What type of rod/reel do you prefer?
We use Penn battles rods and reels (3-battle 2 and 3-older battles) 5 of them are the 4000 series and one is the 2500 series. And the rods are 7’6" medium to stiff action. I kind of feel like the 4000 are over kill for slot sized red but work great with braid when having to horse them away from the oyster beds.
I was just wondering y’alls opinion. Thanks.
I like my 20 year old Abu Garcia 5000 bait caster. I also picked up a new Penn Battle 2 4000 and a second Abu Garcia 5000 bait caster last fall. All on 7’6" medium stiff roads. I’ve caught numerous slot reds on the old bait aster, my favorite.
2008 War Eagle 15ft
1995 Johnson 25hp
Always used a spinning reel and have been getting interested in the bait caster though
Keep your lines tight and remember. Respect the fish and your fellow fisherman. Know the Code.
I like the 4000 and 5000 for inshore, have always done me well. I know alot on here go 2500 and 3000 , but my buddies who use that size, I have always done as good if not better with what I have, the extra size is a + in my opinion, to each his own. For a rod a 7" Medium 8-17 or so.
Yeah they have never let me down and the extra line and drag is always a plus
Keep your lines tight and remember. Respect the fish and your fellow fisherman. Know the Code.
The bigger the better…for the fish. My Red rods will “surf” a slot fish back to the boat. Makes the fish think it had a 15 second nightmare. 
“If it were catching, Everyone would be good at it.”
Tld 15 spooled with 30lb ande
Charleston City Papers Best Guide of 2014
ABU 6500C3 on a Ugly Stick 6’6" med/heavy w/ trigger handle, spooled with 30lb cajun red, yozuri disapearing pink florocarbon leader, gamakatsu hook.
Capt Buddy Bizzell
Edisto Palmetto Charters
803-603-2781
www.edistopalmetto.com
Being on the water is a blessing, catching fish is a bonus!
Most of my inshore setups are Penn Fierce 2000-3000 size reels on Ugly Stick E-lite rods spooled with 20 lb braid. I usually use a 20lb fluoro leader as well.
Hard to beat for the price. The whole combo (including braid) ends up around $125, plus the rods have a 7 year warranty.
2000 Sportcraft Sport Cat 255
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160
I use a penn 4000s for those " dirty thirtys " reds
17’ Mako
If you are throwing artificials you will benefit throwing a 2-3000 size.I say this due to the amount of casting you are doing, there will be a weight difference. Most of my inshores are 2500 or 3000 shimano symetres. I cant say I have ever lost one due to getting spooled or not having enough drag. 20lb braid is on most. I also fish alot of structure and docks. I do have some 4000s for bait soaking.As far as the rod, as long as it has a good back bone that is where the stopping power is coming from. med is good, I will use med heavy on 4000s for bigger live/cut baits. I have rods from 6’2" for pitching under docks to 7’ 6" for casting artificals. Winter time you can cast farther and not spook schools with the longer rods. All in all, if I had to take one rod to inshore fish it would be a 7’med with a 3000 20lb braid. Play the fish right and you will have no trouble getting it to the boat.
im not to sure, but im pretty sure…
Yeah like i said i cant complain about the Penn battle setup. We will spool with 10-15# braid and use 15-20# fluorosis leader. All lines tied straight to each other to cut out on terminal tackle. I use to get strikes at swivels and snap swivels all the time until my knot tiring skills got better. Now dont have to waste money on that stuff haha
Keep your lines tight and remember. Respect the fish and your fellow fisherman. Know the Code.
Quantum Smoke inshore reels (25 and 30 size spooled 20lb braid with 15#-20# FC leader depending on water clarity) and rods. Rods vary depending on technique but they’ll range from 7’ medium to 7’6" med/hvy action. These setups have skipped rat reds and trout to the boat and it’s dragged over slot reds and gator trout out from under boat docks. I toss mostly artificials and these setups allow me to be very versatile in my offerings.
Earn it everyday
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
Never shoot a large caliber man with a small caliber bullet.
To me, Penn Battle 6000 is the best big red set up. I use this when fishing for big reds on a Carolina rig. I like the Penn Fierce 4000 for artificial casting for dinner size reds. To me these set ups are hard to beat for the $. I recently purchased 2 more Penn fierce set ups for $59 each with Dicks coupon. Hold up in salt the best to me. Penn is also American made!!
[quote]Originally posted by “Miller Time”
Penn is also American made!!
Amen to that!
Keep your lines tight and remember. Respect the fish and your fellow fisherman. Know the Code.
I fish lures most of the time. It is not unusual to make 500 or more casts per trip. So most of my gear is pretty light. My favorite outfit is a 1000 frame Stradic Ci4 on a 7’ light action St. Croix Legend Elite. Reel is spooled with 10 pound PowerPro.
quote:
Originally posted by onthewaterYeah like i said i cant complain about the Penn battle setup. We will spool with 10-15# braid and use 15-20# fluorosis leader. All lines tied straight to each other to cut out on terminal tackle. I use to get strikes at swivels and snap swivels all the time until my knot tiring skills got better. Now dont have to waste money on that stuff haha
Keep your lines tight and remember. Respect the fish and your fellow fisherman. Know the Code.
Do you get line twist by not using a swivel? Is fluoro better than a steel leader?
2008 War Eagle 15ft
1995 Johnson 25hp
Sgt Shultz : no never had problems with line twist. I guess depends on what you are going after and how big. The only time i use steel is if we are going for shark (which isn’t that often). Ive had a red drag my fluoro across a decent amount of oyster and dock piling and only had a few break off from it.
Keep your lines tight and remember. Respect the fish and your fellow fisherman. Know the Code.
Onthewater: thanks for the info, I’ve always use steel leaders but my brother said I would get more bites on fluoro.
Miller Time : Penn is an American company, but the Battle reel is made in China… I do like how my battle 2 performs though.
2008 War Eagle 15ft
1995 Johnson 25hp
quote:
Originally posted by Sgt ShultzOnthewater: thanks for the info, I’ve always use steel leaders but my brother said I would get more bites on fluoro.
Miller Time : Penn is an American company, but the Battle reel is made in China… I do like how my battle 2 performs though.
2008 War Eagle 15ft
1995 Johnson 25hp
Nothing is perfect Sgt, but I try to buy American as much as possible, which ain’t easy friend.