Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Ned]

Was out at a dealer yesterday with around $350 looking at baitcasters. Saw some Shimano 10.5 combos for over $400, but noticed the standalone Shimano reels were significantly cheaper. I pointed this out, and the dealer said many people prefer to match Shimano reel with Shimano rod and thus the price: they say the reel matches the action of the rod. My question is: is matching a big concern? What about a Shimano reel with a different 10.5 rod? Any suggestions?

[steelie-slayer]

buying them seperate you can get a better rod and reel. with your price look at a small shimano calcuta and then just look at the rods and find a nice one for what you got lot, or spend a bit more and get a better rod to match.

edit: shimano converge are nice rods for about $100.

[cohoaaron]

Ya buy it seperate, you will be happier. Look at a shimano convergence or a fenwick HMX dont get anything under 10.5 feet as for reels try to get an abu ammbassaduer not made overseas (ive never used shimano baitcasters so i cant say anything about them) you can ussually barter and get that combo for around 250

[milo]

...as for reels try to get an abu ammbassaduer not made overseas.....

ALL ABU Ambassadeur reels are made overseas.
The cheap and disposable ones (BCX, Kalex, etc) are made in China; the good ones (C3, C4, Record) are made in Sweden).

[cohoaaron]

Sorry i meant buy the ones from sweden not china sorry about that i wasnt thinking

[milo]

No problem Aaron.
Just setting the facts straight to prevent possible confusion. 

[Blackgivesway2blue]

why cant he buy anything under 10.5 feet aaron?

[fishermanphil]

B2B

  Think leverage and accuracy for longer rods. calcutta and HMX = good combo

[salmonlover]

why cant he buy anything under 10.5 feet aaron?

its not that he can't. 10'6 rod is just perfect for float/drift fishing. where to achieve the best drift you are trying to keep your line off the water for a natural drift. you can cover a lot more water with a longer rod. i think aaron is trying to convey that message.

as for your question. i like shimano products but have been recently converted back to abu garcia the low profile reels.  really cant go wrong with these reels. as for the rod i know wholesale outfitters has a nice 10'6 shimano rod with a lifetime warranty for 170 bucks. i like to buy seperate just because im a gear whore and  set in my ways as to what i like.

[Blackgivesway2blue]

already knew the anwser to my question, just wanted to hear his anwser , ruffle some feathers persay.

longer the rod, the more control you get in a drift yes, but how do we know Ned is drift fishing?