What are your favorite rod/real combos for kayak fishing?

[wfauby]

im struggling too with the baitcaster but im definately a lot better than when i started. my sidearm is rough and seems to carry into the trees everytime i try it. i can overhand cast if i turn the reel sideways when i cast. (a little trick the guys at work tought me to prevent backlash) when adjusting the drag i make sure it falls slowly but take my thumb offr the spool the whole time and was told its set properly when it hits and doesnt backlash. dont know if thats right or not but thats how ive been doing it. the lighter the jig lure etc the harder it is to not backlash it seems. trying to make that transition but i seem to always pick up the spinning reel over it. or ill bring both and usually end up using the spinning reel in the end

cville - you are not alone here, the lighter the lure, the more difficult it is to throw without getting a birds nest...or even obtaining the desired distance with a bait caster. I would recommend if you are using small/light jigs or spinners (i.e. beetlespins, less than a 1/4oz) use your spinning gear. As an example & DONT TRY THIS but even without a lure on the line the simple motion of making a cast with a bait caster will start the spool in motion, releasing line. If the lure isnt heavy enough to keep up with the line being fed the spool will nest. Keep practicing and I dont know what you are using, but try not to skimp when purchasing bait casters...the cheaper ones just dont have enough mags and adjustments to aid anti backlashing. Regards - Wayne

[DOGFISH]

For light trolling, I have been using Shimano TE reels, a 400 and a 401, coupled with 7.5' StCroix pitchn' blanks, which I built this winter. Using a 400 and a 401 reel gives me better handling ability when reeling in a fish while trolling. This has proven to be a great light crankbait trolling combination. For heavier trolling, I am now building a pair of StCroix Inshore Saltwater 7.5' rods, rated for 30lb test. I am going to match those with two Penn International 975LD casting reels. Both of these are great trolling combos. I have used similar rigs in the past but have recently been updating my fishing tackle.

[ronaultmtd]

The only time I ever get a backlash is when the lure strikes the water/obstruction (easy to do when you are sitting so close to the water in a kayak and sidearm casting around trees) during the cast or casting into a wind that slows the bait down- I feather the edge of the spool with an "educated thumb" during the early portion of the cast, much like they used to do back in the day before all the engineering brought about magnetic casting controls and centrifugal brakes

[Pinch]

MH Shimano trevala S with Diawa Lexa. Can catch anything and sensitive hell.

[Redfish12]

Trevala s and lexa is beast! For the bay, a 6'6" MH spinning or casting rod is pretty hard to beat for an all around setup.

[kayak456]

all i use is saint croix & star rods with a few shimanos mixed in. i own just about every lineup. i have 2 triumphs,2 tidemasters, 1 mojo inshore, 1 premier, and one avid inshore. a are great rods. for surf fishing i use tica and star rods. i have 1 shimano teramer and its nice. my absolute favorite rod ever is the 7 foot shimano trevala medium light action i got last month. for reels i use shimano saros and shimano stradics on my saint croixs, penn spinfisher v and battles for the surf and i have 2 calcuttas and i also have 1 custom backyard customs rod made by steve f paired with a qunatum catalyst pts. i use my calcuttas for sheapies and flounder in nc

[frettr00]

7ft Bass Pro Shop Bionic blade XPS with Quantum Accurist PT, spooled with 35lb braid.