Help with choosing a surf reel?

In my opinion, the Daiwa Black Gold is an excellent choice for Surf Fishing.

The only other Spinning reel that will be as tough and inexpensive would be:

1. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...

2. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...

In regards to conventional- IF you were going to go in that direction I would look hard at these:

1. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...

2. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...

3. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...

Abu Garcia C-4's & C-3's are what many inshore guides through-out the East Coast use as their reel of choice.

If you decide to go baitcast/conventional I don't think you could go wrong purchasing a C-4; they are bullet-proof.

When I Surf Cast I use Power Pro 10/40 Line, (has the diameter of 10Lb Mono and the strength of 40LB Mono), with a heavier leader of Fluorocarbon line, 14-20LB. Braid is not perfect for all applications of fishing but it EXCELS in Surf casting because of it's low (no-see'm) diameter & high strength.

Anyway- Hope this helps ya? Check the reviews on the reels I mentioned.......

PS- Go to your local superstore tackle shop and check out the one you want- THEN order from Basspro or Cabelas. If you buy from either one of these company's you'll get 90 days to return the reel no questions asked............

Bassplayer- You are suggesting that a Penn Squidder will out-cast a Spinning reel with 10LB Power Pro Braid, (or 15 LB Mono)?

And a Spinning ROD is just as good (if not better) to use with a conventional/baitcast reel? Did you fall off the pier and hit your head? (lol) That California sun finally bake your noodle or are you just "baked"? (just teasin' ya!)

UPDATE: Caunltd is right in many ways. The Emblem Pro is a nice reel and has gotten decent feedback. It's because of it's "plastic" construction that it gets low points from me.

When you are climbing around on jetty rocks or transporting gear would you prefer plastic construction or metal? Personally, I prefer metal construction and a reel that has over 20 years of solid service.

I know people (including myself) that have owned and used their Black Golds for over 25 years.......Can this be said about the Emblem? I don't know, it's only a few years old.....

By the way, it sells for $144. Here's the link to Cabelas- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/... If your gonna spend $144 why not purchase the Fin Nor OFS- it's the finest reel made in it's class, (no question!). All in all, the BG is the best reel you can purchase in your price range.

In regards to "wind knots"- Caunltd is right. Power Pro is not the best braid you can purchase, however, it is the cheapest with good feedback. I've never had issue with it and if you follow certain guidelines you should not either. However, here are some links to better/more expensive braids- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...

I find that people who get wind knots tend to "overcast" or "power cast" too hard. If you pay attention when you cast you should have no isuues. And wind knots usually occur when your rods spinning guides are too small or you are using a baitcasting rod with a spinning reel.

Er- The Daiwa BG15-BG20 can catch a variety of larger and smaller fish due to it's metal construction which has no "flex" and keeps the gears in-line. I've used mine to catch 6lb Flounder to 30LB Redfish (a 30LB Redfish fights like a 50LB Striper!) and both were still "sporting" and I had no issues with "sensitivity" or bulk......Don't trust my judgement- Read the review's here- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...

It's been fun "sparing" with you Caunltd......Lets agree to disagree?...Thumbs up!

EDIT: I agree Caun. But with your 10LB diameter Braid you should never have to use 5-6 OZ of weight to keep your bottom bait-rig secured to the bottom. I've fished in "washing machine" surf (5-7 FT waves during a Nor' Easter) and never had to go beyond 3-4OZ because I use Braid in conjunction with these nifty weights. Check them out- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P...

(I'm sure you either use something similar or have seen them. These are my "go to" lead when nothing else will hold. I've got a variety of them in different brands and sizes.)

When I Surf cast (using lures) I usually use Spoons, Jigs, Top-water's, and saltwater sized Husky Jerk type Minnows. Your totally right about having 2 different rods. Personally, I always take (at least) 3 rods when I go Surf fishing. One for chunking lead (bottom fishing), one for chunking heavy lures, (usually Topwaters), & one for light biting fish (casting 1/2-3/4 OZ Jigs and Spoons).

However, both of the heavier action rods are rigged with Stren Sonic Braid and the lighter action is rigged with Power Pro 8LB diameter braid. I've never had issue with wind-knotting. But I also don't use rods over 8-10FT. In my opinion, you don't need as long a rod when using braid because you make up the distance when casting because of the lower diameter of the braid. As you add length to your rod is when you get problems with knotting and line twist.

Before Braid you HAD to use 10 + ft rods, but now that you can use lower diameter line.........I have 2 8fter's and a 10 Fter. Believe it or not, the 8 FTer's cast almost as well as the 10 Fter, (give or take 10-15Yrds).

When I've had accidental bail-tripping with my Surf outfit's I've never lost any riggs or lures because braid does not "snap". At worst, the only thing I've lost was my bait......

Anywho, cool conversation! 75% of the monkeys on YAnswer's are newbie's or inexperienced; nice to speak with someone who has the same knowledge of fishing as I do. Thumbs up!

EDIT #50 (lol)- Hey! If it works for you BP that's cool.

However, be careful!

