I have a nice penn power graph 1500 spinning reel. Ive been fishing for years now with it on a cheap rod that i got as a youngin. Since im starting to get back into fishing (ive been going every day after school--cant believe i forgot how fun this was! today i caught a couple really nice bass on topwater lures) im looking into getting another rod to put it on, but all of a sudden the reel isnt working correctly. Yesterday it sort of fell in half and i thought i fixed it, but now it allows itself to "reel out" backwards when there is any pull on the line--not good! it basically allows itself to spin backwards and forwards. the only way to fix it is to flip the little switch on the bottom (dont know the technical name) and hten the reel makes a clicking noise as it reels in but wont allow itself to spin backwards--this is really annoying and hard to reel this way.
First off-is it fixable? Im on a low budget but planning to buy some new equipment once i start working this summer.
Secondly, im looking to expand here. at the moment ive got a cheap old "ryobi" rod and reel that i use for fishing with live bait (10lb test for hauling in catfish), and i currently have 6lb test on my shimano rod with the reel thats not workign correctly. Its a nice reel, and kinda large, so im looking into getting another small rod and reel, as well as another rod to go with this reel if i can fix it. What brands/types of rod/reel would be good and affordable? I was at dick's sporting goods today but couldnt seem to find what i was looking for.
Thanks!
I have a nice penn power graph 1500 spinning reel. Ive been fishing for years now with it on a cheap rod that i got as a youngin. Since im starting to get back into fishing (ive been going every day after school--cant believe i forgot how fun this was!
Congratulation on getting back into fishing. It's a great way to occupy your time, fun, challenging and a healthy outside sport. ~c~
but all of a sudden the reel isnt working correctly. Yesterday it sort of fell in half and i thought i fixed it,
You need to elaborate on this. How can a reel "sort of fall in half?" Did the spool of line come off? Please give details. :-\
but now it allows itself to "reel out" backwards when there is any pull on the line--not good! it basically allows itself to spin backwards and forwards. the only way to fix it is to flip the little switch on the bottom (dont know the technical name) and hten the reel makes a clicking noise as it reels in but wont allow itself to spin backwards--this is really annoying and hard to reel this way.
Well, it is supposed to do that. The little switch on the bottom is the ANTI-REVERSE and is what keeps the reel from spinning backwards. The clicking noise is the anti-reverse dog engaging the reel's gears. It is annoying, but it shouldn't make the reel any harder to crank in, providing every part is where it's supposed to be, there's grease on the gears and oil on the bearings.
First off-is it fixable? Im on a low budget but planning to buy some new equipment once i start working this summer.
As far as being fixable, a reel repairman might be able to clean it, grease it, make sure the parts are in the right place, but you'll have to decide which is more annoying, the reel spinning backwards or the clicking noise. >:D
What brands/types of rod/reel would be good and affordable?
That is really a personal decision. What is good and affordable to me probably won't be for you. Give us an idea of your budget and then an informed decision can be made. You've already got a Shimano rod, why not look at Shimano reels?
Steve
my shimano rod is really, really cheap, not exactly high quality. Somethings definetely not in place in the reel. What i meant by it falling in half was the fact that the bail (i think thats the term--the wire thing that holds the line in place and spools it onto the reel?) part kind of slid up and was getting really lose, so i took off the spool and just kinda tighened things back down.... As fo rthe anti-reverse, my reel never allowed itself to reverse like that even with the switch off. Is there a way i can opne it up more to take a look at whats inside?
if i get one of the jobs im applying for, money shouldnt be (too much) of an issue. This summer ill have more spending cash to play with when im not sucking down so much of that expensive gas with my car, as i wont be driving to and from school. If i dont get a job at all tho, im gunna be tight on cash. Ive got a bank account, and as much as i dislike making withdrawls i wouldnt mind taking out 100 bucks as a last resort to get whatever i end up needing when i figure out if my reel is fixable. I might make a trip to the cabela's store tommorow, its kinda far tho, so im not sure. usually my parents would be more than willing to help me out wiht the financial aspect, but theyve been helping me alot with my car bills lately and i kinda think im on my own here, which is understandable
i think i fixed it! ~c~ an hour ripping apart my reel on my desk and i realized a spring had fallen out. replaced it where it was, and now it stil lets the spool reel out when the switch is to the right, but when i put it over to the left it doesnt--and the horrid clicking noise is gone! Saves me some money! btw i just put shakespeare 6lb test on my rod for fishing for bass in ponds near my house and at my school--is this line any good? ive always used stren but they didnt have any the other day. Also when i go the big lake i might switch it up--the bass dont exceed 6lbs but theres a few muskies--you never know! the 6lb is good for casting small lures out for the little ponds, but if i get a small rod for that ill probably switch my penn reel over to 8lb or so. Ideally, id like to buy one small rod (something really really cheap, good for pond fishing for smaller bass, and buy a nicer rod to go with my (newly repaired!) penn reel, which i like alot but it needs a better rod to go on. We'll see how the job search goes, quality fishing equipment is pricy! I need somewhere to buy big spools of cheap line too, isnt worth it to keep picking up spools that willl only fill 1.5 rods at 6 bucks each.
