Thinking of Abu 7000iHSN on a 1205 Lami factory. With practice is this one of the better setups to get you those booming casts that I see some of those regulars at the canal get. Did some searching on the forums and about a third of the way through Arra's book. Hoping to illicit some comments from some canal regulars.
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The 1205 isn't the greatest caster on the Arra line-up. I'd look at the 1322 instead.

Do you really want to throw like the big boys? Rethink your reel selection. Most of the big boys are now making their booming casts with Daiwa Emblem Pro 5000 or 5500 spinning reels, and 30-50# braid, on 11' rods. My "Canal ABCs" article on the FAQ forum was written 5-6 years ago, before this trend took off. I should probably update it.

Does the Daiwa have a better bearing set than the ABU?
What is the net that give a better cast?
I also would look to re-wrap with low boy guides for the braid.

Does the Daiwa have a better bearing set than the ABU?


??? one reel is spinning the other is conventional ??
Braid changed the world ... Back in the day ,,casting heavy mono conventional was the way to go ..Spinning tackle didn't stand a chance against conventional .. Now with braid (no memory) majority are probably fishing spinning ,,even jigging ,,(1209).. Everyone looks like Big Dave casting ..

The 1205 with the abu 7000 is a nice comfortable rig for the canal. It is very easy to get good distance on a cast and is very good for landing fish. If you want to maximize casting distance , there are better choices but the heavier , longer rods will tire you quickly if you are not very fit. You will get used to the longer , stifer rods in time.

If you want to go for broke in distance , I thing a Century Tip Tornado light with a big VS or Daiwa spinner will outcast anything out there that will work the 4 to 6 OZ jig range.

Think about whether you want to work as hard as you will need to if you go for one of these monster casting rods.

Even Ron Arra has an Emblem set up. I am going that way this winter too. After 20 something years with non level wind conventional,25 lb big game I have given in. I have an old 1322 I fish and I am not a fan of it. It is too darn stiff for plugging for me anyways.

Those emblems look sweet. 200 yds of 30 lb mono?
That's like a mile of 50# power pro.

Thing should be able to handle a small Tooonah.

Just remember that in parts of the canal with a steep bank it's hard to cast with a long rod and/or long drop.

The only thing I can tell you is do not get caught up in conventional thinking. Do not be afraid to think outside of the box, experiment a little and be willing to take the time to try something new. Right now I am looking at the GUSA blanks trying to figure out if something can jig the canal out of their series.....

Those 'googs' several years ago who started banging the canal with 1209's and nautils started to turn conventional wisdom around and now the majority of people I see down there on the rocks are throwing spinning...

IMHO they both have their place and it is just a question of personal preference.

I also cannot stress enough the importance of a custom rod built to your specific body type. I am 6' 3" with a 37" sleeve. I can comfortably fish a custom rod with a butt length that will never be seen on a factory rod. Flaptail could probably fish one that would make you laugh out loud :D

Personally I am not giving up on conventional I just want something that can reach out and touch the middle when need be. I'm 5' 7 and need all the help I can get. I will always have my conventional with me.

I'm 5' 7 and need all the help I can get..

With who's shoes on?

I am fairly new to jigging the canal and use an older 7000c3. I would love to try spinning but like the ease of letting out line on certain drifts with my reel. Do most people not let out line? How do you do it with spinning while staying in control?

With who's shoes on?

Ice skates

I was thinking more like this

I hear ya Prof M. I like to think I'm a big 5'5" and I certainly have trouble with the old 10 foot Harnell I use for the big stuff. I do prefer conventional and have paired an Abu 7000 with an 8 foot factory All-Star. Handles fish well but sacrifices some distance and weight. Better for pluggin and jigs around 2 or 2.5oz. Still need to bring out the heavy stuff/ old Penn Squidder for the big jigs. And I'm weird and reel lefty so that limits my conventional choices.

hi paul ...got your pm ...i have the 10 mh lami ss . i like it alot ...tryed dave tomasheas 11 ft w/ low rider guides.i liked it so much i broke it in 2 o boy. still not right about it. if i had to do it again i would buy factory made 10 mh for the canal and add the emblem w/ 30 braid .cast like a rocket launcher.. reel is heavy but works super for the canal ,plus other places as well ....anyboby want to buy a 11 ft arra for conv.???? that how much i like my ss 10 fter.biggest fish in the canal on new rod is about 35 lbs.had no problem ,pulled fish off botton like nothing. i did have to strum um up ...imo.....

When you talked of making booming casts with the big boys, my guess was that you wanted to get a rod to throw plugs at breaking fish, not a jig rod.

I have both the 10' (factory) and the 11' (custom) one piece Supersurf MH blanks. The weight difference is negligible (half an ounce according to the Lamiglas catalog). My 10' factory rod has a double taped foregrip and 7 Concept guides, which probably makes the finished rod even a little heavier than the 11' custom with 5 old school guides. I have Emblem Pro 5500s and 50# braid on each, so when I compare casting distance, it's an apples to apples comparison. The results are what you would expect--the 11' throws a little farther. Enough to make a difference? Once or twice a tide, at most?