Because of how guides are wrapped on spinning rods, (and the "spine" differences between BC and SP), they aren't really designed for bending in the opposite direction. You could be hooked into a big fish and POP!- one of your guides could come apart from the blank, (which is not very hard to fix; but still a hassle). OR worse, you could snap your rod!

PowerPro + new to surf fishing = wind knots.

I would go with either suffix or ....(fireline - but that has it's drawbacks). The powerpro flattens out and has a tendency to get many more wind knots than the rounder, smoother suffix. I would say that once you get used to casting in the surf, go to whatever line you want. But for a beginner, just to take a little frustration out of it...buy a rounder, smoother braid.

As for reels, I prefer the Daiwa offerings for the spinning reels. The BG's aren't bad, but they aren't the best for the surf either. If I were looking in that price range ($100), then I would be considering the Emblem Pro. It's a much better surf reel that will handle anything you can throw at it. Yes, it's 30-40 more, but it's that much more reel. The drag is better than the BG, the casting distance is MUCH BETTER, the smoothness is close/even, and the only thing is it's not "all metal" construction - which, in my opinion, isn't important in the salt because the metal reels are more temperamental and more susceptible to rust/corrosion.

Here's the thing - going after striper is much different than going after smaller "baitfish" or surf fish. For the striper, you'd want a heavier setup in comparison to the smaller fish. I wouldn't ever want to use my larger rod/reel setups for smaller fish (ie. perch). It's just too cumbersome and not nearly sensitive enough for those species. If I were going to be fishing separate species, that are obviously different in size and ability to test tackle, then I would want a separate setup for each. Two would be perfect - one for larger one for smaller.

.....just a thought....

EDIT - Fisher, I tend to go light on setups for whatever species I fish for. Therefore, using my 10lb braid setup for perch doesn't work for striper. I can catch a striper on 10lb braid, but casting weight with it just doesn't make sense. Imagine a wind knot or a premature bail close as I cast 5oz......"POINGGGG, SNAP" There goes that setup. It's a much different scenario if I'm casting a rootbeer grub with a 3/4 inline weight. I've caught huge fish on light tackle, and prefer it that way.

I can completely "agree to disagree." Besides, to each his own when it comes to styles of fishing....well, that is unless he's catching more than me......then I'm doin' what he's doin.

2nd EDIT: As for the weights, yeah I've seen those. I don't use them, but have thought about it. I usually don't have trouble holding in surf, even heavier surges, but sometimes I do when fishing near river outlets and steep sloping beaches where the water is smashing my offering up onto the shore. The way I see it, as a beginner, a person should start with whatever will make the fishing more enjoyable and less problematic. I agree, wind knots are less of a problem with different gear. I have rods from 8ft up to 12'6ft. There is a difference, but it's correctable through user operation. I use PowerPro too, but I still prefer the suffix when it comes to getting out farther and in tougher conditions. Just personal preference I guess. (Besides, I've had first hand experience with the "mysterious" PowerPro breakoff's. I still use the stuff.....)

I agree, it's nice to compare and contrast approaches and preferences. I can't knock yours input because I'm sure it's productive, otherwise you probably wouldn't stick to it!!

my preference is a conventional reel with a penn squidder full of either 15 or 20lb berkley big game mono my first choice. l guarantee it will outcast a spinning reel by a good margin plus you have superior control over your fish and most likely a better drag too.

don't worry whether the rod is a spinning rod or conventional. a spinning rod will work perfectly fine. maybe the oversize guides on a spin rod would be an improvement.

l use spinning rods with conventional reels for surf casting. most surf fishermen l know, do also.

EDIT:

the small size of conventional guides get in the way and retard casting on a 12' or 13' surf rod. a spinning rod works much better in this instance. you should try it. l generally throw weights of 3oz, occasionally 4oz. l use a plastic spool on my squidder(s), and as l said 15 or 20 mono. that light of braid gets hung between the spool and side plate causing major problems and besides, braid is too limp for effective distance. you need the little bit of stiffness that mono offers for distance casting.

maybe it is the sun or l bumped my head but it works for me.

it's a shame we don't have bull reds or a striper fishery here in so cal. but l have gotten rays through the surf pushing 90lbs.

First don't buy online.

You want to be able to hold the rod and reel in your hand, see if it's comfortable, how light, how heavy, how sensitive the tip is.

If you buy online you're sight unseen and you might be stuck spending 150 dollars on a rod and reel that is awesome for casting off a boat, but is cumbersome at best for shore fishing.

I recommend calling around to sporting goods stores to see if they carry surf rods.

Personal Experience tells me that a the Daiwa BG-20 is a good match for 10 foot Ugly Stick

For surf casting I use a penn captiva and a penn sargus I love them both. Penn makes very high quality reels and they can hold up to a beating. But for conentional reels i would probably go with a penn 310 or 320 gti i own the 330gti but it would be to big for surf casting. I would go with the penn sargus or captiva for surf fishing.

on the south shore almost every surf fisherman uses a van staal or a zee bass reel. these reels are $600-1000. if you can afford that get it. it will be the best choice. if you cannot afford that look for a used drilled penn 704z

bass pro shops or cabelas