Rod selection advice
 

Hi guys,

I was hoping to get a little rod selection advice. I'm currently on my second Tica rod - 9' medium action, 1/2 - 3 oz. The Tica is a pretty good rod, not real durable, but it seems like a pretty good bang for the buck. I've been hearing about the benefits of better rods for some time now and I'm wondering if I'd see a noticeable improvement by stepping up to a better rod.

I currently fish 30% eels, 30% surface poppers/needles, 30% swimmers/sluggos, and 10% tins. 80% of my fishing is in South County RI rocky shoreline/boulder fields and 20% breachways. I fish with a 560 Penn Slammer with 30# Fireline. Casting distance is a high priority.

I'd like to stay in the 9-10' length range. I can live with a one or two piece rod. Suggestions on length and one vs. two piece preference would also be welcome. Thanks in advance for the help. -LB

PIEMMA, you've got to have a nice custom rod to sell the guy don't you? :)

-spence

If your looking to step-up go with either a 10MS Lami or a custom on a 120 1M blank, both will serve your needs well, the 1201m moreso as it has a wider weight range, but will cost more.
Everyone has a different opinion on what rods they like personally, i say try a few and see what kind of action you like.

I've been fishing with the same rod, as well as the heavier 2-6 oz tica. I just purchaseda 10 ft lami tri-flex, 2-5 oz i think. not sure the blank as im at work, i bought it off a friend and paid next to nothing for it. there is a huge difference in distance and feel with the nicer rod....having a VS250 instead of a quantum cabo helps too:rude:
I'm looking to step up and go with something custom, but money has been an issue, so im waiting and watching for a good deal.

Lami 120 1L custom wrapped, great all around rod. Will throw Bombers to Med. size eels well.

I also like the 120 1m great rod some guys like the L better then the M booth are great rods I just feel like you can do more with the m,I got a m to start off with but soon i want to get an L wraped as well.As you can see the lami gsb are good rods.

i agree

the L might serve your needs better if you were throwing redfins, bomber and 1 oz pastics/rubber

the m is perfect for looking for large....ie med/large eels, big plugs,
dannys, spooks, needles, big swimmers 2-6 oz range

Batson is definitely value/quality stick.

Saltwater Rod Blanks Featuring RX7 Graphite (Color Available In Transparent Black / Matte Clear)
Model Color Length Sections Line Wt. Lure Wt. Butt Tip Action Power Blank Wt.
SW1027 Trns.Blk / M Clear 8'6" 1 15-25lb. 3/4-4oz. 0.720 7.5 Mod-Fast Med 6.23oz.
SW1087 Trns.Blk / M Clear 8'10" 1 15-25lb. 3/4-4oz. 0.740 7.5 Mod-Fast Med 7.15oz.
SW1088 Trns.Blk / M Clear 8'10" 1 20-30lb. 1-4oz. 0.775 8.0 Mod-Fast Med-Hvy 8.65oz.
SW1089 Trns.Blk / M Clear 8'10" 1 20-40lb. 1-6oz. 0.800 9.0 Mod-Fast Hvy 10.18oz.
SW1207 Trns.Blk / M Clear 10'0" 1 15-25lb. 3/4-4oz. 0.800 7.5 Mod-Fast Med 9.27oz.
SW1208 Trns.Blk / M Clear 10'0" 1 20-30lb. 1-4oz. 0.820 8.0 Mod-Fast Hvy 11.17oz.
SW1209 Trns.Blk / M Clear 10'0" 1 20-40lb. 1-6oz. 0.835 7.5 Mod-Fast Xtra-Hvy 11.73oz.

Surf Rod Blanks
Surf Rod Blanks Featuring RX7 Graphite (Available In Matte Clear)
Model Color Length Sections Line Wt. Lure Wt. Butt Tip Action Power Blank Wt.
SU1087 Matte Clear 9'0" 1 12-25lb. 1-4oz. 0.725 8.0 Mod-Fast Med n/a
SU1088 Matte Clear 9'0" 1 15-30lb. 2-5oz. 0.750 9.0 Mod-Fast Med-Hvy n/a
SU1207 Matte Clear 10'0" 1 12-25lb. 1-4oz. 0.825 8.0 Mod-Fast Med n/a
SU1208 Matte Clear 10'0" 1 15-30lb. 2-5oz. 0.850 9.0 Mod-Fast Med-Hvy n/a

One of the finest factory sticks IMO is a Quarrow.
http://quarrow.com/saltwater_specs.htm

PS. If you can find one of the older ML1 Green Country Quarrow surf rods(i.e. the 10'er) jump on it!

