Hannibal
09-28-2007, 07:38 AM
Hi all - been thinking about purchasing a new rod/reel setup.
As of right now, I own several spinning setups (well, MANY if you count my "smaller" bass setups for ponds/lakes, etc) that include two med. duty spinners and one heavy setup (Penn 950SS with OM 8-12oz).
The distance I am getting out of my med. duty rigs leaves me with the plenty of room for improvement. My form is fairly strong and I believe my limitations are simply a product of the setup (being limited by a spinning reel, line weight, etc). They serve their purpose well but I am looking for greater distance.
As such, I am thinking a conventional setup is the way to go. I fished along a kid who MAY have weighed 160lbs soaking wet and he was easily outcasting me by close to 50% (similar weight/bait, etc). I am 6'5" and about 265lb and like I said, my form is pretty good (by far not an expert) so it was my opinion (and was confirmed in my readings) that it was the conventional giving him that distance.
Being a Penn fan (for no reason other then having success with them in the past), I am thinking about the 525.
I need/want to cast 3-6oz plus some bait (cut bait, etc) with some good distance to reach some farther holes (or over some breakers). Would probably go with a 15-30 lb line (braid or mono if it makes no difference).
Money IS an issue but if I am going to spend - I would make the reel priority. Knowing the Penn runs about $125, I want to air on the "cheaper" side with the rod ...... just something capable in what I need it to do for the time being. A better rod would be an upgrade down the road. It would have to be able to handle decent size blues and/or stripers.
So my questions (finally right?): Is the Penn 525 a good choice for what I am looking for? If not, what do I need to look at? What would be a budget rod to get me started?
Thanks in advance.
Will
As of right now, I own several spinning setups (well, MANY if you count my "smaller" bass setups for ponds/lakes, etc) that include two med. duty spinners and one heavy setup (Penn 950SS with OM 8-12oz).
The distance I am getting out of my med. duty rigs leaves me with the plenty of room for improvement. My form is fairly strong and I believe my limitations are simply a product of the setup (being limited by a spinning reel, line weight, etc). They serve their purpose well but I am looking for greater distance.
As such, I am thinking a conventional setup is the way to go. I fished along a kid who MAY have weighed 160lbs soaking wet and he was easily outcasting me by close to 50% (similar weight/bait, etc). I am 6'5" and about 265lb and like I said, my form is pretty good (by far not an expert) so it was my opinion (and was confirmed in my readings) that it was the conventional giving him that distance.
Being a Penn fan (for no reason other then having success with them in the past), I am thinking about the 525.
I need/want to cast 3-6oz plus some bait (cut bait, etc) with some good distance to reach some farther holes (or over some breakers). Would probably go with a 15-30 lb line (braid or mono if it makes no difference).
Money IS an issue but if I am going to spend - I would make the reel priority. Knowing the Penn runs about $125, I want to air on the "cheaper" side with the rod ...... just something capable in what I need it to do for the time being. A better rod would be an upgrade down the road. It would have to be able to handle decent size blues and/or stripers.
So my questions (finally right?): Is the Penn 525 a good choice for what I am looking for? If not, what do I need to look at? What would be a budget rod to get me started?
Thanks in advance.
Will