Any suggestions on what to get for a rod for my good reel to go on? the bass i catch arent huge--not sure exactly the weight tho, since i dont have a scale. I dont understand all the stuff about medium, medium heavy, etc, but im pretty much an "average" guy. I like my rods for bass fishing to have a little flex--not much though, and my current rod is about 6 foot. woudlnt mind bumping it up a couple inches either. Ive heard good things about ugly stick and bass pro shops rods for a decent price. Id like to get a cork grip one too, i dont like the foam i have now.
Integra, a power graph is a very good reel for the bucks, you need to get a schematic and owner's manual which is proly just a piece of paper which will tell you what to grease, oil, and how to maintain it in general. If I remember correctly, its kind of heavy, all metal and stuff like that. I have many Penn reels, but I don't have a powergraph.
Your best way to get a good rod for that reel is to go to a sporting goods store, check out the rods, and the price tags, then try em out in the Isle, pick out the one you can afford and is most comfortable, try fake casting with it right there, if you are going to a big name place bring your reel with you, they will understand you putting it on and trying the rod. In the price range you are looking at, they are about all the same quality wise, just different features and feel. Let us know your price range we can give you better information.
http://www.pennreels.com (http://www.pennreels.com) Check here for information on your powergraph.
You want a smaller reel for catfishin? Dude catfish need heavier gear, at least 10 to 12lb line minimum, for the small ones.
Instead of buying the little spools, look at the 1/4 lb spools, those have up to 1000 yards of line on em. You can get Big Game as an example for less than 10 bucks for a spool. I bought a spool of strenn 10lb for about 5 bucks and have spooled 3 or 4 - 400 series reels and still have almost a quarter of the spool left. You could proly get a spool of 8lb and use it on both combos, more than once each.
Man you opened up a can of worms here, I can type about this for quite a while, all of my rod and reel combos are well under $150 and most are under 100 easy, and they do catch fish.
I agree Pferox....the cost of a reel and rod has....nothing to do with catching fish...that bass could care less what a rod cost.......or what reel you are fishing with........
Topcat
i think i fixed it! an hour ripping apart my reel on my desk and i realized a spring had fallen out. replaced it where it was, and now it stil lets the spool reel out when the switch is to the right, but when i put it over to the left it doesnt--and the horrid clicking noise is gone! Saves me some money!
That's why I asked what was wrong and were you sure it was assembled correctly! I'm glad things worked out for you. Now that you know how to take the reel apart, make sure that the internal parts have fresh grease on the gears and fresh oil in the bearings.
btw i just put shakespeare 6lb test on my rod for fishing for bass in ponds near my house and at my school--is this line any good? ive always used stren but they didnt have any the other day.
That I can't answer, I've never used that particular line. If it doesn't break easily, ties good knots, casts well and lands fish, then I guess it's a good line.
Also when i go the big lake i might switch it up--the bass dont exceed 6lbs but theres a few muskies--you never know! the 6lb is good for casting small lures out for the little ponds, but if i get a small rod for that ill probably switch my penn reel over to 8lb or so.
Line isn't determined by the size of the lake, it's picked by the application. I would use 6 pound mono line for open water finesse fishing, areas that do not have a lot of obstructions, heavy vegetation or potential snags. I would also use it for fishing panfish, but probably not bass fishing unless it was fairly clean water.
Ideally, id like to buy one small rod (something really really cheap, good for pond fishing for smaller bass, and buy a nicer rod to go with my (newly repaired!) penn reel, which i like alot but it needs a better rod to go on.
Again, you don't say what "cheap" is. Is it $19.95, $29.95 or $49.95? I'm kind of a fishing snob '-{, but I don't fish with a rod that's valued less than $150.00. Only you know what feels good to you.
