Rock fish/Ling Cod rod

Great find!  Thanks, just emailed him now... 

For Rockfish and Ling Cod I use what I won't mind donating to the sea or to corrosion.  At least for me I have a hard time keeping my reels dry when I'm on the salt so someting easy, cheap and rebuildable works for me.  I had a few Ambassadeur 5000-C's we (my brothers and I) burned up a long time ago on fish that pull drag before I moved out to Oregon so I use those.  We used them for Tarpon and kingfish, don't do that....the drags will not last long.  Most of the bottom fish I have caught do not require that special of a drag so I leave my good reels for a more stable platform.  I'm oversize and clumsy though.  Oh yeah, another thing, parts for the Ambassadeur's are easily available in the Portland area since so many people in the Nothwest use them.

For rods I like a fast action 7 footer that you can set the hook with fast when jigging.  I bought a cheap 8ft rod with a medium tip and it seems by the time the rod loads up I have missed half of the bites.  I built a 7ft Lamiglas GBT 841L from a  closeout sale and I really like the feel of it.  From what Lamiglas told me it's a 20lb class composite blank and it works well.  It is also great for Sturgeon and Tuna although I have yet to experience either from a kayak, only a power boat which I hope to change one day soon. 

was cruising thru the sporting goods section of my local freddies last night, and came across a really nice set up from abu garcia...say what you want, i've found some really good bargains there... like a shimano stradic reel [ was paired with the E21 carrot stix rod that i'd bought as a gift for one of my brothers.]  for 75.00 instead of the normal 140 or so. , or an 8ft 6in shimano scimitar rod for salmon fishing, listed elsewhere for upwards of 100.00, for 37.00

anyways, back to the "bruiser "series; it's an 8ft 2 pc  med/hvy spinning rod, 12 -25lb line with a 1-4 oz rating, and medium duty reel, called the "bruiser"...was on the shelf for $40.00, have seen it listed online for as much as $80.00.

i think i'd be comfortable with using this outfit for just about anything we'd go after offshore on a yak.. it seems like a rugged, reliable, get the job done set up.

A lighter rod like a GLoomis HSR1021C (it a hotshot rod) works great for tossing light jigs and can work up to 4 ounce jigs ok.  I like the feel of a rod like this when casting or working light stuff.  I probably use this rod the most, paired with an Abu Garcia 6500. 

Pole turned me on to this rod and if you have the scratch, or can find a nice one used, it's a great multi-use rod. I paired mine up with a Shimano Cardiff and has awesome feel for rockfish. It's no broomstick and makes rockfishing even funner. Man, I wanna go rockfishing...  You OR guys are so lucky!!! It also doubles as my go to steel/salmon backtrolling rod where it really shines!

Z 

For those who don't have the scratch for the GLoomis, take a look at the specs and find something similar in a different brand.

For example, Shimano has a few salmon/steelhead rods that fit a similar niche..

the Shimano CSCX79MHA Clarus at $80.
7'9'' 1 Pc.   Medium Heavy   Extra Fast   15 - 40lb   3/8 - 6oz   
 
or if you like something longer the Shimano CSC90H2A Clarus at $90
9'0'' 2 Pc.   Heavy   Medium Fast   10 - 30lb   1 - 6oz   

Berkeley Air IM-7 and a few other brands also have decent lower cost solutions.

the Shimano CSCX79MHA Clarus at $80.
7'9'' 1 Pc.   Medium Heavy   Extra Fast   15 - 40lb   3/8 - 6oz   

I've given this one a spin and loved it.

Z

Rods,,, i like rods. Sold Rivertom a pile the other day and still have to many!!!
  Ror the kayak i have settled on 6'6" to 7' rods,, at present i'm useing a Trevala 6.6 med action and have a trevala 7' lite on order,
  Shakespear  Ulgly stick "Intercoastal " 6. 6 med action hard to beat.And you can beat it and it won't break!
   Also i like narrow spool reels, big reels are heavy.. At the end of the day a heavy one is tireing. If were only fishing in 15 to 60  ft of water 400 ft of line cap. seems to be enough. 

Another thumps up on the Trevala.  I use the TVC66M for medium duty 4-6 ounce jigging.  For some reason I really like the feel of this rod.  Mated to an Avet SX.

-Allen

How could I have forgotten the Trevala?? AWE-SOME! They have a great balance to them and the feel is nice n' springy. Can't wait to replace my lost one... it's gathering rust at the bottom of Monterey Bay....

