Which rod/reel

Member Joined: Oct 15, 2010 Posts: 6

Hi everyone im returning to beach fishing after many years away and need to set myself up with some gear. Can anyone suggest any rods and reels which would be suitable for beach fishing here in norfolk and north suffolk? My budget is about £100 [not a lot i know] and hoping to get 2 rods and reels. Will prob go to the local dealers here in Norwich and see what they've got as well.

Also just as another thought i got a copy of sea angler yest and theres a company offering Ron Thomson beach shelters for £39.99, are these any good and is this good value for money?

Thanks in advance.

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:08 am

With regards to the rod and reels there are many fixed spool outfits for your money. Depending what ground you are fishing over? The shelter is well worth the money and it deals with any weather winking

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:00 pm

You will soon find as I did a few years ago when I returned to angling that you will be far better off with all carbon rods. However, you are not likely to find a carbon rod much under £60 unless you spot a bargain or something second hand. As far as reels are concerned I would vouch for Daiwa if you are after fixed spool but can't advise about multiplyers as I don't use one for beach casting.

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:49 pm

Hi frogy,

I returned to sea angling after a break of over 20 years and was amazed and confused by the huge selection of rods, reels and equipment available to the modern angler. Eventually I picked a 14ft 'Rovex Big Boss' all carbon blank rod (around £59) for beachcasting and a 9ft 'Rovex Lure Pro' rod (around £26) for spinning. I have been very pleased with both rods and would thoroughly recommend them. For beachcasting I chose a Daiwa BF5500 reel (around £25) and for spinning a Jarvis Walker Aurora 4500 reel (around £24) and have no complaints against either reel.

Good luck with your choice.

Cheers, Geoff happy

Member Joined: Oct 15, 2010 Posts: 6

Thanks everyone for your help. Another thought has occured to me, i do prefer to beach fish with 2 rods but would it be better to spend my limited budget on one reasonable rod/reel rarther than two of each but cheaper examples. I have seen an advert on ebay where u get 2x reels and i think 2x 13' beachcasters for about 60 quid but dont know if they would be any good.

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:32 pm

The ebay rods you mention are probably "composite" which are OK but simply will not have the same action as all carbon and tend to wave about a lot if it is windy thus making bite detection difficult. In my experience you need to make sure that any fixed spool reel has 3 ball bearings or so and a fairly deep skirt to the spool so that line does not get trapped underneath. For beach casting it needs to hold at least 200 yds of 0.4 mm line too.

Member Joined: Oct 15, 2010 Posts: 6

eccles wrote:

The ebay rods you mention are probably "composite" which are OK but simply will not have the same action as all carbon and tend to wave about a lot if it is windy thus making bite detection difficult. In my experience you need to make sure that any fixed spool reel has 3 ball bearings or so and a fairly deep skirt to the spool so that line does not get trapped underneath. For beach casting it needs to hold at least 200 yds of 0.4 mm line too.

Ok thanks for that. Imust admit ive been reading the mags and going round all the websites all afternoon and its given me a head ache trying to decide what to buy, theres so much to choose from. Think i will just plum for one rod and reel for my budget then will add another later.

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 5:00 pm

Hi Frogy,

That would be my advice - to go for a half decent rod and reel - cheapo equipment almost always disappoints. £100 should get you a reasonably good rod and reel to get you started. You can then save your money up and, by the time you are ready to buy another, you will have a better idea of what you actually need. Let us know what you finally get, and what your experience of it is.

Good luck, Geoff happy

Member Joined: Oct 15, 2010 Posts: 6

Just found this outfit for sale online, anyone got any comments?

http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/displayitem.asp?sid=5352&id=45024

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 5:15 pm

Hi Frogy,

Looks good to me for a mid budget combo. The Shakespeare Salt rod has been quite well reviewed and normally sells for £65 - £80 on its own. I don't know much about the reel, except that they seem to retail around £60 - £70. Penn have made some great reels, although their 'Surfmaster' range (750 and 860) are 'love them or loathe them' in review. But, it seems to me to be very good value for around £80 plus postage. What do other forum members think?

Cheers, Geoff happy

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 6:47 pm

I always hold one saying true and that is you get what you pay for winking

Member Joined: Oct 15, 2010 Posts: 6

flattiefanatic wrote:

I always hold one saying true and that is you get what you pay for winking

That is very true but im just trying to get the best i can with my very limited budget.

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 7:51 pm

frogy wrote:

flattiefanatic wrote:

I always hold one saying true and that is you get what you pay for winking

That is very true but im just trying to get the best i can with my very limited budget.

Been there m8, can completely understand that winking

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:35 pm

Not a bad deal at all with just one comment: I have one of those rods but there was an issue: The spigots were originally chrome plated steel which quite quickly began to show rust. I think that this was such an obvious mistake (for a sea rod) that they must have corrected it by now but do check this point or you may be disappointed as I was. I did complain at the time but never had an answer.

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 2:48 pm

frogy wrote:

Just found this outfit for sale online, anyone got any comments?

http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/displayitem.asp?sid=5352&id=45024

One word of warning on this outfit is that the rod is a three piece jobbie and 3- piece surf rods have a fatal flaw. The second join (nearest the tip) is always in a part of the rod that really needs to bend freely and compress evenly, something that is impossible to achieve with a joint there and that flaw is evident in the number of 3 piece rods that snap - I've seen so many go over the years.

Obviously they don't all break but it is worth considering that if you are using it with its maximum casting weight and loading it up during the cast then it is, in my opinion, a bit of a weak point.

Personally I think you would be better off scanning the classified sections looking for a second hand outfit, I think you could get a much better set up for your money, or maybe a better rod and a budget reel brand new. Mind you if you do go down this route remember that if it does go you can at least ask for your money back - which is perhaps your thinking?

Whatever you choose best of luck with it.