Could someone recommed to me a combo for the canal that won't break the bank? This year will actually be me first trip. I'm kind of a weekend warrior, and mainly stick around CT and RI. I have a couple 706's and 704's a Stradic 8k and some other smaller reels. I usually use my GSB 1201m around RI but I feel that I may be under gunned with that rod at the canal. I'd like to get some distance, throw large baits, and be able to turn a potentially large fish in that type of current all with spinning gear since I'm still kinda getting used to conventional.

Thanks, Matt

I personally don't use those reels, but use my 1201M at canal. You won't be undergunned with it.

I wouldn't break the bank to fish the canal. Use your rod with the stradic 8k and you should be fine. I have caught a few 20lb fish on a stradic 6000 in the canal, it wasn't ideal but got the job done. You should be able to reach the fish with that rod. If you wind up going there a lot you will get distance envy pretty quick and try to gear up for distance. Then again its likely the fish will be on the other side. :wall:

There is a Mojo for sale in the classifieds right now, rumor has it they are good rods, rather popular at the canal.

Thanks for the help, I talked to a couple guys who fish the canal religously and they said the GSB is probably not my best choice. I guess I'll give it a shot though. I have a 10' mojo and I'm still having a tough time adjusting to those guides and the blank itself.

The one bit of advice I would give anyone , is try out a few rods before you buy one. What some people love , others hate.
And if you are going to upgrade , just upgrade to what you think you'll want (within reason). Alot of people keep making small upgrades and cost themselves more money in the long run.

I guess a better question is, whats a common spinning set-up for the canal? I'll probably only venture out there once or twice a year thats why I'm not looking to get to crazy with the $$$

I personally don't use those reels, but use my 1201M at canal. You won't be undergunned with it.

This

The Shimano 8000-Stradic or sustain are good reels for the ditch with 2 spools and great versatility elsewhere. Diawa Emblem pro-old model work good. Newer ones seem to have some issues.There are other reels that are great but more expensive.Conventional well ABU 6500 or 7000 can't be beat. Lami 120 m or mh are good blanks to build on and take a pounding.Century has some nice models also.Stay between 10 ft an 11 ft as there's not a lot of room for back swing on the cast in a lot of spots.There are a load of good stock models out there that do good but like what was mentioned prior if your only gonna fish it from time to time shop around and try some that friends have as Canal rods are specialty rods made for a purpose and have some limits other places as they are heavy duty rods made to fish hard current,heavy jigs and plugs along with long casts.So try some on for size an see what fits you best.Many that fish the ditch have a few extra rods they've tried or upgraded from .

I feel like half the people I see down there have an em pro 5500, including me lol. I have a 10ft mojo and its ok, id have to say on the undergunned side of things, kinda wish i had the 10'6''. but its nice to be able to throw small stuff when the baits goin that way. good luck!

I guess a better question is, whats a common spinning set-up for the canal? I'll probably only venture out there once or twice a year thats why I'm not looking to get to crazy with the $$$

common spinning rods for the canal.if you like lamiglas blanks
arra 1322 plugging
arra 1205 plugging/eeling/some people jig with it
arra 1261 for jigging
none are cheap and if its only a couple trips. use the 1201m and fish the plugs or plastic or lead that works well with it. alot of people fish that rod and do well with it. if your interested in the allstar blanks someone else should chime in(i dont own any). I know there less expensive than the arra's and depending on the other places you fish you may get more use from one and spend less $$$

I have all 3 of those for the canal and love them all.One of the benefits of rodbuilding.

common spinning rods for the canal.if you like lamiglas blanks
arra 1322 plugging
arra 1205 plugging/eeling/some people jig with it
arra 1261 for jigging
none are cheap and if its only a couple trips. use the 1201m and fish the plugs or plastic or lead that works well with it. alot of people fish that rod and do well with it. if your interested in the allstar blanks someone else should chime in(i dont own any). I know there less expensive than the arra's and depending on the other places you fish you may get more use from one and spend less $$$

I actually prefer the 1205 to the 1261 for jigging. But, I never throw more than 5 oz.

The Super Surf 120 1MH is also a very strong and versatile Canal rod.

Mike that's the rod I use for Ronz's. Love it for them.

A 1201m, while maybe not the most popular choice for the canal these days, is a great rod and is in no way incompatible with fishing there. You would not be undergunned. It would be practically insane to buy a new rod for your first trip there, given what you have. A 706 is a good reel for the canal, although I prefer a bail for the canal. Stradic 8000 with 50lb braid and a 1201m could be a primary canal setup for the rest of your life. If you start to fish it regularly, you might want some other rods, but it isn't necessary.

You should be able to get a batson rainshadow SY 1209 for relatively small money compared to the Lamis. Its really just for jigging from about 3 to 6 OZ. Below 3 its useless. Its especially good for spinners IMO. I think all the reels that will hold about 300 yards of 50+ braid should be OK at the Canal. the spinners have such big drags usually that is line capacity that limits you in size. Now a snoopy reel won't do but any of the models mentioned here should be fine.

Now I also lie the ARRA 1205 for the canal , I jig 3 OZ most of the time and 4 the rest. I do on rare occasions go 5 but if I know uts a honking current and I will be doing 4 and 5 , I use my century Tip Tornado light.

On a budget though , I think the batson rainshadow SU 1209 is worth looking at.

I guess I over analyzed the crap outta this one lol...I'll Stick with the 1201m so far thats been my go to rod almost everywhere I go. I was just under the impression that when you fish the ditch you needed heavier gear than the usual. Thanks for the advice I appreciate it!

