After 12 years with my heavy 9'Lamiglass and clunky Penn, I'm gonna make the switch to conventional for the surf. I couldn't believe how light Salthearts' rods were at the party. I especially liked FWW new stick. Its time to upgrade the equipment.

What do you conventional guys suggest for rod/reel? I'll mainly be using it for eels and plugs/jigs 1-3oz. My price range for THIS purchase is around $300.

Also while I'm at it I'll probably switch over to braid with this outfit. Any suggestions as far as brands and #test would be appreciated.

I tend to resist change so I've stuck with my 1st custom spin/mono outfit. Its served me well with only minor repairs and I'll keep it as my Bluefishing rig. I can cast conventional pretty well from my early years freshwater fishing but for some reason I never made the switch in the surf.

Scotch, my recommendation is an All Star 1265/2 and an ABU 6500 either Big Game or Trophy with 35# Cortland Spectron.

Mikecc has the Trophy listed for about $85 on his site.

Don't know what the builders are charging for the 1265.

Scotch -

If you want a proven line (Cortland Spectron is good) another option is Berkley Fireline 20 lb. If you get the Fireline, get guides on the rod that can acommodate it (SiC is one more expensive option) ... I find the Fireline to be abrasive.

-WW

Scotch - Are you looking to spend $300 for the reel? Or for the entire outfit?

For reels (Oh, I only use levewinds so that's all I'll discuss :D ), I personally think the Shimano Calcutta 400 is an awesome reel and runs $200 smackers - sometimes they'll discount but it never gets advertised - Shimano's rules. Second choice for me has been uprgaded ABU 6500 sized reels anything from a $75 C3 with mods (big handle $15, Extreme Smoothies $8), a 6500TCST (MikeT - I'm getting one from you so save me one!) which is a slow ratioed 6500 C4 with a big handle for $90 or so, up to modded Mag Elites, Big Games and other 6500 class reels. My 6500 MagE has Penn drags in it and ceramic bearings - sweetest casting reel I've ever backlashed!

There are other reels too like the Penn 955/965/975 that I would love to own but I have enough so I can't justify it.

For a rod, you have choices ranging from the best bang for the buck 9' Batson 1088 to some high ends rods from Loomis, Lami, AllStar...

Personally I use the 1088 for my goto rod but I also use a XRA1205 Lami plus I'm building a 1088 AllStar/Breakaway...

Rods will need some more thinking and for price, check out some of S-B's builders:

Saltheart
CapeCodTackle
Capesams....

$300 for rod and reel (but I'm easily persuaded:D ). I have some other purchases with boat stuff so I can't go big($).

Batson or All Star 1088 for the rod. Or buy the factory Breakaway built on the All Star from Mike T.

I prefer the Abu BG 6500 to the Trophy or some of the other 6500 models. But once you're at that price level, there's no reason not to dig for another $50 and get the Calcutta. You get a smoother reel and one with a much better stock drag.

Mike-

Bassmaster asked me to ask you what the difference was between an Abu 7500 Big Game CL and a plain ole 7000 CL.

Thanks. I'm going to hide underneath the desk when BM starts throwing plugs at me. ;)

-WW

What does the Batson 1088 weigh?

Originally posted by Scotch Bonnet
What does the Batson 1088 weigh?

Did you see the rod that Jenn won from the previous raffle? Very light, lighter than the rods Saltheart built but those are 10 footers and some are heavier duty (they are also somewhat more upscale blanks)....

