Looking for advise for a friend
 

So,
A buddy wants to buy a Saltiga and a custom Ron Arra spin rod and we are trying to convince him to buy a Emblem Pro and a Mojo. This outfit is for the canal so he can "cast across the canal".

We are looking for opinions, save the money or spend the money?

Thanks,
Mike

Emblem for sure for the distance. If he goes Lami I'd go 1322 1 piece. And also custom. Their factory rods are lacking everything. He can have it built with the same guides as the mojo. That 1322 casts like a rocket with the emblem and a 3oz pencil or polaris. I haven't drank the mojo juice yet.

"For a friend".......My wife doesn't buy that line........just admit its for you.

Emblem pro for sure, there's a reason it's a canal standard!

The mojo is a great rod, a lot of guys using them at the ditch and surf.

Like westportmafia said stay away from factory lami rods, there ratings are not accurate in my findings.
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MoJo/Emblem would be my choice

Lami's are old technology

Jay, you know who it is. He's all jazzed up about casting across the canal after watching you last year. I was buying a Mojo on Sunday and he was checking out the Arra's, when Ron Arra walked in the store and tried to convince him to buy the 1322 and his book. I think he's leaning towards having the Arra blank custom wrapped because he doesn't really like the handle on the factory rod.

Mojo
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I built myself an Arra 1322 with the lowrider guides on it and put an emblem pro on it with 50 lb powerpro on one spool and 40 lb on the spare. Cast like a rocket but it does get tight at a few spots on the canal.Most cast land at 3/4 mark and many within 20 ft of other shore with right lure in right spot.Holds a big fish nice and handled beating an 54lb 3 oz in a nasty rock pile in Rhody. Ron

Does he have the physical ability to cast across the canal? If he hasn't got the basic physical tools , no rod will get him there.

I like a 10 footer. I used a 9 footer for a few years at the Canal then went to 10. I think 12 may have a better chance of getting you across the canal but then again , its a fishing rod and I think too long is not good either.

In the right hands , there are many rods that will cast across the canal. Working a jig is easier with a conventional IMO. casting is easier with a spinner. I don't know enough about most of the better spinners anymore since i switched to conventional. Emblems do have many long cast features. The real pros seem to use the VS reals too. With spinners I think you can use a stiffer rod at the canal.

I hope this info helps. I use an XRA 1205 and BG7000CL original Black. I use braid. There have been few occasions when I felt I missed out on fish because I couldn't cast far enough.

If casting distance is so important to you , go for it by getting a Century or a Ziplex. I honestly think that in the right hands , my Century could cast a 4 OZ jig not only across the canal but might actually be able to break windows on cars in the parking lots in some place. However , in my hands now , no rod will allow me to cast across the canal. I have always been happy with half way.

I've already drank the cool aid, 2 Emblem Pro's and 1 1322-1 that I'm converting to spin.

The guy I'm asking for is a member of the forum that doesn't post much. Maybe he will have more than three posts this year....

Did you get my PM?

any place you need a special rod and reel to fish isnt worth fishing in my opinion

the setup in that canal allows everyone to see what other people are doing so you have the hot rod/reel/lure, etc. My gut tells me 30yrs ago guys were slamming trophy fish on off the shelf rods and mediocre reels

please keep in mind I've fished the canal about a dozen times, never caught a bass there and have absolutely no clue on how to fish there. But as an observer, I think the proximity of fisherman in the canal leads to obsession over lures/rods reels. Is it the gear or the fisherman?

Thats some impressive casting right there. On occasion i might hit the half way mark using a emblem and a ss 11'.

There are definitely times when being able to reach the middle gives you an advantage. I've been frustrated at times seeing fish blitz 20 or more feet out of my casting range. I think a lot of people buy gear for the canal because it's where they mainly fish. I use the same gear at the canal and everywhere else I surf fish for the most part. I can't afford to have different gear for every place I fish.

You'll get your first canal bass this year if you can get the time to head down there with me. I'll even give you the world famous "Fishbones Double Your Money Back Guarantee".:grins:

Yeah. I'd like to see it myself. I haven't seen anyone hit 3/4 or more myself.

Ya truth. The canal is about 280-300 yrds across. 250 yard cast is a BOMB.

Westpmafia got me on the emblem train too. Got last years model 5500 with the extra spool brand new on sale at the local shop here in yarmouth for 128.00. I needed something that actually casted decent. after using my vs 200 last year with my 10ft st criox i think i missed out on a lot of fish becuase of the lack of casting distance. Hopefully this will remedy the situation.

I think it's just as important to have the set up that lets you put the boots on a big fish in current , hopefully.
Or else who cares how far away the fish broke off.
Knife to a gunfight kind of thing.

I don't know where you got that info, but it is a bit off.

more like an average 700 feet across ( I call it 200 yards or so), only place it approaches 900 is at the Dolphins.
540 ft span at the RR bridge, some say 480

I agree with you 100 percent, even if you're a lowly boat guy. Most of my fish are caught within 50'- 100' of the bank. This includes plugs/shads/eels.

Lamiglas 1203M's(yellow fiberglass) and penn squidders/newell 229's have accounted for more fish out of the canal than any other rod make, I'd guess. having said that though, I'd go with the new technology available simply because it makes you look more important. :hihi:

I'd go for the Saltiga Z4500 or Z5000 and XRA1322 custom built over the other setup any day. The mojo has only been around a couple years and is still unproven. The Ron Arra series is still the standard, IMO, particularly if you get the custom built version.

