I have browsed this forum, looking around and absorbing as much info as I can. In August I’ll be moving to Charleston, and would like to take up fishing as a hobby again. I don’t have a boat so I’ll be fishing from piers and the shore, mostly for reds, trout, flounder, etc., and I don’t want to drop a ton of money. From what I’ve read here and other sites, I was thinking between a 7’ Ugly Stik GX2, or a 7’ Inshore Select, both medium. For the reel I was looking at the Penn Fierce II 3000, with 20# braid. I was wondering if I’m on the right track. Would a 4000 series reel be better? Longer rod? Heavier test line? Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks and I look forward to becoming part of this community.
I have 3 of the inshore selects paired with Battle 3000 reels. I have had no issues with the rods and have been fishing them for 3 years. I have my wife set up with a fierce 3000 reel and it does the trick. She landed her personal best red at 32" on it. Ony difference for me is I typically use 15lb test. What you described will do what you need for most of the fish here IMO.
I have 3 of the inshore selects paired with Battle 3000 reels. I have had no issues with the rods and have been fishing them for 3 years. I have my wife set up with a fierce 3000 reel and it does the trick. She landed her personal best red at 32" on it. Ony difference for me is I typically use 15lb test. What you described will do what you need for most of the fish here IMO.
Take a hard look at the new Daiwa BG. Great reels and you cannot beat the price. Look up Alan Hawks review on these reels, With regards to rods there are a million choices. If you just fishing cut bait or live bait, I would go with an Ugly Stick 7 ft Med or Med/Heavy action. Good luck!!!
Welcome. Trust me. Go to haddrells, tell em what you wanna go. Ask questions. Listen. Buy from them. They WILL educate you and shorten your learning curve. Also see the surf and pier fishing forum, good folks in there. They ll help you.
Welcome. Trust me. Go to haddrells, tell em what you wanna go. Ask questions. Listen. Buy from them. They WILL educate you and shorten your learning curve. Also see the surf and pier fishing forum, good folks in there. They ll help you.
This is my plan. Have heard many great things about Haddrells. They sound like good people. Thanks.
Just a suggestion for you to consider, especially if you don’t want to break the bank. A very good combination would be the Ugly Stik Striper rod with that Penn Fierce spinning reel. And, if you want to go the baitcasting route, a Shimano TR100G baitcasting reel is very reliable and durable, also paired with an Ugly Stik Striper Rod.
Sometimes Ugly Stiks can be hard to find. Go to www.uglystik.com if you can’t find what you need.
Best of luck and catch a big one!
Penn Fierce is a good, economical reel and does well with simple maintenance. I have had trouble with the Fierce rods specifically the guides breaking. The Ugly Stik is a great pairing with the reel.
Your on the right path.
I started with Penn Fierce reels, the spools would top load or bottom load the line. Even with spacers I could never get them right.
Moved up to Penn Battle II combo’s 2500 or 3000 with 15lb braid. Wish I had just purchased Battle II’s instead of wasting time and money of fierce reels.
Battle II’s are now my guest rods as I switched to throwing artificials and the Penns get heavy by the end of the day.
Tackle escalation is an ongoing problem.
Currently using Shimano Ci4+ 2500 and 3000 spinning reels on St. Croix Triumph 6’6" medium rods.