If I throw my 1205 Arra all night long I'll notice it now since I've been spoiled on the Batson which is so light. On the other hand, I wouldn't throw 4 ounces on the Batson either...

scotch, a lot depends on where you plan on fishing, the conditions you plan on encountering, such as tide rips, and if you target large fish or a range of sizes. for an all around reel, it's hard to beat a abu 6500 class reel. get one of the more decent ones w/ all the bearings, roller bearing, and upgrade the drags to smoothies. you should be around $100 for the abu, maybe a bit more. the abu 6500cl big game is tough to beat. if shimano is in your mind, the 400 is great. if you plan on fishing larger tide rips and expect larger fish, i would suggest a abu 7000c3/7500clc3 class reel. they are proven reels. again, the only option i would do is upgrade the drags to smoothies. these reels can run from $100-175 depending on the options, of which most are just fancier. finding parts is easy for abu's.

for rods, it's tough to beat a custom lamiglas, but you may be pushing your limits a bit. you also have to decide on glass or graphite. how long of a rod do you want? 9, 10, 11, longer? in the 9-10' range, all star makes a great rod in the 1088 (9') and 1208 (10'). these blanks are strong and can throw/load a 3 oz jig well, but a 3/4 oz minnow might be a challenge for an uneducated thumb. if you think you'll throw more lighter stuff between 1-2 and eels, you may want to look at the 1087 or 1288. so, there are some ideas, but there are so many options and considerations a custom rod builder needs before making a suggestion.

fww, a 7500cl bg reel has a faster gear ratio (5.3:1, vs. 4.1:1, i believe) and the sideplates were made of brass and annodized. a plain 7000cl has aluminum annodized sideplates. that's the difference, and, well, price. all 7500 class abu's have that gear ratio. only the big game series abu's have the brass sideplates. they do weigh a bit more due to the brass sideplates.

.02

Abu 6500 (BIG Game)......awsome reel to fit the 9' 1-3oz

Without going into customs......Star rods is an awsome rod for the money!! very light

I would first spool up with 20# BG until you feel more comfortable with conv. set-up.

All for under 3 beans

faster gears and stronger plates.

Yo Dave, why you fielding questions to the Ditch-man thru wee wee?

Scotch,

Some real good advise here.

Seawolf pretty much nailed it. It all depends on where you going to fish, and what your going to fish. Some setups are better suited for certain applications. Conventionals are a neccesity in the surf. I am not sure how guys fish live herring or jig the ditch without them, but on the other hand, I rather hang myslef than have to deal with a conventional in the middle of the night when the wind is honking form the south and your trying to toss a plug out there. Everything has its place.

Ask some of the guys that build rods and see what they recommend for the areas that you fish and the conditions you will be fishing.

Oh yeah, although he can be a bit tight lipped, Seawolf relly knows his stuff and builds one hell of a rod. This is one he built for me last year, and I have three more on order. Man I hope the wife doesnt read this.

SEAWOLF RODS .INC.........:happy:

Nice Chevron

Thanks to all. I'm leaning twords the Shimano Calcutta400 or Abu BG 6500 and the Batson 1088. I'm still hoping some others chime in.

i like the abu,i have both the 6500 and 7000.
im building my self a lammi for the 7000 real soon. i cant wait. the rod is soooo sweet. (but wicked expensive)
:p
i just got some new #35 micro black spot dacron for the 7000, looks nice and feels pretty good.
on my 6500 i alternated between #20 green spot and #17 mono.

Hi Scotch, I got your email yesterday. had a busy day teaching a class and was tired when I got home. Will get back to you tonight.

Any comments on Ben Doerr Rods?

Thanks Saltheart - no rush. So Mike, whats your take on conventional gear? Smokey told me you made a believer out of him. :)

thanks mike and tattoo.

dondkim, st croix no longer manufactures rods under the name of ben doer. the new line is called elite i believe.

...oh, and you too mr. habs. thanks.

Question.....
If I cast a spinner with my right hand on the butt, and use left hand to reel in, do I need a lefthand reel when I go to a conventional? BTW I am totally lefty, well almost;)

night, they way you cast and retrieve a spinner is called right handed. the most common method. as far as a convention goes for casting, it's personal preference and what feels comfortable to you. i cast a spinner just like you describe, right handed - retrieve w/ my left hand and left hand on the butt when casting. i throw a conventional w/ my left hand on the butt, but retrieve w/ my right hand, which is the common method and how most conv reels are built. they do make conv reels to retrieve w/ your left hand, but if you never used a conv before, i'd use your right hand to retrieve. when you get to larger reels such as penn 4/0's, you have no choice. i hope this makes sense