Z

Another thumps up on the Trevala.  I use the TVC66M for medium duty 4-6 ounce jigging.  For some reason I really like the feel of this rod.  Mated to an Avet SX.

-Allen

               That's the one i have now, agree with the "feel",, makes me happy,feels fishie with the jig.
  Like you stated it's best with heaver jigs. Mostly use 1.5-- 2 0z from kayak unless i'm trying to make a ling mad.  Hopeing the 7' lite action Trevala TVC will work  with smaller jiggs  Royg
 
 
   

Can't go wrong with an Ugly Stick.

7'0"  med.heavy... with shimano tr 100-g spooled with 20 pound test line for all around.
6'0" medium.... Shimano spinning reel spooled with 10 pound for the surface bite(casting small jigs)

There cheap and take a ton of abuse. The reels that come with the combos are basically junk, i put a nicer reel on and i'm set..

Can't go wrong with an Ugly Stick.

7'0"  med.heavy... with shimano tr 100-g spooled with 20 pound test line for all around.
6'0" medium.... Shimano spinning reel spooled with 10 pound for the surface bite(casting small jigs)

There cheap and take a ton of abuse. The reels that come with the combos are basically junk, i put a nicer reel on and i'm set..

Yeah, I got some of those Ugly Sticks.  The beefier ones are heavy and don't make it out on my kayak.  But they do have some lighter action rods that would work well.

-Allen

Here are the two rods I am now paddling out with.  #1 choice- a 6ft 6in Lamiglass Cascade Pro XT.  It is a solid blank, and very nimble at the tip.  I prefer blank-through-handle designs coupled with eyes that are double anchor wrapped (two points of contact for and aft of the eye).  This rod caught my attention when my buddy was using it in Pacific City at the Derby.  I could see the hits and taps on his rod - better than my own.

I used an Ugly Stick purchased for about 15.00.  Although I got more than what I paid for, It just didn't cut the mustard after a 6 hour drive for a derby.

So the Lami set my wife back 75 bucks (minus 20%) off at Bi-Mart as my Christmas.  Love the wife and the rod.

I mounted a Penn 209 with some new braid and ready to rock the boat.  Now, my #2 back-up is a Shimano TDR 8ft, 2piece, dbl anchor wrapped guides; mounted with an OLD Penn Peerless #9.  This rod was purchased at Sportsmans WH after it survived my highly advanced/quickly executed rod/grab/tweak-till-ya-creak test.  It performed wonderfully  and only cost 20 bucks.

Since the rod breaks down I can stow it easily in the hatch- and have a decent back-up should I lose my Lami (heaven forbid).  I have only broken one rod in all my testing sequences, and proudly display my discovery of a flawed product to all in attendance!!! 

This would be my final rant, however.  Today "My Buddy" purchased a Penn 209 at Bi-Mart (on sale 49.00) and we were told it was the last one.  The last of the Made In USA model 209's.  There was a Penn next to it with some polished aluminum on sale for 59.00 and it had a big sticker on the rod mount- made in China.

Is this true?  Is Penn no longer manufacturing in USA? Just wondering because when the Pflueger fly-reel was no longer manufactured is USA the drag system was compromised and it isn't worth what the price tag asks for (my opinion only). 

Anyway, back to the rock/ling rod.  I just would suggest whatever you do, always have two rigs.  If you lose one...you are done.  If you break one...you are done.  If your reel fails...you are done.  If your buddy loses his only rig, you are now a hero.

Peace out,
Scott
 

 Scott,,, final rant---
      We took apart two Penn 950 SS reels ,my old ones and a new 950ss. /the new  (made in china) had a cast pot metal main gear, some other 'cost cutting features".. Old main drive gear is machined brass.
   These are my sturgeon reels, new ones look really nice,, don't think i'll try one.. royg

I hear ya, glad to see someone willing to tinker with old glory.  My dad and I collect reels and rods. But when it comes to the old big guns. I refurbish so I can use them.  The top three I get ahold of are Pflueger, Penn, and Ocean City.  I just cleaned and gleaned an old Ocean City- and the spool tortion mechanism is like butter.  I did a drop test with a 1/16 oz spoon and it took about a 10 seconds for the braided line to spool onto the shop floor. This is a 45 year old reel!! 

Anyway, it's just something fun to do in the shop with the old man while the wood stove is burning.  I actually prefer to fish with the old ones though.  Makes a more meaningful experience for me. 

I don't worry about "hording" USA made reels though, I have already done that.
Ha, Scott