Re: striper fishing setup....
K5Ranger<br />Really depends on how you are fishing.<br />Anchored bait fishing I perfer a mid size spinning reel and a balance pole. Line weight 14 to 20 pound is fine. Lots of people here use a Shimano Baitrunner with the dual drag system. Lots of people use then for fishing with shad, sardines or bullheads. I use 17 lb test but a thin line like Trilene XL or Stren Magnathin. Useing a super fat line like Big game just means a lot more water drag an as a result you must use bigger weight to hold the bottom. Bigger weights means you need a heavier rod, slower hook sets and the fish more likely to drop the bait. I caught over 70 stripers in one season and did not loose a single fish from line breakage. Biggest was 39lb 7 oz. I set my drag at 5lb with the rod at 90 degrees to the line pull.<br />I use same rig casting surface plugs or free lining live bait on the surface.<br /><br />Trolling, drift fishing then I like a Abu 6500C3 or any of the 6500 size. The casting reel is just eaiser to let out a little line to stay in contact with the bottom. A Penn 209 would be ok but the 6500 more fun. The 209 weight is 19.5 oz and retreive speed is 3.1 to 1, and it has no ball bearings. The ABU 6500C3 Weight is 10.5 oz it has a retreive speed of 5.3 to 1 and it has two ball bearings and 1 roller bearing. For line here I use 30 lb test spectra, about the diameter of 14 lb mono. Some use as high as 50 lb spectra. Reason for heavy line for trolling is not for fish landing, it to give you a better chance of getting your lure back when snagged. I use a 25 to 30 lb leader and a 10 lb weight leader. In real clear water I use a florcarbon leader.<br />Good Luck
