Quality boat set up

[Gillbo]

I'm looking at getting a new boat rod and reel for fishing Hartlepool and Whitby. I want something good quality and reliable which will last. I've seen the century excalibur 20-40 and Daiwa saltist braid 20-30. I would also like to see the new Fladen solid c rods. Reel wise I would possibly like a two speed but I know they are pricey. The saltist black gold and penn squall lever drags look good. I am open to recommendations but want something which will not be too stiff for shads but handle fishing pirks and bait.
Cheers,Iain

[The Great Wallsendo]

Penn Squall 30 is a canny reel...slightly smaller than a TLD15 and faster retrieve

Rod wise I fish with a Sonik 12-20...but have used ( and still own ) Fladen Solid Carbons and rate them very highly

Couple of lads on here are using some of the newer rod models so I'm sure they'll offer their opinions

[Norman]

Hi Iain,
Lots of choice here and I'm sure the replies will vary but I currently use the sonik SK4 (the red one but you can't have it all ways ) 12-20lbs rod. It handles shads and pirks pretty well equally. I used to start each season with a new different rod but these have been so nice to use that I've stopped buying new rods and have settled on a pair of them.
I am totally a tld15 fan and have 3 or 4 of these to compliment the sonik

I have got a few ugly sticks and at one time stuck with them, (they are good) but am totally sonik now.

Hope this helps, or at least provokes discussion

Oh and 1001% 55lb Dynon 3000 braid (non negotiable )



Cheers

Norm

[Codfather]

All the rods you mention are good rods, I'm currently using a saltist braid 20-30 and like it.
Been using it with an Akios Orion lately and it's a canny setup.

Depends how much you want to spend, the two speed saltist ld reels look good but their not cheap.

[Gillbo]

I'm prepared to spend 4-500 quid on the right rod and reel as ive sold a fair bit of fishing gear off. Sadly I'm not a fan of sonik as ive had an sk3 30-50 snap and a sk4 beach rod snap. I am using an old 8'6" shimano speedmaster 20-30 but I've had it for 8 years and it feels soft. I did get a 12-20 vengeance slim boat which is nice for shads but toolight for pirks and bait. I did have a 20-30 penn rampage but the tip snapped on that last year under no pressure. I also have just sold a green Maxximus 20-50 but for me it was too light for bait and pirks and felt more like a 12-20 class rod. I do still have an 8' solid c 20-40 and 6'6" 10-20 but the reel seats are bust and the rings need replacing. Reel wise I have a few Tld 15, penn 320 and 535. They are all work horses but regularly need maintaining. I have had a Torium and a couple of Avet reels but sold them. I think I may look at American ebay for another avet or something like a penn international.

[KeithB]

The new Maxximus rods are a lot more bendy than the last ones, I'm sure Allan S told me he reeled his big Norway cod in on the new Maxximus coupled with a Snowbee Deep Blue 10.

I've got the Deep Blue 10 & 12, lovely smooth reels, going back to a TLD 15 size reel feels like you are holding a Scarborough reel.

I recently bought the Snowbee Titanium rod but haven't got round to trying it yet. The rings are advertised as being indestructible, we'll see

[paulgalon]

av got the new fladden solid carbon and I carnt fault the rod me m8 has the diawa saltiest braid and that's an excellent rod aswell all depends on how much u want to pay

[Codfather]

Before the saltist braid I used a green fladen max solid c and it was just right for me shading with 10-12oz leads or fishing 10-12oz pirks and baited lures.

The 20-30lb saltist braid special I use now is pretty similar to the green max maybe a tad stiffer if anything.

If you thought the green max solid c was too soft for you then maybe you would need the next class up from the 20-30lb if you were going for a saltist braid special.

Everyone has there own preference.

For me the green fladen max solid c and saltist 20-30 are just right for my style of fishing.

I don't like the rod to bend double with a 12oz weight and gear on but then I do want it to bend canny with a nice fish on, and being nice and light is something I like.
I like to mess about with a little spinning rod in shallow water for the spring run cod aswell, great fun.

[Huahin]

Boat rod

I'm looking at getting a new boat rod and reel for fishing Hartlepool and Whitby. I want something good quality and reliable which will last. I've seen the century excalibur 20-40 and Daiwa saltist braid 20-30. I would also like to see the new Fladen solid c rods. Reel wise I would possibly like a two speed but I know they are pricey. The saltist black gold and penn squall lever drags look good. I am open to recommendations but want something which will not be too stiff for shads but handle fishing pirks and bait.
Cheers,Iain

I had a rod built by ALBA boat rods Scotland conoflex blank 12 class

[Gillbo]

I don't mind a sporting rod but it's no good not being able to turn a good ling and pull it out the wreck, especially when it could be a fish that wins you 5 grand! From the rods I've actually seen the century has a nice tip with progressive power through the butt. I don't mind a thin rod as long as it is strong as I don't like wincing everytime I hook the wreck.

[bri1960]

boat reel

P m sent

[CHUKKA]

I find an uptider works much better for shadding. You can lift and hang which can be deadly on its day. The penn rampage braid is a good rod for the money, sporting but with a nice progressive action.

[Gillbo]

Hi Andy, I will give it a go with an uptider as I still have an ugly stik uptider I used to use for tope fishing. I had a 20-30 rampage and the tip snapped on it. For me I didn't feel confident fishing bait or pirks with it. I think I am going to go for the century excalibur 20-40 but the only thing putting me off is the rings as I don't like single leg guides as they can get knocked easily. Reel wise I want to try and go and see a few. If I go for a two speeding will probably need to be second hand like a penn international or avet raptor.

[Tadpoleman]

New maxximus blue 20/40 and a Snowbee 10 absolute class set up for shadding and pirking

[Ray.J.]

Hi Iain, Nice to meet you last Sunday and thanks for the rod (bought as a replacement for a silver Fladen I snapped in Norway when the braid wrapped around the tip).I have a Penn Fathom 40NLD 2 speed and it is a very solid reel. (Bought it off E-bay from a private seller in unused condition and I am not sure you can buy them in this country). You can buy a Fathom 2 speed for around the same price as a Squall 2 speed at North East Tackle Supplies, so I would go for the all metal Fathom first.
I also have an Okuma Metaloid 5II 2 speed which is tiny but holds more line than my Saltist 30TH! The gears kept slipping when I was in Norway so I have had it sent back to Okuma to check it out. I hope it is not a major problem as I loved using it and it landed a good number of large fish.
The 2 speeds are good but I personally did not use the lower gear much in Norway, but I might have if I had to bully a fish away from a wreck.
The rod is a matter of personal choice.
I have the Penn Rampage 30/50 and it is good for pirking but quite stiff so more tiring than a softer rod. Bought it to pack in my suitcase. I like the look of the Penn Regiment rods. Would get a 2 piece if you don't need a multi piece rod as less potential areas of weakness.

Ray