We'll see how the job search goes, quality fishing equipment is pricy! I need somewhere to buy big spools of cheap line too, isnt worth it to keep picking up spools that willl only fill 1.5 rods at 6 bucks each.
Ahhh, if only you knew exactly how pricey quality equipment can get. You DON'T need to get big spools of cheap line. Just stop and think about it for a minute. The ONLY thing connecting you to the fish you've worked so hard to hook is the line. Do you REALLY[/i] want to go cheap on the only thing that stands between you and the fish? I know I don't!!!
Any suggestions on what to get for a rod for my good reel to go on? the bass i catch arent huge--not sure exactly the weight tho, since i dont have a scale. I dont understand all the stuff about medium, medium heavy, etc, but im pretty much an "average" guy. I like my rods for bass fishing to have a little flex--not much though, and my current rod is about 6 foot. woudlnt mind bumping it up a couple inches either. Ive heard good things about ugly stick and bass pro shops rods for a decent price. Id like to get a cork grip one too, i dont like the foam i have now.
I'll probably catch some flack here, but I've never been a fan of Ugly Sticks. You should probably look for two rods, one 6 foot, light action, fast tip, the other 6 1/2 - 7 foot medium light or medium with a fast or extra fast tip. Only you can determine what price range. Berkely Lightning rods, from what I remember were pretty good and reasonably priced as are some of the Bass Pro rods.
Good luck,
Steve
Quote from: Pferox69 on June 05, 2006, 07:53:03 PM
You want a smaller reel for catfishin? Dude catfish need heavier gear, at least 10 to 12lb line minimum, for the small ones.
Instead of buying the little spools, look at the 1/4 lb spools, those have up to 1000 yards of line on em. You can get Big Game as an example for less than 10 bucks for a spool. I bought a spool of strenn 10lb for about 5 bucks and have spooled 3 or 4 - 400 series reels and still have almost a quarter of the spool left. You could proly get a spool of 8lb and use it on both combos, more than once each.
Man you opened up a can of worms here, I can type about this for quite a while, all of my rod and reel combos are well under $150 and most are under 100 easy, and they do catch fish.
i love the reel, my old fishin buddy got it for me for my bday when i was younger, thats why im glad it was fix-able. Im going to stick with it for sure as my main bass rod. the smaller rod, i should clarify, wasnt for catfishing, its for throwing out small topwater baits/crankbaits/spinners to catch what i think of as "pond variety" largemouth--ones that arent huge. And since catfish arent going to go after those lures, i want something small, light, with light test line so i can cast far. If im going for the catfish, i use my other rod and reel, the old beater with heavy test thats really a pain to fish with, and put hot dogs on a baitholder--you might laugh, but i caught two catfish weighing in at AT LEAST 10 lbs, if not 15 the other day doing this at my country club's pond.
so yeah, basically i need a new rod to go with my penn powergraph reel, which im glad to say is working again, and maybe ill go back to dicks sporting goods, i saw a nice little rod/reel for $20.00, 5'6" or so, some no name brand but it seemed decent enough for the "small bass" fishing, and ill keep 6lb on that. Ill bump my penn reel up to 8lb once i get a better reel for the small pond fishing, and by then ill be ready to go out ont he bigger lake i go to.
as for line, i didnt mean i needed CHEAP line, i meant i wanted to buy good stuff in bigger quantities and save a buck or two. I hate buying those 330yd spools that fill up one reel to full capacity, and then u end up wasting the rest of it cuz its not enough to fill another reel.
Tell ya what, Big Game is good line, and is quite reasonable.
I have seen the real big spools of it at Wallies, and Bass pro, when I do order bulk, I get mine from Cabella's usually.
If you have a cabella's near enough to you to go there, you should check out their Mitchell combos, or one of their house brands for an inexpensive light duty reel, will proly last a little longer than a no name brand.
My panfish rigs are a $12 7ft medium Shakespeare excursion rod and a Mitchell advocet 2000, I think. I proly have more $$ in the line I have on it than anything else. I use 20lb power pro on it and the line lasts forever, casts like a dream and I have even brought in juvenile tarpon on it.
Quote from: Pferox69 on June 06, 2006, 02:44:43 AM
Tell ya what, Big Game is good line, and is quite reasonable.
I have seen the real big spools of it at Wallies, and Bass pro, when I do order bulk, I get mine from Cabella's usually.
