St. Croix Tidemaster

[tarponman62]

I have a St. Croix tidemaster spinning rod 6'6 rate 10-20lbs. max lure wt. 1.25 oz. I thinking of slinging gotchas off the pier or maybe do a little bottom fishing . What spinning reel would you guys recommend???

Tightlines TM62

[rhorm]

I have a stradic on my 6'6" Tidemaster. Mine is MH Moderate. Just got it yesterday. I'm thinking about using the stradic for something else and getting another Quantum Catalyst 30. Very good reel for around 100 bucks. Very light reel with a titanium bail. Would be perfect for tossing gotchas. That's what I'm planning on doing with mine. :D

[ccc6588]

If that is a spinning rod; stradic sounds like a perfect match. Didn't know you can catch snook on gotchas.

For snook, I would have gotten the 8 ft tidemaster with line rating 15-40 lbs. This tide master had the best flex. I couldn't believe that St. Croix rated it as Extra High and extra stiff flex.

You could have gotten a bass pro inshore/stradic combo for $149.00 (rod cost $99.99). I have one that is 7' 6" which is perfect for gotchas. Caught quite a few Spanish Macks with it and it has great action and sensitivity with plenty of backbone.

[rhorm]

If that is a spinning rod; stradic sounds like a perfect match. Didn't know you can catch snook on gotchas.

For snook, I would have gotten the 8 ft tidemaster with line rating 15-40 lbs. This tide master had the best flex. I couldn't believe that St. Croix rated it as Extra High and extra stiff flex.

You could have gotten a bass pro inshore/stradic combo for $149.00 (rod cost $99.99). I have one that is 7' 6" which is perfect for gotchas. Caught quite a few Spanish Macks with it and it has great action and sensitivity with plenty of backbone.

Who's catching snook on gotchas? I'm plannin on using my combo for spanish. :D

[old linesides]

Stradic 4000 . One spool with 30 lb PP and the spare spool 12 lb mono . I have the same rod and reel set-up and you can go from bottom fishing the inshore wrecks off OC to casting jigs , top-waters etc. , drift for flounder , whatever . I'll be using that set-up at the CBBT this weekend fishing for big stripers .;)

[ccc6588]

It is a great rod. I mistook Tarpon for Snook. Snook still on my mind as I can only fish for them once a year on my trip to Fl. I live in Va.

[ccc6588]

Stradic 4000 . One spool with 30 lb PP and the spare spool 12 lb mono . I have the same rod and reel set-up and you can go from bottom fishing the inshore wrecks off OC to casting jigs , top-waters etc. , drift for flounder , whatever . I'll be using that set-up at the CBBT this weekend fishing for big stripers .;)

If you don't catch anything there, I suggest you go across the bridge and go to Cape Charles pier during the night. It will cost you $5.00 to come back on the tunnel within 24 hours. This is a brand new pier with lights that the Va. Marine Resources Commission's money that they get from fishing licenses help build.

Last time I was there, I caught over 25 on speck rigs. Only 2 were keepers. I sure had fun catching them all. My bass pro inshore rod/stradic 4000 combo was perfect for them.

They should be larger and the fish are always there. They are more aggressive during a moving tide.

Only a few locals fish there. Try it. I may be there as as.

[bluerunner]

Quantum Catlyst or Boca/Cabo is you want tos pend a little more, or Daiwa Theory in the mid price range. Don't need a high dollar reel for gotchas and bottom fishing.

Cabelas has the Daiwa capricorn on sale for 69.99 - normally 114

[ccc6588]

Quantum Catlyst or Boca/Cabo is you want tos pend a little more, or Daiwa Theory in the mid price range. Don't need a high dollar reel for gotchas and bottom fishing.

Cabelas has the Daiwa capricorn on sale for 69.99 - normally 114

They are long gone....

[Jbare0001]

If you are gonna use fireline or a braid you need a good reel. I had a cheap reel that worked great with mono but the stress of hooking a blue or spanish with the no stretch line wore that reel out. If I had to get me a new plugging reel I would get a Quantum Cabo 40, Shimano Stradic 4000, Daiwa Tierra 4000, or a Penn Affinity 4000. They are all in the $125 range except the Cabo. They will all hold up to the stress with no problems. You could go down a size but I think those would fit that rod pretty good. Even if you just use mono all good choices.

[Digger]

I own the stardic sonora and sedona by Shimano. They all will work fine on that rod. The price is from a low of 50 bucks to 140. The Stradic would be my 1st choice. Mine has be dunked several time and always finished the night, then a quick tear down and lubing. I may have mine rebuilt over the winter. I have used braid on all of them. The Sedona at the Lesner for rockfish and it still works fine.

[jay b]

I've got two Tidemasters and love them both. I mainly use them for throwing lures and have got Penn Slammers on both of them because I really like those reels and their anti-reverse for tossing lures. There is absolutely NO play in the spool even when you get excited and accidently let go of the handle during a hook-set. ;)

I've got the 7' 1 pc. Lt. Wt. med action with a 260 slammer and 8 lb. mono on it that's caught Specks up to 21", Striper up to 24" and Pups up to 16" with no issues. I've also got the 8' 1 pc. Hvy. Wt. fast action with a 360 Slammer and 15 lb. PowerPro on it that has caught Stripers by the dozens up to 38" so far this season without a hitch.