Best thing is if your buddy springs for the expensive setup you can take it if his hands for pennies on the dollar when he gets sick of the canal...:hee:

SPEND THE MONEY!!!!

If he wants to cast distance he might as well give up the whole idea of spinning and throw on a good old conventional. 229 with a 1322. More accurate and further distance. Practice ur thumb exercises first.
:uhuh:

Do you guys really think the emblem makes that much of a difference over something like a saltiga? I dont get caught up in distance but I can really get my 11' rod with my saltiga z4500 out there. But I've also been able to get out there with my old penn700. What is it about the Empro that makes a difference in your opinion? I'm putting the z4500 on a 10'6 Mojo 3/4-4oz this year and getting a new reel for the 11' 3-8oz rod. I'm thinking a Stella 10kSW or Saltiga 6000GT, but casting distance was never an issue.

That's the set up he was originally planning on. He went yesterday and looked into getting the 1322 blank wrapped with the low rider guides. I think he wants the Saltiga because it has the long cast spool like the Emblem Pro, but the reel is lighter and more durable.

I bought the Mojo and will put it to the test this season. With the way I treat my equipment, I can't justify a $400+ custom rod.

long cast spool? ? ?
is this a Z?

I think the emblem would only get you better by about 10 yds. max.

MikeP did a test

What ever you buy to use there take it out and practice with it a few times where you don.t care what you hit when you break off and aren't worried about makin an ass of yourself. You'll push it a bit harder and gain some confidence and a good bit of distance in your cast. Confidence makes the distance sometimes better than the gear.

What will you enjoy more the $200 escort or the $ 1000 escort ?
Spend the money.
You will be married to the rod and reel longer than a lot of us stay married to our wives, might as well enjoy a little luxury if you can.
:hee:


btw , I can't believe how often a fish hits as I am about to lift the lure out of the water, especially at the canal.

Wow 24 posts and still no Sea Mule.....

His wife took away his computer privileges for going to Bob's party.:rotf2:

No, and I've done the land field testing to prove it. On average, the EP throws about 8 yards farther than a Saltiga 6000. Lots of casts using the same line and lure, same rod (XRA 1322 custom), calm day, averaged out, throw out the longest and shortest. 8 yards. To me, that's not enough to warrant buying a reel that'll last 2-3 seasons of heavy use over one that may well last a lifetime.

You get down to the Canal, throw 3 oz pencils in a SW cross wind, and most every spinning reel is going to cast the same distance.

Oh, I think he's talking about the Saltiga Surf, not the Z.

In that case, tell him to save his money and go with the Emblem Pro.

The Saltiga Surf is an overpriced mediocrity trying to capitalize on the Saltiga name.

It's also one damn slow retrieve ratio. If his plan is to cast across the Canal, I can't think of a worse reel to use, because he'll spend all morning cranking that plug back in. It's even slower than a freaking Squidder.

This coming from a guy that can cast how far into the canal??????

That's why I use what I use.
Power, speed, distance and can cast for hours with no fatigue.
Me like.:uhuh:

straight up my advice to your friend or anyone whos not sure about a spinning rod for the canal is....go to cms talk to the staff and look and feel the many different types and styles of rods and guides used for canal fishing. cms has lots of custom as well as rack rods. try a reel on one and match rod to perfered reel.. if u r going to drop the money down do it right ..... as for the reel .i have several different reels.. empro will give u a little more distance and not so pricey. but after 3-4yrs its beat....than i buy the next new latest greatest reel about every 3-4 yrs

Casting distance doesn't mean a thing down there seeing more than half can't reach the fish on a consistent bases anyways,would love to know the hookup ratio of the guys who can cast half way across too.Seeing most fish are caught on the retrieve anyways.The canal has become more off a fashion show anyways,the fish don't know or care what equipment you are using to catch them.

Basstrologer , welcome to the board. I see this is your first post. You might want to read some of the posts previous to yours. Also , you can follow up by searching under some of the post authors names. Some of the absolute best canal fisherman post here. Some have been doing it since their teens. Also , there are many informative posts here about fishing the canal. Some you will find in searches and some can be found in the favorites posts or archives.

Here I am...
 

Firsty, O.D. thanks for considering me a friend. I feel the same way sweet cheeks. Awesome advise from all. Typically when you open up a topic like this you will be left even more confused and unsure then when you first started exploring options. Definately some light shed here. Custon one piece arra 1322 with low rider guides coupled with the emblem pro and 50' braid it is. Any suggestions on the size reel that should be married to this stick? Also, what are your thoughts on the new emblem pro vs. old?

The Aquatic Donkey

K, ya so, average 800ft we'll say. 266 yards. so a 220 yrd cast is BOMB..... thats more accurate :uhuh:

my information was goin off hitting golf balls across the canal in high school when we had away matches. not exactly scientific measurement

But raises an interesting question about accounts of "casting 3/4 across the canal" doesnt it?

Just my opinion, but you may want to go with more than 50' of line if you're planning on casting to the middle of the canal.:rotf2:

If it works, go for it.

Hey, more than once as the plug hit the water, head first, the tail hook impailed itself in the snout of an unsuspecting bass. Reel that one in from 400' to 500' out when your warmed up.

Like everybody else say though distance casting and the canal are not necessary to going large. Most of the biggest fish are hooked up 30" to 40" from the rocks.

I like it so much better when they hit at your feet.:)

There are a few guys on this board that were pretty pissed at me last year because they couldn't reach the 20 and 30lbers I was casting into more than a couple of times last season. Distance does matter when the fish are out in the middle chasing bait. ALL fish are usually caught on the retrieve not most of them.