Buying a rod

[Mischievious]

Hey guys, Im gunna buy a rod!!! Sick of using my boyfriends!

I was wondering if ppl could give me ideas on what is good and what is NOT good to buy :)

Cheers :)

[torvic]

Hey

I just bought a 6 foot 6" ugly stik today and can't wait to try it out. There are better specialist bream rods out there though I'm not familiar with them yet. Since this is my final year at school I wont have time to fish much so the ugly stik will do while I get better acquainted with the better brands/models. Good luck with your hunt!

[Mischievious]

last year of school? high school? tafe? uni?
I dont wanna buy the most expensive, jsut something that will get me through a few fish's and then maybe later when i get more experienced i'll get a better one.. What are the price ranges?

[torvic]

Last year of highschool...not sure I'm looking forward to it though.

I got mine for $70 at Got'ya tackle in Balcatta, nice ppl over there. I'm really in the same boat as you I don't know much about rods but I know I like the Okuma reels :)

[Dave W]

How much you looking at spending Stevie??

I've got a Diawa Procaster-X 602LFS (6 foot, 2 piece, light fishing) and it's a ripper:D, it only:rolleyes: cost me $150 but I'm sure you can get them a bit cheaper.

Depends on how much moolah you've got to play with, and whether you're getting a reel as well.

[Richo]

Howdy,

Ive got a heartland x, $130 nice rod... I know there are some heartland IM6`s around for about $120 odd nice rod also. Bear has purchased a great couple of rods which cost about $50 ea (mitchell i think), light with a short grip - very nice for starting up I reckon. But as long as it has a high content of graphite and 1-3 or 2-4kg and your laughing, and personally I like 6ft or 6'6''. :D

Hope this helps, whats grant steering you towards??

Cheers

Richo:p

[Craig_S]

Ms M, it all depends what kind of bucks are going to get committed to the project - remember a rod is only half of the outfit.

If you were thinking lots of hundreds, look at Strudwicks or Loomis.

If you were thinking mid range, Daiwa have got the goods starting from about $120

If you were thinking less than a $100 you could probably look at the Shakespeare range.

Bear in mind, no matter what you get, that graphite content counts and the rod needs to be capable of handling very small casting weights.

Regards

[jm0771]

Hi Missy(is that ok?)
As Craig_s said the shakespeare rods are a good investment.I am using the synergy sp662l and are very happy with the performance (after cutting 3inches off the butt).It will only set you back 50-60 dollars and is made of im6 graphite(like some more expensive rods).Keep the reel light tho,maybe okuma av15 for about 80 bucks.

[Mischievious]

Firstly, Steveburt.. dont help me... you;ve done your job already.. i dont wana hear from you agian :)

Thanks for the advice guys, keep them coming in. Grant and i went to busso today and while i was girl shoping he bought me some new soft plastics to go with my soon to buy tackle box, Atomic Range, Motor oil gold and brown crawdad and bass master motor oil.

I wouldnt really want to go over $150 as i am only just starting. and a student on a low budget! hehe

yeah i am looking for a reel too..
So go a shakespear you reakon?? Went fishing tonight :) got heaps of bites but grant's cousin ended up hooking the only bream :) Nice one too :)

[Evan]

hey mischevious

warren said in a post the other day that he is ordering in some combos - i think it was some sort of im6 graphite rod with a reel for under $200- might be worth a look! he didnt provide any details of brands etc but coming from breammaster im sure that they would be reputable

just a thought

Evan

[Mischievious]

yeah evan i read that :) Hoping to see him on sat :)
I have given it some thought... i am still pondering tho.. i just wanna get an idea of what sorts there are out there and then make a decision :)

Ive heard all products from "breammaster" are very good :)

[Craig_S]

M, when you see him, ask about the "catch a fish or double your money back" guarantee that all the boys are getting.:D

For a $150, I reckon the choice is pretty easy- A Shakespeare Synergy or Catera with an Okuma AV15 reel.

[Evan]

Originally posted by Craig_S
M, when you see him, ask about the "catch a fish or double your money back" guarantee that all the boys are getting.:D

.

you really do like to stir the pot dont you craig LOL!!!:p

[Richo]

No money back for you Craig, Ive seen some pics......:D

[Evan]

hey richo fancy seeing you online here mate at this time!!! are you working late or something???? nah jj

hows the new computer treating you?

