Speckled Trout Combo?

[stumpy041486]

Hey

I am looking to buy a good speckled trout combo for fishing live bait and also throwing jigs. What does everyone recommend? I was thinking about a Stradic CI4 2500-3000 and a Cumara 6'8"-7' M-MH. Any other suggestions? I would like to spend as little as possible, but I would be willing to spend up to $500 for a combo, so no Stellas.

Thanks

[Choupique]

Stradic CI4 3000 with a Medium or Med/Light with a fast tip. I like limber rods for trout.

[stumpy041486]

Thanks Choupique. I'm likely to catch some bull reds also, would you still go with the medium action?

[Choupique]

If your talking one Bull for every 40 trout I would still go Medium. But if you plan on targeting reds and trout 50/50 you could go heavier. IMO its easier to catch an occasional bull on light tackled that over-gun trout all day. Plus a lot of the light baits you may throw for trout will get better distance with the Med vs the MH. Small MirrOdines for example.

The photo here is a 42" bull caught on a medium spinning rod with 10lb mono this year.

[craigrbns]

If your talking one Bull for every 40 trout I would still go Medium. But if you plan on targeting reds and trout 50/50 you could go heavier. IMO its easier to catch an occasional bull on light tackled that over-gun trout all day. Plus a lot of the light baits you may throw for trout will get better distance with the Med vs the MH. Small MirrOdines for example.

Id agree fully on the med action rod if sea trout will be common place. I think the 3000, or even a 4000 Stradic would be great for the set up. Personally, I like the 4000 size reels for the flats. I also prefer a rod in the 7'6" length range too - just love the extra distance I can gain when trying to reach out there on a cast, esp for spooky reds.

I havent purchased one yet, but have thought about the new Shimano Thunnus for use as a live bait reel on the flats. It may be worth looking at if live bait will be common place for your set up....

[Capt Ray]

Any quality 3000/4000 size reel will work fine for either. For a rod, even if you target reds more than trout I would still recommend a Med. Most MH will overpower topwaters and not provide good action for soft jerk baits.

I have caught many bull reds over 30lb on my Med action St Croix's. The length can be pretty much personal preference unless you are targeting pressured fish or working very shallow water, in that case I would go with something in the 7' 6" range.

[facelessnewsouth]

What everybody else said, x2.

[Snyder Rods]

For a rod, look for a popping or what is sometimes called an inshore rod, mod-fast to moderate action, particularly if you want to make long two-handed casts, or use real bait. Up to 3/8 or 1/2oz. lure weight rating for free-lining shrimp or other real bait. Look for one with a rating of up to 5/8oz. lure for casting lures or if you will use a bobber or weight with real bait.

As for a reel, just get one with the line capacity you need. Typically 2000 - 4000 series reels will work.

[ShimanoStud]

What I use in all my tournys for trout up here in NE Fl is a Stradic CI4 2500 reel with 10lb power pro on a MED fast action Duckett 7' spinning rod, whole setup runs about 350-370 dollar depending on where you buy the gear from. Love the lightweight feel of the entire setup and the sensitivity too, I normally throw 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jig heads with DOA shad tails and pump it off the bottom or use some mirrodines or 52mr from mirrolure. Also skitter walks score some nice trout early in the morning or right before dusk.

[ecu daniel 14]

7' ML moderate st croix tidemaster with daiwa alphas 103 and 30# braid.

[GeraldG]

I know I'm ressurecting an old thread here....


FWIW, I have a couple of rigs I put together for this application that work out very well for me and come in right at the $500 mark. I use a Shimano Sustain 4000 reel on a 7' Medium/Fast St Croix rod built on a SCII blank (Tidemaster). My nicest one was built for me by Jeff Eller at SawltGear...very reasonably priced, just about the same price as buying a Tidemaster at the store, but you get to choose the guides, wraps, handle configuration, etc. It took him exactly 2 weeks to deliver my rod from the day I ordered it.

I use about 20 yards of 12# mono backing and a 30# braid main line with a 3 ft. fluorocarbon leader....I use a Slim Beauty knot to attach the line to the backing and the leader to the line. That whole setup works well for me for lures or for fishing live shrimp or cockahoe minnows under a cork.

[ecu daniel 14]

sounds pretty nice dude. love to see some pics.