I'll probably only venture out there once or twice a year thats why I'm not looking to get to crazy with the $$$ A Zebco 202 set-up. I know.....I'm a wise a$$. A 10'6' MoJo with a 500 reel (if you can find one).

For whatever it's worth:
Spinning I use a Penn 850 or 950
Convenc I use a Abu Big Game or a Calcutta 700

if you fish the canal 2to4 times a season......but if you want a canal rod/reel, .... low end... dawia emb pro 5000 w/ 40 lb sammai line.add a 10-6 airwave 2to5 oz rod this is a gd intro combo.. high end a 10 to 11 ft lami super surf or a 11ft arra or a 11 ft centruy or a rain shadow ..... lots of different rods and high end reels . what i see on the canal is that most casters have emb pro w/ high end spinning rod made to cast plugs /metals,bucktails . fishing the canal for 30yrs , the equipment and styles of fishing has changed. for me its gotten ez-er its all artifical .very little bait fishing

If you decide that you want to get something that throws a little better than a 120 1M, TFO has a line of surf rods now with LC guides, that looks like it was pretty much a knock off of the St Croix Mojo---for about $100 less. ;)

Personally, I think that 10-1/2' is the ideal length for an all-around stick.

Curious, who locally specializes in the canal jigging rods mentioned above? Does Mike @M&Ds make rods, CMS Fall River, Canal B&T, another shop or perhaps someone on this board?

Curious, who locally specializes in the canal jigging rods mentioned above? Does Mike @M&Ds make rods, CMS Fall River, Canal B&T, another shop or perhaps someone on this board?

All of the above. There are also some production rods that do very well. Lamiglas began offering a factory rod built on the XRA 126 1MH blank within the last year or two.

If you decide that you want to get something that throws a little better than a 120 1M, TFO has a line of surf rods now with LC guides, that looks like it was pretty much a knock off of the St Croix Mojo---for about $100 less. ;)

Personally, I think that 10-1/2' is the ideal length for an all-around stick.

Thanks everyone...JW are those TFO's avaliable at most shops?

Thanks everyone...JW are those TFO's avaliable at most shops?

Red Top is the only shop that I know of right now.

Check their site out it give you shop locations.

Thanks for your interest in the Lamiglas XRA's- In the recent past I have had many e mails on these three RA models and wanted to clear up some aspects about these rods...We have worked hard in developing a great rod for the Cape Cod Canal and beaches.
The XSRA 1261 spinning model is rated for 2-6oz lures and if you could afford only one rod for rough and tumble surfcasting, the 1261 10' 6" one piece would be my choice. The 1261 can handle 2oz to 5oz with ease, using jigs or surface lures. I am real picky when it comes down to developing a rod and have found no need to make any improvements to the 1261. In the Lami. blank catalog it is called a XRA 1261MH.
The factory did a great job with real seat placement and guide layout, using Fuji Alconite guides that is advantages with mono or braid line. I did not want low profile guides because the performance with mono would not be good and choke the mono line and only be good for one type of line . There are still many surf fishermen out there using mono. The XSRA 1322 one piece is another heavy duty plugging rod that has an edge on the 1261 in the plugging category. The XSRA 1322-2 two piece will handle lighter lures better than the one piece 1322, having more flex in the butt section. "Hope This Helps"

Thanks for your interest in the Lamiglas XRA's- In the recent past I have had many e mails on these three RA models and wanted to clear up some aspects about these rods...We have worked hard in developing a great rod for the Cape Cod Canal and beaches.
The XSRA 1261 spinning model is rated for 2-6oz lures and if you could afford only one rod for rough and tumble surfcasting, the 1261 10' 6" one piece would be my choice. The 1261 can handle 2oz to 5oz with ease, using jigs or surface lures. I am real picky when it comes down to developing a rod and have found no need to make any improvements to the 1261. In the Lami. blank catalog it is called a XRA 1261MH.
The factory did a great job with real seat placement and guide layout, using Fuji Alconite guides that is advantages with mono or braid line. I did not want low profile guides because the performance with mono would not be good and choke the mono line and only be good for one type of line . There are still many surf fishermen out there using mono. The XSRA 1322 one piece is another heavy duty plugging rod that has an edge on the 1261 in the plugging category. The XSRA 1322-2 two piece will handle lighter lures better than the one piece 1322, having more flex in the butt section. "Hope This Helps"

Thanks! This clears a lot up, I wish I had a little more cash for an Arra, but for the few trips I'll be making to the canal I'm probably going to keep it a little on the less expensive side. Maybe I could test cast one and keep my eyes out for something used.

The mojos are hard to beat for the $, and the 1201 is a classic

1201m is great, one of the best blanks around. The butt of that rod has plenty power. Keep in mind that many giant fish are hooked within 50' of the rocks there. Learn to fish the shelfs there right on the bank. Short cast with an eel, let it sink, and swing it. Night time is always good, the breaking tides get all the hype.
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1201m is great, one of the best blanks around. The butt of that rod has plenty power. Keep in mind that many giant fish are hooked within 50' of the rocks there. Learn to fish the shelfs there right on the bank. Short cast with an eel, let it sink, and swing it. Night time is always good, the breaking tides get all the hype.

:agree:

I landed a 49" fish in about 15-20 seconds. It hit a polaris about 15' from shore , i turned its head and a few sweeps of the tail and she was at my feel, coulda done it with a snoopy rod.