[Richo]

Treating me real well, got some real good software stacked up as well. Not bad speed either:) Im checking into ASDL this week... which will be even better..:D

Mandurah this weekend.....?

Cheers

Richo:p

[Evan]

heading down there tomorrow night - but wont be fishing till sat arvo i think

hopefully youll still be down there fishing at that time and will have left some fish for me!!

catch ya then

Ev

[Craig_S]

Check the new avatar lads - this one is still swimming down there...somewhere?

[Evan]

yep a couple like that and ill be extremely happy:D

oh no we have abducted a thread again:rolleyes:

[Mischievious]

Just might ask for the garantee :P Sounds good. Im not good at catching fish :)

The new pic is good craig_s. Im proud of you putting the fishy back :P Nice boy! hahaha

I just keep them in buckets for 15 then decide i dont wanan keep it and put it back half dead :P

[Craig_S]

M, putting em back is the way to go really. One of the concepts being promoted by the BREAM comps, and supported in such places as this Forum, is "catch & release" - there's nothing the matter with keeping one for the pan but I think you'd find most of the people here are only in it for the sport (read "fun") and practically nothing gets kept.

And press the main man for that guarantee definitely;)

[Richo]

Yeah I agree, the thrill of the release is nearly as good as the thrill of the hunt.......;)

Cheers

Richo:p

[Mischievious]

Yeah i know all about catchand release. But ididnt have anything for tea... but it just looked too cute :P so i put it back

Its good to catch and release, Im not in it to catch for a feed, if i would like to eat one i might, But not all the time.

Grant is most upset because warren said he might give me a few soft plastics on sat when i go fishing with mimbo and JP. Grant cant go cause he has to work :P hehehe

[Bear]

Hi M,
Please atek you time in amking a decision like this and make sure YOU make the decision, not Grant.

Rod purchase is a very personal thing. Try and get out with as many people as possible a ask to try their rods. Go to the stores and get a feel for the different types of grips and sizes.

The last thing you want to do si spend you money on something some one else likes, not you.

HTH.

[Bear]

And please excuse my shocking typing. I'm rushing to catch up.

[matt_mad_fisho]

G'day mischevious

if u are looking for a rod and reel combo that wont break the budget, shimano have fantastic little rod and reel combos in mackle stores for around $100-250, But if u want something good but not to expensive, may i suggest some kind of diawa rod you can pick them up from around $100-150 and also u should have a look at there reels too, they range in price from about $70 - $350 in the more expensive ones....that wasnt much help was it:rolleyes: lol

Cheers Matt

[shawn mcghee]

g'day mischevious,
i had to recently by myself a new rod as a result of trying to yank my soft plastic out of a tree, the result being snapping the 1 to 2kg penn power graph half way down the top section.it was until then a perfect little rod. Its replacement is an abu garcia 4 to 6kg graphite rod which set me back about $80 and it casts little jig heads beautifully. The reel i use with it is a Shimano cx2000 with a rear mounted drag loaded with 8lb fireline.

[Kaisemurangdai]

Hi Mischievious,

Like you I am fairly new to this and bought a Shakespere Synergy sp662M rod the other day.

It is a nice rod, nothing flash but more than adequate for me at the moment. It cost me about 60 dollars, luckily I had a suitable old shakespeare reel, but I did find I needed to use fireline to get the small lures cast a decent length. So don't forget to allow for say 300m of fire wire which is going to cost about the same as the rod.

So on this basis because your going to buy a reel as well, I recommend staying well under a 100 bucks on your rod and if thats the case then the synergy could be good value.

regards

Trev

[Evan]

Originally posted by Kaisemurangdai
Hi Mischievious,

Like you I am fairly new to this and bought a Shakespere Synergy sp662M rod the other day.

It is a nice rod, nothing flash but more than adequate for me at the moment. It cost me about 60 dollars, luckily I had a suitable old shakespeare reel, but I did find I needed to use fireline to get the small lures cast a decent length. So don't forget to allow for say 300m of fire wire which is going to cost about the same as the rod.

