Ultimate Custom Sturgeon Rod

I have brought an 8' + sturgeon to my yak, I rode it for a few kms and about an hour before it decided to submit. I was using a star drag Penn 330 GT2 and had no problem bringing in the monster.
My reason for the talica2 is the lever drag for convenience and drag at strike as the penn star drag seems to lack both of those attributes.

Not to mention the talica2 is a real nice reel

What about a TLD25?

Need and want are two completely different things! Any reel with 250 yards of 50 pound braid and 10 pounds of drag will do everything you need ....

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Lol very aware of needs and wants just hoping for a review

What about a penn graph-lite

The TLD line has been around for forever. You probably don't need the 25 as the 15 will get the job done.
Good reels just not in the same class as a Talica.

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Yeah I hear yah there think I will get the TLD for now and have a feel for a lever drag

Having gone out with a large variety of guides who target the Columbia for oversize and keepers,   I would say the PENN GTi reels were most popular with several also running TLD's.   I love to talk about gear and many stated they stayed away from lever drags as they were more likely to be adjusted by mistake by clients.     When asked why they didn't go with higher end reels,  they almost always stated it was based on performance vs. cost when butter fingered clients lost tackle overboard.  While higher end gear worked a little bit better, it cost alot more to replace.
Cheap Skate me uses that same trend of thought for anything I take out on a kayak.

Nice gear. I wouldn't recommend a custom rod for sturgeon. we had plenty of luck with cheap Ugly Sticks. Sensitivity never seemed to matter as much as backbone did. I always thought something like the Ugly Stick with a Ambassadeur  reel was all we needed. It was good enough for all the over sized fish as well as the eaters. Not knocking your setup but if someone is reading I don't think they should have the impression that a lot of money is required for the bottom feedin hogs. Cheers and Happy New Years

Nice gear. I wouldn't recommend a custom rod for sturgeon. we had plenty of luck with cheap Ugly Sticks. Sensitivity never seemed to matter as much as backbone did. I always thought something like the Ugly Stick with a Ambassadeur  reel was all we needed. It was good enough for all the over sized fish as well as the eaters. Not knocking your setup but if someone is reading I don't think they should have the impression that a lot of money is required for the bottom feedin hogs. Cheers and Happy New Years

this is 100% true. The setup I fished before I started building this one costed about $130.00 and consisted of a penn 330gt2 and a okuma celilo 30-70# 7'6" rod wich was fine but as interest became obsession I upgraded my rod to a shimano technium 30-80# 8' west coast sturgeon edition, witch is IMHO one of the sickest rods for the price. Once again my obsession progressed and I not needed but wanted more and thus have arrived in this situation. It's what I do, iWork hard for my money and I hate using crap tackle, most fishing can be done on the cheap but as my experiences mature the more I appreciate quality fishing gear and accessories over savings.
We all have our own porpoises and agendas mine is to experience the art of angling at the finest I can afford and sometimes, rather more often then not, over and beyond my "allowable" budget.
Call it retarded, crazy or just plain irresponsible but I'm sure that I share these feelings on some level with most of not all of the members on this forum and many others alike.


-Rodney-

Just need to swap some line off the TLD 25 and I'm all set for a shore try out.


-Rodney-

Just need to swap some line off the TLD 25 and I'm all set for a shore try out.


-Rodney-

It's so freaking beautiful. I almost just want to hang it on the wall and just look at it. Haha


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