If you have a cabella's near enough to you to go there, you should check out their Mitchell combos, or one of their house brands for an inexpensive light duty reel, will proly last a little longer than a no name brand.
My panfish rigs are a $12 7ft medium Shakespeare excursion rod and a Mitchell advocet 2000, I think. I proly have more $$ in the line I have on it than anything else. I use 20lb power pro on it and the line lasts forever, casts like a dream and I have even brought in juvenile tarpon on it.
im going to take a little trip up to my nearest cabellas, ill check both out. i was gunna go today but im actually guna wait till i get back from the beach
Quote from: OutdoorFrontiers on June 05, 2006, 08:40:10 PM
I'll probably catch some flack here, but I've never been a fan of Ugly Sticks. You should probably look for two rods, one 6 foot, light action, fast tip, the other 6 1/2 - 7 foot medium light or medium with a fast or extra fast tip. Only you can determine what price range. Berkely Lightning rods, from what I remember were pretty good and reasonably priced as are some of the Bass Pro rods.
Good luck,
Steve
is the 6 foot one for the smaller pond bass fishing? so id have 6lb test and use my lighter lures on that? then id use the 6.5-7 footer for my bigger stuff and fishing at the lake? or would i use the little 6 footer for like soft plastics too? a friend of mine has a bigger rod for hard plastics/spinners/etc and a smaller one for the soft baits however i dont fish as much on the big lakes (rentiing a row boat is pricy), so id rather have a real small rod (no more than 6 feet) for my little topwater lures and small crankbaits, 6lb test, and a bigger rod with 8lb for the big stuff
I think you pretty much have the program figured out! :-*
Use the smaller rod for lighter lures, the heavier rod for the larger stuff, regardless of which water you're on.
Steve
Quote from: OutdoorFrontiers on June 06, 2006, 05:26:19 PM
I think you pretty much have the program figured out! :-*
Use the smaller rod for lighter lures, the heavier rod for the larger stuff, regardless of which water you're on.
Steve
what do you mean by "fast tip", and where can i find that info on the rod itself while im shopping?
This isn't the technical response but for me, a "fast" tip is one that is more flexible.
An ugly stick's tip (usually the white part) is pretty flexable, to me an ugly stick's tip is more of a super fast. Where as a slow tip is much stiffer, takes more pressure to bend.
For me, a fast Tip helps in casting, and acting as a shock absorber when fighting fish, and is a good strike indicator when still fishin.
In other situations you will want a medium or slow tip, which I like when swingin stuff into the matts, as an example.
Pferox69,
You've got it exactly backwards. A rod's action can be described as follows:
Slow - has a fairly uniform bend, butt to tip.
Moderate - the front half of the rod will bend, the butt section remains fairly stiff
Fast - less than one third of the tip section of the rod is flexible, the butt section is stiff
Extra-Fast - probably only 1/4 of the tip section is flexible, the remainder of the rod is stiff.
Slow to moderate rods are used for trolling and/or livebait applications, and sometimes for throwing crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
I like fast to extra fast rods, where the flexible tip section can be "loaded" by the lure to cast it, but there's plenty of backbone for good hooksets and pressuring a fish.
Most manufacturers will have this information printed on the rod blank down near the handle, along with the recommended lure weight range and the approximate line strength that should be used with the rod as well.
Steve
Quote from: OutdoorFrontiers on June 07, 2006, 05:44:02 AM
Pferox69,
You've got it exactly backwards. A rod's action can be described as follows:
Slow - has a fairly uniform bend, butt to tip.
Moderate - the front half of the rod will bend, the butt section remains fairly stiff
Fast - less than one third of the tip section of the rod is flexible, the butt section is stiff
Extra-Fast - probably only 1/4 of the tip section is flexible, the remainder of the rod is stiff.
Slow to moderate rods are used for trolling and/or livebait applications, and sometimes for throwing crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
I like fast to extra fast rods, where the flexible tip section can be "loaded" by the lure to cast it, but there's plenty of backbone for good hooksets and pressuring a fish.
Most manufacturers will have this information printed on the rod blank down near the handle, along with the recommended lure weight range and the approximate line strength that should be used with the rod as well.
Steve
as long as it doesnt sacrifice any sensitivity, fast sounds good to me...i like being able to feel the vibrations of my crankbaits and the strike of a fish, even if theyre just tapping it.