Thanx Wolf. Crazy isnt it? In hockey and baseball, right hand is closest to the butt, and it's called left handed?!?!?
As for switching to righthand retrieve on conventional, that might short out my limited brain power. Got the same advice about golf too. Still make southpaw slapshots from tee to green. And I think I have more control from that side, go figure.....

what are the differences of a 9' vs.10'. say throwing 3/oz weight & chunk.does what weight you'll throw determine length or does it matter.or is it all about loading. now i'm really confused.

Conventional is the way to go except for lures less than 1 OZ. even then , the best casters can use a conventional but most people have trouble casting less than 1 with a conventional. IMO the conventionals are much better once you hook up. I only use 1 spinner anymore. its a steelhead rod for 1/2 OZ jigs in the spring at the west wall. It gets a little use in the late fall when the rats blitz but the rest of the season it sits idle and i use conventionals only. For what you describe , the ambassaduers are hard to beat. I think a fighting handle is a must. The little paddle handles suck. You can change the handle on any of them or get a Big Game model or Trophy model and it will come with the fighting handle. The Calcutta 400 is a great reel. It casts almost as far as am ambassaduer and as far unless you know how to tune your ambassaduer for max distance. Its got a stiffer frame and better drag than the ambassaduers. however , it has the same crumby paddle handle as the ambassaduers. It also costs a lot more. As far as i know , there is no handle to replace the paddle handle on a calcutta like there is for the ambassaduers. I have three calcuttas (250 , 400 and 700) and at least 7 ambassaduers I can remember including a 5500 , many 6500's , 7000 and 7500 sizes My advice is to get an ABU Ambassaduer BG6500CL. It has a brass frame so its stiffer. It has full sized squared off side plates which also makes it stiffer. It has dual spool centering and tensioning adjsutments and it comes with the fighting handle. All those things add up to making it a better reel than a C3 or C4 or any of the models with the palming side plate. the make elite is also a great choice but its the same as price as a BG 6500 and I prefer to have the clicker over the mag control in most cases. I do have 2 Mag elites though and they are great for tossing eels into the wind. You will see them (BG6500CL) for between $110 and $125 depending on where and when you get one. Usually you get the best prices at the shows. On the rod you are describing , I'd load the reel with 35 lb spectron.

no prob, night. yeah, it is weird. and i'm left-handed in some stuff too...

shore, there are so many obstacles to consider in a custom rod. sometimes the angler knows best or what they want, other times they put their judgement in what the builder says. when you consider the differences between a 9' and 10' rod, it's usually not much, when it's the same powered blank plus a foot. but, that foot can play a vital role. usually in keeping the line off rods/structure, or in the cast. distance is usually minute when you compare the 2. if you talk about chunking as in your question, a 9' rod is not the best for length, under normal circumstances. most like a longer rod around 11' or more on the beach to keep the line off and out of the waves when the rod is spiked. you may see slightly more distance. go to hatteras w/ a 9' rod to chunk and you won't be catching. if distance is not an issue to the angler, as is in most situations around the northeast, a 9' rod could be used. so, as i said, a lot is determined by where the angler plans on fishing and how they plan on fishing.

THANKS,seawolf you pretty much gave me the answer i was looking for.gonna go custom so what i like and what the builder suggests i should find a :happy: medium.

seawolf rod? i wouldn't dare using one of them. the last time i went to sports authority in VA and found a seawold rod and tested it's strength, it broke. and i hid the evidence after wiping my prints off. it pops like a twig!

WAIT A DAMN MINUTE! I misread the whole thread. I thought it was a company's rod, not one of our member. sorry about, seawolf. my bad, man.

no prob, notaro. i registered the name "SeaWolf" a long time ago, in a gala...umm, nevermind. someone mentioned to me the name seawolfe tackle company, and i never thought about them when i registered. i just liked the name. so, no, there is no correlation between me and them.