If you want an all-around rod for both plugs and jigs, the 10' would be a good choice. Both rods throw 5 oz jigs fine, but the 10' is a little crisper and lifts the jig off the bottom better. If all you want is a max casting performer throwing plugs out there towards the middle, then I'd go with the 11'. Either the SSU or the XRA 1322. Just be advised that the factory 11' SSU is a totally different rod than the one piece 11' blank--2 piece, much thicker blank towards the butt, much stiffer, and noticeably heavier. I've never thrown it, but I think it's way too stiff for plugging.

The 11' custom SSU can be had for about 350 clams from CMS. CMS will also give you a no questions asked one year warranty against breakage (Eric told me that because they order several hundred Lamiglas blanks a year, Lami just sends them new blanks without any assessment of who was at fault for the break). The factory SSU can be had for under $300 from M&Ds. In fact, Mike may not have sold his personal rod yet ;)

Thanks Mike and to the others that have weighed in. I see you have updated the Canal How To ;) You're right, I was really thinking of throwing at breaking fish and being able to get a couple of shots at them. I do jig and plug though. I have a custom 1205 with a VS250 that I'm pretty happy jigging with. So now I have to wrestle with carrying two rods if I go with the 11' or one rod if I go the 10'. Leaning towards the former. If I'm going to spend any money, I'm thinking I may want to max out the distance since this is the primary objective.

I saw the the Emblem today and the pictures don't do it justice as to how big it is. Interesting design. Looks like it will take time getting used to, even though I typically use a VS250, Penn 706 and the Cabo 60. It just feels quite different. However, it will still be easier for me then the conventional :uhuh:

Yes mike only plugs, I don't jig much anymore. Thanks for the info. I talked to mike and I am pretty sure he is going to build it for me. Thanks too Dave. That is what I think I am going with 30 lb on an Emblem. I am leaning towards the 10'er.
Mike how would you compare the upper 1/3 of the rod between the 1322 and the SS Mh rod. I kind of hate the 1322 a bit as it is a really stiff rod. Probably work great for jigging i would think. I use it now for plugging conventional. I am hoping the SS is a little more pliable at the tip. As with everything it boils down to personal preference.

The xra 1322 paired up with the new Abu that just come out this year the 700IC3 CT HS High Speed Big Game will easily cast 150 + yds in the right hands
I can speak from experience since I have that rig the reel is just unbelievable it is not a rig for small plugs but for plugs/jigs in the 3 to 5oz range if you like a non levelwind reel this IS the one for a levelwind reel I use the Abu 7000ics pro rocket on a gsb 1321 M another excelent casting rig, these are basically the rigs I use along with a Penn squidder 140 but I use my squidder for live lining on a gsb 1321 L

I am fairly new to jigging the canal and use an older 7000c3. I would love to try spinning but like the ease of letting out line on certain drifts with my reel. Do most people not let out line? How do you do it with spinning while staying in control?

This is an excellent question which I hope one of the new spin-jigging canal gurus will answer. The ability to drop back a jig seems to me to be crucial to fish different structure and maintain depth longer during a retrieve. Is it, in fact, over-rated and all you really need is a rising semicircular sweep/retrieve once you pick up your jig. Or do you open and close the bail several times? How do you stay in touch as it drops back?

Yes mike only plugs, I don't jig much anymore. Thanks for the info. I talked to mike and I am pretty sure he is going to build it for me. Thanks too Dave. That is what I think I am going with 30 lb on an Emblem. I am leaning towards the 10'er.
Mike how would you compare the upper 1/3 of the rod between the 1322 and the SS Mh rod. I kind of hate the 1322 a bit as it is a really stiff rod. Probably work great for jigging i would think. I use it now for plugging conventional. I am hoping the SS is a little more pliable at the tip. As with everything it boils down to personal preference.

That's pretty much the way it is--the 11' SSU isn't as stiff as the Arra, but not as soft as the GSB 132 M.

When letting out line, I'll generally grasp the main line just above the reel with my index finger and thumb then I flip the bail and keep a little tension with my fingers while letting line out. I prefer this because I can pinch the line hard and feel if I'm back on bottom.

Same theory as how you'd thumb a conventional, but using the two fingers to supply some tension.

Thanks mike. I kind of figured that was the answer. although I have no clue what a GSB 132m is. My favorite rod is a rod Charlie, CMS, built me back when he had the place in his cellar in Dartmouth. It is an 11' blackish grey blank that is nice and light and kind of whippy but still a strong rod. Bends to the first guide. I can cast it good too. I love the thing but noticed a cracked guide so it is back to the Arra 1322 rebar rod as I call it. Like a piece of steel. I have always used Abu 7500 ct non levelwinds with 25 mono. I kind of look forward to trying out the spinning outfit but will always carry the conv. set up with me. I am talking up top plugging and an occasional crippled herring as that is what i prefer to do. Not into jigging anymore. This rod would be used strickly for that but if it can do other things all the better.