Steve, as I read it now, it sure sounds wrong, but I was trying to say the same thing you were said in relation to just the tip, usuallly down to the first guide. Thats what I get answering stuff before my first cup of coffee.
Sorry for the misinformation.
Hey, not a problem. I think I know what you thought I think you said! :roll2:
Steve
ive got a little bit of money together for my trip to cabela's :) (going when i get back from the jersey shore late next week). Im still not sure exactly what im gonna do. My current rod is about 6' and even though it was pretty cheap it really doesnt bother me and i like it--althoguh i dont have much to compare it to. I may hold on to it to use with soft plastics, light crankbaits, and light topwater lures (and also for pond fishin), and keep the power graph on there with the 6lb test since i really like that reel, then ill maybe pick up a 6.5' or 7' as outdoorfrontiers reccomended--for use with bigger crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and my heavier topwaters, as well as a reel to go along with it (maybe even a combo, ill have to see what theyve got there) and some 8lb tset. If i just get the bigger (6.5' or 7') for now (maybe ill replace my 6' rod with a nicer 6' one later, but not just yet), what kinda specs should i be looking for on that one--I know to get medium light or medium heavy action, but what kinda tip?
thanks guys, ive only been here a few days and im already learning a ton and getting to know all the nice people around the board--you guys really are helpful and i appreciate it!
When you get back from Cabela's, let us know what you got. Hope you get a good deal and find what you need. You certainly will be able to buy the 1000+ yards of line at Cabela's. Also, if you are looking into getting not just one rod, but a rod and a reel, you may want to look at getting a combo. I don't know about Cabela's too much, but I assume it is like BPS, in that their brand combos are of decent quality, and can save you a lot instead of buying the rod and reel separate...
Quote from: Creel Limit Zero on June 08, 2006, 01:23:42 PM
When you get back from Cabela's, let us know what you got. Hope you get a good deal and find what you need. You certainly will be able to buy the 1000+ yards of line at Cabela's. Also, if you are looking into getting not just one rod, but a rod and a reel, you may want to look at getting a combo. I don't know about Cabela's too much, but I assume it is like BPS, in that their brand combos are of decent quality, and can save you a lot instead of buying the rod and reel separate...
will do, ill post up a thread with a list of what i got in dock talk ;D im going to check out the combos available at cabelas now using their online store, what kinda tip should i get on the rod if its guna be for what i said in the above post?
how about something like this??
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=cat20166-cat20287-0036481&id=0036481120861a&navCount=5&podId=0036481&parentId=&navAction=jump&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=&indexId=cat601363&hasJS=true (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=cat20166-cat20287-0036481&id=0036481120861a&navCount=5&podId=0036481&parentId=&navAction=jump&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=&indexId=cat601363&hasJS=true)
I think this one right here would be a better deal for you. Less bearings in the reel, and offers a one piece IM7 Cabela's rod. As long as you have room in your car for a one piece rod, I like those so much more.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&navCount=5&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0023619 (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&navCount=5&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0023619)
They have different size reels and probably rods, so pick out the combo that feels good to you. I would print out the page to, just to make sure the same price is offered in the store. I do this with BPS all the time, and they always offer the price that is advertised...
hehe my cars a little tight...with the backseat folded down there might be room for a one-piece, but i doubt it :( my car is pretty mucha two seater, the backseat is a joke...plus i keep all my fishing equip in the trunk and it woudl all fall into the backseat if i folded it down
EDIT: oooh baby do i like that rod and reel though they both sound awesomeeee
Well, it looks like over 6' in the one I just sent is a two piece rod anyway. The two piece rods can still serve the purpose, but go ahead and put one of your rods together and see if it'll work in your car. One piece rods are more consistent and probably last longer since you are never breaking them down...
Quote from: Creel Limit Zero on June 08, 2006, 02:23:18 PM
Well, it looks like over 6' in the one I just sent is a two piece rod anyway. The two piece rods can still serve the purpose, but go ahead and put one of your rods together and see if it'll work in your car. One piece rods are more consistent and probably last longer since you are never breaking them down...
