Conventional rod recommendation
 

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to purchase a conventional saltwater rod to be used with Penn Squidder Model 145 and Model 146 bait casting reels. I'll be casting plastic baits threaded on lead head jigs, from a small open boat. Jigs & plastic tails will weigh between 3/4 ounce and 2 ounces.

Money is no object (I'm only buying one rod) but I don't want to pair these relatively heavy vintage Penn reels with a $300.00 light weight (i.e. fragile) graphite rod.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, guys!

Bill Brett

St Croix makes some decent 8 ft rods (PM80MHF I think) that would fit the bill. A friend who has plugged the Elizabeths (likely more than all but a few, if any, people alive) uses and likes one. Using a Squidder for light stuff is doing it the hard way, however. Do yourself a favor and get a Calcutta.

A honey Lami (which one I don't know) would also probably make a nice tough rod for short money to fit that reel and stay old school all the way.

A batson 967 makes a nice 8 footer for what you describe. Also there are some batson graphite/glass composite rods at 7 feet long that would be good for what you are doing. I think its called a 70 M. I would call Mike T (Capecodtackle.com) and see if he has any in the shop you can look at.

The good news is both blanks are fairly inexpensive leaving you plenty of money to buy a calcutta (400??) or 6500 ABU reel.

Hi Bill,

Do you use Squidders in the surf now? I have 2 of the St Croix inshore 8' rods. Using them with Penn 145's,146, abu 7000, and 6500's.

The 1st 2 St Croix rods were both were on the fragile side. One broke on the first bluefish, the other a day latter. I don't think it was St. Croix's fault. I bought them at Old Salt in Hingham, and I bet they were mis handled by customers. Old salt had a very short ceiling, and it was hard to get a rod off the rack without smacking the tip.

St. Croix was great and fed-exed mt 2 new rods. These rods have been very good. My only gripe is that the reel seat will not accept Newell reels. Also, I would go with the moderate action, not the fast action.

I use the squidders a lot in the surf. The 145 is one of my favorite reels. You may want to hunt around for a plastic spool for the 146. For casting lighter baits and plugs, you want the lightest spool weight possible. The plastic air fin spool is lighter than the Penn aluminum and the Newell replacement. The 145 only came with brass or plastic spools. Casting the brass is no fun. I have the Newell replacement spool for this reel, but almost always use the stock plastic.

I have not run into problems with the plastic spools, but I use a good backing of squidding line or old style braided nylon. About 5 wraps should do it. I also like to think about the over all mass of the spool. I think filling the spool with 30lb. braid weighs more than, 1/2 25lb. mono / 1/2 30lb. braid.

Have you thought about what oil you will use in the bearings?

sean

if $$ are no problem then have a rod made talk to the man and tell him what you want and he will make it

Sean,

The conventional saltwater/musky rods I see on the St. Croix website are not offered in a moderate action, just with fast action. Are the fast action rods a mistake?

I am relativerly new to surf casting using conventional rods and baitcasting reels. I stated last winter, practice casting a 2-ounce through-wired wooden egg onto a frozen Charles River in Boston's Brighton/Allston area.

I own all three Penn Squidder models as well as the Surfmaster 200 wich is the same as the Model 140 Squidder withouit ball bearings. I use plastic spools with these reels and I use 20# test monofilament line or 20# or 30# test Greenspot braided Dacron line. I've never tried the newer braids and don't plan to. I don't need the added casting distance at night or when fishing from my small boat but I dpo need a foolproof, simple knot that I can tie in the dark.

For the bearings I have been using 3-in-1, #20 weight oil (blue colored plastic bottle, available at hardware stores) as well as Quantum Hot Sauce (red colored) reel oil. No problems. Both work well.

I have several custom made surf rods and before I'd spend $300 on a factory made rod, I'd have another custom rod made for me. However, I was hoping to buy a factory rod for this application.

I hadn't considered the compatability of the reel seat. Thanks for the Heads Up! Do you think an 8-foot St. Croix Premier Musky Rod Model PM 80 MHF will accept Squidder Model 145 and Model 146 Squidder reels?


Bill

Bill,

I mounted a 145 on my St. Croix, fits fine. I don't see the moderate action listed anymore. I tend to use 25Lb. mono on the 145 or 65lb. power pro. I know a lot of guys do not like power pro, but it was good to me last year. I have it on a few squidders, a newell 229,220, and an old red 7000. I have used greenspot with good results.

I tend to use a little heavier oil in my squidders depending on the weather temp. SAE 30-40 in the spring and fall, and SAE 50 in the hottest part of summer.

sean

FWIW I've had very good luck with St. Croix fast action Musky rods. I like any of their fast action blanks, especially for casting plugs.

Thanks guys for the advice. I just purchased a St. Croix Muskie rod as well as two custom built rods. I've spent all my fishing money for the next two seasons.