So on this basis because your going to buy a reel as well, I recommend staying well under a 100 bucks on your rod and if thats the case then the synergy could be good value.

regards

Trev

Trev why would you ever need 300m of fire line to catch a bream??? unless it is the biggest bream in the world i dont think that they would run off more that 50m of line max. next time just buy a 125yd spool and fill the rest of the reel up with mono backing - hell of a lot cheaper!!! does the same job - for bream fishing that is

[kevinnugent59]

Originally posted by Craig_S
Check the new avatar lads - this one is still swimming down there...somewhere?

What size & weight Craig? It looks like an absolute beauty!:D

Kevin

[Mischievious]

AT the moment im using a nice rod (grants hehehe) and do use a 6pound fireline. So i know all about that.

Dont worry Bear, I will geta rod that suits me and grant's money :p

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll tell yon when i buy a rod and reel, which is soon.

I am buying a plano tackle box today!!!!! I even have some soft plastics to put in it for the weekend with JP and Mimbo and Warren..

[Craig_S]

Kevin, it was in the high 30's in length, I cant remember exactly but I know we didnt crack 40 that day. And I think it only weighed about 1.8lb although I'm pretty suss on that scale, I'd have guessed a kilo.

G'day
I own the Shakespere Plueger, which is the model above the catera, and i got it for 135. I've now matched it with the Daiwa Samuria which i got for 80. So for around 220, you've got a great graphite rod, and an average reel, which for the price, is unreel!!!
But, for the first rod, i'd prolly suggest the catera, matched with the okuma or the catera reel.
I know that AllSports tackle have a little combo which would be great for around 130. It is a catera reel, matched with the mitchell graphite rod (i think). It really is worth a look!

Dave

PS what course are you in at uni?

[Mim]

Try and get out with as many people as possible a ask to try their rods.

We will let Stevie try our rods out on Sat. I have a Browning IM 6 graphite rod, JP has a Steve Starling Stellar 6'6, we also have an ugly stick and a daiwa rod that Tildy uses that folds away to nothing. I am sure we will be able to talk Warren into letting Stevie try his, and maybe even Ira will give her a try too. She can have a feel of my beautiful Daiwa Laguna 1500 reel and JP will let her try his reel, but not much point in that cos it is not being made any more. Should be a great opportunity for Stevie to learn new techniques and meet a whole lot of nice Bream people.

Grant will have to wait till Monday morning when we will make a trip out on the Collie specially for him.


Mim

[Mischievious]

"PS what course are you in at uni?"

who was that aimed at ?? If me, im at TAFE studying accouting, but i am in two minds now.. i wanna get into tourism.

MimboNo5 it was great chatting to you on the fone hahah Grant is soo extremely jealous now. Reakons I've stolen his "friends" haha.

[Richo]

Thats a nice range of rods to have a look at, you`ll get a good indication from those.... I hope the bream gods are kind....:)

Cheers

Richo:p

[AtomicGrant]

Stevie you better start praying hard to the bream gods :)

Maybe I better buy a new combo for myself and give you mine:) :)

My own personal trip MimboNo5 shucks i feel honoured :) Better ask if I can 'borrow' my rod back ;)

Grant

[Simmo]

Ms M,

Take a look at the Ian Miller designed "Steve Starling Stella" from shimano. Its a 6'6" Stick that is just great..I have one and im looking at another for my second outfit.

Richo..
take a look at www.iinet.net.au regarding ADSL I have the blink 512 and its "Bloody Fantastic"! I spent weeks researching adsl and iinet is by far the best value for money and the best as far as service goes.

Hope this helps.

Simmo

[kevinnugent59]

Hi Guys

What are your opinions on these rods? I saw a couple last night, and at the price (around $65) was staggered.

They look gorgeous, and with the way the cork goes right over the reel lock is way sexy! :D

Am I missing something here?

Kevin

[pw-bream]

I've seen one or two of those Shakespeare rods too, on-line info is here:
http://www.shakespeare.com.au/products/model.cfm?RangeID=66

The lightest models are short, 5'6" and 6' and are 2-4kg and 3-6kg respectively. Long rear grip further shortens the effective working length. The web page doesn't say what cast weights they are suited to.

They do look quite good in the flesh.

[LakeConjolaFish]

Dave,

I have had one of those little Diawa 602LFS for over 2 years now.
arn't they a great little rod?

They cast so well and for fighting fish they are just so sweet.

Jim