when i was bank fishing the other day i casted the top half of my rod into the water :( it does that every once in a while if u dont check it and keep pushin it back together, been meanin to fix it but i dont kno how
Yeah, that is probably just from wear and tear of breaking down the rods for storage. Just one more thing to break on the rod. If you don't have that connection, that part will never break. One thing you could consider to fix it, is maybe some glue. This, of course, would make it permanent though. No more breaking it down. ::)
Quote from: Creel Limit Zero on June 08, 2006, 02:37:35 PM
Yeah, that is probably just from wear and tear of breaking down the rods for storage. Just one more thing to break on the rod. If you don't have that connection, that part will never break. One thing you could consider to fix it, is maybe some glue. This, of course, would make it permanent though. No more breaking it down. ::)
it doesnt happen all that often just yet. one piece rods would be nice, i had the tangles that sometimes result form breaking them down (i like to keep lures on my rod and breaking them down like that can be a hassle)...which one of those reel models for the combo would you suggest? i usually fish 8lb test...i dont know much about gear ratios, my power graph is 5.2:1
quick question---do i want MORE or LESS bearings? i saw a nice quantum reel (ive heard theyre good) combined with a cabela's rod, and it was talking about how great it was that it had 5 bearings??
http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0032435120044a&navCount=1&podId=0032435&parentId=cat20287&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166&catalogCode=6IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20287&hasJS=true (http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0032435120044a&navCount=1&podId=0032435&parentId=cat20287&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166&catalogCode=6IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20287&hasJS=true)
i like this combo, price makes me wonder though...
ive picked out a few in my price range that might be good, anywhere from 30-70 $ or so, including the one you showed me (which i still really like, especially if i can get the rod in a two-piece).
The combos are:
- shimano sidestab/sojourn combo
- shimano sonara/scimitar combo
- quantum hypercast Hp Pro spinning combo
- Shakespeare ugly stik lite spinning combo
- mitchell avocet/berkley cherrywood combo
- shimano sedona/cabela's tourney trail combo
I don't know too much about that particular combo, but I'm sure you will be more happy with the IM-6, IM-7, or IM-8 graphite rod. The less bearings the better, assuming that the less bearings mean less moving parts, so less things to break. All the ones you picked look pretty good, and will be able to do well. Go there and pick them all up, see which ones feel more balanced to you and are lighter. Grab something that you will be able to cast all day. I hope you find something you like. ;D
One more thing, the gear ratio is how fast you pull in line, so a 5.2 - 1 gear ratio would mean your reel will turn 5.2 times for every complete revolution you do on the handle. This is a preference on what you prefer, but around 5 or so is the norm for spinning rods. The baitcaster's can get a higher ratio to them...
Quote from: Creel Limit Zero on June 08, 2006, 04:04:21 PM
One more thing, the gear ratio is how fast you pull in line, so a 5.2 - 1 gear ratio would mean your reel will turn 5.2 times for every complete revolution you do on the handle. This is a preference on what you prefer, but around 5 or so is the norm for spinning rods. The baitcaster's can get a higher ratio to them...
thanks, i printed out all the ones i was interested in--and im going to ditch the idea fo the berkley/mitchell combo, i'd like to get something nice. Im guna try out all the combo's there if htey have em in stock, so i can see which combo of rod/reel i like best. what does IM-6,7,8, etc mean? ill keep in mind that thats important. how do i know if the rods im looking at fit into one of these categories?
speaking of cabelas, it appears they dont have the bass assassins i wanted to get, or the mann's baby 1-minus crankbait :'( (at least according to the site). think i should wait till i get to the store and check if they actually do have them, or should i order them off bass pro now?
I am surprised they don't have those lures. They are popular. You might want to do a search on them, because the site when you go through the links does not always show everything...
As for the IM-6, IM-7, IM-8, it is a composite material that is all from the same company. Basically, the difference between these three rods is small between each one. There is a difference in that the IM-6's should weigh a little more than the 7, and the 7 a little more than the 8. It is perceived by some, that the IM-8 is the superior rod since they are generally lighter, but it is a newer composition, so it also might have a few more defects. The IM-6 has been out for a long time. I have not heard of an IM-9 but I'm sure it is around the corner one day. I'm sure there are some on here that can break down the difference more, but it is a whole lot of technical mumbo jumbo if you ask me. They are all pretty similar in my opinion, just a little bit different... Use the one that feels right, has the right action you are looking for, and has a good balance with the reel that is on it. That's more important than getting the IM-7 vs. the IM-8...
Oh yeah, and the IM-8's will be a little faster action too I believe too. It is a very small difference though, keep in mind. Between the 6's and the 8's, I think each of the differences is about 10%. 10% lighter, 10% smaller diameter, and less than 10% faster action.
