Wow....hijacked...
Getting back to what Customretrieval is really asking:
REELSJudging by the posts here that actually have some substance, there seems to be a lot of people in favour of the Abu Garcias, and if you have the funds, to upgrade to a Shimano Calcutta.
From personal experience, I started with an Abu Garcia C4 6500 spooled with 15 lb test. I have tossed spoons, drift fished, and on occasion have bottom-bounced with it. I bought the reel over 4 years ago and it still works like it just came out of the box, spooth drag, smooth retrieve and mostly unscratched. The only problem I have had with it is that in the early years of my owning it, I didn't used to loosen the drag after a day on the water, which led to a flattening of the drag discs, resulting in me having to crank the drag down tighter to get the same resistence as when I first got the reel.
For the money, I think these reels are the best value for the money (personal opinion), given the choice, I would also go for the C4 (
http://www.abu-garcia.com/prod.php?k=50128&sk=46555&p=PUR4600C4 ) instead of the C3 (
http://www.abu-garcia.com/prod.php?k=50127&sk=46555&p=PUR4600C3 ) if you can spare the $20-30 more. The C4 has a higher gear ratio and I remember reading somewhere that the gears are made of a different, more robust material. Depending on the fish you are targetting, this will affect the model of reel you're looking for, have a look at the websites above and see the recomended line ratings for each reel. I've found that the 6500 will suit anything you are looking for, although it is a bit bigger, it can be used for chum and chinook as well as coho and steelhead. It's probably be a good standby for a starter reel.
The biggest thing you have to look for in the way of maintainence is that you don't submerge it in the river/salt water, keep it out of the sand, and generally don't bang it around. My C4 spent a summer up North with me buzz bombing for coho in the QCIs in the salt, I'm not gonna lie, I didn't take as good care of it as I should have, but it came out of the season in the same condition that it went into it with. Also wash it down with fresh water after using after most trips.
I think that's reels just abotu covered if you're looking for a starter reel.
RODSIt was mentioned in another post that Trophy XL rods are good. From personal experience, and after owning 3 of them (a 4 pc med-heavy levelwind rod, a 2 pc lighter levelwind rod, and a light-weight centre-pin) I can vouch for their reliability. I used these 3 rods for over 3 seasons so far. I have only ever snapped one of them (the 4 piece in somewhat of a boating accident...), but never on a fish.
Supposably Trophy has recently come out with a new line of rods that are meant to be quite impressive, has anyone reading this had a chance to try one out ? or at least see one ?
Trophy's are reliable rods and would probably suit our needs.
Another rod that seems to be liked by a lot of people is the Shimano Convergence. I have one of their spinning rods, and has taken some nice chum and coho with it, performed perfectly, so this is another good rod you may want to have a look at. I know a lot of people who swear by them in the salt as well as the rivers.
LINEFor fishing the rivers, I'd go with 15 lb test, suitable for what you're targetting, as far as the brands go, Maxima is a good brand a lot of people stand by including myself for the rivers.
Buy it wherever you want, it's all the same product.
Hope this helps.
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Topic: First River Rod.... (Read 11123 times)