out.

The 120 1L will work nicely on the average Canal fish. I like to be prepared for the above average one. But it's your $$$ ;)

I luv mine on a sb1363m, take a foot off the butt = 10'6". my go to eel rod in the surf. IMO the 706 is better balanced of a 10'or longer.

hey mike, good call. that's why i ask. been looking around for prices on that reel. found everything from 150 bucks down to 90. of course the site that had them for 90 was out of stock. the best in stock price i found was 97. i'll keep looking. looks like i've got plenty of options on a blank too.

I use my 706s on a 1201L. I would not put that reel on a 1204, I have one, because of weight balancing issues. I would not put it on a 9' rod either. As far as the canal, I agree that the 1201L would be outgunned.

how bout a rainshadow 1207 or 8?

the sw1207 blank is black or clear matte (how does that color look?), 15-25lb. line, 3/4-4 oz. for 80 bucks. the su1207 is matte only, 12-25lbs., 1-4 oz. and 105 bucks. both med. rods with mod./fast tips. i'm thinking the su but i don't know about the color and the $25 dollar difference.

The 120 1L is a meat stick next to the SW 1207. I have an old Sabre 1209 (very much the same as an SW 1209) and retrieving a deep-running swimmer against current makes the tip droop.

Never tried an SU 1207. The SU 1208, however, would be a good choice for the Canal. Plugs and jigs to about 4 or 4-1/2 oz. Mine's an All Star 1208, but the guy who made the rods for All Star switched over to Batson a little while back.

tried to look up the lami blanks but on their pdf files, i need a microscope to see them. maybe i'm not doing something that i should but have not had a similar problem before.

I have a SU1207. It is not as fast as the sw1207. It is a light rod with a top end of 3 oz. It's sweet spot is probably 2oz. It would be a poor choice for the canal and a 706 is too heavy for it. Mine is black on black with silver highlights. I like the matte finish.