Quote from: Creel Limit Zero on June 08, 2006, 04:41:31 PM
Oh yeah, and the IM-8's will be a little faster action too I believe too. It is a very small difference though, keep in mind. Between the 6's and the 8's, I think each of the differences is about 10%. 10% lighter, 10% smaller diameter, and less than 10% faster action.
my head is spinning. i still dont understand what fast action, etc means. what should i be looking for? fast action? fast tip? if this rod is for cranks and heavier lures, should i consider a moderate tip?
The weight, light, medium-light, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy is all the backbone of the rod. Think of it this way, the light action is for a very limp rod, while heavy is going to be more like a pool stick. Very heavy for horsing fish out of think brush and pads. The action, slow, medium, fast, ultra fast, is where the bend starts occuring in the rod. A fast action tip will bend more at the tip of the rod, while a slow action rod will bend about the same throughout the rod. So when you have a fish on, fast action will look more like a 7, with with most of the bend at the top, while the slow action will look more like ), where it is uniform throughout. I like fast action on most of my rods, you can cast lures further because you can load it more.
~sweat ~sweat Okay, are you officially confused yet? I think we could be throwing too much info at you. You probably will want a medium rod with fast action. It is the best for a one rod application. It can be used with everything.
I wouldn't really chuck the Berkley/Mitchell setups, they are nice reels, and the cherrywood rods are nice too. I have checked them out a few times.
My Mitchell reels have stood up to some tough stuff to tell you the truth.
Quote from: Creel Limit Zero on June 08, 2006, 06:14:56 PM
The weight, light, medium-light, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy is all the backbone of the rod. Think of it this way, the light action is for a very limp rod, while heavy is going to be more like a pool stick. Very heavy for horsing fish out of think brush and pads. The action, slow, medium, fast, ultra fast, is where the bend starts occuring in the rod. A fast action tip will bend more at the tip of the rod, while a slow action rod will bend about the same throughout the rod. So when you have a fish on, fast action will look more like a 7, with with most of the bend at the top, while the slow action will look more like ), where it is uniform throughout. I like fast action on most of my rods, you can cast lures further because you can load it more.
~sweat ~sweat Okay, are you officially confused yet? I think we could be throwing too much info at you. You probably will want a medium rod with fast action. It is the best for a one rod application. It can be used with everything.
reason i wasnt sure was because htis rod will be a 2nd rod to my current setup (smaller 6' shimano with the powergraph) and this new larger rod (7' probably) will be for crankbaits, big topwater lures, spinnerbaits,
etc....thought maybe moderate action was supposed to be better for stuff like that
If your present rod is a medium, go for a medium heavy, this way you can try a different action, when using bigger baits, the extra backbone would help.
Almost all of my bass stuff is medium heavy, but most of my bass have to come through thick weeds to get to the bank, and I need the extra heft in the rod to do this.
Like many others mentioned most of my rods have a fast tip, and are longer, about 7 to 8 foot, this gives me extra casting distance from the shore, and allows me to throw weightless stuff also.
You might also want to look into riggin up a roof rack on your car to carry the longer rods. Is is quite normal around the coast to see guys haulin 12 foot rods on the roofs of little hatch backs near the coast. Yours wouldn't be so unruly with just a 7footer on the roof.
I have seen simple rod racks made out of a length of PVC drain pipe with a threaded cap on each end, strapped to a roof rack. It is pretty inexpensive, and protects your combo well, and can be painted to match your hot rod. :-*
Quote from: Pferox69 on June 09, 2006, 04:03:11 AM
If your present rod is a medium, go for a medium heavy, this way you can try a different action, when using bigger baits, the extra backbone would help.
Almost all of my bass stuff is medium heavy, but most of my bass have to come through thick weeds to get to the bank, and I need the extra heft in the rod to do this.
Like many others mentioned most of my rods have a fast tip, and are longer, about 7 to 8 foot, this gives me extra casting distance from the shore, and allows me to throw weightless stuff also.
You might also want to look into riggin up a roof rack on your car to carry the longer rods. Is is quite normal around the coast to see guys haulin 12 foot rods on the roofs of little hatch backs near the coast. Yours wouldn't be so unruly with just a 7footer on the roof.
