What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

[GeoRXT]

I've been fishing twice on my newly acquired boat. I know I will be doing more of it so I went out to Walmart and bought myself these. Now, Im a newbie and dont plan on catching 60+ pound fish so keep that in mind...I paid $102 for the combo.

Okuma Classic Pro CL 302L

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Okuma CL-302L Classic Pro Series Fishing Rod:2003706045

And Shakespeare Ugly Stick Tiger BWS 2201-2
http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/products/rods/ugly-tiger_2007.shtml

The links are for pictures I found online of them...

 

[sebago_kid]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

Okuma reels have always done right by me... I happen to favor them over others.
The rod, I'm not familiar with... I perfer a cork handle, myself. I have a Browning noodle rod, 9'6", med. light action, and rated to 15 lbs line.
A 26 inch striper on that thing is sheer bliss. The reel is an Okuma.

 

[GeoRXT]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

Okuma reels have always done right by me... I happen to favor them over others.
The rod, I'm not familiar with... I perfer a cork handle, myself. I have a Browning noodle rod, 9'6", med. light action, and rated to 15 lbs line.
A 26 inch striper on that thing is sheer bliss. The reel is an Okuma.

The rod is rated for 10-50 LB line and Medium action... I saw it on an ESPN fishing show. Its supposed to be "unbreakable"?

 

[capt sam]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

I think for starting out you did fine, you're not into deep and the rod is pretty tough, I've never used any Okuma's so I got nothing there. Use it, find out what you like, don't like and your next buy will be even more suited to your needs.....I'd hate to tell you what I've spent on gear.

 

[GeoRXT]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

I think for starting out you did fine, you're not into deep and the rod is pretty tough, I've never used any Okuma's so I got nothing there. Use it, find out what you like, don't like and your next buy will be even more suited to your needs.....I'd hate to tell you what I've spent on gear.

I could only imagine! Even at Walmart they had $300+ reels and $130+ rods...

Now, how do I get the line in there?

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

To fill er up with line....

Run the line down a couple eyes of the rod, tie using a 7 x's around knot to the spool....Have someone hold the spool, with a pen, pencil, dowl through the hole in the middle of the spool of line you bought..Wind her up, have your friend keep a little tension on his end, and most importantly use your thumb to guide the line back and forth evenly so you dont end up with one huge hump of line in one spot....

Good luck, tight lines..

P.S.
In Cali I had custom wrapped Cal-Star sticks made for me, at 300 plus a stick.....Also had a bout 5 grand of gear stolen outta my old datsun 260Z...talk about a bad day!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

Heres how to tie the 7x's or aka clinch knot. Will work for your hooks and other tackle as well..



Step 1: Pull approximately six inches of line through the hook eye to provide ample slack.
Step 2: While holding the hook securely in one hand, wrap the end line five times around the standing line.
Step 3: Pull the end line through the small loop near the hook eye and back through the large loop.
Step 4: Moisten the loops with saliva...Tighten the knot and trim excess tag line.

 

[bkatz]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

That is a good Combo! Okuma has come a long way from what they once were. Now they are making high quality products. If you treat your Okuma right it will do just fine. Ugly sticks are a good rod. I fished an ugly stick for a long time my only issue with ugly sticks are their bulk and weight. There are rods out there with higher ratings that weigh a fraction of what an ugly stick weighs. If you are just fishing from a boat that will not be an issue unless you plan to sight fish and do a lot of casting. But with that combo you should be drop fishing and trolling. What kind of fishing will you mainly be doing and in what area? Overall a very good Combo!

 

[GeoRXT]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

I will be fishing the FL Keys...The humps and such...

 

[bkatz]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

That combo will work just fine for bait fishing for some good size fish!! If you will be fishing around Structure (Rocks, reefs, wrecks, etc.) I would think about using braided line. It has half the diameter of mono and double the strength. I love the stuff.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

BTW...If you like that rig...BoatersWorld has that okuma reel and a decent stick on clearance for about 70 bucks now..Not a bad deal for a beater boat stick for trolling and big grouper..

It would be the stick I'd let my GF or other non fisherman use! Ya ever see a 600 dollar rig pulled outta someones hand? I have, it aint pretty! lol

 

[GeoRXT]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

That combo will work just fine for bait fishing for some good size fish!! If you will be fishing around Structure (Rocks, reefs, wrecks, etc.) I would think about using braided line. It has half the diameter of mono and double the strength. I love the stuff.

Bait fishing?

I was 2 seconds away from buying the braided line and didnt Was going to buy the fluorocarbon one and didnt either...Just got a regular "super strong" Trilene Big Game 50 lb.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

Bait fishing (again using SoCal terminoligy) is live bait fishing..small live mackeral or sardine fly lined (just hook em and cast em and let them swim for their lil lives...lol) Only way to catch the big thunnus (tuna's) back home!


Berkley Big game is good line...used it alot, (They even had a boat in the San Diego fleet named after it.."The Big Game") that and Ande tournament..You will be amazed at how hard you can pull on 50# test...Don't kick yourself...the best thing about fishing is where you go to school at..out on the open water with a good friend and a cold beverage...

 

[capt sam]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

I pretty much second what CBK is saying, that combo is fine for your needs, in time you figure out wants and needs in gear, be warned though it can get pricey and addictive, I have an insurance rider on my homeowners insurance on just my fishing gear, it's worth as much as my boat.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

I pretty much second what CBK is saying, that combo is fine for your needs, in time you figure out wants and needs in gear, be warned though it can get pricey and addictive, I have an insurance rider on my homeowners insurance on just my fishing gear, it's worth as much as my boat.

amen..when my gear got stolen out of my car (smashed the rear window) I never fully replaced it all...hard to replace over 5g's of tackle all at once!

 

[GeoRXT]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

What's the best way to hook live bait? Where?

And I know what it is to spend big bucks on toys...Hopefully it wont get that serious! I cant afford to have another expensive hobby!!!

 

[capt sam]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

depends on what I'm using and doing, whitebait/threadfins I hook thru the nose when I'm flipping them into docks or mangroves, if I want bait to dive I hook them thru the belly near the tail, if I want them on the surface, I hook them thru the back.

 

[GeoRXT]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

Hummm....sounds like something I would not be able to do....call me a pus** but...Big fish dont like dead bait? LOL! Let's say Im fishing the keys for whatever I can get...How about a big chunk of squid?...

 

[capt sam]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

you can't do what, hook live bait.....lol, squeamish huh? What are you fishing for? When I use squid in the Keys, I usually slice the head open so it's flat and cut small one inch or two inch squares out of it and hook that. Silversides is another good bait to use down there especially for yellowtail snapper and the old standby in the Keys is ballyhoo. Since you have a bigger setup use bigger pieces, it all depends on your target species.

 

[GeoRXT]

Re: What do you think of this Rod and reel combo?

Squemish?....hehehe....I had trouble hooking a live shrip! Tiny one that is! I'll get used to it after a few trips....I hope!....As far as species, I'll take what I can get!