1088 - best of the bunch!

Spence:
Wish I did. The 9' rods I have up for sale are both conventionals.

Nothing to add to the rod advice, but you need to get rid of the 560 and switch to a 704. If casting distance is high priority, you may also want to go with 20# fireline, it breaks higher than the rated strength and will cast much better.

I used to have a slammer and with braid I thought it cast rather well.

But if you're fishing SOCO, I'd think you'd want something a bit tougher than 20lb braid.

-spence

20# Fire line and a 704 are like bread and butter, and the 30# if you want more is good on the 704 too. I have a 560 as well, and the 30# fireline on that will cut your distance way down. Its crapped out on the work bench less than three weeks after changing the gears and re-lubing

9' 1081M
10' 1201M

You'll love them both. I rarely use anything besides the two of them. The 1201M is a lot of rod (lengthwise) for sluggos though. For what you describe, if your happy with 9' as length, go with the 1081M. I use that rod 90% of the time.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I appreciate it. Based on the feedback and other good things I've heard about Lamiglas I was looking at the Ron Arra series of rods and wondered if anyone can give me the low-down on the rod rating difference between the XSRA1203 (3/4-2.5 oz.) and the XSRA1204 (1-4 0z.). Based on the fishing I do I'm wondering which one might be a better fit for me. Thanks for the help. -LB

I'd definately get the 1204, just make sure it's the new model. The older 1204 is now the 1203...the ratings you listed are correct.

Some may even argue the 1205 is a better fit for where you're fishing...but in the end you just need to see what works best.

I'd also note that the extra price you'll pay for the Arra isn't going to deliver that much more performance over most other better quality sticks, but they sure do work nice :)

-spence

1204 for sure over the 1203. I went with the 1205 and really like it. But for me I was most concerned with fish stopping ability. Want to make sure that I can stop the 60 quick enough so it is able to survive when I release it :hf1:

If you don't mind a 2pc rod.
 

Loomis sur1266. It has a wider range that the 1201M. I can throw small eels, and bombers just as well as big long snakes and 3-4 ounce danny's. It's not a custom, but has a HUGE sweet spot.

I bought my dad 2 ticas and he destroyed them both. So far so good with the Lami...

Speaking of which... Find me a rod I can't destroy. Thank god I can wrap guides or I'd need 2-3 back-up rods... :rocketem:

Get the 120 1L seems like the best fit for you...
Stay away from the Arra's......

I would check out a Batson 1088. Go see Mike at M&D's in Wareham, he makes a nice rod. I bought one and I am very happy with it. I guess it depends how much you want to spend too. The lamis will be a lot more than this Batson.

Have to disagree on the Arra comment. I couldn't be happier with my 1204.

Not knocking the action of the rod, but check around...lotsa breakage:doh:

I have heard the same thing but more in the 9 foot models and especially the two piece versions.

:bounce: I heard some people had a problem with the 1083 a while back... but I don't think it is fair to condem the whole line of rods :gorez: I haven't heard of problems with the new 1204 or the 1205.

When you look at the facts you'll see that most of that Arra rod breakage was attributed to NEBE :rtfm:

I wouldn't worry about breaking one, just don't pole vault with it.

-spence

the lamiglas arra series are fine. there were some early breakage, but that has been corrected by lamiglas. part of it was due to how they rods were being built. the other part was due to a small run of bad blanks. and, as always, some breakage was due to anglers pushing their rods too much. most of the gsb-series is over rated, so be careful. the only arras i dont care for as the xra1204 (new) and 1084.

that being said, for some of what you want for a rod the lami gsb1201m is a great all purpose rod. the xra1205 is nice too, but not as good as the 1201m for throwing eels. both are similar in power. 1205 is a little faster in action. the 1201m does have a slight advantage on top end too. both love lures in the 1.5-3.5oz range. the gsb1201L tops out around 2.5 oz really. same w/ the xra1204. if you throw enough eels, you will not want a faster action rod. slower action rods are also good for pencil poppers.

I wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions on a new rod. A fellow S-B member e-mailed me with a Batson SW1208 he was looking to sell, and since it was roughly the same specs as the XSRA1204 for a lot less cake I bought it today. He also had a Shimano Spheros 8000 that I picked up with it.

I'm pleased to report that it put another 20-30 yards on my cast and gave me a little more beef in the rocks. It did well with Surf Hogs through 3.5 oz. needles. Oh, and did I mention, that Spheros drag . . . smoooooooth like buttah! :uhuh:

That's a great "do everything" sort of rod, you're gonna love it.

-spence