I have seen simple rod racks made out of a length of PVC drain pipe with a threaded cap on each end, strapped to a roof rack. It is pretty inexpensive, and protects your combo well, and can be painted to match your hot rod. :-*
ill check what my current rod is, and no matter what i buy ill buy in fast tip--sounds good if it lets u cast weightless stuff better. my car would be a real pain to get a roof rack on--its a hatchback, so the roof section between front n rear windsheilds is tiny, throw in a sunroof and youve got zero space for one. plus i really wouldnt want to do that to it haha...(https://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmemimage.cardomain.net%2Fmember_images%2F3%2Fweb%2F2271000-2271999%2F2271678_9.jpg&hash=336193df6b67056f6b544db0f44e023a94b6a4e0)
Oh, so it was you whipping around those winding roads last weekend. I recognize that car. ~shade Just kidding, nice ride, bet it is fun. I would agree with Pferox, if you have a medium, go with a medium heavy. You will need it when you are fishing in those ponds as the summer progresses. Where you don't see much weeds now, will probably be full of them by August. And being on the bank, means you will probably have to horse some of those fish through the weeds to bring them to you...
Quote from: Creel Limit Zero on June 09, 2006, 09:55:47 AM
Oh, so it was you whipping around those winding roads last weekend. I recognize that car. ~shade Just kidding, nice ride, bet it is fun. I would agree with Pferox, if you have a medium, go with a medium heavy. You will need it when you are fishing in those ponds as the summer progresses. Where you don't see much weeds now, will probably be full of them by August. And being on the bank, means you will probably have to horse some of those fish through the weeds to bring them to you...
hehe yea i love my trip to marsh creek...10 minutes of windy back roads, awesome! i dont drive fast tho, just like to test out the handling once in a while, ya know?
ok, so this is what i have on my shopping list for the rod: 6.5' – 7' Medium-Light or Medium Heavy Action, Fast Tip
sounds good, although medium light might be a little wimpy in the weeds.
Quote from: Pferox69 on June 09, 2006, 02:06:58 PM
sounds good, although medium light might be a little wimpy in the weeds.
medium heavy is underlined in teh word document thats the shopping list :) ill get the med-heavy. i checked my rod now. its 6'0", 6-15lb test, didnt say nething about the action or tip. but the back section of the rod was pretty inflexible, and i'd say the top HALF of the upper section was flexible, more flexible at the tip than further down, so the tip is i guess fast? idk. i like the way that rod works tho, so ill get the medium heavy fast tip 7' or 6.5' at cabelas. did anyone figure out if that cabelas tourney grail rod is a one piece or two yet? the good news is my parents gave me some forgotten allowance from past months to take down the beach with me this week, and whatevers left over becomes cabela's money :)
Sounds good, sorry can't help ya with that particular rod.
I have both 1 and 2 piece rods, and they both work ok for me, of course I don't take them apart, and eventually the 2 piecers fuse together, proly can't take a dang one of em apart anymore. lol.
Quote from: Pferox69 on June 09, 2006, 02:20:12 PM
Sounds good, sorry can't help ya with that particular rod.
I have both 1 and 2 piece rods, and they both work ok for me, of course I don't take them apart, and eventually the 2 piecers fuse together, proly can't take a dang one of em apart anymore. lol.
i like the two piecers cuz i can break em down and put em in the trunk. altho my 6' fit no problem with both peices together w/ seats folded down
I have a standard cab pickup, and can fit 7 foot rods in the cab when I want to secure em. Of course, nobody else can ride in the cab either then.
My truck is a short bed so I have to hang the tips of the rods out the back, but haven't had a problem doing that yet.
Sharon's rods are around 6 foot so they haul easily.
I like the one peice caz they have more backbone and are less likely to break in half
Thinking back, I have only broken two rods around the joint, of course I don't take them apart much and I feel that has an effect on it too.
One of the two that broke for me I know for sure was because the sections weren't fully mated together. Not sure if I didn't seat em fully or if it started seperating when casting.
Most of mine have broken just under the tip, or the just above the reel seat.
WoW! that's some good stuff. well, here's what i think for what it is worth. using that older model Penn is probably ok, but I sure would c-heck with your tackle repair shop or contact Penn directly to see if parts available if you should ever need them. Some companies discontinue making and stocking parts for older reels. You might think also about buying a video"Fishing Reel Maintenance" that teaches anglers how to dis assemble, clean parts, re-assemble the parts in proper sequence and orientation. Sure glad to see all the good advice on here,. great reading and very informative. ~c~Taking good care of your fishing reels is probably one of the most important things a angler can do and saves money in the long run as well,conniek